By Jessica Kerwin Jenkins, author of Encyclopedia of the Exquisite.
I‘m going about it backwards, I know. Normally, you would fall in love with sailing and then, after much consideration and fanfare, you might embark on a big project to build your own boat. My story doesn’t follow that way. Over the past several summers since we moved to Maine, I’ve fallen in love with riding in a boat, but I’ve only performed the maneuvers of sailing our 34’ yawl, JESTER, under strict instruction, and somewhat nervously. I’ve never sailed alone, and, frankly, I’m petrified by the idea of finding myself solo at JESTER’S helm.
Seriously, that’s like a nightmare for me. What I am so excited about, however, is building a smallish boat to make mistakes in while toodling up and down the Eggemoggin Reach this summer, teaching myself to sail, picking up pointers from our knowledgeable friends, and, perhaps, knocking into the occasional rock. I can only imagine what the evenings and weekends spent carefully shaping the planks, tracing out the transom and gluing up the stem will bring to my hours out on the water.
Jessica Kerwin Jenkins trimming the gunwhales on the second yawlboat hull. Photo: Nico Jenkins
Before embarking on the project this winter, I couldn’t even talk boats, really. I memrized the answers to the questions people ask most frequently about JESTER when we’re docked somewhere. (I always hope they don’t press for more.) But, as we work, I’m gaining a wonderfully sea-worthy vocabulary—from skeg to spar. The linguistics are fascinating. Take gunwales, for example. It took me a while to figure out that inwales and outwales together equal gunwales, in the same way that lettuce and tomatoes together equal salad.
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nico jenkins says:
Very excited now. They are looking great. We’ll have the keels faired and the centerboards in before you know it!
Deborah Brewster says:
Nice write-up, Jessica. Takes me back to the days of building a Nutshell Pram with Eric Dow. Tremendously satisfying and brings a whole new dimension to sailing! Congratulations!
Eric Blake says:
I can hardly wait to paint them. Ours will be bright orange of course, and named Foxy.
William Boulden says:
Very kewell! Wish I was there to join in the fun. ;D
Molly Blake says:
What a great post and a project that has made a slew of people in my life very happy. We’ll need a follow up post after paint and sails for the 4th of July race.
Peter Poanessa says:
Great looking little boats. What is the design?
Steve Stone says:
Hi Peter. You can check them out in the “First of Three Yawlboats Take Shape” blog by Eric.
malcolm kerstein says:
It loks as if you all are havin a lot of fun!
I am beginning to feel a little confined in my dental practice in Florida.
I am happy that my son Dustin will be with you soon to join the party.
Have a great Summer!
P.S. The boat looks great!
Steve Stone says:
Hi Malcolm. We’re thrilled Dustin will be joining us. Hope we see you this summer too. My son’s only 11, but I find that I’m already living vicariously though him some. Fortunately, the OCH venture has lots and lots of good people and fun in it, so not too much vicariousness is needed.