Flotsam & Jetsam 08.05.26
When the Ngalawas Sail
How a traditional boat racing festival is reviving Indigenous Ocean knowledge for the future.
Words and Puictures by CeCe Siago
A beautiful scene of turquoise blue waters against clear skies on a hot Sunday morning along Diani Beach in Kenya.
The winds are already strong as groups of young people and musicians gather beside rows of Ngalawas, traditional outrigger canoes that embody Swahili seafaring heritage, anchored on the sand. The boats dot the white sandy shores with their white lateen sails gently swaying in the breeze, standing out against the bright blue ocean and sky. A sense of anticipation plays around the rippling material, as the audience grows excited. Fishermen adjust sails as children watch, waiting expectantly for the annual Regatta. The air is filled with sounds of drums, flutes and trumpets, wind whistling in the background, carrying the music.
SPIKE AFRICA
Thanks to Jamie Thompson for pointing us to this 15 minute mini doco about the famous Schooner SPIKE AFRICA, the characters who built her and made her a legend. You can somehow forgive the overly dramatic Hollywood style voice over because the content is so earthy. Enjoy!
What Happened to Henry B Nevins’ Boat Polly? Rescuing a Master Yachtbuilder’s Final Boat
Sailing off the coast of Maine, owner Peter Gallant at the helm. Credit: Tyler Fields
Another great article offered for free from the UK based Classic Boat Magazine
New York legend, Henry B Nevins, designed and built Polly for himself, sadly he would have little time to enjoy her. He would, surely though, be happy with where his boat found saviour. nHer current custodian, boatbuilder Peter Gallant, rescued her from ruin and brings a story and style that seamlessly merges with that of this beautiful 55ft sloop. Before Polly, Peter had long sought to not only maintain classic yachts but also find more enduring solutions to their upkeep and resistance to the ravages of salt and time.
His own boats served as test beds as he looked for better solutions, similarly the modern generation of boatbuilders, even sending test panels to the heat of the tropics, but always with a respect for traditional methods and workmanship. This desire and expertise was poured into the restoration of Polly, a yacht that may well have served as a development project for Nevins himself.
Restoring PETREL Episode 14
In this Episode Larry visits Auckland Wooden Boat Festival and get a sail on RAWHITI and revel in the majesty of the Auckland Classic fleet. Then its back to reality with finishing of the roof to the cabin .
The New Physics of Speed: A Masterclass in Modern Sail Technology
This “FirstBeat” Substack post from Stuart Greenfield brings back some memories. It’s long but its worth every word, if you are interested in winning long races. And it resonates personally as we live and cruise aboard a boat with 140% overlapping genoas, inline shrouds and check stays!
It was the summer of 1987. I was the tactician on Giant Panda, a Two Ton Admiral’s Cup boat designed by Hugh Welbourn.
This was the start of the RORC Fastnet Race.
We had a midday start off the Squadron Line in the Solent, just off Cowes. The wind was a light south-westerly, around 8 knots. We started with our No.1 genoa , a large 150% overlapping sail, very much the fashion at the time, alongside a full mainsail. With the hydraulic backstay fully wound on, we were set up for a tight beat towards Cowes Green, staying in the shallower water where the last of the flood tide was weakest so gave a slight advantage over those in deeper water or starting at the North end of the line.
Giant Panda Today - 150% overlapping genoas, inline shrouds and check stays as she was when first raced in the Admiral’s Cup in 1985 when she won her class in the Fastnet
This was typical Fastnet start geometry in those days, boats pushing into the inshore shallows just before the tide turned favourable.
As we approached the Green on starboard tack, the depth dropped away quickly. We called for water and prepared to tack out into slightly deeper water. With 30 or 40 other Class 2 boats doing exactly the same thing, it was hectic.
We had 12 people onboard, with five fully engaged in every tack. By the time we reached Gurnard Ledge, we’d already completed over 20 tacks, rotating grinders, trimmers, and tailers just to keep the manoeuvres clean. The team looked strong, but already working hard. Those big overlapping genoas demanded real physical effort.
But as tactician, I had to call something far more demanding.
In the 20 minutes since the start, the wind had built to over 16 knots. With the tide now turning and increasing apparent wind and load on the rig, Giant Panda was seriously over-canvassed, heeling too much, loading the helm, and no longer pointing effectively.
We needed an immediate headsail change.
We were still in the deeper water heading down towards Hurst Narrows, where the tide and wind both funnel and increase. With a twin-groove Harken headstay (a Tuff Luff system), we could pre-load the No.2 genoa, already rigged with sheets and ready to hoist. This sail had a shorter foot and heavier cloth, better suited to the building conditions.
The plan was precise: hoist the new sail in the second groove while on port tack, tack onto starboard, and immediately drop the old genoa inside the new one, never losing drive, never leaving the boat underpowered.
This wasn’t a small job but the ‘tack set’ was a well practise routine on all race boats of the time
It took the bowman, the mastman, and at least three others to set up, manage, and execute, all while sailing at over 8 knots through the water, with 3 knots of tide underneath us, surrounded by 30 other boats doing exactly the same thing.
You don’t get that wrong.
We had practised it extensively. But after the relentless tacking duel from the start, and an earlier sail change in a Solent sea state already putting water on deck , the crew were beginning to fatigue a little.
The Hapless, Heroic Columbus of the South
Thanks to The Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network for alerting us to this enlightening 42 minute Podcast…
Henrik Bull was a spectacularly unsuccessful Southern Ocean whaler. But during his travels, he stepped foot on an unexplored continent. And on his return, his exploits inspired the great Age of Antarctic Exploration. The State Library's Andrew McConville tells the remarkable tale.
The polar ship " Antartic " on a postcard from Gothenburg in connection with her departure for the first Swedish Antarctic research expedition