Traditional Irish Yawl Racing

[KPScowley]

Hello all,

I am looking for some help from those more experienced in sailing than I.

The traditional Achill Yawl is a 26 foot wooden sailing boat, which was traditionally sailed on Achill Island, Co.Mayo, on the west coast of Ireland. As far as I can tell it uses a 'Lateen' rig.

As far as racing goes there the only restriction is sail size and boat length. Everything else goes. So the idea is to be initiative.

I grew up dingy sailing on mirrors. The guys who sail the Achill yawl are uninitiated in modern sailing techniques. As an example, they were using 1x1 main sheets (no cleat) when I first started sailing them about 10 years ago, I put a 4x1 with a cleat on our boat, and as you would guess the others quickly followed.

Basically I am looking for tips on how to get the boat sailing faster. I appreciate that I will ahve to give much more information in order for you guys to see what is what. But have a look here: (google images)

https://www.google.com/search?q=ach...ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMI74q5_tnaxwIVgW4UCh1L2wAR

This will give you a general idea of how the boat sails. Also see some videos here:
https://www.google.com/search?q=sai...Ch101Qx-&dpr=1#safe=off&tbm=vid&q=achill+yawl

If anyone is interested in helping out, please let me know

Regards (and greetings from Ireland),
Kevin.

p.s. my email is kpscowley(at)gmail.com

 

[JohnShannon]

Wow, where a 4:1 pull = innovation I dunno. How about a trapeze for more righting moment. Check out Australian 18 footers for design ideas. Take what you can and I suppose you will have an Irish 26 footer.

 

[JohnShannon]

On second thought why can't you just show up with some 26 ft cat and win it al?

Perhaps on third thought you should put the lid on this can of worms, stop the progress and just enjoy your 4:1 purchase and your cleat and your racing.

 

[Brian S]

This video seemed particularly nice. https://youtu.be/-3q3378To2U

I thought they should pole out the clew with a whisker pole of some kind for a reach or run, and then I saw them actually do that. Maybe something lighter like aluminum, rather than that fairly thick square wood pole? The other thing I noticed was there don't appear to be any tell-tales on the luff or leech of the sails, to indicate when you've got good flow on the sails. Of course, if you really want to get competitive, you'll need to get regular crew and practice. Practice hoisting that sail quickly. Gybing quickly and efficiently. Going out with a GPS and practicing different points of sail, watching telltales, and seeing if any changes to trim would speed up the boat, even a quarter knot. It's funny how it is a lateen rig, but with a loose luff on the lower quarter. I know they race dhows with lateen rigs in Arabic countries, I wonder if they have any particular techniques or rigs that could help you (though their spar runs the entire length of the luff.) The problem you may run into, trying to develop something like, say, an airfoil shaped carbon fiber spar for less turbulence at the luff and better pointing, will be the traditionalists who take umbrage!

 

[Brian S]

Also, these are lovely, lovely boats! Thanks for bringing them to my attention.