On New Year’s Day 1990 I collected a Lune Whammel Boat from Bill Bailiff of Character Boats, Morecambe. Bill makes a series of GRP replicas of sailing work boats from 12’-17’ long. They are sturdy, workmanlike craft with a plain ‘fisherman’s’ finish, standard gel coat outside, low gloss/low cost interior with treated iroko woodwork and varnished spars. The rig is normally a boomed standing lug main and small jib. Simplicity and economy is the key to the rig as well, why use a stainless steel ‘gismo’ when a rope grommet or lashing will do the job as effectively? The hull forms evolved for fishing and pilotage need no centreboard, but rely on a raked keel, drawing at most 18” of water aft, and some removable ballast in the bilge. Size for size they add a new dimension to dinghy cruising — space!

The Lune Whammel* Boat is the largest of the range at 16’10” x 5’10” beam, with a sail area of 161 ft² and an all-up weight of about ½ ton including ballast and gear. This necessitates some mental adjustments after my 12’ Tideway, but launching and recovery with the winched trailer, also supplied by Character Boats, is, if anything, easier.

I had already gathered together various items of equipment — a new Seagull Curlew, oars, anchor, chain, warps etc — and the first few months of the year were spent fitting out the boat for cruising, with extra cleats which I made from pieces of teak, fenders, stowage arrangements for motor, fuel and water containers, and many other bits and pieces. The two major tasks were a canvas ‘all-over’ cover for trailing and storage, and the inevitable boom tent.

The first was entirely hand sewn — 30 yards of flat seaming containing 50 yards of stitching, a tedious but satisfying job with needle and palm which has produced a very snug and serviceable cover. It is fastened with bungee and ties around the hull, and is unflappable, even on the motorway.

The tent is made from ripstop nylon and was machine sewn. It extends from mast to transom, fastening under the gunwale using press studs. Two lengths of plastic section are sewn into pockets which form hoops when erected, which keeps the surface taut. The entire tent is rolled around these and stowed lengthways inside the gunwale.

The final act of preparation was to carve and fit a name board. Oh, the name? Rosinante, of course, the horse that carried another old romantic on semi-imaginary adventures — Don Quixote!

The first cruise, a week at the beginning of June, was on the Clyde. We launched at Largs, and in poor weather explored the Kyles of Bute and Loch Strivan for a couple of days. Then we sailed up Loch Long as far as Ardentinny. The weather deteriorated even more, so, after being ‘stormbound’ for two days, we decided to put an end to the proceedings. We retrieved the car and trailer via the ferry, and gave up.

To restore our belief in idyllic cruising beneath cloudless skies, we went to the Norfolk Broads in July and had just that! We sailed 59 miles in 4 days on the rivers Waveney and Yare in glorious weather.

Finally we went to the Solent for 4 days in August, again in superb weather. After launching at Keyhaven, as far west as you can get in the Solent, we sailed across to the Newtown River for the first night. Next day we took the tide to the top of the Beaulieu River and back, and then into Cowes for the night. It was Cowes Week, and I have never seen so much activity on the water, but we found a quiet spot up the Medina River inside the lines of moored boats. We beat back to Lymington for the next night, and finally back to Keyhaven.

That is what I would describe as a fairly successful, if varied, season when you are based in the Midlands with the boat moored on a trailer, more than 100 miles from the nearest available sea!

The main points arising out of using the Lune Whammel Boat, apart from the usual end‑of‑season list of minor adjustments to be made to any cruising dinghy, are as follows:-

1. The extra space in a big boat without centrecase removes any hint of masochism from the pastime. Even my wife comes now! 2. The only penalty, as I see it, is the inability to take the ground on an even keel, other than on mud. I am considering the possibility of a small inflatable tender and/or chocks or legs for drying out (although the lack of such facilities did not interfere with this year’s cruises). 3. The boat’s performance is very good on all points of sailing, considering the lack of sophistication in the rig. It is easy to control and reef, and ships nothing but the lightest of spray. 4. Even though I had extra lockers moulded in at the outset, you never have enough stowage, so I will be fitting some drawer lockers under the side benches this winter. 5. Good looks are not necessary for performance or functionality, but it is nice to turn so many heads and hear so many favourable comments, even in Cowes Roads at the height of Cowes Week!

*A whammel net is used to catch salmon.