Great Cove was calm early this morning, but the excitement was palpable – there she was, the first student sailboat that the WoodenBoat School has launched since the pre-Covid 19 season of 2019:
She’s also the only WBS sailboat launched so far. However, more of the School’s impressive small fleet are being spiffied up to enter the water soon. The first WoodenBoat day of the 2021 season starts on May 30. In the interim, proud WBS alumni have been helping to get the school ready for this year’s lucky students.
The double-ender shown above is Swifty, a 19’6” (waterline) Caledonia Yawl with a 6’2” beam (widest part). She was built by WBS students in 2014 and named after their instructor, Gordon Swift. She’s extraordinarily good at light air sailing and sailing to windward. She also has an unusual (and big) push-pull tiller – pulling the tiller forward turns the boat to port; pushing it back will straighten the boat out or turn it to starboard.
Leighton Archive Image
Yesterday, in light rain, Cracker Jack (green) and Fox (red) were out of storage and waiting to have their varnish work completed. These Haven Class sailboats, which run 15’11” at the waterline, were designed by famed Brooklin naval architect Joel White.
The Havens are variations of Nathanael Herreshoff’s beloved 12’6” sloops, which also run 16 feet overall. However, the Havens have centerboards for practicality (shallow-water sailing and easier trailering) and a slightly wider beam for more stability while students learn to sail. Here are Cracker Jack and Fox archive images:
(Brooklin, Maine)