Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Tumlaren, Flygburen


One boat stole my heart before I ever saw her. I'd have to confess, Flygburen was the best of the PT Wooden Boat Fest; 2012.

This Tumlaren was built in Kirkland, WA by Richard and Andy McConkey between 1985 and 1993. The Tumlaren is a 22 foot square meter designed after the "skjaergaardskrysser" (loosely translated as "skerry cruiser"), a  narrow, easily driven, light displacement sailboat common to the Skerry Islands of Sweden.


Knud Reimers designed the Tumlaren in 1936. Originally a carvel-planked boat, Flygburen was built cold molded, using four layers of Western Red Cedar veneers over a Douglas Fir frame.

The Tumlaren incorporated the long and narrow efficiency of a koster, with those of the even faster Square Meter yachts that where popular in Scandinavia at the time.




The Skerry Cruiser, like the Folkboat, was created for sailing in protected waters.

About the Skerry Islands, history tells us:
"...the Skerries is everywhere marked with detached rocks of various sizes, which stand up amidst the sea to tell us modems that this skeleton-like archipelago was probably at some remote period one continuous island of no mean extent. However interesting to the geologist and dangerous to the navigator, some of these rocks are of considerable practical utility."
Dr Robert Cowie (1874)

The intricate passages of the Skerries - around rocks and islands - require boats that are handy to tack and close winded, boats that accelerate quickly, using each puff of wind whispering around rock outcroppings and through the trees.


One detail really struck me, so I asked Andy why the headstay on Flygburen was mounted aft of the bow.
He told me:
"The racing design was based upon a sail area requirement, with no restriction on waterline length. Many of the square meter boats had similar headstay arrangements. A positive byproduct of the headstay location is the ease of flying an asymmetrical spinnaker from a turning block off the bow."




As for the lines of this "tumlaren-sterned" beauty, for once, I'm speechless.


Year built:       1993
Builders:          Andy and Richard McConkey
Designer:         Knud Reimers
LOA:               27'-10"
Beam:              6'-0"
Draft:               3'6"



In the first photo above, rafted up to Flygburen , we see more of Andy's handiwork, a Doug Hylan "Beach Pea". Andy has another important project coming up, so we'll check in with him later. Thanks go to him for the photos of his fine vessel, at anchor.


"Look from the land, and there are the green isles or dark rocks, gently sleeping on the bosom of the deep blue sea. Its gentle waves are here and there speckled by the white sail of the fishermen, as they go to and from the scene of their labours and trials. Overhead is the summer’s sun, pouring down his bright and cheering, but not scorching and enervating rays, to gladden all nature around. Sounds there are none, save the distant bleating of the sheep, the lowing of the cattle, the neighing of the ponies as they career through their native hills, or the cackling of the seagull; or if, perchance, you walk along the strand after the breeze has given place to the calm, your ears aid you in fully appreciating the notable line of Homer. Stand on the same hill on a stormy December day, and the scene is greatly changed There are the wild waves tossing their white-crested heads mountains high, and rushing on with the speed of a racehorse, till, dashing with the force of their mighty artillery against the lofty cliffs, they heave their white foam high into the air and far over the hills. Such a scene is conceived by the poet when he says, 'And Thule bellows to her utmost isles/ Woe to the hapless mariner who has such a coast for his lee-shore!' "
Dr Robert Cowie (1874) 

10 comments:

Bruce said...

That is a fast and fun boat to sail. Andy was kind enough to take me out during the schooner race and we really flew along.

So Michael, is Andy going to tell you the tale of Ted and Alice?

-Bruce

doryman said...

I think that's your department Bruce.

Glenn said...

The little double ender in the first photo is a Doug Hylan designed Beach Pea, sister to my daughter's boat. We've got a friend on the island with a Shearwater, I know the difference. Besides, I remember the boat from the show this year.

Glenn

doryman said...

Glenn,
I've had a nice conversation with Andy McConkey and you are dead-on. He indeed owns a Beach Pea that he built - there may be no end to his resourcefulness. The Shearwater I mentioned is also in his fleet, a prolific builder.

I feel a Beach Pea post coming on......

Denis said...

I came close to buying a Tamlaren a few years back, it was close, but decided it was just too much boat for me. Thanks for the endless picks and stories of your travels. How's the melon seed coming along?

doryman said...

Hi Denis!
I think a lot of people are intimidated by a fix keeled boat. It's a marriage of sorts. A big responsibility.

The weather has turned nasty here, so I'm moving back to the melonseed project, which is the only project I have that's indoors (if you call a porch indoors).
I'm working on the deck framing and it's turning out very nice. I've recently uploaded a few new pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26687363@N05/sets/72157628426015787/

Denis said...

Just checked the new photos, looking great. My mast will run through the forward floatation compartment so I've designed a similar sealed mast box that will drain into the centre case. With the lug sail mast further aft than a Sprit, the mast box, partner and centre case all become one assembly. Had to have a re think on deck camber after discovering I had a major lump at the pointy end, a more modest camber has fixed the issue. The weather here is on the up and if work demands back of a bit I'll be back into my seed.

Happy building........

doryman said...

Denis,
Though his design for Zephyr employs a sprit-boom rig, Sam Devlin places his mast against the CB case, too. That would simplify construction and it will be much better to have the water draining down the mast flushing out the trunk.
As it is, I'll need a good tight mast boot. Not a big problem, but one more thing to fiddle with at the dock during set-up.

I look forward to your progress. Your 'seed is much prettier than mine and a joy to behold.

Denis said...

The Devlin 'seed and Joel's blog is where my project started. Lovely little craft, but it seems to me to be one plank shy. Your design is what I'd tried to achieve with my many hours of drawing efforts, but couldn't seem to find the sweet lines. In the end I gave up and went smooth hull. Hope you can get to complete yours over winter. Looking forward to seeing her first sailing trials..

Kim Mullins said...

Gratefful for sharing this