The "International One Design" class
Greyhound 1936.
We have been racing on the lake for 5 seasons and enjoying it every time we go out.
The boat has been designed with a high-aspect ratio rig. The mast is 35 ft tall above the deck with a big boom and it is this that drives the boat, so rake, is adjusted for wind conditions. So too are the sail adjustments for changing “Gears” – such as luff adjustment, topping-lift adjustment for leech control and of course, foot adjustment to alter power downwind.
In addition, we find that Cunningham rather than luff control, is for slot between headsail and mainsail. We also bend the mast to flatten the mainsail when gusts occur up-wind. This all makes for changing gear….fuller mainsail for power, and then bending mast to cater for the gusts.
The sailmaker in Windermere has one of the finest cloths …….often in one sail there is a lighter cloth and then a heavier cloth to withstand the “beasting” that occurs when the cloth is under heavier loads.
Head sail is a vital component on the water. We have touched on the slot adjustment, but equally we have to use a barber- hauler to open or close the slot. On Greyhound the power is in the curvature and to close the slot up-wind we set the barber hauler……power and speed is thus enabled. If you wanted to discuss with Steve at Goacher sails, he will get you up the fleet with his well-cut sails.
The IOD boats are a rarity but two or three are still around in the UK, particularly in Falmouth. Fleets still race In Norway, Sweden, Bermuda and the USA so Greyhound goes well on the flatish waters of Windermere. The certificates are now IRC approved and it makes for good competition on the lake.
No more do we rely on fleets for our racing……but we allow all –comers and it means that the racing certificates allow boats from 18 ft to 40ft. One boat does not win every week and the competition is very high with skippers and crews having to work-hard on sail-setting and wind adjustments. We laugh because we can have all seasons in one day and we have known boats go from 1st place to last and visa versa.
Here is a little specification for Greyhound.
International One Design Boat
Designer: Bjarne Aas
Builder: Bjarne Aas
Year: 1936
Location: Norway
Length on deck: 33'
Beam: 6'11"
Draft: 5'3"
Tonnage(TM): 4 tonnes disp.
Full Specification
Designed and built by Bjarne Aas in Norway, 1936
The International One-Design Class emerged to build, maintain and race a fleet of “One-Design yachts. These boats are distinctive in appearance and performance in order to develop the competitive capacities of both helmsmen and crews.
The design of the International One-Design was inspired by a Six Metre created by the famous Norwegian architect and builder Bjarne Aas, in 1935. In late 1936, twenty-five International One-Design yachts were delivered from Norway to race on Long Island Sound. With 12 fleets in 5 countries and over 150 yachts actively racing, the International One Design was the first class to be recognized by ISAF as a “Classic” One Design Class. The International One Design class is considered a classic one today. International One Designs have added competitiveness to yacht racing wherever they have been based in the UK. They are also wonderful boats to enjoy even in unsheltered waters and it is this feature of the design which makes them so attractive to many owners who prefer pottering to competitive hard racing.
