The Allure of Timber
by Mark Jardine 30 Apr 03:00 NZST
XOD racing at Lymington on Saturday © Mark Jardine
In these days of exotic materials, high modulus carbon and ultra lightweight construction, it's possible to overlook the longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood.
The oldest boat ever found, a Pesse canoe, constructed during the early Mesolithic period approximately ten thousand years ago, was discovered in 1955 and is now in the Drents Museum in the Netherlands. Made of Scots pine, it shows just how long lasting wood can be!
Last week Sail-World.com's Australian editor John Curnow wrote 'Make me smile even wider and brighter', which was a follow-up to 'Make me smile', looking at Concord and Ryde Sailing Club and the Making Waves Foundation's Wright Of Passage which both promote learning the skills to build boats in wood, and how this has been the starting point for careers in the marine industry. It's impossible not to smile when you read the stories, and in the same way I find myself breaking into a beaming grin when I take a look at wooden yachts under construction or seeing a new boat launched.
Similarly, whenever I have a chat (and bacon butty) with our eminent dinghy historian Dougal Henshall, the enthusiasm he has when talking about the great wooden dinghy builders, such as Jack Chippendale, means the smile is there. Passion, art and sport combine to make something of sheer beauty, which is designed to be admired and loved, just as much as raced.
Thankfully the past couple of months have provided ample opportunity to delve into the world of wooden boatbuilding. In March I went to visit Spirit Yachts at their yard in Ipswich to see how they construct yachts and powerboats, combining traditional and modern methods to make some of the most beautiful boats you'll see out on the water.
The skills and techniques displayed by the team, especially their master craftsmen, are a sight to behold. I must have spent fifteen minutes discussing the use of a particular hinge on a coachroof skylight, and how the recessed cavity it sits in needs to be pre-epoxied to prevent water ingress. It was the perfect example of a modern fitting being used on a traditional design so that the function of the object didn't disturb the lines of the form. The understanding of the woodworking skills necessary, combined with the environment the yacht would be in, and then the passion to research how modern fittings could improve classic designs was incredible.
I particularly liked the way Spirit Yachts aren't sticking doggedly to how things had always been done. They are looking to add modern twists all time, and know full well that a traditional design can be improved upon. Look under the waterline and you won't see the long keel with rudder at the end, but instead it's a thoroughly modern hull shape with fin and bulb keel. When out racing a few of my sailing mates have referred to Spirits as 'wolves in sheep's clothing', as their performance may not be obvious at first glance. Don't be fooled by the gleaming varnish - these are racing yachts and are often sailed hard.
This past weekend I attended a rare event in the X One Design class: the launch of a new boat. It has been 18 years since the last new X was launched, and X195 has been a project that long in the making. The XOD class holds a special place in my heart as I have a lot of family history in it, and I still find it extraordinary that a centenary event in a class where only 202 boats had been built (noting some have been lost to fire, storm, neglect and war) attracted 145 to a single startline during Cowes Week 2011. Some of the boats are antiques, but were being raced at times like they were go-karts, albeit much, much slower.
Originally designed by Alfred Westmacott in 1909, the first class racing took place in August 1911 in Southampton Water and ten boats were built before the outbreak of the First World War.
X195 has been named 'Turtle' and is actually the ninth XOD of Jonathan Clark (back in 2020 he wrote about his passion for the class and how he's sailed 19 of them). Jonathan was drawn into the class when he noticed how owners keep their boats for years on end. He was fascinated as to how each sail slightly differently, with some being easier to tack, while others having turns of speed in certain conditions, but overall the racing is incredibly tight.
The XOD has stood the test of time when classes around them get designed, become the next big thing, then fall away. Attendances at the big events wax and wane, but the club fleets - mainly Itchenor, Hamble, Lymington and Parkstone, with a few in Cowes and Yarmouth - remain as strong as ever.
Jonathan's passion came shining through during the launch event, and my video interview with him will be posted shortly. He was adamant the reason he finished the boat build was 'for the class', but I think he's addicted to the boats.
Despite the almost complete lack of wind on Saturday they attempted to race, but after 15 minutes it had to be cancelled. A number of great sailors were in the fleet, including John Tremlett, who has won more titles at Cowes Week than I can count, and world champion Ben McGrane. Even America's Cup journalist Magnus Wheatley popped his head up from inside one of the boats to say hi, and then promptly wrote about how good the class was. The XOD continues to attract the best.
Wooden boats do take a bit more effort to look after, and they aren't as lightweight as fibreglass or carbon yachts, but there is a fair chance that they'll still be around when more modern designs are forgotten about. There is an allure to wooden boats which pulls on emotions that other construction methods don't, and a strong place for them in our wonderful pastime.
Some will regard this as me harping on about a bygone era, but I know my words will resonate with many. I enjoy watching and participating in sailing on just about any type of boat, and love seeing a new out-and-out carbon racing machine just as much, but wooden boats definitely bring me a certain smile.
Mark Jardine
Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com Managing Editor