Collective Spirit

[LadyInBed]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-17981130

[Twister_Ken]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-17981130

"People have also been desperate to have a go on the tiller because that's where the Jimi Hendrix bit is."

Given Jimi Hendrix's reputation as a swordsman, the mind boggles!

[jellyellie]

This is the most worrying bit:

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/and...irit-1-3816472

"The crew have been voted on by the public. Captain Mike Barham, 42, of Gosport, said: ‘The name and the look of the boat is unique.

‘I’ve never been at the helm of a boat before so I’m a complete novice. I’m excited about the challenge ahead.’"

[FlowerPower]

Hmmm, in what way is he "Captain"

[Camelia]

Hmmm, in what way is he "Captain"

He got the public vote, a bit like Strictly Come Dancing.

We now have "Strictly Come Sailing" and I am still looking forward to Strictly Scottish Country Dancing.

[Seajet]

Hmmm, in what way is he "Captain"

Simple, it says so on his hat, doesn't it ?!

[emsworthy]

Simple, it says so on his hat, doesn't it ?!

I'd have thought that with an Olympic silver medalist and a solo circumnavigator kicking around in the background he won't be short of sailing lessons and advice.

Looks quite a quick boat though similar to J or something, certainly not a plodding cruiser.

[armchairsailor]

Reminds me of a Corby.

Hopefully we won't have "Strictly come a-rescuing".

Is the exterior a veneer, or is it like that all the way through? If so, there would be a lot of potential joints to break, epoxy or no.

[Twister_Ken]

Is the exterior a veneer, or is it like that all the way through? If so, there would be a lot of potential joints to break, epoxy or no.

Veneer on Western Red Cedar base I seem to recall from LIBS.

[JesseLoynes]

Afraid the details tend to get distorted in the reselling, so...

Just as a quick clear up..

Mike Barham is an experienced skipper, with many miles in the book, and came to the project as one of a short list commended by the RYA. Some members of the crew were inexperienced sailors, but have had plenty of training now from both Mike and Mark Covell.

And the hull is 15mm cedar strip planking, built with a 10mm step in the topsides to provide a rebate for the donations that are used there. They were cut, planed and sanded down to the correct thickness by a wonderful team of volunteers over several months! The pieces were then fitted together, before being epoxied in place using a vacuum bag to get even pressure and excellent adhesion across all the pieces.

She does sail fairly quickly, and is a delight to helm.

And it was great fun!