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February 2021 Annie by Pol BergiusPhotos courtesy David Tyler and Chris Perring.

Built
in 1985, Annie was the first 6 ton, 29' Cornish Crabbers 'Cornish
Pilot'. My parents bought her from her designer Roger Dongray in '87,
and she cruised the west of Scotland til 2017, under her gaff rig. She
has a centreboard in her long keel, is a really handy boat and often, we
feel, the prettiest in the anchorage.
With
help from Arne Kverneland, David Tyler and others, I completed her
conversion to JR in 2018. This meant moving the mast nearly 4 ft (1.2m),
and stepping it slap in the middle of the heads compartment. Question:
which is more important, a 'comfortable seat' or a boat that all hands
can sail with joy and confidence? Incidentally, we retained the comfy
seat, it’s just not quite as accessible as it used to be.
Some
MAS epoxy and marine ply made the structural work of mast partners and
step relatively easy, with a few near all-nighters to get it done. The
best bit was clearing the deck of all the tracks and fittings of the
gaff rig. We built her solid mast in my timber yard, of laminated
locally-grown Douglas fir, finished with epoxy and Jotun's superb
paints.
With Arne's encouragement we made the
550 sq ft (52 sq m) cambered sail. The gaff rig with tiny topsail was
about 600 square feet, but the “smaller” JR seems to give her more
power. 5.9m battens and yard are in aluminium tube with Douglas fir
plugs in the ends to make them look and feel nice.
My trial sail was a perfect summers
day in Crinan Loch. Having eased the sheet, I hoisted sail and she was
off, close reaching on her own like an arrow. I just could not believe
it! The mast was in the right place after all, and the rig appeared to
be perfectly balanced. Heading back in later on, I gradually reduced
sail. She only started slowing down when 3 panels remained. Power with
ease.
I had worried about the JR's ability
to heave to. Experimenting, with 2 panels set in a F5, luffing and
falling off, she made about 1 ½ knots. OK, she’s not stopped as she
would be with the gaff rig, but - in open water - if she did tack
herself she would do no harm, unless there was a big production underway
in the galley at the time!
This boat is transformed!! Space on
deck, no clutter. The great spread of her single lug sail is a delight,
even with the odd home-made wrinkle. I'm a life-long gaffer, but the
nervousness about handling her (quite modest) rig short-handed in bad
weather has vanished with the JR. Changing up a gear or down three gears
was a chore, or worse. A jib that refused to roll up, the clatter of
its sheet blocks on deck. All hardships of the past! We love sailing
more than ever. Give us a F6 right aft, with tide and wind in
opposition. Hateful conditions with more or less any other rig. But now,
with no booming out headsails, no preventer, she guzzles the miles and
we just grin at the ease of it all.
Note: Pol informs us that Annie, this handsome little vessel is now for sale.
“… Annie is looking for a new home as we have recently agreed the purchase of the Benford 34 Constance from John Greetham.”
Our Boat of the Month Archive is here.