The Concept
Here is a design based on the excellent yachts from the mid
1900's. These yachts are not just elegant, sleek and graceful, they
have the kind of hull form that behaves well on the briny deep. For blue
water travel they are comfortable, safe, fast, and weatherly.
Design Details
Zephyr is a medium displacement spoon-bow, counter-stern ketch, with
a well balanced combination of beam and depth, and with a long fine run.
The swept back full keel provides excellent tracking at sea. Zephyr has the
attributes of sleekness, grace and speed, as well as a hull form that will
stand up to a press of sail for windward sailing.
Principle dimensions are:
- LOA: 42' - 0"
- Beam: 12' - 2"
- Draft: 5' - 5"
- Displacement: 26,775 lb.
- D/L 328
Conceived primarily for ocean voyaging, steel construction has been
chosen for its incredible strength. The single chine hull form was chosen on the basis of its simplicity,
economy of construction, performance, and in order to blend well with the
classic aesthetic of the design.
The keel configuration provided gives Zephyr the best combination
of windward ability and excellent tracking at sea. The keel profile can be
seen here, and is the same as that of
Highland Lass II. The raked back forefoot and the "drag" to the
keel bottom are the elements that provide for excellent steering stability.
With this type of keel, the boat will not require a steering vane and can
instead use a simple sheet to tiller steering arrangement. The keel is a
NACA low drag / high lift foil in order to provide both speed and good
windward sailing.
The after-deck is raised in order to give more storage room in the
lazarette as well as more leg room for quarter berths. The main
benefit to the raised afterdeck is increased reserve buoyancy aft, thus a
dry area for the helm.
The Interior
The interior layout is intended to be the same as that of the 42' schooner
Highland Lass II.
With Highland Lass' schooner rig, the mast positions have largely determined
what's possible with the interior. Therefore, in the forepeak
there is a good sized chain locker. Aft of that, a settee is located
port and starb'd and a table is hung on the mast. Just aft of the
settee, a large galley is located port and starb'd. A ft of the galley there
is a head to starb'd and a chart table / hanging locker to port. Two
quarter berths are located right aft. The engine box is arranged to
also serve as a bureau-top between the quarter berths. With this
layout, one can sleep four when needed, and two in relative luxury.
An alternate layout is quite similar to that
given to the
36' Grace. The
main mast position on Zephyr allows there to be a generously sized
double berth forward. Aft of that, to port and starb'd are two 4.5'
long settees with a table between. Since Zephyr is much larger
than Grace, there is quite a bit of extra length available for the rest of
the interior. Given the excellent use of space provided by use of a
pair of quarter berths aft, that is the ideal choice. As compared to
Grace, all the remaining extra space amidships is donated to a slightly
larger galley, and a much more generous head compartment, and combination
hanging locker / chart desk opposite. In other words, the quarter
berth, head and chart desk area would be the
same as is designed for Highland Lass.
The Rig
The ketch rig works well for ocean cruising and provides a generous sail
area. Zephyr has used a gaff mains'l in order to limit overall
mast height. The mizzen mast provides a good hand-hold when
emerging from the companionway. The mizzen mast serves as the compass
binnacle, and an awning can be spread over the mizzen boom.
The ketch rig provides quite a number of well-balanced sail combinations.
The main and the stays'l when used alone have nearly the same balance as the
whole sail plan, and will allow easy tacking in close quarters. The boat
will also tack easily with only the mains'l set. Another equally well
balanced combination is just the mizzen and the jib, to keep the foredeck
clear while stowing the ground tackle - appropriate for getting under way
from an anchorage.
One of the main benefits of the ketch rig as it is drawn is the
manageable size of the sails. The mains'l is 319 sq. ft. and is well
inboard where it can be handled safely and easily.
A sail plan option we have drawn for Zephyr includes a few additional
sails for trade wind sailing, hung from a cross-yard is located above the
gaff saddle. This allows a lower course and raffee to be set flying
from the deck. These two sails add some 500 sq. ft.
Summary
Zephyr was designed immediately following a rough and wet passage down
the Pacific West Coast in the early 1990's. During that sail, the
ideas for Zephyr came together in the form of several sketches, and were
then worked into the design you see here. The features presented above
emerged as the result of having wished for each one of them on that trip.
The result is, I think, excellent.
What would I change...? Not one thing really. If desired, one
could easily provide a Bermuda rigged main sail, or possibly just more sail
area - perhaps by scaling up the sail rig of the 36'
Grace...
For more information about Zephyr, please
inquire.
