The Ideal Raid Boat
January 28th, 2006
Does this exist? Doubtful, but possible.
I recall a comment last year from Lynn Watson, something like “Don’t bother bringing a sailing boat to a rowing race!”
Is it a rowboat, or a sailboat, or a combination? This will be heavily influenced by the class and handicapping structure that the particular boat will race under. Not to mention the ability of her crew, and weather conditions that the race is run in. Of course for most of us, the ideal Raid boat is the one we currently own. But many folks are not afraid of taking on the construction of a new idealized vessel, based on how things went in the race last year.
I currently know of 4-5 new construction projects for the 2006 Shipyard Raid. All are very light displacement boats, easily rowed by multiple pairs of oars, yet with lots of sail area for high performance sailing if and when there is any wind. As luck would have it I am the designer of record for one of these projects, you will see it here soon.
At the same time I’m worrying about how to rate these boats fairly against the heavy longboats from the Wooden Boat Foundation in Port Townsend. And what about the straight rowboats? Is there a box rule in the Raid’s future, or just one-design classes? Both cool and interesting ideas.
Take care, Tad