St Ayles Skiff, Doineann

Shortly after this blog began, almost a decade ago, I became enamored of Iain Oughtred's Ness Yawl . The Ness Yawl has taken Doryman readers through many voyages. (If you took the time to follow that link, welcome back!)
In the intervening years, Iain, who was then an internet no-show, has become possibly the most popular small boat designer in the world. And once again I find myself drooling over a new design from the Master, his beautiful sharpie, Haiku.
She's exquisite, but that's a subject for another day.

While I was writing extensively about the Ness Yawl, Iain designed the St Ayles Skiff. The Scottish Coastal Rowing Association was formed on 29 May 2010, to encourage boat building and rowing and racing of coastal rowing boats along the Scottish Coastline. Communities were encouraged to become involved in the building of new boats to be rowed, principally the St Ayles skiff.

Doryman was quick to promote this extraordinary design and though hundreds of these boats have been built globally, only two St Ayles Skiffs exist on the west coast of the US, Doryman's cruising grounds. Both were built in Portland, Oregon at the Wind and Oar Boat School .

The first boat off the molds at WOBS (Rosie) lives in Portland, rowed regularly by the team of women who built her. The second St Ayles Skiff to come out of that shop was Doineann (Irish for tempest or storm), built for her proud owner, Julius Dalzell. The following update from Julius is the answer to my suggestion that the St Ayles Skiff might make a great sail-and-oar boat, if only she had a sail rig.

"Hi Michael,

It has been sometime since our last communication. As you may recall, Doineann was the second St. Ayles skiff built by the Wind and Oar and Oar School. My wife and I decided upon retirement, in July 2014, to move to a favorable locale, in Cathlamet, Washington for a variety of reasons, not the least being the beauty and boating opportunities of the Lower Columbia River. A significant aspect of our new abode was the availability of a large shop. Today it is a home and restoration facility for small craft.

Of course Doineann is one of the permanent residents. And yes, we did proceed to design and make a sail-rig for Doineann.

Before proceeding with the story, you might be impressed to know that we have a regular crew rowing Doineann, most having little prior rowing experience. We find that performance is outstanding regardless of wind or chop. She slices through anything with little fuss. Totally enjoyable.

We started with an e-mail exchange with Iain Oughtred himself. Iain warned that the craft was designed for rowing, not sailing, and would be tender, so recommended a small lug sail, maybe something around 90 sq. ft.. Iain stated that the existing keel might be sufficient to support lateral stability with minor leeway. He wasn’t sure how she would tack because of her wide turning radius.

We decided to go low budget. After considering many sail designs, our choice was an 85 sq. ft. balanced lug.

The mast was a used item acquired from a builder. Quite the specimen, ugly but it works. A sail was ordered from Lee Sails. I insisted that the sail be mounted without use of fittings or attachments. No screws, nails, brackets or drilled holes. In other words, no intrusions that would impact the original design.

The mast partner we devised uses the kabe support at the forward rowing station, using the kabes and pins incorporated into each rowing station at the gunnel. The mast step slips into the floor boards below. So, on a fine August day, we took to the river for the first sail. In a fresh, accommodating wind, her response was beyond expectations. She went like mad with five adults aboard. The existing steering rudder, though designed for rowing, performed well.The boat was not tender, in fact quite stable regardless of wind on any quarter. We had a ball!

Tacking was a challenge. Because of the long keel, she took her time. Speed would drop off and we would be in irons, propelled in reverse. Throwing the rudder over steered her in reverse through the tack. The sail would again fill and we were off. Too much rudder did nothing but enhance the stall, acting as a brake. The answer to a successful tack was two fold - lots of speed going into the tack, and finessing the rudder. A slow tack became doable.

The materials I used for gaff and boom are too light. Currently another gaff and boom are under construction. Three strips of tight grain fir to be epoxied and shaped.

So, Michael, that is the Doineann story to date. My expectations for the craft are progressing!"

Thank you Julius for that update. It's obvious you love your boat and it's easy to see why.
Of course the St Ayles Skiff is a one-design racing machine, so Julius was careful to keep the design legal for racing. He looks forward to the day when more St Ayles are built and racing here in the US. (me too!)

