Preview: Thoughts on L. Francis Herreshoff’s Rozinante, with Roger Taylor and Maynard Bray

61 Responses So Far to “Thoughts on L. Francis Herreshoff’s Rozinante, with Roger Taylor and Maynard Bray”

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  Dave Bruce says:

  Always wonderful presentations … AND … I’ve always wondered what many of the ‘Old-timers” feel about those BIG open cockpits! ‘Bout ’82 I took a family on 40’ketch from Seattle to Valdez,AK … and crossing Dixon Entrance, well-documented big seas blowing up in 10-15 minutes … parents and 2 young boys down in the cabin, me hanked in in the cockpit and seas washing into the cockpit … I’m always wondering about those big open cockpits which i personally have no experience with … Would love to hear any experienced thoughts ..

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    Doug Day says:

    Something obvious that I don’t see. When the mizzen mast is moved aft of the tiller, how does the tiller not smack into the mast? Is there some “go-around” or is the complete tiller rig fore of the mast? (which I suspect). In which case, what perfectly simple rig is employed? Thanks. Lovely video for the perfect simplicity for the “perfect day-sailor.” This Day wants that!

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      John Hughes says:

      I wonder if perhaps the mizzen is stepped on that afterdeck (with some clever structure underneath to support it).

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  M. Hans Liebert says:

  Great… Another Redhead to turn my neck.

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  PETER RODMAN says:

  Lovey boat, lovely video, lovely discussion. Off topic, a bit: Roger Taylor has bandages on his left shin at a height where I often have bandaged wounds because of attacks by locker fittings in my boat’s cockpit. I wonder first whether that’s what wounded Roger, and, if so, why those who make fittings don’t ease the edges on the castings.

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  Jon Baldock says:

  I put myself in this boat while watching the video and found it so relaxing . Thanks Jon

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  John Supan says:

  I’ve been smitten by the Rozinante for a long time. Thanks for a great video.

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  David Cranwell says:

  Thank you for a wonderful sail, I have a copy of the Rudder article How to Build a Rozinante, very yellow and foxed now but will be framed and included in my Rozinante launching this yr, been a 40yr dream.
  Doug Hylan built the backbone and molds of mine and shipped it all to NZ.
  See her on http://www.mcnshipwrights/wainamu.com David Cranwell

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    Steven Hall says:

    Hope you don’t mind but that link above doesn’t appear correct and didn’t work for me however I found this to work: https://www.mcnshipwrights.com/wainamu.html Looks like a nice build.

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  Dean Wilson says:

  Perfect slip onto the mooring… think he may of done that a few times over the years. Thanks for the clip…. great

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  Brian McCoy says:

  Where do you mount the outboard I see stashed aft?

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    Tim Boggs says:

    Doug Hylan crafted a bracket that we secure to a deck plate on the port side; the motor easily mounts there. Happily, ‘Red Head’ sails so beautifully in all conditions that we rarely resort to power.

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      James Gallarda says:

      Could you post/send pics of the mount? I have a Rozinante and am not satisfied with the current port motor mount. Thanks!

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        Tim Boggs says:

        James, I just saw your request for a pic of the mount and deck plate. Very slick, rarely used but good to have. You’ll have to wait till spring but I’ll post a couple of shots.

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          John Stewart says:

          Did you ever get the shots of the outboard mount and could you tell how far forward of the stern bracket is located thx

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        John Stewart says:

        I’m rebuilding a 1964 Rozinante and would be interested in a shot of the supports for the aft deck extension that allows the mizzen mast to get above and out of the way of the tiller Thx in anticipation.
        the boat has a prop log but no engine the outboard seems more practical what HP please is it adequately powered?

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          Doug Day says:

          Ahh, I see this is the same question. I should have looked to the full thread before asking. But this is my question too: …” that allows the mizzen mast to get above and out of the way of the tiller.” Better wording for my question, above. Doug Day

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  Brian McCoy says:

  I spied the outboard stashed aft. Where is it mounted?

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  Keith Leonard says:

  Is Nathanael Herreshoff the Frank Lloyd Wright of naval architecture?

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    Charles Barclay says:

    NGH was born 20 years before FLW.

    Rozinante’s designer, Lewis Francis Herreshoff, was one of NGH’s sons, born in 1890.

    Yours is an appropriate comparison between the giants of American naval and land architecture.

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  paul barrett says:

  I was out sailing in my Catalina 34, approaching Marblehead, we were seeing a yawl that was moving at an incredible rate of speed in fairly light air. As the boat got up to us and passed (to my dismay), I could see that she was a Rozinante.

  Another amazing video like this is why I resub scribe every year!

