Photos 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.”