Meanwhile, the Haiku is calling me. Isn't she a beauty?

Wind and Oar Boat School

It's been a while since we had an update on the activities at the Wind and Oar Boat School in Portland, Oregon. Recently, Peter Crim, founder and executive director set me a note outlining last summer's activities:

"At one point in July, I had four boats under construction at the same time, the Vivier Ebihen 16 and three Bevin Skiffs. I had six instructors and was running between all of the builds almost daily. The final launch was October 5 with the Ebihen and the SEI Bevin, built with sophomores at Jefferson H. S. It was another beautiful day for a launch, although the winds were rather light. The staff (myself and two instructors) took the Ebihen out for another sail on Friday, 11/22, and made up for the lack of wind. It was blowing 28-34 and we really tested the rig, which performed great."

"The class that built the Ebihen turned out to be terrific. It took them thirteen weeks, plus one for fitting out, to have it ready for the show we put on in Pioneer Courthouse Square on Oct. 3. After the launch, we spent another three weeks fine tuning, without the kids. The funding source for the project was Worksystems Inc. and they were really excited about the outcome. Most kids said this project was why they got up in the morning. Here's a video taken at the mid point and at the final events:"

About the same time, Jennifer Anderson of the Portland Tribune wrote an excellent article entitled "Unsinkable Skills" , outlining Wind and Oar's mission.

In July, five of the original "Rosies", builders of the first Wind and Oar boat, traveled to Scotland to participate in the Skiffie Worlds competition with sixty St Ayles Skiffs. By all accounts they had a great time. Who won't?! Wish I'd been there myself.

For your enjoyment, here are a few shots of the  Vivier Ebihen 16 under sail. Thank you, Peter!

Doineann , the second St Alyes Skiff launched in Portland

Doineann (Gaelic for "Storm"), a St Alyes Skiff, was launched last Sunday, in Portland, Oregon.
She is the eighth St Alyes skiff built in the US and the second on the west coast.
These boats were built at the Wind and Oar Boat School, a non-profit run by director Peter Crim, by the teams that will race them.

The first boat to come out of the school was Rosie, whose all-woman team will be participating in the Skiffie Worlds next month in Ullapool, Scotland. Rosie joined Doineann on the Willamette River, with Portland in the background, as the new team tested their fine craft for the first time.

Congratulations to the builders of Doineann and also to the Wind and Oar Boat School!

Wind and Oar Boat School

The Wind and Oar Boat School in Portland, Oregon is building their second St Ayles Skiff.





Peter Crim, school founder, sent me an update on the activities at the newest, non-profit boat building school in the Pacific Northwest. He's pretty excited to be building the second St Ayles Skiff on the west coast of the US and also the second for the Wind and Oar Boat School.

The first boat for the school was a St Ayles, built by a team of women and named Rosie. Now Rosie will have some competition. Friendly community competition is what the St Ayles Skiff is all about!

We've been following the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project for about two years now. Quite frankly, I've lost track of how many of these fine rowing boats from the board of Iain Oughtred have been built. The fever (yes, I believe we could call more than forty boats in two years, a fever...) has spread around the world. You may remember that I had the pleasure of crewing on one and it was apparent right away why the boat is so popular.


Laying in the shear plank.........

...Toasting the whiskey plank.........



 WoodenBoat has come out in support with their Boatbuilding and Rowing Challenge. There will be a North American Championship June 28-30, 2013 at the WoodenBoat Show, in Mystic, Connecticut.

...Laying up the keel..........


The  Scottish Coastal Rowing and World Skiff Championships on Loch Broom, Scotland will be held July 8th-14th, 2013 this summer.

Don't you think it's time for your community to join the races? All good fun.

Peter Crim will be teaching a new class of boatbuilders this spring, on yet another St Ayles! If you want to get in on the action, please contact him at the Wind and Oar Boat School.

Rosie's sister-ship. Isn't she beautiful?

For an excellent account of the St Ayles Skiff in open waters, we have a story of crossing the Firth of Forth, from Elsie Johnston.

