Chairman's Report
Treasurer's Report
Letters
Queen Mother’s Review of the Sailing Fleet
Chairman & Editor - Ken Pack
Treasurer - Thelma Pack
I was resolved at the outset not to make the newsletter my input only. We sent out 120 newsletters, fortunately the stalwarts have loyally responded as you will see in the following letters. Even so for everyone of theirs you get one of mine so can I let you take up their points or mine if you have an opinion on any matter.
This is of course your means of contact so we have decided to inaugurate a yearly trophy for the best Newsletter contribution, the first of which must of course be won this year by J Russel Jackson for "Is this Saltfleet!"
Sorting through old papers recently I found a write up on our 1974 cruise. Down to the Solent on to Weymouth, Cherbourg, Bay of the Seine, Honfleur, Fecamp and a made dash to Shoreham. That is the kind of thing we want for one of the editions.
We have inherited a large card index from Stuart and sent Newsletters to all listed. The response could be best described as patchy. Several old members have told me they have sold and given me the new owner's address to contact which is most helpful.
After notifying all and sundry of the Annual General Meeting it is hoped to wait a month or so and then those we have not heard from we will delete from the card index. A new register will then be prepared in time for the AGM.
Initially it has been decided to try producing one Winter mainly technical newsletter and two interim social, event letters editions in between during the summer. Please bear with us for a bit we are painfully aware of the shortcomings but cordially welcome suggestions or comments.
Thanks to all who have responded with 1990 subscriptions, particularly our American members' co-operation in sending cash. This has resolved what looked like a difficult problem for us.
The account is now transferred and in a healthy state for what we want to do. This is obviously a time for consolidation and rather than produce a lot of meaningless figures a complete situation will be reported to the AGM when it all will be more cohesive,
I’m surprised we have not run out of pennants, it's a very cheerful emblem for a flutter at £6 a throw.
Ken and I attended this inaugural meeting at Newbury on Saturday 24 March 1990 also present at the meeting were:
David Milner (MOCRA Chairman)
Mary Lack (Bobcat & Catalac Cruising Association)
David Lyne and Tony Challis (Heavenly Twins & Ocean Winds)
Adrian Honeybill (Polynesian Catamarans)
We have elected to be represented as 100 members which is comparatively small and we will need to substantiate that but I have no doubt we will.
The present proposal is for £100 registration and forthcoming legislation in the Common Market mainly affecting charter boats, but it is obviously the thin end of the wedge. We shall all be sorry if we don’t full support the RYA through MOCRA where a number of people are beavering away on our behalf.
Each Association was asked to nominate members to sit on other subcommittees (Cruising Committee. Racing Committee, RYA Liaison & Safety) and this will obviously benefit members, Ken accepted nomination on the RYA Liaison & Safety committee but hopes that another member will relieve him at the AGM.
The main benefits I personally feel we will accrue from this relationship is on the social side and the increase in flow of information from other cat sailors. It was agreed at the meeting that any member of MOCRA or of an Affiliated Group would be welcome at any rally organised by either MOCRA or an Affiliated Group. We know from experience that members do like to socialise at rallies but that distance is a large consideration. As our groups have members living in many different areas it should be possible to find a rally to attend and those that are very keen could probably attend a rally nearly every week of the sailing season. All groups were very keen to swap ideas and information and each group will send each Chairman and Secretary or Editor copies of their newsletters.
I know that when Ken and I came home from the meeting it had certainly made us think of ways we could involve our membership more within our own club let alone ideas of working with others ……. Watch this space!
From John & Sonia Roes
Dear Ken and Thelma:
Thank you for the newsletter and your note. I enjoyed your report, the articles and the letters. Too bad that the US check cashing charges are exorbitant. I hope that the enclosed 10 pound note makes it safely across.
I have a serious concern with anyone using the old Sailcraft recommendations for reinforcing the centerboard pivot as shown on page 8 and 9 of the newsletter.
When we made our first cruise with the Dutch Yankee (Apache) in the Med in 81 we developed a 40cm rip from the forward side of the starboard slot up to the waterline and a 20cm rip at the rear end of the slot. The port side also had a smaller rip forward. Fortunately the rips did not extend past the overlap of the centerboard inner case and we did not have a disaster on our hands. Neither board fell off its pin.
