Why Spray was so special?

toastchee · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Hi, I just finished reading Slocum's Around the World Alone. Every sailor must read it!

He mentions that a major factor in his success was that the Spray was notable for holding a course with sails set and the wheel lashed. He brags that he did so for thousands and thousands of miles with possibly a slight correction now and then.

What characteristics of its design (or lack of design :-) made it self-steering?

I myself have sailed one 28' modern fiberglass boat that was able to do so for short periods in the harbor without lashing the wheel. Are our modern boats better designed and thus able to mimic the Spray's ability if conditions are right?

St Anna · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Hi,
IMHO, the original spray was a horrible design. It eventually killed him.
'Cods Head and Mackeral Tail' beamier forward means downwind or beam reach with CE close to & ahead of CLR, self steering is possible within 5-10 degrees.

It had a flat bum, long keel and was originally a yawl, I believe. He got rid of the mizzen sail. It would cause him to round up or even eliminate the effect of the rudder on certain points of broad reach sailing.

He was a sailor of incredible skill and knlwlede and resourcefulness. He could have sailed around the world in a bathtub!

SOme designs are able to sail well balanced without weather or lee helm. But not on all points of sail. Narrow fin keels cannot emulate this feature of a long keel. Try manourvering or even reversing a long keel in a crosswind. Best going in a straight line.
just my views

JohnRPollard · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by St Anna

It had a flat bum, long keel and was originally a yawl, I believe. He got rid of the mizzen sail. It would cause him to round up or even eliminate the effect of the rudder on certain points of broad reach sailing.

It's been a quarter century or more since I read the book, so my mushy brain could be playing old harry with me. But I seem to recall that part way into the voyage he added a mizzen to create a yawl, although he continued to refer to Spray as his "little sloop." If memory serves, adding the mizzen was partly intended to improve self-steering.

St Anna · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Ok John,
I am going by memory as well. If I am wrong, I apologise.

A mizzen on a long keel can take away your steering. If he was going where he wanted, its a good thing. I know this from experience on a gaff ketch, much bigger than the Spray.
Its a good topic to discuss/argue over. I just sold a self steering system - Auto for us now, although we can sail quite balanced as long as I stay in one place!

JohnRPollard · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by St Anna

Ok John,
I am going by memory as well. If I am wrong, I apologise. A mizzen on a long keel can take away your steering. If he was going where he wanted, its a good thing. I know this from experience on a gaff ketch, much bigger than the Spray.
Its a good topic to discuss/argue over. I just sold a self steering system - Auto for us now.

No need for apologies!!!

Who knows, maybe I'm remembering incorrectly.

St Anna · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Now that you have mentioned it, I think you are correct about the addition, not reduction in yawl situation
I base my arguements on growing up with this;

http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/v...a/P4100334.jpg .

toastchee · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Quote:

>>IMHO, the original spray was a horrible design. It eventually killed him.

Taking him safely solo around the world wasn't good enough? My theory is he knew he was old and tired, so he shoved off to chose his resting place. :-)

lapworth · #8 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

He also had some good Trade Winds. I believe Graham had the same exprience as Slocom on Dove and he was only about 17. I might have the 2 storys a little confused though they both took similar routes and Robin would reffer to Slocom travels many times in his book. I do agree with Toast great book. You might want to try "Over the Edge of the World" by Laurence Bergreen.

JohnRPollard · #9 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by St Anna

Now that you have mentioned it, I think you are correct about the addition, not reduction in yawl situation
I base my arguements on growing up with this;

http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/v...a/P4100334.jpg .

Hey, you can't just tease us with one partial photo. That looks to be a pilot cutter of some kind -- show us more!!!

St Anna · #10 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Thanks John,
No other photos on this comp -. Waitoa is a TI (Thursday Island) Pearling Lugger. Gaff Ketch, 56' on deck. 2" kauri pine hull and oregon deck. Only recently -15 years ago we put on winches and added a furler on the bowsprit. This is why I have a GRP yacht!!!

I spent my childhood and half my adulthood on her. Dad (age 74) was antifouling her last weekend.