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Iota - 11 foot x 50 inches; |
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The Iota has proven her ability to sail by racing against modern class dinghies for 9 consecutative years until the year 2000 - and off and on since then when the mood took - in light and strong breezes, and in both winter and summer. She will sail competitively against Toppers - boat for boat - on most occasions and has only twice been beaten by Mirrors; not bad for a modest rowing and sailing dinghy from the 1930's which, it seems, did not even merit a name. And just to clarify matters for the doubting Thomases over her sailing ability, Iota sails off a Portsmouth Yardstick Rating of 1200 - quite ridiculous, but there we are. As a comparison, Wayfarers sail off 1099, Solos sail off 1155, Toppers off 1290 and single-handed but sloop rigged Mirrors off 1372. Clearly, good balanced lug dinghies must be handicapped out of existence to avoid causing too many red faces among the plastic brigade! Can't have a "funny looking boat" - as it was so endearingly referred to recently - stealing the chaps' silver, now can we? And as for those knowledgeable souls who, from their vast experience of handicap racing, maintain that lug rigged boats are inherently inferior to contemporary boats, and who spout long and loud about the impossibility of lug rigged boats pointing high or sailing fast - I do hope that a certain forum has some members whose ears are burning brightly - please come and make your wisdom known to the handicap committee of Haversham Sailing Club. There's a good bar, and I'll stand you a good few pints. It'll be worth the spectacle.
Foot-note to the above: I believe that I have not raced the Iota for about 4 years, sailing a Moth amongst other things. However, earlier this year I did dust her off and sail her for two races one light wind day when sailing the Moth would have been just too uncomfortable in comparison [such is my dedication to racing!]. The results, as published by Haversham Sailing Club, are at the bottom of the page, and the positions are no better than about half or three quarters the way down the results' table. Just remember that the Iota was, as ever, sailing off a yardstick of 1200 with a fourteen and a half stone helm as crew. Now, if only the PY were the same as a West Wight or Solent Scow, and the crew weighed the same eleven and a half stone as he did thirty years ago! Yeah, right, dream on, lad.... |
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The prototype IOTA, launched in May '91, is an enlarged and slightly modified version of a 1930's design for a rowing and sailing skiff from the board of the naval architect and maritime historian H.I.Chapelle, who in turn was almost certainly inspired by the design of a sailing dinghy by H. J. Ashcroft. The result is an elegant, traditional - looking dinghy with a sweet sheer that is both practical and handsome, a sailing performance to match or better that of some class dinghies of comparable size, and an excellent rowing performance. Such a design is, however, more demanding and exacting to build than the usual flat - sheered, relatively slack bilged and full - bowed boats more commonly seen. Unlike many designs, both old and new, the IOTA is exceptionally well mannered in light, moderate and even fresh winds. Her light airs' ability is excellent thanks to her hollow waterlines forward, her moderate beam with a firm round turn to the bilge amidships and her well - lifted quarters. Even with the easily handled, low aspect ratio, balanced lug, IOTA does not appear to lose out to her gunter or bermudian rigged rivals to windward, and offwind she is noticeably faster. In addition, the prototype has consistently shown an unusual ability in light breezes: to sail herself, with the helm free - not tied or fixed in any way - for short periods. Yet she will tack very quickly and is very manoeuvrable on all points. When the wind starts to increase, IOTA remains well balanced and does not suffer from harsh weather helm - unlike lesser designs. In a fresh breeze, off the wind, she gives a stable, exhilarating planing performance; and like many good planing dinghies, the faster she planes, the more stable she seems to become. She is, as a result of the deep, marked forefoot, the hollow waterlines forward and the full, flared bow above the waterline for reserve buoyancy, drier than any comparable boat. Ashore, IOTA is easily handled as she is light in weight, and quickly rigged: the rotating mast is unstayed and is quickly stepped; the sail can remain laced to the spars and so is quickly set; and it is but the work of a moment to ship the lifting rudder and drop in the daggerboard. Under oars, IOTA quickly shows the excellence of her design: she rows exceptionally easily with one or two, tracks steadily yet is very manoeuvrable without a rudder, and has a good carrying capability - she is both less sensitive to weight and considerably more stable than any 'out-and-out' rowing skiff whilst giving only a little away in performance. The sharp entry and easy buttock lines, the good reserve of buoyancy above the waterline of the flared bows and full transom - together with a sheer that is both handsome in calm waters and effective in rough - provide a reassuring performance in choppy water under oars. Whilst most sailing boats can be rowed - after a fashion - very few can be rowed long distances for enjoyment; with her easily driven lines, IOTA can. IOTA's superiority derives from her lines which have not been compromised or simplified for mass-production, nor 'improved' to follow the vagaries or whims of fashion. She is pretty, distinctive and very able. |
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