Tela is a pre-war East Cowes Sailing Club One Design which has been used as a cruising dinghy since 1951. This seems to indicate that a description of her may be of use to members.

The class was originally conceived to provide a low priced racing craft, hence she has a hard chine and is carvel planked in pine, which nevertheless has remained sound throughout. The stability imparted by the chine is, of course, very useful for cruising but, being built for racing, her beam is only 4’ 9” on a hull of 14 foot and this is not really sufficient for easy sailing. The freeboard is not great, about 10” abreast the centre of the cockpit, but this is offset by the three-quarter decking and the coaming. If green water comes over the coaming then it is almost always the fault of the crew and not that of the boat. The fore and after parts are bulk-headed off, access being by watertight hatches. The original idea was to provide buoyancy but for cruising these two spaces make useful stowage for such things as anchor warps, tent, cooking gear, food and water. The cockpit between the two bulkheads is one of the attractive features, it is 7’ long and entirely free from thwarts, the side decks and bulkheads provide sufficient bracing for the sides. Like most sharpies, Tela has a triangular plate, a 70 lb slab of ⅜” steel plate, raised and lowered by a drum and wire. The top of the case is widened to form a seat for rowing and it does give a very reasonable position. The oars stow out of sight close up under the side decks and below them the kitbags of personal gear are firmly wedged. The rudder blade is of ¼” steel and the ability to raise it and sail with it on a level with the keel when going ashore or in water of doubtful depth has been very useful. Two tillers are kept on board, a long one for sailing and a short one which has saved many bruised knuckles when rowing.

The rig is bermudian with a mainsail of 95 sq.ft. and a staysail of 30 sq. ft. The mainsail is quite standard but the staysail is fitted with a Wykham-Martin furling device and is rigged on a bowsprit extending two feet beyond the stem. The furling gear has proved itself in use and it is surprising how useful it is to be able to furl and set a sail at short notice.

The standing rigging is a mixture of stranded flexible steel wire and single strand stainless steel, the latter being used when any replacement becomes necessary. An unusual feature is the provision of runners which help to keep the staysail luff tight.

The usual camping equipment for two cut to the minimum consistent with a reasonable standard of comfort is carried when cruising. A tent is carried in preference to an awning as the author is a firm believer in camping ashore whenever possible. This is particularly enjoyable if, after a fair passage, you have arrived in an area capable of providing interesting day trips returning to a base camp at night. Poole harbour is an obvious example. It always seems to take the edge off a day’s sail if it has to be preceded by the same process. This point is well brought out when stormbound. It is a particularly hardy dinghy sailor who unrigs his awning when it is raining and blowing hard just for the fun of a thrash round inside the harbour. The man with a tent can go for his sail without effort and know that his bed will remain dry!

Apart from the camping gear, extra equipment includes a few items of practical importance — charts, tidal streams and times, compass, a good light for steamer scaring, plenty of warp for anchoring and a good bosun’s bag with tools and materials for doing small repairs.

The description of a dinghy in a journal like this needs justification. To that end it may be said that she has cruised with a crew of two and their kit for something over 300 miles and only rarely given any anxious moments. It must be stressed, however, that in a boat of this type a very careful watch must be kept on the weather but, on the other hand, she is at her best in the sort of weather we want or are likely to cruise in, However, as with most things, ‘you pays your money and takes your choice’, so it must be left to the reader to weigh up the pros and cons of this type of boat for himself.