Windsong
14
A Lugger With A Difference
LOD: 14ft Beam:
5ft Sail Area: Sloop
101.68sqft Cat Rigged 71.71sqft
Initially, the inspiration for the
Windsong design was going to be from an old boat, seen lying
sad and derelict on the shores of the Golfe du Morbihan.
However, following a discussion at an OGA
meeting over whether the lug rig was outdated and nothing
but an old sheet hung on a stick, or was the lugger a
powerful and efficient rig that still had a place in today's
sailing world? The die was cast and the challenge accepted,
Windsong metamorphosed into this exciting,
14ft lugger.
It possibly the case that the lug sail is almost forgotten in mainstream boats and is often thought of as a somewhat ponderous ‘workboat’ rig, which could not be
further from the truth. The lug is a very powerful rig and when set up correctly can produce some very fast, exciting sailing and has good
windward performance. Some of our medal winning Olympic sailors cut their teeth in competitive lug rigged fleets on the South Coast.
Windsong has good buoyancy in the shoulders and the pronounced mast rake gives lift to the bow off the wind. An added
advantage to the rake is improved windward performance as discovered by the Loch Fyne herring boats and Breton luggers, both of
which had a long windward plug out to the fishing grounds and where the lug rig continued to be developed.
Adaptability
Windsong has been designed to be as adaptable as possible, catering for different sailing requirements and weather conditions. Using the
same mainsail, she can be rigged as a sloop for two handed gentle or exciting sailing, or cat rigged for single handed use and for sailing
in stronger winds. A simple operation converts from sloop to cat rig. Stow the jib and bowsprit and move the unstayed mast to its
forward position, hoist the mainsail and off you go. Two or three reefs will allow further adaptability.
Rig
The lightweight, unstayed rig means rigging and de-rigging is simple and straight forward, enabling you to be on the water and sailing
while others are still setting up the knitting on the hard.
The mast is of hollow timber construction with a box section carbon core, providing strength and stiffness to withhold unstayed stresses without adding unnecessary weight aloft. The relatively high aspect ratio lug rig sail plan is powerful and yet simple to set up and use with full sail trimming from just three control lines
and the mainsheet.
Construction
Environmentally friendly construction using sustainable sourced timber and plant based epoxy resin, with the use of re-useable plastics
kept to a minimum.
Utilising lightweight epoxy glass sheathed 6mm cedar strip construction, with built in buoyancy, Windsong is light yet robust and has
low maintenance requirements.
Windsong Prototype
A prototype was built over the winter/spring of 2020/2021. Following successful trials at Burnham Overy Staithe, the Windsong dinghy was featured in the January 2022 edition of Classic Boat Magazine.
There are now confirmed orders for a further five Windsong dinghies.
It possibly the case that the lug sail is almost forgotten in mainstream boats and is often thought of as a somewhat ponderous ‘workboat’ rig, which could not be
further from the truth. The lug is a very powerful rig and when set up correctly can produce some very fast, exciting sailing and has good
windward performance. Some of our medal winning Olympic sailors cut their teeth in competitive lug rigged fleets on the South Coast.
Windsong has good buoyancy in the shoulders and the pronounced mast rake gives lift to the bow off the wind. An added
advantage to the rake is improved windward performance as discovered by the Loch Fyne herring boats and Breton luggers, both of
which had a long windward plug out to the fishing grounds and where the lug rig continued to be developed.
Adaptability
Windsong has been designed to be as adaptable as possible, catering for different sailing requirements and weather conditions. Using the
same mainsail, she can be rigged as a sloop for two handed gentle or exciting sailing, or cat rigged for single handed use and for sailing
in stronger winds. A simple operation converts from sloop to cat rig. Stow the jib and bowsprit and move the unstayed mast to its
forward position, hoist the mainsail and off you go. Two or three reefs will allow further adaptability.
Rig
The lightweight, unstayed rig means rigging and de-rigging is simple and straight forward, enabling you to be on the water and sailing
while others are still setting up the knitting on the hard.
The mast is of hollow timber construction with a box section carbon core, providing strength and stiffness to withhold unstayed stresses without adding unnecessary weight aloft. The relatively high aspect ratio lug rig sail plan is powerful and yet simple to set up and use with full sail trimming from just three control lines
and the mainsheet.
Construction
Environmentally friendly construction using sustainable sourced timber and plant based epoxy resin, with the use of re-useable plastics
kept to a minimum.
Utilising lightweight epoxy glass sheathed 6mm cedar strip construction, with built in buoyancy, Windsong is light yet robust and has
low maintenance requirements.
Windsong Prototype
A prototype was built over the winter/spring of 2020/2021. Following successful trials at Burnham Overy Staithe, the Windsong dinghy was featured in the January 2022 edition of Classic Boat Magazine.
There are now confirmed orders for a further five Windsong dinghies.