Analysis of the problem revealed that the forces of the board on the slot result in shear forces at the slot extremities which in turn result in an upward propagating failure of the hull skin.
The scheme proposed on page 8 shows a massive anchoring of the pivot pin to the centerboard case. The centerboard case is indeed a strong point that can provide a suitable fixing point. Now look at the collared plate washer and the unmarked washer and nut that are hoped to hold the centerboard away from the outer hull skin. When the windward board experiences the usual outward forces, the pivot now has to absorb half of them which should results in the nut pulling through the board or the pivot corner of the board breaking off. The end result is as before and the outer hull will again be in shear and will fail.
What we did for Dutch Yankee is to install two 1" diameter pins with a welded on 1" plate that forms to the outer hull skin. The pivot pin has a 6" outer plate and the aft pin has a 2" by 4" outer plate. The pins are pulled inward by a nut and a 3/8" thick 5" washer as shown on figure 1. The outer skin now supports the center board mainly by being in tension in which GRP excels. During our trips to the Caribbean and later to San Diego we have seen plenty of weather but have had no further problems.
In spite of all the write-ups to the contrary, we do not use the windward board exclusively but use both boards to split stresses.
With best regards,
John & Sonia Roes
Dear Sonja & John,
Thank you for your letter and the benefit of your experiences. The Association has been mainly concerned with Iroquois but in essence is to do with McAlpine-Downie designed boats and I hope to extend the facilities to include this range.
Having at home my Iroquois and my son’s Apache I find the boats remarkably similar. The Apache’s 40’0" long and 20’0" beam has an area of 800fs, and the Iroquois 30’ 0" x 13' 6" is about half the area. Leeboards, hull shapes etc. all reflect this comparison.
Small diesels under the rear berths make the Iroquois squat as do the Captain BMCs in the Apache. Interaction of the bow waves under the bridge deck etc. etc. all have similar solutions.
In Dutch Yankee I understand you have one main and one manoeuvering engine. If you have a minute to spare at some time please let us hear of your interests arid experiences with the boat.
The leeboard support depicted on Page 9 of the Newsletter is, of course, the standard location with the brazed bronze pin replaced by a retaining bolt so that no stress is put on the outer lip of the boards casing. Do I understand from your sketch that you have produced an after support for the back of the leeboard?
Hope to hear from you.
Good sailing,
Ken
From Reg White, MBE
Dear Ken,
I have been somewhat removed from the Iroquois in the last two years except that I am building myself an Iroquois 33. Won't go into detail at this stage. Three years ago I sailed an Iroquois Chieftain which was one of the boats I last built. This was a perfect boat for cruising from the rig point of view. She had roller furling jib and roller main. Having the roller furling set behind the mast, but in general this worked well.
The boat didn’t have enough sail area for my appetite, even though the mast was l’ 6" taller than normal. I guess that if we had only 30 gallons of fuel instead of 80 this would have helped.
I feel that if you had a new rig, a semi batten mainsail with a bigger roach it would certainly give you more sail area and you could either have slab reefing or in the boom reefing to improve the off wind performance, you could have a reaching spinnaker. This could be made easier for the cruising man by having a centralised spinnaker pole. In this case you could split the main forestay either side of the pole, if you went for this expense you could in fact move the forestay forward and split the headsails into two. This would give you a greater range of sail changes. The spinnaker pole would project approx. 3' in front of the bows which will enable you to jibe the jeneker passing the sheets between the forestay and end of spinnaker pole. This may be all too radical, in this case you could still go for a spinnaker pole, but attach it to one side of the forestay, with a bridle coming from approx 2' from the end of the pole to the stemhead fitting, this gives the advantage of when the boat is at mooring or in moving that there is nothing projecting in front of the bows.
Summing up; leaving the existing rig as it is, going to the slab reef or inner boom roller reefing together with reaching spinnaker which could be described as a jeneker would be quite a good rig for everyone concerned. If one wants to go to the expense of a new mast, then one can consider having the mainsail which rolls into the mast itself. In this case I would suggest a 3’ taller mast and approx 2’ 6’ longer boom, to keep mainsail to max. area.
Hope the above helps and that you have a good sailing season.
Best regards
Reg White MBE
Dear Reg
I have taken over the Newsletter Stuart - fortunately not completely.
