12' Gartside Lug-Rigged Sailing Dinghy (2006) - AMAZON

Hidden away in the “rowboat” section of designer Paul Gartsides website is a lovely 12ft lug sail sailing dinghy, design #130. To quote Pauls own words, “This is a new design that I would expect to have wide appeal. It is similar in model and construction detail to #127, but two extra feet make it a lot more boat. A dagger board and standing lugsail add to the versatility and enjoyment. Swallows and Amazons fans will know what it is all about”. Paul need say no more to pique my interest.
I have been a boat mad Arthur Ransome fan since my early childhood Having spent my weekends and holidays at my parents caravan on the shores of Lake Windermere in the North West of England, UK. Low Ludderburn cottage, where Swallows and Amazons was written in the barn, was up the hill behind the caravan site, with the real life places that inspired the lake and islands in the books on Lake Windermere or nearby Lake Coniston. A home built Mirror dinghy was my early passport to independent exploration. In 1960’s and 70’s, kids had a freedom to explore they seldom enjoy now.
All the occupations of adulthood, college, jobs and family did not dim the boat enthusiasm with a brief foray into larger cruising boats. However, the boat building bug was back in my mid 40’s and couple of Iain Oughtred designs were followed by Pauls design #130.
Though designed for traditional clinker/lapstrake construction I stuck to the glued clinker plywood I was familiar with from Iains designs as she lives on her trailer in my garden. Full lofting was a new but enjoyable challenge and after 6 months hard work, evening and weekends it was done. As well as the plywood planks, Douglas fir and Oak are the main woods used with recycled Iroko from old University science lab benches adding to the mix.
With centreboard and cream sails the boat is more of an Amazon than a Swallow so that is what she is called. The photos show her on Windermere and Coniston.