Topic: Lugger to Lorcha (Read 15228 times)

Jimmy James · « **on:** March 07, 2011, 08:31:14 pm »

The Lorcha is basically a Europen hull with a Chinese rig It was first developed by the Portuguese in the East Indies as a trading vessel that was cheap to run (Less Crew to handle to rig) and was fast enough to outrun the local pirates The John Company (British East India Co.) had a look at this handy vessel and at first converted a few schooner hull's found they worked well so they started building hull and Arming them as Patrol craft, Convoy escorts and as Anti Piracy cruisers for the Bombay Marine the John Company's Private Navy The comversion is ongoing and I will keep the thread going as long as there is any interest

These are the original lug rig

This is the first set of junk sails - She sailed extreamly well with this first set and only took seconds to reef (Shorten sail)but I had put to many battens on the Mainsail but this is only a minor ajustment.
Jimmy

Jimmy James · « **Reply #1 on:** March 07, 2011, 09:08:08 pm »

Having studded the photos taken by Rob (Club Sec) I'm going to remove 3 battens and reposition 2 others that should make a better looking sail
I shall make a rigging plan at a later date but so far I have replaced the two part masts with 12mm doweling pole maststhe Same hight as the old masts the rigging on these will be a single halyard running from the yard on the head of the sail through a block at the masthead and down to the starb'd rail just aft of the mast this has a bowser on it to adjust the hight of the sail ( a dummy halyard has been set up on the port side for looks only as its not needed)

2 vew's of the rig, Lazy jacks are used to control the battens when reefed

These are the mods that will be made to the battens
Jimmy

Jimmy James · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2011, 12:35:16 am »

Rigging plan of Chinese Lug sail

The rigging plan gives the normal rigging plag for this type 0f sail
Jimmy

Jimmy James · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2011, 03:29:07 pm »

This is the Original lug rig,
The Parrall beads keeping the battens close to the mast

and the sail close to the mast

Jimmy James · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2011, 09:08:39 pm »

Lazy jacks very useful for reducing sail on fore & aft rigs in stead of having to tie loads of reef points you just lower the sail between two sets of ropes (Like a suspension bridge)and only have to haul in the tack and leech pendants ... Sorry about the quality of the photos but I can't take a picture for toffee
Jimmy

If you are confused or need more info PM me ... I will be posting sailing photos as soon as I can get someone to take them.

Jimmy James · « **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2011, 09:18:42 pm »

Jimmy James · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2011, 10:38:46 pm »

Rob our Club Sec has come through with his magic camara
Pictures of Wolfshead sailing on the club lake

this is still a trials rig and I have 1 or 2 things to iron out before I make the finished suit of sails

the wind is only aprox 09 to 10 kts

Jimmy James · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2011, 10:46:26 pm »

All for know again thanks to Rob for the brilliant photos
Freebooter

Jimmy James · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2011, 10:58:06 pm »

You can see how close winded she is and how easy she is to ware and tack these pictures were taken in less than 10 Min's in 3 passes
control is 3 channel #1 maim and jib, #2 Mizzen , #3 Rudder
Freebooter

Jimmy James · « **Reply #9 on:** March 16, 2011, 01:00:54 am »

To answer the question --Yes the masts are taller than the Chinese Junk 's would be ---First she represents my version of a John Company Bombay Anti Piracy Cruiser this means she has to be fast...So shes over rigged ,,Remember shes a Lorcha not a Junk...I was once told Chinese Junks are evolved from the Bamboo raft while European Vessels have evolved from the Dugout canoe ...the Lorcha is a Hi-bread with a European Hull And a Junk rig and while they have the same no# crew as a European trader because she needs less men to work the ship that means she has more to Fight the ship which would come as an unpleasant suprise to any pirate who came near to her.
also she's much more heavely armed than any Trader with 8 x18 pounder caronades and a long 9 ( mounted on a training circle0
Freebooter

Jimmy James · « **Reply #10 on:** March 16, 2011, 12:27:54 pm »

This is another way to rig Lazy Jacks that is very popular in the USA, originaly, I beleve used on the Grandbanks Fishing vessels

Freebooter

kiwi · « **Reply #11 on:** March 16, 2011, 05:40:25 pm »

Hi Jimmy,
A Most interesting Topic. I find the small wooden coastal sailing craft from around the world a facinating subject. Especially those from around the South China Sea. So many different styles, with influences from India and Arabia in the south West, China in the north, the more primitive craft the further east and south with the Portugeses and Dutch European influences.
Magic little craft all of them.
Keep up the good work, you've taught me so much, and I'm sure many others have learned as well
regards
kiwi
(HarryD)

Jimmy James · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2011, 04:24:07 pm »

Glad I could be of assistance Kiwi
Freebooter

Jimmy James · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2011, 11:42:15 pm »

Check Yachts & sail R&D , Brigantine Freebooter for tip's on ginger work
Jimmy

Jimmy James · « **Reply #14 on:** June 11, 2011, 12:58:49 pm »

Wolfs Head as a Lorcha in half a gale at Wicksteed

Brooks · « **Reply #15 on:** August 02, 2011, 02:59:51 pm »

Great ship, Mr. James. I, too, learn lots from your posts.

Jimmy James · « **Reply #16 on:** August 05, 2011, 11:18:00 pm »

Brooks
Glade you liked the thread. Wolfs Head sailed well as a Lorcha. The rig was unusual and it was fun to develop it, and pass on knowage to other people who like to experiment.
But for me the Lug rig being not quite so sedate to sail is more fun and if well handled is very fast with the clinker hull (no wonder 18 century HM Customs & Excise ordered all clinker built luggers over a certain size to be cut in half and destroyed by fire---They could easily out run the Revenue Cutters which were no slouches under sail ) The power of the lug sail is well demonstrated by a true story in the late 20s on the NW coast of Scotland" The New Fishery Cruiser on the coast unlike the old one had oil (Diesel)engines not steam and had a top speed of 12 knots. She spotted a Scottish Zulu (Fishing Lugger) poaching and set off after her. The tail goes that the Zulu calmly hauled her nets , set sail and ran the Cruiser over the horizon in 6 hrs she then put into the port of Stornaway, discharged and sold her catch and retired to the pub. when the Cruiser came into port the crew was drunk and there was no fish on the Zulu so they had no proof and had to let her go. (The Zulu must have been sailing 16 to 18 knots - not bad for a 72 foot heavy wooden fishing boat
Jimmy

herrmill · « **Reply #17 on:** September 14, 2011, 12:59:32 pm »

Thanks for the info Jimmy!

I'm back to working on my shachuan 3 masted junk after close to a 2 year hiatus so seeing these photos of your lazy jack setup have been quite helpful.

Jimmy James · « **Reply #18 on:** September 15, 2011, 07:39:35 pm »

Herrmill
Glad to have been of assistance
Jimmy

Brooks · « **Reply #19 on:** September 16, 2011, 03:44:28 am »

That shot in post#14 is great, looks very real. Neat ship.

Jimmy James · « **Reply #20 on:** September 18, 2011, 01:12:36 pm »

Brooks
Thanks for that
Jimmy

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Author Topic: Lugger to Lorcha (Read 15228 times)

kiwi

Brooks

Brooks