Preparing Luggers for the evening race

[dhsimmonds]

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Location:Beer, South Devon, England. R9/DMR 28-90F3.5

Cheers, Dave

[stunsworth]

David, very nice light and subject. I'd like to see a 'wider' version of this, but that's not to detract from this image, just a desire to see more of what was happening.

 

I didn't know what to expect when I read the title, I had a vision of people from the LUG changing into their running kit :-)

 

Thanks for sharing.

[lambroving]

Dave,

 

I guess you backed the boat on the right?! Learning curve with that rig must be tough, eh?

[stuny]

David -

 

Most appealing scene and colors (especially the wooden hulls). It could use a one or two degree rotation to the right to even the horizon.

[dhsimmonds]

William

 

You got it! It did have a more than strange fascination for me, remembering it all the way back to the pub!

 

The Luggers are derived from traditional working fishing boats and these days have an inboard petrol or diesel engine with a gaff lugsail rig. The lugsail is loose footed, ie no boom to whack you over the head while the fisherman is tending his nets. However there is a nasty bronze shackle on the clew of the sail which could give you a nasty clip around the ear if you were'nt too careful!

 

Racing is ferocious and very closely fought, sail only of course but too far out of the bay for me to photograph. But they are a friendly bunch on land each helping the others to launch in the traditional way........chunks of wood laid laterally down the shingle beach, the wood having had a fresh mixture of fat (dripping) and fish oil sloshed on with a big brush! Then lots of manpower with the oldest sailor sometimes staying on board (very often the skipper!) until the boat picks up speed and into the sea (ocean William). See attached for the launching! (LC1 image)

 

Cheers, Dave