[the-zak]

Dreamt of sailing the world, on your own boat....yeh, me too.

I have the boat. A classic late 70's racing yacht, Police Car: Google - "RB Sailing Police Car" for photos and a blog detailing the boats history..

On offer is an opportunity to buy a share in the boat and join the project of cleaning and preparing the old girl before setting off to make that dream a reality.

So, if you've got a bit of time or money, an offer or an idea I'd love to hear it...

 

[the-zak]

I could have said, the boat is in Port Macquarie, 4 hours north of Sydney.

 

[SchockT]

I've raced on a number of IOR One-tonners like Police Car, and they were all very challenging to race with a full crew. Would I want to sail one of those "Broach Coaches" around the world short handed? No Thanks! You've got bigger balls than I!

Good luck!

 

[the-zak]

She will go most anywhere in anything...and still quickly too, but your right, it will be wet...as you know, such boats can be tough - it's 'real' sailing

Nah, seriously, your right of course. The racing is tough. She was always much better behaved on the return trips I did...adding some comfort below decks should make it easily bearable...

 

[svHyLyte]

Dreamt of sailing the world, on your own boat....yeh, me too.

I have the boat. A classic late 70's racing yacht, Police Car: Google - "RB Sailing Police Car" for photos and a blog detailing the boats history..

On offer is an opportunity to buy a share in the boat and join the project of cleaning and preparing the old girl before setting off to make that dream a reality.

So, if you've got a bit of time or money, an offer or an idea I'd love to hear it...

Was this the "Police Car" that was part of the Ozzie Admirals Cup team during the '79 Fastnet? If so, I seem to recall she was knocked down to 120º or better a quarter-dozen times or more during that race, No? Uncomfortable as hell at sea if I recall correctly, eh?

 

[the-zak]

Thats the one. Finished 4th. I very much doubt comfort was foremost on anybody's mind during the 79' fastnet.

 

[svHyLyte]

Thats the one. Finished 4th. I very much doubt comfort was anybody's mind during the 79' fastnet.

No doubt, at least not after Bishop Rock. I was thinking of the ride from Portland Bill to the Bishop, however. N'any case, good luck!

 

[PCP]

Dreamt of sailing the world, on your own boat....yeh, me too.

I have the boat. A classic late 70's racing yacht, Police Car: Google - "RB Sailing Police Car" for photos and a blog detailing the boats history..

On offer is an opportunity to buy a share in the boat and join the project of cleaning and preparing the old girl before setting off to make that dream a reality.

So, if you've got a bit of time or money, an offer or an idea I'd love to hear it...

You mean this one?

RB Sailing: Police Car (Dubois 42)

Was this the "Police Car" that was part of the Ozzie Admirals Cup team during the '79 Fastnet? If so, I seem to recall she was knocked down to 120º or better a quarter-dozen times or more during that race, No? Uncomfortable as hell at sea if I recall correctly, eh?

If she was knocked down several times to 120º several and always come back that says well of the boat. On that race there were lots of boats that would not come back from a 110º knock down and would be rolled.

Regards

Paulo

 

[the-zak]

That's the one I suggested googling about in the original post. I can't post links unfortunatly.

She is a tuff old bird, loves a blow. Shame to see her as she is, needing a mission!

 

[svHyLyte]

...

If she was knocked down several times to 120º several and always come back that says well of the boat. On that race there were lots of boats that would not come back from a 110º knock down and would be rolled.

Regards

Paulo

Paulo,

In addition to handsome, Police Car was an exceptionally fast yacht for her (IOR) Rating and was already around Fastnet and headed home with several of the much larger yachts (e.g.Tenacious) by the time the worst of the storm hit (estimated at Force 11-12 or better by many of the crews) though she sailed through the height of it. The yacht was exceptionally strong, and well handled in the event but (then) rather notably short on creature comforts. (FWIW, over 48% of the fleet reported knock downs to 90º or more and, if I recall, 38 or more were completely rolled, 20+ of which were subsequently abandoned--out of a total of 24 abandonment's--tho' all but one was later recovered. If you recall, 5 yachts were sunk).

