Twin Trapeze Symetric Boat

We had a Ghost at Felpham Sailing School (long gone) in 1976. It was like a 15' Cherub - twin wired that we sailed two or three up. It was an absolute pig (probably because it wasn't sorted) that was brilliant fun. If it was not kept abolutely flat it was almost uncontrollable. Never laughed so much trying to teach foreign students to trapeze in a completely HSE free zone that would just not be allowed today.

Unfortunately the boat did not have a kite with it but it was a favourite with several of us instructors at the time. - happy days!!

It was brought by Jeremy Sharpe (the owners son) I believe, who was one of the original 18' skiff sailors over here (after his trips to Aus) and they were three wiring with enormous symetric kites - as per the piccies that all look to be from that era.   

Originally posted by turnturtle Could we trouble you to post a few photos- this boat sounds interesting, a Cherub, but it can take more weight

Easier to start from scratch to be quite honest. The Greg type hull shape was probably not the best platform. Imagine a wider scorpion with a 9ft long spinnaker pole and you'll be in the territory.

There are some norfolk punts using symetric kites with twin wires. If you're ever floating around in Broadland, well worth a look at Barton or Hickling.

Why do you want a symmetric boat?

If you look at the 12 on the reach you will see the pole is a 3 (three) part item

YES THAT RIGHT 3 PART.

which did separate in gybes, sometimes all three bits.

The rules in 12s' and  R's don't stop you having a symmetric kite with a non fixed pole, just that its slower.

 

P.S. the "Sunset Motel" 12 is being raced by Ian Murry

Was the Ghost really twin wire? The little info I've found about the Ghost was that it was a big Cherub, like a one-design NZ Javelin, and like the Jav it had only one trap. Was the Ghost modified later to have a second string?