The Rule of the Game, by J.-J. Herbulot
In view of the growing success of the French Championships of the Scoundrel a bilge dinghy built in 1951 by architect Jean-Jacques Herbulot, the latter reminds us of the importance of tonnage controls to ensure the conformity of boats and their equipment.
"However, in view of the positive interest that the championship of this series has raised from year to year, it is necessary to tighten more and more the rules and restrictions of armament and to operate an increasingly strict control of mobile and replaceable elements, such as spars, rudder, drift which could easily be modified, as well as points that determine the position and dimensions of the sail plan (forestay fitting, boom fitting, notch of the mast bed)."
The year 1959 also marked a turning point in the series' international development. The International Committee of Valiants has laid the foundations for an annual international championship.
How to read a boat plan?
Every month, the magazine Bateaux publishes a boat plan in the "At the helm" section. But "For many of our readers, these plans are a mystery a little similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics. So we will try, for them, to unravel this mystery."
So we learn in this subject what are the different types of plans and how to understand them:
- The shape plane which is the representation of the external shapes of the boat
- The sail plan which is a profile view
- The construction plan
At the helm of Cape Verde
On the front page in November 1959, the Cape Verde test, a plan by Jean-Jacques Herbulot, from 1957. This cruise ship is in a way the big brother of Cape Horn. It is a weighted dinghy with an overall length of 8 m, equipped with four to five berths and rigged in marconi.
Characteristics, designed cutting plans, performance, layout, fittings, tariffs, manufacturer and editorial opinion. The test is complete and even offers a comparative table with two other models of the time, the Bar and the Cotre des Glénans.
At the XXVth Boat Show
In this 6-page special 6-page dossier on Nautic de Paris, journalists let loose and it is with a biting tone that they strongly criticize the Parisian show, which is celebrating its 25th edition. We enjoy the same remarks 60 years later... It is certain that at that time the editions showed a freedom of tone and an independence of mind.
"For an experienced yachtsman, the first contact with the 1959 Boat Show was as disappointing as in recent years. The main idea of the managers is to "sell m2"." I have so many square meters. I've sold so many, it's a success... and I'm totally disinterested in what the stand tenants are exhibiting." This "politics" of profitability" brings us to the fair with its more or less well maintained stands, with noisy fair attractions and unbearable loudspeakers.
However, the press, complacent towards the "Salon", had promised us a considerable improvement in the presentation of "pleasure boating". We didn't find it."
Boats highlights "the absence of the most important shipyards (which) removes from this exhibition any representative character of sailing yacht building."
It is not only the organisation of the exhibition that faces strong criticism, but also the building sites, and especially the "New "specialist" manufacturers who are disappearing as quickly as meteors... We can only advise our readers to contact well-known and proven manufacturers."
This 25th edition of the "plastic" also marks the development of "It was curious to note that, almost permanently, the only ", which is gradually replacing wood in boat building. Boating is mainly centred on large series racing boats, on which a new arrival is quickly noticed: the Finn.
" gathered around him a greater number of visitors than all the other boats presented. When you realize how attractive small cruises are to a large number of enthusiasts, it is unfortunate that the F.F.Y.V. has not welcomed C-gauge and even Class III cruise ships. It is essential that next year, an effort be made in this direction."privateer"shout"
After another "set prices between boats built by different yards without mentioning what the price includes", the magazine ends on a positive note, the clear progress of the fittings.
