New launch...

Yeah, it s 26 FEET not meters, but it will have an enclosed head, sleeping quarters, and a sink so in many part of the world it is called a yacht

Started the actual built in July 2011, and we launched a few days ago. Sure, most yard will build a megayacht in 2 1/2 years but this is basically a one guy job . Working on the rigging and final details right now but hope to take her for a sail by early next week.

Gaff rigged, centerboard, western red cedar strip planked over divinicel cored frames. Hull and all brightwork is west epoxy / clear Awlgrip for minimum maintenance. Spars are Doug Fir, birdmouth construction for the mast, solid for the boom/gaff/jib, also west/Awlgrip. We tried to use as many US made bits as possible! like the bronze portholes and deck hardware from Maine. Auxiliary propulsion is electric inboard.

Design is inspired by the classic Herreshoffs and hull shape is close to a Fish/Alerion/Sadie/Pleasure but the whole project started with a blank sheet of paper. She was build straight up inside of upside down, and instead of building the hull on a jig and then install the frames I built the frames and backbone then planked on.

I wanted a comfortable day sailor with a big cockpit, a cabin big enough for a 6' Vee birth, and enclosed head (with a door and electric head, not a porta potty under the berth... Yuck!.). Headroom below was not a priority, looks were. I m always amazed to see people buy a cruiser with a big cabin and ridiculously small cockpit just to go out for a Sunday sail with 4 crowding the small cockpit and the other friends hanging on the cabin top...

So far so good! she floats, she looks like I wanted her to look and hopefully she'll sail well

Here is a link to a FB album with pictures. It s public so it should open....

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2102335485286.2121374.1452437519&type=1&l=f5a10e58c8

Here are a few pictures taken today on the first sail!

Another shot

Another one

Thanks guys...

Inspiration for this came from the trips I ve made to the north east. I am always amazed how things change when you get into Long Island sound and you start seeing some real nice classics, both original woodies and more modern ones like Morris and the likes. Spending some times on mooring in Newport and Nantucket has also influenced my taste in boats.

We visited to the Herreshoff museum back in 2011 right when I started the design and I guess seeing what Captain Nat accomplished provided some motivation too.

Another element is the Barnacle and the story of commodore Ralph Munroe. In short he was one of the early settlers of Miami and coconut grove but also a boat designer. His boats played a significant role in the early days of Miami way before roads and he railroad arrived. His home, the barnacle, is now a small state park right here next to Dinner Key and unknown to most, Herreshoff spent a few winters there in his final years and sailing on biscayne bay with boats like Pleasure (preserved at the Herreshoff museum) which he built specifically to bring down for the winter,

As to sailing being too much work, it depends. I put a self tacking jib which means that there is really nothing to do when tacking... Just throw the tiller over and that s it. No need to touch a line...it s as easy as it get. Many people have this idea that sailing is too much hassle, too many lines, etc..l it doesn't have to be. One of the reason it often is that boaters have become too complex in this endless pursuit of the last half knot that can be squeezed output of th boat. It doesn't have to be. There is no reason you can't sail and even tack back an forth without sitting comfortably holding a champagne flute.

Oh, and yes the cockpit has a built in mahogany cooler sized to fit four champagne (or wine) bottles, upright so they can't tip over

Here is a quick clip Naomi shot on Saturday which shows details of the rig.


Sabrosura - YouTube

You are right, but it's not just about sailing. I find FTL too limited for power as well with almost nowhere to anchor for a swim in decent water. OECD you ve gone up an down the ICW a few times, it gets old.

Biscayne bay on the other end is a unique playground.

This why I will never live north of the border