N'any case, she'd no doubt be a fun yacht to sail.

 

[SloopJonB]

Any boat that not only survived the '79 Fastnet but actually did well can be regarded as seaworthy I'd say. You're unlikely to ever run into survival conditions like that if you pay attention to weather forecasts.

That said, not what I'd regard as a world cruiser. Sure would be fun around here on a summer day though.

 

[svHyLyte]

I've raced on a number of IOR One-tonners like Police Car, and they were all very challenging to race with a full crew. Would I want to sail one of those "Broach Coaches" around the world short handed? No Thanks! You've got bigger balls than I!

Good luck!

Actually, many of the IOR era boats make pretty good fast cruisers and particularly the "two ton" boats. For example, take a look at the Serendipity 43, Wings. Similarly, our own boat, a First 42, was also originally designed as a fast (IOR) Racer/Cruiser. She is very fast, even with just my wife and I managing her; and, she is a very comfortable cruiser as well.

With a little work, Police Car might serve quite "admirably" as a fast cruiser.

 

[SchockT]

Actually, many of the IOR era boats make pretty good fast cruisers and particularly the "two ton" boats. For example, take a look at the Serendipity 43, Wings. Similarly, our own boat, a First 42, was also originally designed as a fast (IOR) Racer/Cruiser. She is very fast, even with just my wife and I managing her; and, she is a very comfortable cruiser as well.

With a little work, Police Car might serve quite "admirably" as a fast cruiser.

I agree, many of the IOR Racer/Cruisers can make great performance cruisers. My boat is an old Half-Tonner, and like your boat, they were designed and built to be dual purpose boats. I remember a particular Davidson designed One Tonner I raced against back in the day that was and probably still is a beautiful cruising boat complete with teak decks and a nice interior. Of course it was no match for the full race IOR boats I was racing on that only had the bare necessities down below...pipe berths, a porta pottie, and structural bracing crisscrossing the interior!

The biggest problem with converting a full-on racing IOR boat is not so much putting the interior into them, although that in itself is more than a little work. It is also the rig. They had massive sailplans and very tall noodles for masts. Even if you ran smaller sails you are still dealing with a mast that requires running backstays and check stays just to keep the mast from folding in half.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it can't be done, but one shouldn't under estimate the amount of time and money it would take to convert one of those old war horses.

 

[the-zak]

I hear you SchockT, there is plenty work..

I liked that: old war horse...she certainly feels like that sometimes!

The interior I'm not too concerned about, it's actually really good..being alloy it's really simple to add 'bulk heads' etc etc...that's just time and effort...I have that.

As you say the bigger issue is the rig...the HUGE mainsail...hard to handle with just two poeple on the boat, though it's been done. Along with the boat came an older dacron main, it's a bit smaller, more manageable. In fact if it where just a little smaller, along with the boom being just that bit shorter it could all run under the backstays...so far this is my plan, that and a furling headsail and I'm thinking it will be ok...

She is a great boat, an absolute blast to sail in her original configuration...and she fly's, especially off the wind. She needs a new life now though, no longer competitive to race and far too 'racy' to cruise about on....

The time and money thing...I guess it's a matter of expectation you know...so long as there is a comfortable place to sleep ( instead of an old pipe birth ) and a warm shower at the end of it I find I can put up with lots

 

[the-zak]

I put together this facebook page. Would be great to hear some stories or see some photos from the old days...

facebook.com/policecaryacht

She's well known the old girl, would seem a shame to loose that history....Maybe a good sailing school boat or just simply taking people out for a days sailing....anybody here got any experience setting up that sort of buisiness...how hard is it really?

 

[PaulinVictoria]

Cool boat. I love seeing photos of the old IOR tubs with their crazy flying sails and exaggerated rule beating shapes. That is how I always picture yacht racing.

 

[the-zak]

For sure PaulinVictoria. I like the volvo races too...Found any IOR sites in particular?

 

[PaulinVictoria]

Nope, there was a great thread over on SA with some really cool IOR boat photos though.

 

[SloopJonB]

There's this;

RB Sailing

 

[the-zak]

Some goold old video's there...