Classic Model Yachts
"Gudrun Elvira II" Model 6 Metre - 1933 - Sam O'Berge design
Updated December 20, 2011: Armen's opponent Felca is under construction for a reenactment of the 1907 Coupe de France during the Douarnenez 2012 sails festival.
Introduction:
Hello, welcome to my site! My name is Patrick, and I live in France, sharing my time between Paris, and Douarnenez, in Brittany, at the Western tip of France. This site is devoted to the building and sailing of RC models of classic racing yachts.
Like many others, I have long been fascinated by the timeless elegance of the classic yachts we see on glossy magazines, or watch on TV. For most of us, owning or sailing one of these yachts is an impossible dream.
With little money, and some efforts, building sailing models of these yachts is an affordable and exciting way to make the dream come true. That's what I am doing. My models are based on old plans, mostly found in magazines like "Le Yacht", that appeared from 1878 to the late 1960's in France, or Model Yachtsman, a modeller's magazine published in England during the first half of the 20th century. For rigging and hardware details, I draw my information from the "Manual of yacht and boat sailing and architecture" by Dixon Kemp, and the "Traité de la construction des yachts à voile" by Chevreux, both treaties published in several releases from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
Most of my models yachts are single copies, built using the plank on frame technique, with the exception of the 8 Metre at a 1/10 scale, or 80 centimetre, for which I have made a GRP mold. I favor mid size models, ranging from around 40" to 60" (1m to 1.6m), using a 1/5 or 1/10 scale depending on the size of the original, in order to retain good sailing abilities without having to significantly alter the original design. For many years I have been racing aboard actual size classic yachts - my most recent acquisition is the 5 Metre Hobby III, a 1943 design by Knud Reimers - and I want my models to sail as well as the full size racers they represent.
I have not had enough time to translate all my pages into English, but the Armen page is now 100% in English. For the time being, beyond this page most text will be in French, but the pictures are self explanatory. I will gradually translate all content into English.
A nice design: Courlis, pond yacht designed in 1882 by L. Caillaud, seafaring captain
A lovely pond yacht, first tested on the bay of Rio in a brisk breeze, circa 1882. I have posted the plan. Who will be the first to build her?
Under construction:
Ar Men 10 tons racing cutter, winner of the Coupe de France in 1907 - Designed by Talma Bertrand. Sailing model at a 1/10 scale, about 65" LOD for 23 lb displacement. To be noted: Armen's opponent Felca is under construction too, at the same scale, by Jean Claude Sermeus from Belgium, and a reenactment of the Coupe de France is scheduled for July 2012 in Douarnenez, Brittany. Reenactement does not mean Armen is meant to win, the race will decide.
Saint Elme, ex Bédouin, William Fife designed 6 tons cutter bought in England by Mr Boyn in 1887, and hailed as one the best racers in her class when she raced in France during her first season. I found on Ebay the silver medal she won in July 1888 at the Ile Tudy. I have started to build a model to go with the medal.
Lines drawings published in 1887 in "Le Yacht"
The champion's medal - Ile Tudy 1888
- Sailing:
Gudrun Elvira II 6 M IR based on a Sam O'Berge design, 1933. Approx. 1/7.2 scale (Model 6 Metre rules)
12m2 du Havre 6.5 meters L.O.D restricted class day racer designed by Henri Dervin, 1934. 1/5 scale
- Display models:
Lison, "clipper d'Argenteuil" . 1878 . 1/20 scale . An extreme centerboard racer with over 1400 ft of canvas for 8 m L.OD. I don't know where the name "Clipper" comes from, but it's clear the design of these boats was influenced by a couple of boats imported from the US in the 1850's. They became very popular around Argenteuil, on the river Seine near Paris, and their regattas attracted thousands of people, many coming by train since the railway line to Paris had been recently established. The Seine at Argenteuil was a favorite location for many the impressionnist painters, and while regattas and sailboats are often featured in paintings by Renoir and Monet, Gustave Caillebotte not only painted, but also designed and skipped racing sailboats. Capsizing was neither uncommon nor dramatic, since most boats had iron buoyancy tanks, but unlike in modern dinghies, it meant you could not finish the race, since righting up a >1 ton boat needed more than a couple of guys hanging on to the centerboard. Lison was "the" champion, and her approximate plan - the boatbuilder did not want the actual one published - was featured in one of the first issues of "Le Yacht" magazine in 1878. Her rig, called "Houari" in French, was a fore runner of the Marconi rig.
Lili, un-tonneau ( One tonner) restricted class, designed by Gustave Caillebotte, 1893. 1/10 scale study model built like the original: Honduras mahogany planking, riveted bent frames, oak deck beams and timbers. At the time I hoped to get financing to build a full size replica, so I thought an authentic 1/10 scale replica would help convince potential sponsors. It did not.
Contact: patrickATclassicmodelyachts.com
All pictures and text Copyright Patrick Bigand
Private usage only
