What is a Skua?

[jpa_wfsc]

17ft wooden planing inshore racer Lifting centreplate, Skua.

Anyone know what one is and/or where there are photos of them?

Cheers.

j./

[Southern377]

See files.........

[Rupert]

Thinking of getting one, John?

[Nessa]

anything that is designed for hard weather sailing would be welcome right now...

[mcyotty]

The then advertised Class Secretary, Dave Lumbard, still resides in N.Berwick and contact could be made through the Solo Class Assoc. website where his contact details appear under East Lothian Yacht Club, N.Berwick. He is very active in the Solo fleet and may well have fond memories of his time in/with the Skua.
Good Luck
Bob

[jpa_wfsc]

Thinking of getting one, John?

well - I have seen one at a price that is not unreasonable - and it would make sailing with Jane more accessible. They look quite nice (thanks for the postings, southern377) so I might just go and look. Its a looooooong way away though.

Pondering;

j./

[jpa_wfsc]

Someone has sent me a photo of a Skua....

Skua photo smaler.jpg

This is a Skua - not the one I'm interested in but similar. Looks Nice!

(67.14 KiB) Downloaded 581 times

j./

[jpa_wfsc]

Thinking of getting one, John?

Yep - deposit paid. Will collect from way up north some time after Christmas. Should make sailing with Jane a possible experience in most weather. We plan to sail her at WSC and also when on holiday e.g. Calshot, Tenby where her ability to be left on a drying mooring would make life simpler and cheaper. Hope to come to the nats - when if a FF is sailing we can get some comparative idea about handicap. Skua is a little shorter, and is a hard chine hull, carrying slightly less sail area. I would expect FF to be faster.

What PY to use I have no idea! Designed 1962 built before 1968. 6mm ply on frames, 180lb drop keel. Mainsail = enterprise jib = wayfarer spin = 13M^2. I think the fleet of 50 that were built have dispersed / been written off, certainly no mention I can find of fleet racing since about 2000. Lost Class / Classic Fleet?

"The boat was very pleasing to sail, and the design was ideal for what it set out to do, which was race from drying out harbours in the Forth. They could capsize, but that was rare. They had a great 'get you home' safety aspect, they sailed surprisingly well under jib alone (like a yacht), which meant that in emergency you could drop the mainsail and sail back home in the most atrocious conditions under jib - even tacking. The class was held in great affection and its idiosyncrasies seemed to add to this, eg. when paddling a Skua you have to go backwards - just doesn't work forwards!" (Dave Lumbard, former class sec).

[Rupert]

I'm looking forward to this. If you need any assistance moving her around when you get back, give me a shout. By the way, how are you going to clear weed off the rudder?! And if you need a crew any time, and Jane & the kids are busy, let me know.

Handicap wise, I guess we shall have to compare her to boats like the Applecore and Trio to get an idea to begin with.
Jim A is going to have kittens trying to findyou a parking space!

[Nigel]

Hi John

if a FF is sailing we can get some comparative idea about handicap

Boat World Guide No.1 (circa 1972-3) has a PY of 102 compared to a FF on 89. I can scan and email if you like.

Nigel

[jpa_wfsc]

I'm looking forward to this. By the way, how are you going to clear weed off the rudder?! And if you need a crew any time,

Keel haul the Crew!!

[jon711]

If you need help getting the boat to Oulton Week, I am happy to oblige. (Please excuse the shameless plug - but the offer is genuine!)..

Jon

[jpa_wfsc]

Hi John

if a FF is sailing we can get some comparative idea about handicap

Boat World Guide No.1 (circa 1972-3) has a PY of 102 compared to a FF on 89. I can scan and email if you like.

Nigel

Hm - GP14ish. Will be interesting to se how the weight / sail area and hull length works out. Possibly a bandit in a blow.

Nigel - that would be great - the more information the merrier. I'd like to add the Skua to the dinghy database - who 'holds the key' to edit that?

Cheers;

[jpa_wfsc]

If you need help getting the boat to Oulton Week, I am happy to oblige. (Please excuse the shameless plug - but the offer is genuine!)..

Jon

.. .. . and much appreciated. I will definitely NOT be doing both Olton and Clewedog. Maybe neither - depends on how the summer stacks up and its to early to be sure yet. I'd love to do the Tenby round the Island race in the Skua - perfect boat for it. Need to find out the dates.

[Southern377]

Found this re Handicap

fyca.sbmyc.com/Handicaps/2008latest.xls

also now for sale or recently sold.

http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:50 ... clnk&gl=uk

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/forthcruisin ... 202003.pdf
Alan