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  JIM GIBLIN says:

  Having had the good fortune to sail a Rozinante for several years I must call attention to the position of the main sheet lead on this boat. It is, in my opinion a considerable improvement on the original design as you do not have to duck under it when you tack as is the case with the original design. One of the great pleasures of sailing a Rozinante, and there are many, is when you experience a gust she just lays down a bit, with no increase in helm, and accelerates. Her hull is certainly one of the sweetest set of lines to be found.

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  Gary herbertson says:

  That video moved me to tears. You really captured the love of sailing, the texture and tone of why I keep heading back out to windward. Thank you for this virtual day sail.

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  Russ Manheimer says:

  One of my favorite OCH videos to date. I’d like to see our two hosts sailing a whole range of boats. Thanks to Maynard and Roger. Damn near perfect.

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  Arthur Wester says:

  I did several Maine Coast cruises with Arthur Brendze aboard his Rozinante, Storm Vogel. Arthur worked for LFH in his latter years and has a great wealth of knowledge about Rozinantes in general. On one cruise in particular we were heading to South Bristol to visit the Petersons. Becalmed several miles from our destination we broke out the Ash Breeze, and powered our way up the river.

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  Ahoi Mench says:

  Just beautiful. Two elder statesmen of the world of wooden boats sailing together and exchanging comments, what could be better? Thank you for this.

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  Robert (Bob) Godfrey says:

  Thoroughly enjoyable! Many thanks.

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  Peter Brackenbury says:

  Although I will never be able to own a Rozinante (didn’t know you pronounced the “e”!) , it was certainly a treat to be able to step aboard and linger for so long with two incredible hosts. My future lies in a smaller, sailing version of a double paddle canoe, inspired by the Compleat Cruiser. I will build it eventually and hope to pass the same kind of summer afternoons as this video inspires and..I hope that if I squint just right it will look a little like this beautiful boat. Thanks OCH.

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  Bob Wastrom says:

  My thanks to Roger and Maynard for a fine day of sailing and banter…. my thanks to LFH for a beautifully designed vessel, and my thanks to a wonderful man named Steve Corkery who strolled into our boat shop some 20 years ago bearing contracts for 2 Rozinantes. My thanks also to Doug Hylan for his thoughtful and tasteful modifications as we too incorporated similar changes along with an inboard one cylinder diesel. Myself and more than able carpenter Brendan Ahearn toiled, no we relished the next years work….the result not only being a joy to behold, but a dream to sail. So beautifully balanced, like a slipper in the water, nary a wake to behold. Set the tiller, and one could stroll forward to tweek whatever or just take it all in. Thanks for the video, thanks for the memories. I have been a life member since your early days, keep up the good work. Bob Wastrom. P.S. BEWARE of the Herreshoff Police

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  Chris Noto says:

  Ah, I’ve loved her so long. (See Neil Young’s first album for more…) What a fine mix a Rozinante, Maynard Bray, and Roger Taylor make! I guess I met each one through WoodenBoat Magazine, back in the ’70s, and, though I’ve not met them in the flesh, they continue to feed my spirit. Thanks, again, OCH. Keep up the good work.

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  Tim Boggs says:

  We were of course honored to invite Maynard and Roger aboard Red Head. As the mere stewards of this beauty for a couple of decades, we thank Francis of course, but Doug Hylan gets a big shout out for his sensitive design work and respect for the vision! Ellery Brown and crew at Hylan and Brown keeps her so fine!

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    Tim Boggs says:

    Oh, and Jim Steele’s peapod is a part of this picture, too. Oh, those Brooklin boat builders!

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    David Tew says:

    It looked like this sweet video of sailing was taken near the lighthouse at the Bucks Harbor end of Eggemoggin Reach. Is that where the boat moors? Beautiful stretch of water for sailing!

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      Steve Stone says:

      Around the corner from the opposite end of the Reach, Dave.

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        David Tew says:

        Thanks! The lighthouse in Blue Hill Bay I suppose.

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  Chad Brown says:

  And when I die, and when I’m gone,please Lord all I ask for is to sail as such with two old gents that enjoy it as much as I.

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  Chris Powell says:

  Being a Herreshoff freak from way back,I really enjoyed the vid-but Maynard and Roger,please release the topping lift on the mizzen a bit.Reminds me of the Tern vid where,for all the world to see,we did not release the runner.Nice vid and audio Steve.

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  John Wujack says:

  Wonderful! Red seems an unusual color choice, yet it’s lovely and has me thinking as I soon will be painting my Stone Horse. I see the name, “Redhead”. Is there more to that part of the story and earlier history? As always and with great appreciation for your work.

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    Doug Hylan says:

    Red Head is a large red granite headland on the seaward end of Great Wass Island in Eastern Maine. Red Head, the boat, was built for Ted Okie, Jr., whose family had a summer retreat on the island. Ted had several boats by that name over his long boating life.

