Some people look at Drifters spars, rigging and winches and express how complicated and hard it must be to manage under sail. These people are mostly those with modern yachts fitted with shining patent high tech equipment which rightly or wrongly, they believe to be an advancement with regard to ease of use and offering them more versatility. There may be some truth in that, but in our own experience of sailing modern yachts, when problems occur with that much advanced equipment, it often results in stressful moments and expensive repairs.
I will tell them that Drifter’s gear was developed very subtlety over a long period of time in the days of working sail, until such time that it could not be improved upon. The hull shape, the materials, the stout rig are all a grand culmination of trial and error before the days where turning on an engine to help you out of trouble was an option.
For example, we can raise and lower sails on all points of sailing, which someone on a modern yacht with in-mast furling and those annoying spreaders supporting their lightweight mast, would just not be able to to do without fearing damage. And this is only one of the many advantages of our traditional boat. Our shallow draft and leeboard’s has allowed us to sail in very ‘thin’ waters which deep keeled yachts have to skirt around and also allows us to explore further into many watery inlets than other boats of our size.
In short, the design of Drifter and its equipment offers an envious amount of simplicity and versatility compared to modern equipment. There is little to go wrong, and in skilled hands that practically never happens.
I am not saying that their have not been some very nice advancements in yacht equipment, for instance I have often pined for a bowthruster when maneuvering in difficult circumstances. Modern marina’s seem to be getting more like supermarket car parks, where spaces seem to be getting smaller almost to the point that they can not be used by less maneuverable traditional boats, but we have an armory of traditional skills to call upon, and of course some very useful fenders!
If anyone gets the opportunity to sail on a Thames Sailing Barge they should do so. Here you will see up to 4000 square feet of sail set by a single person, and without too much trouble. You will not have anything but admiration for the simple equipment that is used. The skippers of these barges do not want for modern equipment powered by electrics or hydraulics, but instead use the innovative (yes even after 100 years or so!) gear developed by their predecessors and operated by simple muscle. Amazingly, these large sailing vessels were often sailed by just two people.
I think those of you who have never sailed a traditional boat should do so. Onboard you will see age old skills still being used, many of which are surprisingly simple and safe. You will experience a different pace, with everything being performed methodically by crew with an unparalleled level of awareness of the wind and water that surrounds them, and working with it perfectly.
Sailing barge drifter sails in the Falmouth area. It is available for sailing trips from 2 hours to all day. For more information visit
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