Beating, Running, Reaching and Breaking Speed Records in a Drascombe Lugger!

We head off from our sheltered anchorage at the Enchanted Forest and back into the fray!
A bit of beating to get us down to the bottom of the lake is followed by a Gybe putting a string wind onto our backs. We test out the Jib stick for a bit of wing on wing running and see what thats like with the Mizzen in and out.
We then head home and do a few circuits, beam reaching to and fro, across the lake. We break our Lugger speed limit which was super exhilarating!
Who said you can't have fun in a Lugger!!!
00:00 Weighing anchor
02:58 Back into the fray!
04:07 My beating technique
05:57 It's raining...Hard!
08:36 Tacking into the South Bay
09:16 We're Reaching!
10:21 Running "Wing-on-wing" with the jib stick
14:45 Wing-On-Wing Without the Mizzen
18:15 We need a bigger jib stick!
18:32 A mad surfer!
19:25 Sailing through the moorings!
21:02 6.9MPH!
21:46 He's back and crashes!!
23:33 Home we go!

[@mutley192]

2 bungys left and right on the tiller Dave

[@stuartmenziesfarrant]

Good to see that view with your ensign flag flying!

[@roberteastwood9886]

Tiller Tamer! I've been thinking the same for whatever boat I get.

[@SailingWithDave]

Yes I think you need something because you do need to move forward sometimes and a tiller tamer buys you just enough time to sort something out. I also think when heaving to. Being able to fix the rudder in different places may help her bow into the wind better.

[@steelbeamlifterbeamlifter4198]

Great videos, we are on our way to lake Bala this week with our Drascombe which is new to us, so your videos have been a great help. Thanks Mark

[@SailingWithDave]

Hey Mark. Many thanks for the comment. I'll be there Tuesday I think next week. Lulu is on her trailer at the moment. Had to pull out early on an Anglesey circumnavigation attempt and didn't have the energy to put her back non her mooring!!!!

[@steelbeamlifterbeamlifter4198]

@@SailingWithDave well we’ve arrived with our longboat, to a very wet Bala! Hopefully get the boat in tomorrow and sailing Tuesday so we might see you.

[@SailingWithDave]

@@steelbeamlifterbeamlifter4198 Hi There. I should be down there on Wednesday this week mate. I'll be tucked away first thing painting my Mirror skeg, then on the shore by the bala sailing club. You'll see the Blue and white van, can't miss her!!!

[@roberteastwood9886]

That pointing up and off again is called "Feathering"!

[@SailingWithDave]

Aha. Many thanks Rob. I kind of like feathering and I think it definitely keeps the Lugger going.

[@mutley192]

@@SailingWithDave if you dump the main you lose all the power, best just heading up, its an art to learn well

[@SailingWithDave]

@@mutley192 in the Mirror I head up a lot as she's super responsive and quite hard to get into irons. In the Lugger I have to be careful of heading up too finely, especially with the Mizzen flying as she can easily stall. Not. Big deal tbh and still learning her. I think on the lugger you generally have so much time to react that just releasing the main a tickle is often all you need to do, altho you can end up heeling windward if too much. Often you just leave her be Nd she'll just ride it out.

[@bcarroll7317]

I notice that you do not lace your mainsail onto your main mast, as you do with your mizzen Sail?

[@SailingWithDave]

Aha. Yes, many others have also stated this. If we zoom forward a bit (My videos are a little behind) then I do eventually take advice on that and tie the Luff to the mast. In fact I end up using the 2 peral beadfs from Drascombe, that I had no idea what they were for. It turns out its for this!!!

[@mickthemack]

How are you reckoning boat speed and is that an electric outboard you have ?

[@SailingWithDave]

Hi Mike. I use the Boat speed app on another phone at the front of the boat. Its pretty accurate and very basic so works quite well. I can have it on all day long and the phone only uses about 25% of the battery. I use MPH on the lake as most novice sailors can understand and equate to that better than knots. Altho when on the sea I will use knots. I have an epropulsion spriit Evo electric outboard. If you search for this on my channel you'll see plenty of videos and comments about it. It's a bit underpowered on the lugger and I wouldnt use it on the sea, on a calm lake it's pretty good and will get me home in any weather.

[@kevinonorato7223]

Looked like a struggle to go wing and wing. I’ve never done it so am not going to be critical. I would give you unsolicited advise from the comfort of my chair but I don’t know the proper procedure. Looked like you were cooking along sweetly after getting it going.

[@SailingWithDave]

Well spotted Kevin. In the Mirror dinghy, getting the pole in was harder as you have to keep control of the mirror all the time, however once set it set better. On the Lugger it's easier to get setup but I think because the shrouds are further back, the main sail struggles to fan out enough, so it can gybe a bit more.

[@adamclark5329]

dave why not use knots instead of mph

[@SailingWithDave]

Hi Adam. I think it's because for novices I think it gives a better feel for things but I think after 2 years I need to start using knots a bit more, especially when on the sea!