It is my intention to deal with one fact or another on the boat in each issue. We get considerable enquiries from people waiting to keep the boat original as to where this or that can be obtained. I tried to compile a parts list some years ago and found it not practical. Some boats had different equipment or items had been discontinued or the manufacturer was out of business.
Our Iroquois and Apache have some pretty tired rigging screws, connections, spreaders etc. Changed navigation lights and buoyancy aids have left many scars on the mast.
Do you consider it is time in light of developments to produce a revised rig to perhaps embrace the following:
I appreciate all this is likely to be costly but equally since the boats are considered under priced in the second hand market a revised MkII or IIa could carry this expense.
Thanks for all of your support and the pleasure so many of us have had from the Sailcraft boats.
Yours sincerely
Ken Pack
From Russi Dordi
Dear Ken
This year, fitting out for BARU has been rather more extensive than usual.
We bought the shell from Sailcraft in ‘79 with a dark brown gelcoat on the topsides. The colour was chosen by us, against the advice of Mr Osbourne, and sure enough, this year we decided we couldn’t any longer sail around looking like a dirty dark brown nudge on the horizon and had her Intersprayed.
BARU now has white hulls and I must say, the job is absolutely first class. It was done by Swale Marine at Conyer and if anyone is interested in further details of the job I would be happy to pass on what information I have.
I am also intending to try the Steve Turner/Wharram system of transmitting the power from my Petter Mini Twin in place of the massive, agricultural looking "A" frame I had supporting my long drive shaft. This produced far too much vibration as it was all solidly mounted.
The Wharram system uses wire strops and a small hydrovane attachment welded onto the P bracket. Fingers crossed!
Lastly, having seen the success of Doug & Janet McKay’s Tab Mast reefing system on KAWA for the main sail, we decided to fit the easy reef system on BARU. Hope it works as well as KAWA’s, it's of a very similar design to the Tab gear.
I would have much preferred the "Hood Boom" to keep the additional weight low down and ease of manhandling the gear when laying up time comes and the mast has to come off and be stored, but I was unimpressed by the web of string and the flimsy plastic extrusion in the region of the goose neck.
As a result of the above I have a TAN Iroquois Mainsail (l0oz weight) for sale for £90 ono. It was made by Arun Sail Makers and has been used for eight seasons. Had I not fitted the Easyreef I would have used it again on BARU.
I also have a blue plastic Mainsail cover for sale at £15.
I would be very much obliged if you could mention these two items in the next issue of the Newsletter. Many thanks.
Wishing you and Thelma and the other Iroquois Owners a good season.
Yours sincerely
Russi Dordi
Dear Russi,
Following your letter and our meeting, thank you for showing me "Baru" it is always interesting to see someone else's idea on the Iroquois that is so familiar to you. The Interspray job is really impressive.
The engine installation and particularly its position behind the doorway in the usual chart table position is marvellous for balance. So many engines are sited in the sterns causing the boat to squat and thereby spoiling the sailing qualities, such an installation requires in my opinion a buoyancy chamber to compensate e.g. moulded on thicknessed skegs.
I an no engineer and have not seen your suspended inclined cavitation plate P bracket before. Obviously it is going to be simple to raise when sailing but can I suggest you consider the uphaul in the form of a strut. Appreciating this will form some kind of vibration which could be reduced with rubber mounts there would be three advantages:
It was so pleasant to come to Conyer boatyard as against the prissy marines of the South coast and that pub is something else.
Thanks again,
Yours sincerely,
Ken
From Ron Bijl
Dear Kenneth,
I know of the association since 1984, when I purchased my Iroquois 260. I actually have copies of your newsletters from Summer 1974 up to Spring 1983 (from Rory Fogerty, who sold his Iroquois 161 into Germany some years ago). I have understood that the association wasn’t very active the years after, but I might be wrong informed. Anyhow, I was too busy finding out what is possible with an Iroquois and where all the other multihull owners in the Netherlands are.
I do know by now what one can do with an Iroquois; great boat! And I have found quite some multihullers in the Netherlands as well. Since March 1988 I represent the Dutch CTC (Catamaran & Trimaran club) for the district "center of Holland". My major tasks are organizing two "open air" meetings per season, an annual race weekend for seagoing multihulls and micro- multihulls (last year with over 30 entries), all on the Ijsselmeer, and an "in house" autumn meeting.