    Red Head’s color was inspired by the NGH Fisher’s Island 31, Cirrus, owned for many years by Alan Bemis, a Brooklin summer resident famous for fast sailing and Downeast story telling. Local legend has it that Alan bought the boat sight unseen at the recommendation of Waldo Howland of Concordia Yachts. When it arrived in Brooklin and its protective tarps were removed, Alan was appalled to find that it sported a fresh coat of red topside paint. Appalled yes, but too frugal to pay for another paint job. Over the years the original fire engine red was modified to the rich dark red seen on several Brooklin boats today.

    Interestingly, these red boats seem to show seams much less than plank-on-frame boats painted with other non-white colors. If you put your hand on the topsides of one of these boats on a hot sunny day, you will find it much cooler than a boat painted, say, light gray. The color you see is the wavelength that is reflected from a surface, and red is very close to infra red in the light spectrum.

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      David Tew says:

      Fascinating bit of science there!

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  Brian McDowell says:

  Well that warmed the heart a lot. A privilege to observe

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  Nathan Bayreuther says:

  Another superb video. Did Mr. Taylor give any hints as to when his second volume about L. Francis Herreshoff would be published? I seem to remember the goal was the end of 2017, but I can imagine creating another book at the same incredibly high level of quality as the first book would take quite a long time!

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    Steve Stone says:

    Nathan, as we understand it, Volume 2 is getting close, and is at the publisher being created.

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      Nathan Bayreuther says:

      Say, that’s fantastic news. Thanks for the update.

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  Samuel Dorrance says:

  A wonderful piece; and Red Head is a thing of beauty!

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  David Tew says:

  For what it’s worth regarding LFH’s ‘The Compleat Cruiser’: The book was compiled from a series of The Rudder articles. The book ends without including the final two installments from the magazine series. The first tells of a long day’s sail along the Rhode Island and Buzzard Bay shoreline with the Rozinante and H-28 VIATOR each trading places in a long, friendly race to a safe anchorage as dusk falls, The last episode relates the passage through the Cape Cod Canal and it’s peculiar currents, then finishes with a mystical overnight passage across Massachusetts Bay to a dawn arrival at their home port of Manchester-by-the-Sea. The book would have benefited by the inclusion of the installments. LFH was at his most lyrical in them.

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    Charles Barclay says:

    David, do you happen to have those last two chapters handy? The book left me wanting more, or a follow on summer when the kids where a little older.

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      David Tew says:

      Sure. I’ll walk them over.

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  Phil Foster says:

  Did my heart a world of good; I’ve had a Rozinante in my yard for the past several years for refurbishment and have just given up launching this season if favour of next spring. So it was nice to have a chance to experience this sail and amiable conversation vicariously and see Doug Hylan’s wonderful build of Red Head. Thank you!

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  larry McKenna says:

  I should not have watched this ! I’ve now buried today’s “To Do” list under the newspapers, and I’m going out for a sail . Thanks Roger and Maynard , it was lovely sailin’ with ya .

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  Samuel Cleaves says:

  Gorgeous- thanks for putting this together!

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  Rod McLaren says:

  Wonderful. On so many levels. Exactly why I just renewed my subscription. Carry on.

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  Robert Lansing says:

  How life should be but seldom is.

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  Frederick Schoenberger says:

  Wonderful. My thoughts entirely. I even remember the issues of Rudder Magazine that featured this beautiful design.

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  Bob Thornberry says:

  “ I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand”. Confucius. I think Off Center Harbor is a brilliantly conceived idea! Keep up the great work! I enjoy it immensely! Bob

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  Paul Atkins says:

  Be still my beating heart…

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  George Graham says:

  These two seem to be friends, talking about a boat they both really like/love.

  I really enjoyed this conversation and insights to a great boat and her designer.

  ONE DAY………….!

  Thanks for posting this video.

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  Rick Jacks says:

  A great look at a wonderful boat but overshadowed by the gentle conversation between two of the greatest small boat men of our era.

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  Eddie Breeden says:

  FINALLY! As “steward” of a genuine 1974 Smith and Rhuland built Rozinante, I was wondering when this design (or variant) would be featured. I can echo the sublime nature of sailing a boat outside racing rule constraints. My LUNA needs only a breath to move and does so with such grace. All boats are compromises, but when it comes to sailing, this one forfeits the least. No living room with a stick this one, but is that sailing? She’s got rhythm. At the risk of bragging too much, see her here:

  https://lingeringlunacy.com/category/rozinante/luna-sailing/

  Thank you!
  Adios- Got some varnish work to do

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  Philip Myer says:

  Bliss- pure bliss, two gentlemen enjoying themselves.

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  Daniel Culpepper says:

  Some…..Boat, indeed! I could listen to you two talk for the rest of the day. Thanks for another great one.