12ft Skiff
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12 foot skiff in Sydney Harbour
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| Current specifications | |
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| Crew | 2 |
| LOA | 3.7 m |
| Beam | 1.8 m |
| Hull weight | 45 kg |
| Mast height | 8.8 m |
The 12 ft Skiff, is a dinghy dating to the early 20th century, it is 12 feet (3.7 m) in length, hence the name and is a two man boat. Both the crew and the helm are able to use the trapeze at the same time. It has an asymmetrical spinnaker and a jib, in addition to the mainsail.[1]
History
The origin of the Skiff is dubious, but it is thought to have roots in the smaller skiffs sailed on Sydney Harbour in the late 1800s. The Skiff became a class in its own right in 1924, when it was raced in several clubs around Australia, at this time the skiff was manned by a crew of 5, but around about the 1940s it changed to a three man boat, and then became the 2 man boat that is used today. After the 1940s the skiff went international.[2]
Nowadays the 12 ft (3.7 m) Skiff is mainly sailed in Australia and New Zealand, although it is growing in popularity in Great Britain.[3]
Performance
The Skiff is similar to the larger and better known 18ft Skiff. Of all skiffs the 12footer is known for being the hardest to sail, primarily due to its small footprint relative to its sail area, being able to reach up to 25 knots.[4][5]
The 12 Footers generate considerable power by having 2 persons on the Trapeze Wire, suspended from the mast of the boat. This adds leverage to the crews' weight, allowing the larger areas of sail to be carried.
The modern 12s also have fixed bowsprits to carry the spinnakers from. This is a relatively recent innovation, with the older style of skiff having an 'end to end' spinnaker pole which would need to be positioned by the crew, and would be stored against the skiff's boom when it was not being used.
References
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External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to 12 foot skiff. |
