Our Boats
Santa Irene Club de Vela owns six boats available
for members to use and enjoy
Wayfarers
Wayfarer dinghies are special for their versatility, durability and ability to withstand the occasional strong winds and waves that we can encounter here. They are good for all skill levels, and excellent for training purposes as they are comparatively roomy for 2 or 3 persons, and forgiving of inexperienced crews, but nonetheless provide great racing between the 2 club Wayfarers and the 3 privately owned Wayfarers, not to mention against the similarly rated Snipes and Lasers.
The Wayfarers have a Portsmouth Yardstick Number (for 2024) of 1109, making it theoretically just 0.1% faster than the Snipe and 0.6% slower than the fully-rigged Laser, which is why the racing between these classes is so close and so intense.
We will in due course be writing a brief history of each of the club dinghies, though the histories will have to be comparatively brief, as the two club-owned Wayfarers are approx 55 and 45 years old, and the club-owned Lark and the club-owned Lasers are not much less.
Its not so much the age of the boats that defines them, but rather the wear and tear of the hot Spanish sun on boat covers and tyres, and the corrosion to the launching trolleys from the salty Mediterranean sea.
Wayfarer “TalliSsman”
Tallissman is a Mark I Wayfarer, sail number 1735, launched in 1968 so now a grand old lady of 56 years. She was renamed “Tallissman” in 2023 to honour the founder of S.I.C.V. John Talliss (RIP 2023).
She was previously owned by S.I.C.V., sold to two Madrid couples, but taken back into club ownership in early 2023. Now following a minor facelift, she is back as our favourite club Wayfarer for visiting club members and crews in practice. Seen in the picture alongside “Unicorn” a rather more modern privately-owned Wayfarer World, with a gennaker sail and retractable bowsprit: hence the name.
Wayfarer “Tenacity”
Tenacity is a Mark II Wayfarer, sail number 7118, launched in 1980, so a relative youngster of just 44 years of age.
These Wayfarers were very solidly built in UK in decades gone by, and it is doubtful if the most modern versions, the Mark IV, costing approx. £12,000 new in basic form, will be as robust and be still sailing in another 50 years into the future.
Shown in the picture is Tenacity with a Yamaha 2 h.p.outboard motor to enable her to travel alone through the port, without being towed, as per port regulations.
Lark
Lark boats are known for their action, speed, and competitive edge. They are specially designed for racing enthusiasts, so they do require experience and agility to manage well, but in return they offer thrilling performance on the water for its 2 crew members.
The Lark has a 2024 Portsmouth Yardstick Number (handicap) of 1062, so theoretically making it faster than the Wayfarers and any of the Laser rigs.
Lark “What-a-Lark”
Laser/ILCA
The iconic one-design sailboat known for its simplicity, speed and worldwide popularity. It is easy to rig and to sail, though it does require agility and quick reactions for the one crew member.
The club has a comparatively large fleet of 2 club Lasers and 6 more privately owned Lasers, so the racing is competitive and intense.
Laser “Green Machine”
Sail number 81088. Launched 1980. Previously owned and sailed by a young male sailor on Queen Mary Reservoir in Staines UK. Trailered to SICV by our Vice Chairman Andy Bond in June 2021.
Now our first-choice club Laser available for SICV members.
With all three mast/sail options; and several sails, all interchangeable with "Yellow Submarine".
So the clue to the identity is in the hull colour, not the sail number.
The various rigs of the Laser make it suitable for crews of different weights and abilities, and the wind and wave conditions.
4.7 rig = ILCA4 = 4.7 sqm sail, for junior sailors or very strong winds
Radial rig = ILCA 6 = intermediate weight and/or winds and/or skills
Standard rig = ILCA 7 = standard racing configuration.
Laser “Yellow Submarine”
Sail number 91382. Launched 1981. Previously owned and sailed by a sailor on the River Avon near Pershore, Worcestershire. Trailered to SICV by our Vice Chairman Andy Bond in June 2021. Now our second member of the club-owned Laser fleet, and one of now eight Lasers based at SICV. Available for use by SICV members. Seen here competing against a privately owned Phantom (sail number 1172). The Portsmouth Yardstick Number depends on the rig that is used:
4.7 rig = PYN 2024 of 1213
Radial rig = PYN 2024 of 1154
Standard rig = PYN 2024 of 1102.
For further information on Laser/ILCA dinghies see:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_(dinghy)
2. https://www.laserinternational.org/about-the-laser/
S.I.C.V. safety Boat
Our club Safety Boat is a 5 meter RIB with either a well-used 15 hp Yamaha outboard motor or a new 12 hp outboard motor.
The Safety Boat is used to ensure the well-being of our members on the water, as well as managing the racing course and the racing procedures.
It’s always equipped with safety equipment and trained volunteer crew to provide a secure environment, offering prompt assistance in the very rare cases of emergencies and enhancing overall safety during our sailing regattas.
The Safety Boat is also used to tow the dinghies out of the port before our races, and to tow the dinghies back after the racing through the commercial port of Garrucha, as per regulations.
Some of the volunteer Safety Boat crew sail with us on occasion, and some of the dinghy sailors help crew the Safety Boat on occasion – that way we all learn from each other.
WE ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING TO RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS FOR OUR SAFETY BOAT TEAM.
If you have some experience of dinghies, or motorboats or other motorised water craft,
and would like to get out on the water and become part of our club and of our Safety Boat Team, then please contact us – we can help each other.
Note that Safety Boat Team members pay no club fees, nor pay for refreshments after their active duty session.
Our member’s Boats
Our club members boast a diverse fleet of approximately 23 dinghies. These include 8 Laser/ILCA single-handed dinghies, 4 Wayfarers, 3 Visions, 2 Flying Dutchman dinghies, 2 Snipes, a Phantom, an Albacore, a Mirror, and a Vaurien, plus the most recent addition of a GP14. As well as a couple of motor boats.
Santa Irene Club de Vela welcomes all members’ boats and offers inexpensive fees for storage in the Dinghy Park, as well as reduced fees for use of the Garrucha Port launch ramp.
If you are not familiar with the various types of sailing dinghies stated above, there is an excellent online reference at https://dinghysailing.info/Home/dinghytypes.
Safety IS PARAMOUNT
- Sailing gear: All club members are required to carry a buoyancy aid jacket, sailing gloves and protective footwear whilst sailing. Club buoyancy jackets and footwear are available for club members. Wetsuits are highly recommended for the winter months.
All boats should also carry their own personal VHF radio.
- Insurance: All club members are recommended to join the Andalusian Sailing Federation (FAV, Federación Andaluza de Vela) for personal insurance and safety. The club dinghies and Safety Boat are insured. The privately owned dinghies are also to be insured by their owners.
- Safety Boat: The S.I.C.V. Safety Boat is always in charge of the security of all the members whilst on the water. It is equipped with VHF radio, mobile phone, Jacobs Ladder/Cradle, tow ropes, first aid kit and other safety items. The crews are educated and trained in safety and other operations. Due to regulations of the commercial port of Garrucha, the Safety Boat must be used to tow dinghies out of and back through the port, unless the dinghy has their own electric motor or outboard petrol motor.
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