That will do about me. Please let me know about the association's activities in the past years and above all about new plans. You must have plans and ideas having volunteered for the association's administration. At least you took initiative to contact me (and probably others). If I can be of any help, please let me know.
I never got your system of cost contribution for subscription and the newsletter right. Maybe you have a fixed charge now, but I will take the chance and enclose 10 pound cash. Let me know for how long this will last.
Yours sincerely
Ron V Bijl
Aquacat, No. 260
PS. Above reply on your letter of 23rd. March wasn't sent due to illness. But since then I have spoken to Mr. Piet Roes, a long time member of the association, who gave me a copy of the latest newsletter and the information that the present fee is 5.50 pound. A Eurocheque for two years (11 pound) is enclosed.
Dear Ron
Thank you for your most interesting letter. The association has been going for many years and whilst being a dedicated Iroquois man I have to face the fact that production has almost ceased and therefore the numbers are finite.
I hope to revise the newsletter to boat information during the winter and a couple of news sheets of letters and events during the season. It would be most useful if you could let us have details of perhaps your Ijsselmeer meet as early as known so that we could get it out during the winter. There are many members particularly on the East coast who I’m sure would like to participate and organise their holidays around.
Should you want any information on our Continental members I'll happily oblige, any exchange of information is most useful to us.
Yours sincerely
Ken Pack
Dear Thelma,
Thank you for your assistance in my search of an Iroquois MkII or MkIIa. I really hope to find one in the near future, as I just have sold my last boat and don’t like the idea of being stuck on land...
Concerning the International Multihull Meeting 1990 in the Adriatic, I attach the standard info In English. Entry close will be on June 30, but late entries will be accepted with an additional fee of 10%. You find also attached a short Info about the Marina Kornati in Biograd n/m. Any IOA member will find a warm welcome!
There will be two "races", but I really do hope that nobody will take them seriously! The main purpose of this meeting, is to meet other multihullers, see other boats, have a lot of fun, music, drinking, singing, chatting, etc.
The moment I have an Iroquois, I’ll enlist as an IOA member! Could you keep me informed in the meantime?
Greetings also to Ken,
Yours
??????
International Multihull Meeting
Adriatic Sea, Biograd na moru
Marina Kornati
30 July - 2 August 1990
For the first time ever there will be an International Multihull Meeting in the Mediterranean Sea. The IMM’s are already traditional in the Baltic in uneven years and it was about time, the multihullers in the sun got their own one.
The place to gather is the new Marina Kornati in Biograd na moru, some 25nm south of Zadar, right at the entrance to the Kornati National Park with its 150 (or more) is lands.
The multihulled yachts will assemble there or Monday, July 30 for a big Welcome-Party. Next day, the cruise will go out to the islands, where the evening will see a thrilling barbecue party in a sheltered bay, music included. A "rally" on Wednesday starts and ends in these islands and on Thursday the last "race" brings the yachts back to the Marina Kornati for a big prize giving and farewell-party.
The Oslo IMM 1989 saw about 80 multihuils assembled and there is enough space for even a greater number in Biograd!
For further information write to:
Marina Kornati
Attn. Mr. Edo Zrilit
YU-57 210 Biograd n/m
Mister Fisher!
I write to You in my bad english, but I hope You have a laugh and understanding.
Perhaps you heard something about me from another english iroquois-owner, hwo has his boot in Grees (eiland of Levkada, Nidri bay) just buying last year. I own the "Indigo ray", Iroquois IIa nr. 215.
The "Indigo ray" is in my hands since 1975.
I buyd(?) her from another german Mr. Werner Bauer München. He ownd the boot from 1971- 75, calld her "Crazy cat". He was sailing in Bonifatio-street north of Sardegna Italy.
Before that she belong to a german, Mr. Ch, Niebler from Rosenheim bavaria, in 1969 - 71)
He buyd her from nederland calld as "Haakje II" und saild through the french canals to Genua. There he tried to charter with her.
From the first owner the netherland sailer, I dont know nothing.
The "Indigo ray" is now in Lefkada, where I sailt her over Corfu and Sicilia from Sardegna.
Perhaps You can tell me something more about the association and I can became a member of it.
Best whishes to You and all the other Iroquois-sailers
Klaus-Peter Weber
Dear Peter,
Thank you for your interesting letter, please do not apologise for your English, my German would make you cry rather than laugh.
