Learn to Sail a Lugger

Learn to Sail a Lugger
 

How many people in the street know what a sailing lugger is ?

How many yachtsmen know what a lug rig looks like ?

How many traditional boat sailors can explain how to tack a lugger ?

How many Classic Sailing staff know how to sail a lugger ?

Actually none of us yet....but we know a very nice couple who can teach us.

Preserve Our Maritime Skills

This lack of knowledge about sailing luggers is ridiculous for a maritime nation like Britain. Luggers are such an integral part of our working boat history and have so many links with working craft throughout the world. With Grayhound's help we want to make the term as well recognised as tea clipper, tall ship, or dare we say it....pilot cutter.

In 1997 about the only pilot cutters known to the average classic boat lover was Jolie Brise, and from books Tilman's Mischief and Tom Cunliffe's Hirta. Today there are over 30 restored originals or replica pilot cutters out on the water sailing (see Our Pilot Cutter Directory).

In 2012 we know there are luggers out there, but most are in private ownership, trusts or clubs. This will be the first lugger with a worldwide sailing licence that you can sail on as charter crew.

Sail a Lugger Taster Courses

In 2013 Grayhound will be offering 'Sail a Lugger' taster courses, as well as longer voyages. If you are looking for more advanced skills then the Grayhound crew have years of racing experience to pass on. 

Day Sails on Grayhound - Ports, description, dates & prices

Feel like proper lugger crew -7 to 10 day long voyages exploring West Country & French Ports

Learn from the Experts

Marcus has already built a 30ft dipping lugger 'Veracity' back in 2003 and has since sailed her 22 000 miles including an Atlantic circumnavigation. He particularly loves taking part in friendly racing and surprising other sailors by showing the sheer pace of luggers. Marcus, and his purple lugger Veracity, are well known characters at classic boat festivals in Britain, France, and as far afield as Antigua Classics in the Caribbean. Boat builder, welder, sailing instructor, and experienced skipper, Marcus is now ready to take the tiller of this new, larger vessel. 

Marcus's partner Freya is a bespoke canvas and sail maker. She is also a passionate cook and boat mum to their young son Malachi.  After some years working on traditional sail training vessels she is an Ocean yachtmaster and has recently completed an Atlantic circumnavigation.

Why Sail a Lugger ?

As a sailing rig it is beautiful, efficient, fast, simple and it works.  It was the choice rig of both the revenue and smuggling vessels of the 18th Century. Yachtsman Pete Goss proved a 37ft lugger could still hold its head high in the modern sailing world by sailing 'Spirit of Mystery' from Newlyn to Australia in 2008. The shipwright for 'Spirit of Mystery' was Chris Rees and he is now the chief shipwright for the much larger lugger 'Grayhound.'

Advanced Lugger Skills Voyages

There are many ways to gain experience, but racing is good for intensive boat handing, and ocean voyages are ideal for learning about how to cope with rough weather, be more self sufficent and look after the boat and crew well.

La Cancillaise and  La Granvillaise are stunning historic replicas built with EU money in the early 1990s by the French.  They steal the show at every major festival.  They are about to get a rival. Whilst there is a revival of interest in luggers in Mounts Bay, Britain does not have any three masted luggers surviving or any replicas currently sailing , despite historic evidence that they were characteristic working craft of Britain.

Grayhound will also be taking on the classic yacht fleet in the Caribbean at St Maarten Classic Yacht Regatta and Antigua Classics if you like to race hard and party hard in the sun.

Grayhound Full Sailing Schedule from 2013-2014 - Voyage descriptions, dates & prices.

photo by Kathy Mansfield. La Grandvillaise

Brush up your rowing skills too.

Grayhound will carry an 18ft gig boat as a stylish means of getting ashore.  Shorter than a pilot gig boat, this traditional ships boat has been designed and built by Grayhound's shipwright Chris Rees - specifically for her charter voyages. Four people can row plus a cox, so wherever you anchor you will be able to mess around in small boats, explore up rivers or impress the locals on the way to the pub.

 photo of the gig in action needed