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etween 18-20 knots; we either take in a second reef, or douse<br />

the main and sail “jib and jigger” under headsail and mizzen.<br />

This is one of the yawl’s advantages: different sail configurations<br />

to adjust to conditions. Hull speed is about six knots.<br />

The Rob Roy’s shoal draft is perfect for the shallows of<br />

Mobile Bay. We’ve cruised the boat for 4-5 day periods in<br />

the bay, local rivers and the Mississippi Sound; and found<br />

storage for 10 days of supplies for a planned 2009 cruise to<br />

Lake Pontchartrain.<br />

But the Pontchartrain cruise ended prematurely with a<br />

failure of the rudder stock—one of the few weak points in<br />

the boat. The stock broke in two as an apparent result of<br />

crevice corrosion in welds joining the stock to the rudder<br />

cheeks. Other owners have reported similar problems.<br />

The break occurred on the second day of our trip—35<br />

miles from home, at Pettit Bois Island in Mississippi Sound.<br />

But it served to illustrate another advantage of the yawl rig:<br />

the ability to steer by sails alone. We couldn’t use the outboard<br />

to steer because it couldn’t be turned in the well. But<br />

leaving the mainsail furled and using the jib and mizzen, we<br />

sailed the boat home in 12-15 knot winds, across open passes<br />

to the Gulf of Mexico and up Mobile Bay and a creek to<br />

our slip. We’ve since replaced the rudder stock and blade<br />

with an improved design to address the problem.<br />

The Rob Roy has a proven track record. The designer,<br />

Ted Brewer, sailed his in the Pacific Northwest; others sail<br />

the Northeast and have crossed the Gulf Stream to<br />

Bermuda; and at least one sails in Scotland. While relatively<br />

few Rob Roys were produced, there are generally two to<br />

three on the market at any one time, with prices ranging<br />

between $8500-$15,000.<br />

If you’re looking for a small, trailerable cruising boat for<br />

two, solid in construction and performance—a boat that<br />

will draw admiring comments wherever you sail and command<br />

a last look every time you leave the dock—the Rob<br />

Roy 23 could be the boat for you.<br />

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CHARTERS &<br />

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Courses #101 thru #114<br />

Cruising Catamaran<br />

— CHARTERS —<br />

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• CHARTER 1 DAY OR LONGER<br />

• FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP<br />

• LOOKING FOR VESSELS<br />

Put your boat in charter & save<br />

St. Augustine<br />

Sailing Enterprises<br />

800.683.7245<br />

www.sta-sail.com<br />

Sailing Florida Charters<br />

1-866-894-7245<br />

www.sailingflorida.com<br />

Captained Charters • Bareboat Charters<br />

Classes<br />

Year-round<br />

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS September 2010 37

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