Indigo ray has certainly had a varied career and we hope to build up a history of the boats as best we can.
We would be delighted to welcome you into the Association and I enclose an application form and a copy of our last newsletter (unfortunately we are out of pretty pictures for the front page).
Good sailing for 1990 et al.
Yours sincerely,
Ken
Dear Ken
Back numbers of the Iroquois Owners’ Newsletters always seen to be in demand. Between us, Pat Boyd and I have a nearly complete collection, dating back to1967.
Pat has very kindly agreed to the use of his copier for reproducing these for any of our members. In total they amount to about 400 pages. A suggested charge would be 4p per page plus postage, so something in the order of £20 would be the price:- and this includes labour!!
In addition, there is thelatest (1986) list of owners: I have also the 1972, 80, 84 list for those interested in the history of their boats.
If you would like to send this letter to the members (? in the next Newsletter). I will let you know the response at the next meeting
Yours sincerely
Reg
Dear Reg,
Thank you and Pat Boyd for your very generous offer, as suggested I have entered it in the Newsletter.
We propose at the end of the year to update the l986 register after we have given the membership a full chance to respond. Up till now we have only had about 5 gone aways, or have sold the boat, etc. and we are of course following these up.
I had hoped to see you on my recent visit to Conyer but it obviously was not one of your days. Poor Vahine’s underside looked rather nude and exposed on her blocks. You’ve made a very thorough job of cleaning that off!
Happly sailing and glad to see you have joined MOCRA.
Yours sincerely,
Ken
The Queen Mother will review the yachts of the Solent from the Royal Yacht Britannia as part of her 90th Birthday celebrations. SCRA have been invited to organise the event and it has been agreed that MOCRA should participate. The event will take place on Monday 30 July, and it may be necessary to restrict numbers. Any MOCRA member wishing to participate should contact Janice Uttley at 1 Ward Crescent, Emsworth, Hampshire as soon as possible.
The PCA have announced details of their cruising rally and again MOCRA members are welcome. The rally takes place in Plymouth on 21/22 July and will coincide with the Tiki national championships where Hitia 14, Hitia 18, Tiki 21, Tiki 26 and Tiki 28’s are expected to race. Rally participants can expect a treasure hunt and a barbecue at the overnight anchorage. A week’s cruise in company follows, starting on July 23 with possible destinations of Channel Islands/Brittany/or the South West coast, depending on weather. For further details, contact the PCA sailing Secretary, Foss Quay, Millbrook, Torpoint, Cornwall PL10 1EN or phone 0752 822846.
Considerable concern is being expressed from the RYA and the ISSA over the recent report proposing compulsory registration for all leisure craft over 21’ along with £100 annual registration fee. Chris Hammond attended an emergency RYA cruising committee meeting, as MOCRA’s representative, to discuss the matter and reports that quote - although the committee are not opposed to yachtsmen paying light dues for the use of navigation marks and principal lights, they cannot see any realistic way of collecting the dues other than by a stringent tax, which they feel would cost more to administer than was raised for the maintenance of the lights. There will be an appeal issued soon by the RYA for everyone to write to their MP and lobby for opposition to the proposal. - end quote .... watch this space.
Once again multihull enthusiasts have the opportunity to experience a wide range of boats - from Darts and Hurricanes to full blown cruising catamarans. The event takes place at Ocean village in Southampton on Friday 29, Saturday 30 June and Sunday 01 July. There’s the opportunity to look around the boats each morning from 9 a.m., with sailing each day from noon - life jackets and splash suits are provided where necessary, so all you need are soft shoes and appropriate clothing. MOCRA will have a stand, so come along and say hello. And yes... the whole event is free!
Race calendar July and August
|
21 - 22 July |
Iroquois Owner's Meet - Newtown Creek |
|
21 - 22 July |
TIKI NATIONALS - Plymouth |
|
18-24 July |
MICRO EUROPEANS - Lake Vanern, Sweden |
|
25-27 August |
BRIXHAM MULTIHULL GRAND PRIX incorporating MICRO |
This list is by no means comprehensive - see the last issue of "The Multihull" for further details, or contact Simon Forbes, MOCRA’s Racing Secretary at 2, Fairwarp, Forest Drive, Ringwood, Surrey.
