"Peterwit", Maurice Griffiths 'Kylix' Mk. II Lying Essex
"Peterwit", Maurice Griffiths 'Kylix' Mk. II Lying Essex
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Comments
Owner's CommentsMy wife and I had "PETERWIT" built when we felt we had outgrown our Mapleleaf. We wanted another wooden shoal draught cruiser which we could easily handle on our own, but which could accommodate two or three additional family or friends on passages across the Channel or the North Sea as well as continued enjoyment of our East Coast rivers. But from the start we found "PETERWIT" seriously under-canvassed and stays were not infrequently missed in light airs or choppy seas - perhaps because of the increased beam (to accommodate the ingenious double berth) on what was anyway a laudably heavy construction. Experimentation over our 26 years of ownership has, by stages, finally achieved the optimum rig! The Wykeham Martin furling gear was the first to go, replaced by shanks fitted to the jib which enabled the luff to be properly tightened but that did not entirely solve the problem, nor did adoption of the high cut Yankee as our working jib. Experiments with a second-hand low cut genoa coming back outside the shrouds produced the power which had been lacking, without creating any problem of lee helm; we therefore had an even larger Sailspar/Gowens furling headsail fitted. This required a pair of Lewmar 30 two-speed self-tailing winches on special pedestal mounts alongside the cockpit coaming, beautifully crafted by Peter Clarke at West Mersea. Then the inner stay (and with it the not altogether satisfactory, albeit photogenic, self tacking staysail) had to be removed to allow the new genoa to be tacked without having to be handed around, but this in turn also required the fitting of new lower shrouds, with new chain plates, to give the necessary support for the mast forward of the cap shrouds. All this with MG's approval and ever helpful advice.
The latest improvements have been in performance of the mainsail but were an involuntary consequence of the breaking of the mast in 2004 whilst it was being manoeuvred into the shed for winter lay-up. We decided against repair in favour of a Sailspar anodised aluminium replacement of both mast and boom, with all bells and whistles! Of most significance has been the ease and efficiency of slab, rather than roller, reefing and the ability now to have a kicking strap. The added drive from the better setting mainsail is dramatic, and with far less weight now aloft (the wooden mast was of truly massive construction – probably too heavy for its own good and hence the break) the heeling moment is now even less than before, which also improves performance to windward.
The irony is that this last refinement has been achieved just when we have come to the conclusion that we are getting too old for sailing! However we have no regrets over the many years of professional t.l.c. lavished on such a worthy yacht and, to whoever may buy her, she will come with our best wishes for as much enjoyment as she has given us. |
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