Out There: Canoe Sailing
Article by Howard Rice
sylph |silf|
noun
1 an imaginary spirit of the air.
• a slender woman or girl.
Sylph’s hull chattered across inner lagoon wavelets as I glanced back over my shoulder to the crashing surf of Palikir Pass. We had just passed from open ocean to inner lagoon at speed. Her Spanish cedar decks glistened wet in the tropical sun; my heart soared. Woohaa! I was ripping across the water like my hair was on fire after one more amazing ocean sail. Steering by foot pedals I sorted gear in my lap and again wondered why the sailing canoe has not caught on and dominated the world of small sailing boats.
I have found canoe sailing to be one of the most satisfying, exciting, stable, safe, easy to use, yet misunderstood forms of the great pastime and pursuit we love. Few boats offer such an intimate, connected feeling with wind and water as the modern sailing canoe. Fewer yet offer such versatility and ease of use. The sailing canoe is generally discounted with a head shake and a huff by “real boat” sailors. In quick dismissal sailing canoes are often discounted as not real sailboats (whatever that means), and cited as tippy, unsafe and best suited for limited light-air use on calm lakes and rivers. Over many years thousands of miles of lake and ocean sailing, I unabashedly stand up in defense and testimony to the type.
As I pen this another devotee my pal Meade Gougeon of WEST System epoxy fame is sending SPOT updates from the Everglades Challenge as he competes in his new square stern iteration of the modern sailing canoe. Hard to fool a sailor like Meade or his brother Jan, both serious canoe sailors.
Sailing canoes like Meade’s or my Sylph are lightweight “spirits of the air” in every sense of the term. They can also be as tough as nails and have been chosen by great explorers and adventurers ranging from the Scotsman John MacGregor to Roald Amundsen and have made blue water passages including Atlantic crossings. In my world of the western Pacific, open sailing canoes have been the ocean voyaging craft of choice for centuries. I frequently cross “the blue” to distant atolls, sleeping and cooking aboard Sylph in micro luxury.
The feeling of sailing a canoe is pure magic if one values sailing sensory perception above all other small boat virtues. Unlike other small boats we canoe sailors can choose to sit below the waterline, all senses tuned, inches from the magical interface of wind and water, or we can hike out for stable fine-edge go-fast sailing. There is simply no other sailing experience quite like it. Few small boats are both as sensual to sail and as versatile for daysailing, racing, or beach coasting with tent, stove and a good book as a canoe. The modern sailing canoe is the Swiss Army knife of small boats. Canoes can be built, bought, sailed, paddled, rowed, poled, powered, car-topped, handled by one, fished from, portaged, rolled on wheels, lived aboard, loaded beyond reason, and hung in the garage rafters until another day.
As in the broader sport of sailing small boats, handling a canoe efficiently should not be a mystery. Like all sailing it is equal parts art, technique, and science but should not be a mystery. The common belief is that canoes are not suited for sail. Many folks who have yet to sail one feel they are simply too narrow and prone to tipping at a sneeze. OK, I will just state it here, acknowledging and embracing the coming collective snicker, “Canoes are stable!” Well glad to get that out in the world of small boats because it is true if the sailor understands the basic sailing premise of step in the middle of your boat when boarding and then “sail flat and keep her moving.” Since most canoe sailors are far heavier than the total weight of their canoe, remarkable stability can be achieved.
If you choose to explore canoe sailing, then here is a quick synopsis of basic design and safety criteria that can have you flying along at speed or poking along a shady bank, fishing pole in hand.
Try to pick a canoe that offers slightly better sailing characteristics than paddling characteristics so you can enjoy the versatility of both modes of power. A canoe in the fifteen to sixteen foot range means it will be easier to paddle as you will not be dragging extra wetted surface around. A canoe with approximately 31-34 inches of beam will allow for easy double-blade paddling and will likely offer sufficient beam for good sailing stability and load carrying ability. British canoe sailors tend to go wider. Wider may have merit for some, but for me I live by the creed “Sail when you can, paddle when you must.” I like narrower beam enabling me to swing a double blade paddle when needed, which is rare.
You should select a canoe with sufficient hull rocker. You will appreciate rocker for sailing, ease of turning and rough-water paddling. Rocker will allow short-radius turns. Pick a canoe that is light and stiff, a 45-55 pound unloaded canoe is a good start. I sail decked canoes with a large enough cockpit so one or two can sail. I like canoes with a coaming and removable enclosure decks that will help keep splashes out of your lap.
As with any small boat, make sure you have adequate buoyancy. Buoyancy can range from inflatable bags, loaded dry bags, pool noodles strapped under gunnels—you name it—and it will likely work. I have a friend who has used discarded wine box bags. Prepare and capsize test your canoe, it’s fun and a snap if you think it through.
Choose a sail rig that is light aloft, and one without stays. Like any boat light weight aloft is important. I like a stiff, sealed mast filled with hummingbird breath; just kidding but you get the idea. Consider the virtues of a simple rig such as a gunter or a cat rig. I prefer a sloop but many do not and opt for fat head cat rigs. The number one criteria for any rig is the ability to strike it instantly, stow it, and redeploy it while underway. Whatever rig you choose you should set it up for quick reefing while underway. You will also need a rudder, leeboard, bilge boards or centerboard.
There is no reward in the next life for not sailing a canoe in this life, so join the fun. Light your hair on fire, sail fast, sail slow, but most importantly—sail a canoe! •SCA•
First appeared in issue #75
I always felt the same way. Too narrow, Must be tippy, until Howard one day said, "Let's build one together". So Mike Antis and I embarked on building two prototypes of Howard's new design, KAZE. With his direction, via Zoom calls from Japan, the dual bilge board canoes came together. Initial testing shows the design to be very stable, and a real performer. Im looking forward to camp cruising these canoes!
Starting at the early part of your article, sailing canoes were the boat of choice until the advent of the board boat, Sunfish and Sailfish. Being essentially unsinkable, even though they are eminently capable of capsizing, and capable of planing, these mass-produced boats quickly took over the waterways.
Much of their popularity was and is due to adoption for youth training programs. Contemporary fiberglass canoes weighed more and were less exciting to sail.
One of the things I dislike about board boats is the ease of becoming entangled in the sheet when switching tacks. Also, the lack of secondary stability that a canoe provides.
I have never gone over in a canoe and the ease of trimming the boat by moving around makes the experience much more wholesome. I have never, so far, had to sit outboard to keep the boat upright.
Try sailing cruising class, without a rudder or with a paddle as your rudder. Anyone who has seen sail boards knows it can be done. It's just another skill.
One other thing a canoe provides is the ability to challenge yourself.
As you mention, a jib can be part of the rig. Although the lateen rig is most common, there are several others available, including schooner, ketch and yawl.
Although I have not done it lately, I prefer teaching sailing in a canoe.