The Wind and Oar Boat School

At the The Wind and Oar Boat School in Portland, Oregon, US, winter projects are underway. As you may remember, this is the boat building school that completed a St Ayles Skiff last summer. There will be another class building the St Ayles soon. If you are interested and live close to Portland, please check the website link above and contact the school.

Peter Crim, founder of the Wind and Oar Boat School contacted me recently to update us on an interesting restoration project currently underway, a 1940's vintage International 14 sailboat.

The International 14 was designed by Uffa Fox as a racing class. It was the first boat to be constructed using the hot-molded method of laminate plywood construction. The hull is made up of five layers of diagonally laid mahogany strips, similar to it's near cousin, Sandy Douglas' Thistle.



This old boat needed quite a bit of loving care and you can tell from the photos that the folks at the Wind and Oar Boat School are the loving kind.

More reconstruction photos of this classic gem can be found here.

This course continues through February with a completion deadline of March 1, 2012. Some woodworking experience is required and I believe they could still use a little help. The course is structured so you can participate as much as you like.
To register:
info@windandoar.org








In another mid-winter class recently offered by Dave Miller, each student made a wooden block plane.
I'll bet that was fun!












Also from the syllabus - Travis Mitchell taught a class in building a Greenland style kayak paddle. Starting with a laminated blank of attractive woods and a pattern, a rough cut paddle was fashioned using a special 8-siding jig, the square blank was then shaped and finished with planes and spoke shaves.






New classes are shaping up for the upcoming spring and summer.
Please contact the nonprofit Wind and Oar Boat School at
info@windandoar.org

Rosie Splashes in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon, US is called the "City of Roses" and has a huge rose garden overlooking the city and the Willamette River, which runs through it. Roses can be found everywhere in Portland this time of year.








The Willamette River was the scene last Saturday for the launch of Rosie, the second St Ayles Skiff to hit the water in the US and the 26th boat to be built from this hugely popular one-design, worldwide.





The women's red scarves recall Rosie the Riveter, an icon from WWII celebrating the women whos manual labor kept the US economy alive while the men were fighting.
This team of women are from the first class to build a boat in the newly formed, not-for-profit, Wind and Oar Boat School - the first boat for the School and the first boat for the women, most of whom had never built anything in their lives.



I have said many times that building boats builds community, builds character and brings out the best in people. Here is the proof.




The new boat was christened with pure water, to avoid contributing to the industrial pollution of this old working river.









I have had the privilege of being a consultant on this project, but please don't tell anyone that I had hoped, from the first, to be allowed to row the finished boat.








My dream came true Saturday. You are witness to one very happy Doryman.


Thank you, Wind and Oar Boat School and thank you, Rosies!







Good Luck and may the Wind be always at your Back!



Rosie was launched at the Willamette Sailing Club, just upriver from downtown Portland.






Mary made up this video of the launch.
The first musical piece is "Preludio" by Archangelo Corelli.

The second tune is "The Skye Boat Song" a traditional Scottish song played by solo flute. This traditional Scottish song recalls the escape of the young pretender Charles Edward Stewart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) after his defeat at Culloden in 1746. Aided by Flora MacDonald, Prince Charles escaped to the Isle of Skye in a small boat, in the disguise of a maid-servant.
"The Skye Boat Song" was first published in 1884, with lyrics written by Sir Harold Boulton to an air collected by Miss Annie MacLeod in the 1870s. It is said that Miss MacLeod was on a trip to the Isle of Skye and was being rowed over Loch Coruisk when the rowers broke into a Gaelic rowing song called “Cuachag nan Craobh” (The Cuckoo in the Grove). She set down only what she remembered of the air when she arrived at her destination, and this is probably why, while the first half of the tune is actually believed to be an old sea shanty, the other half is traditionally attributed to Miss MacLeod.

The third song is "Rosie the Riveter" by The Tillers, a group based in Cincinnati.

Launching "Rosie" at the Willamette Sailing Club from doryman on Vimeo.

And if you haven't had enough, here is the slideshow: