Our third post about the Winkle Brigs provides a comparison between ‘Tab Nab’ and ‘Philomena’, belonging to two East Coast Gaffers, Francis Douglas and Yvonne Mitchell. Find out more about our East Coast Winkle Brigs here.
COMPARING TWO WINKLEBRIGS
The Winkle Brig metrics (approx)
Sail Area/ Displacement Ratio (Mainsail-Jib-Topsail) = 21.62
Sail Area/Displacement Ratio (Mainsail-Jib) = 18.3
Sail Area/ Displacement Ratio (Mainsail with one reef plus Jib) = 16
To interpret the above:
12 is considered Low and would typically be found on a Motor Sailer.
20 is considered High and would typically be found on a racing yacht.
Displacement/Length Ratio = 207.4
To interpret: Ultra-light <100; 140-175 is Light; 200-280 is Moderate; 300-350 is Heavy.
Theoretical Displacement Hull Speed = 5.2 knots.
Note: When ‘Tab Nab’ and ‘Philomena’ have been racing each other both of us reached our maximum speed of 5.2 knots in relatively light winds. Thereafter we hit a ‘brick wall’ and no matter how hard we drove them we went no faster. In a F3 we can easily keep up with much larger yachts but as the wind increases further we fall behind as they gain from their much longer waterline length.
From the metrics above it can be seen that my gut feeling that ‘Tab Nab’ was over-canvassed and had her centre of effort too far aft is to some extent backed up. I suspect that the high peaked version was introduced as a partial answer to excessive weather helm. I would reiterate though that for lake or river sailing whilst sailing upright (and she has very good form stability) the designed sail plan is more than adequate allowing one to set a lot of sail high up. However, for coastal sailing for which her chunky well built solid hull is well suited improvements can be made. Thus in the winter of 2023/2024 I asked Jeckells to make a new mainsail to my design using as inspiration the mainsail of a Dutchman. This sail was one foot longer on the luff, had a short curved gaff with four foot radius and had an area of 80 square feet (the equivalent of the old mainsail with one reef). The total sail area of approximately 120 square feet (Jib plus Main) gave a Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16. Two further reefs in the new mainsail reduced its size to forty square feet, approximately the same size as the jib. The transformation was truly amazing. ‘Tab Nab’ still carries weather helm in the gusts but she no longer rounds up into the wind out of control. Furthermore, she will sail under double reefed mainsail only, with furled jib, which is also excellent when motor sailing. Further modifications are being made by Mark this winter (2024/2025). My brother is exploring the possibility of attaching a steel shoe to the straight keel that will bring the Ballast/Displacement Ratio up to 40 percent. An additional 50 KG (110 lbs) will be required to do this.
Passage Match & Cruising: 2024
In May 2024 a passage match was arranged between ‘Philomena’ (WB54 built 1991) and ‘Tab Nab’. This took place from the entrance to Foundry Creek to Landermere on the Walton Backwaters in a F4 gusting F5/6. We were neck and neck the whole way apart from beating to windward in Hamford Water where I with my new Dutch mainsail had a very slight advantage. The sail areas were almost the same as ‘Philomena’ had her first reef in. The next day ‘Philomena’ had two reefs in and ‘Tab Nab’ had one and again it was neck and neck with ‘Tab Nab’ gaining slightly hard on the wind in the Walton Channel. Later in the year, during the OGA cruise, ‘Philomena’ setting full sail, apart from her top sail, in a F2, was marginally faster than ‘Tab Nab’ on a broad reach up the River Orwell to Woolverstone. It should be noted that both ‘Tab Nab’ and ‘Philomena’ now have non standard rigs, as I suspect, and indeed know, that a number of other winkle brigs do. Yvonne says that the furling gear on her two headsails can be used to clear the sheets. When one of these sheets snags it can often be released by tugging on the furling line. I have found the same.
Comparisons with other ‘modern’ Gaffers
Interesting comparisons can be made between the Winkle Brig and other traditional ‘modern’ craft. For example the Cornish Shrimper is 17 ft 7 inches on the waterline and will thus be faster. However, she will cost much more, has not got a self draining cockpit and has an off centred outboard well. Her accommodation is less and is made to seem much less than it is by the protrusion of the centreboard case which divides the small cabin into two. Similar criticisms can be made of the Norfolk Gypsy, the Baycruiser 20, the Drascombe Coaster and the Cape Cutter 19 which exhibit all or some of these faults. The latter has spacious accommodation, a self draining cockpit and a central outboard well but still has the centreboard case plonked in the centre of the cabin.
Motor-sailing
As Yvonne says, the Winkle Brig makes an excellent motorboat or motor-sailer. Views concerning the type of engine (electric or petrol) differ but for coastal use it definitely has to be petrol. Yvonne has a 6HP Tohatsu outboard and I have a 5 HP Honda. We have both found that, when sailing to windward, having the engine on fast tick-over helps enormously. The key problem with an electric outboard is that, when stemming a two or three knot current, they lack the range. They would, however, prove to be excellent for inland waterways providing that you had easy access to charging points. The picture shows ‘Tab Nab’ under power in the Walton Channel sailing very close to the wind with just her mainsail set. I have also found that ‘tacking to windward’ with the same set up is very beneficial as you don’t have to tend to the jib sheets and are certain to come about.
Acccommodation
In my opinion the accommodation, as originally designed, is ideal for one person. As can be seen from the pictures Tab Nab’s cabin is set up for one person. I sit to starboard with just sitting headroom and if I lean forward I can stand up in the hatchway. Opposite me is stowage for plates, mugs, glasses and cutlery and a work surface that can be used either as a chart table or for the preparation of food. The stove is an Origo meths stove which I have found to be entirely satisfactory especially as it is twinned with an Omnia oven. My bed rolls up in the daytime and is stowed in the starboard quarter berth. The port quarter berth has clothes and other equipment stowed in colour coded bags. For example the red bag contains oilskins! Forward is stowed the very small inflatable dinghy, the cool box, the food box and various items of equipment like the gin pole for lowering the mast, the spare boat hook etc. Under the companionway step is a 10 litre water can, two buckets and a dustpan and brush. Further stowage is provided in the cockpit by the deck boxes which also act as steps up onto the cabin roof and the two aft lockers which contain the 6Kg kedge anchor and rode and other miscellaneous gear. The main bower 10 Kg Delta anchor, with 10 metres of chain and 20 metres of nylon rope, is stowed on the foredeck.
‘Philomena’ has a different layout more suitable to two people. Her single burner portable gas stove is centralised and there is room to sleep one person to starboard and one to port. Much of the gear is stowed forward including her small inflatable dinghy. Yvonne says that the original locker for the stove on ‘Philomena’ is now used for stowing spare cordage. She has fitted a compression post under the mast and backrests in front of it athwart ships. This means that you can sit with your feet up facing the companionway. She also says that she has storage boxes at the aft end of each quarter berth with lanyards attached so that they can be pulled out like drawers.
Trailer-sailing
The Winkle Brig was designed for trailer-sailing and for this reason her dry weight was kept down to 650 KG so that she could be towed by the average family car of the time. I suspect that that is why she has only 150 KG of ballast when in my opinion she could do with more. ‘Tab Nab’ has been trailed at the start and end of the season only and I have no intention of doing otherwise. ‘Philomena’, on the other hand, has been trailed extensively and much has been learnt by Yvonne in so doing. As Yvonne says, ‘I have towed ‘Philomen’a from Walton-on-the-Naze to the River Dart, Falmouth, the Norfolk Broads, South Wales and Reeuwijk in the Netherlands. If I drive those distances again I will stay in the area for longer than the event I have gone to participate in. The only disadvantage of trailer sailing is that you have to make sure that there is somewhere to leave the trailer and vehicle. So far this has not been a problem but I guess it could be in some areas. There have been occasions when ‘Philomena’ didn’t want to get off the trailer and I don’t know exactly why. Last time I launched she slid off easily and there wasn’t a particularly steep slope; she just liked the idea of sailing on the Broads.’
Marina fees
Yvonne says that ‘Philomena’ is easy to handle and to tow so she can visit many places. She is also small enough to be classified as a dinghy by the Walton and Frinton Yacht Club (thus both ‘Philomena’ and ‘Tab Nab’ are berthed on the dinghy pontoons there). As such, she only ever incurs the minimum fees when visiting marinas elsewhere.
In conclusion, it can be said that the Winkle Brig is like a very small barge yacht capable of drying out level and sailing in shallow water. She makes an excellent cruiser because of her commodious accommodation, and having lived on her for six weeks at a time, I can testify as to how comfortable I found her to be in warm weather. Most cruisers don’t fully appreciate how long they stay stopped either in the Marina or at anchor. Speed under sail is one thing. Comfort at anchor is another!
Research by East Coast Gaffers, Francis Douglas & Yvonne Mitchell
Final gallery of photos: Gerard Brown
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