bamamick
02-07-2008, 12:33 PM
I guess that it all began with Noah. No, not THAT Noah. OUR Noah. Through seeing his threads on 30 square metres on different sites and doing some reading on my own I became interested in essentially what are the 'big sisters' of my beloved Dragon class. With designers like Knud Reimers, Johan Anker, and Harry Becker you have to love what you see in those lines, and the sailing characteristics of these boats is legendary.
Well, you guys know how much I love Dragons, and I am completely committed to the Dragon class in North America, but if I could get my hands on a 30 square? Wow. There's a guy named George Fisher who is as dedicated to the preservation of 30 squares in North America as I am the Dragons. George lives in Portland, Oregon and he has owned one of these beautiful boats for awhile. At present his boat is at Legendary Yachts in Portland being restored and should hit the water later this year. He plans to move her to Puget Sound where there are three other 30's, one of which is in racing condition and sailing now.
A couple of years ago now George bought another 30 square metre, US39 'Pilgrim', a 1939 Becker design. He found the boat in Tennessee and hauled her on his own trailer to Oregon to await her fate, putting her up for sale to a 'good home'. George runs his own web site on square metre rule boats (www.squareskerryyachts.net) and hosts his own forum. Through the forum I became acquainted with George and some of the other 30 owners in the US and Canada. Eventually I broached the idea of forming a syndicate to restore and campaign 'Pilgrim' against the other 30 squares.
At present there are something like ten or eleven 30's in racing condition in North America, centered in Port Huron, Michigan and then scattered about in other sailing centers. If we can bring back 'Pilgrim' and match her with 'Hansina' and 'Ceorl Mor' on Puget Sound, there is hope that we can coax the other two PNW boats out to play. There are two other west coast boats that we also hope to get interested.
So, we have a syndicate and are looking for members. Basically here is the deal: you would be buying a share of a 30 square metre to be restored and raced on Puget Sound, either near Port Madison or on Lake Union. George is going to remain as a member and he will act as the yacht manager, making sure the necessary maintenance will get done. At present we have three members and we need about six or seven more people willing to buy shares. We have based the formation of the syndicate on a similiar group in Sweden that races a couple of 6mR's. The idea being to have twice as many members as there are spots on the boat so that we always have enough people to man each position. Plus, it makes the cost of ownership lower.
Initial shares are going to be reasonable (and if you pm me I will fill you in on costs) and there will be a yearly maintenance fee that will also be very reasonable. As I said, George is one member, I am another, and another of our members already owns his own 30 square and has been involved in a venture very much like this before. It will all be drawn up legally and everyone should be clear on responsibilties and such.
Now you might ask why this would interest someone in Alabama? Well, because of what I said in the title of the thread. It is an opportunity to be a part of something special. To preserve something that is worth preserving, and to get to sail on something that'll quicken the heart and warm the blood. This year is the 100th anniversary of the square metre rule and there are celebrations planned all over the world. To me it is a very fitting time to be involved in bringing back one of these beautiful boats and have an opportunity to become a part of this group of people dedicated to doing something good and worthwhile for the sailing community, but also to give myself the chance to do something I have only ever dreamt of doing: sailing on a 30 square with others of it's kind. Sure, I will only ever be able to make a couple of races a year, but I will keep those memories close. It'll be worth it. I promise.
If interested please let me know.
Mickey Lake
Well, you guys know how much I love Dragons, and I am completely committed to the Dragon class in North America, but if I could get my hands on a 30 square? Wow. There's a guy named George Fisher who is as dedicated to the preservation of 30 squares in North America as I am the Dragons. George lives in Portland, Oregon and he has owned one of these beautiful boats for awhile. At present his boat is at Legendary Yachts in Portland being restored and should hit the water later this year. He plans to move her to Puget Sound where there are three other 30's, one of which is in racing condition and sailing now.
A couple of years ago now George bought another 30 square metre, US39 'Pilgrim', a 1939 Becker design. He found the boat in Tennessee and hauled her on his own trailer to Oregon to await her fate, putting her up for sale to a 'good home'. George runs his own web site on square metre rule boats (www.squareskerryyachts.net) and hosts his own forum. Through the forum I became acquainted with George and some of the other 30 owners in the US and Canada. Eventually I broached the idea of forming a syndicate to restore and campaign 'Pilgrim' against the other 30 squares.
At present there are something like ten or eleven 30's in racing condition in North America, centered in Port Huron, Michigan and then scattered about in other sailing centers. If we can bring back 'Pilgrim' and match her with 'Hansina' and 'Ceorl Mor' on Puget Sound, there is hope that we can coax the other two PNW boats out to play. There are two other west coast boats that we also hope to get interested.
So, we have a syndicate and are looking for members. Basically here is the deal: you would be buying a share of a 30 square metre to be restored and raced on Puget Sound, either near Port Madison or on Lake Union. George is going to remain as a member and he will act as the yacht manager, making sure the necessary maintenance will get done. At present we have three members and we need about six or seven more people willing to buy shares. We have based the formation of the syndicate on a similiar group in Sweden that races a couple of 6mR's. The idea being to have twice as many members as there are spots on the boat so that we always have enough people to man each position. Plus, it makes the cost of ownership lower.
Initial shares are going to be reasonable (and if you pm me I will fill you in on costs) and there will be a yearly maintenance fee that will also be very reasonable. As I said, George is one member, I am another, and another of our members already owns his own 30 square and has been involved in a venture very much like this before. It will all be drawn up legally and everyone should be clear on responsibilties and such.
Now you might ask why this would interest someone in Alabama? Well, because of what I said in the title of the thread. It is an opportunity to be a part of something special. To preserve something that is worth preserving, and to get to sail on something that'll quicken the heart and warm the blood. This year is the 100th anniversary of the square metre rule and there are celebrations planned all over the world. To me it is a very fitting time to be involved in bringing back one of these beautiful boats and have an opportunity to become a part of this group of people dedicated to doing something good and worthwhile for the sailing community, but also to give myself the chance to do something I have only ever dreamt of doing: sailing on a 30 square with others of it's kind. Sure, I will only ever be able to make a couple of races a year, but I will keep those memories close. It'll be worth it. I promise.
If interested please let me know.
Mickey Lake