Roxane & Romilly

David Collin   5 April 2010

1. When hoisting the mizzen, no tackle is needed. Use the halyard to bring the mizzen yard as close as possible to the sheave at the masthead, then cleat it. Use a lashing (I suggest three or four part) to secure the foot to the eye on the deck at the base of the mast, and set it up till the luff is hard.

2. I have experimented with a lot of different ways of furling the mizzen, but the only one I have found to be simple and snag free, is to use two sail ties round the mast, one at the foot, and another just below the masthead.

3 I have never experienced difficulty knowing where the centreboard is in terms of ‘up and down’, but my boat may be different from yours. Mine was completed from a kit supplied by Bridgend Boats. It came with a small perspex window in the top of the centreboard case. I quickly decided it was no use, as it was always clouded with condensation. I replaced it with a small sliding wooden lid,(like an old fashioned pencil box) which lets me see at a glance how much cable is on or off the winch. In most situations, it is easy to feel when the centreboard is fully down, as all weight then comes off the winch. I count the turns if I wish to bring it half up, in the knowledge that between 45 and 48 turns of the winch handle are needed to fully raise it. Either your winch is different from mine, or your windward performance is set for a dramatic improvement! Good luck.

Incidentally, I find it vital to lubricate the cheeks of the winch drum from the ‘window’ several times per season to ensure smooth operation.

Hope you and others will find this of interest.

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Phil Holden   5 April 2010

I’ve been looking back at some of the pictures I took before Riant was handed over to me. Rob Dawson rigged the sails so that I could see how to do it.

Rob rigged the mizzen so that the halyard hooked over the yard. I’m not sure if that was an error or deliberate. I have always rigged it with the halyard straight down the mast and the yard does float away a bit when on starboard tack.

Here are a couple of pictures that show the mizzen rigged and the lines used to “choke” the sail.

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Bill Buchholz   6 April 2010

Regarding the mizzen, I believe the term we are searching for is “brail”, as in brailed up. I raise and lower the mizzen like any other sail and lash it and the yard around the boomkin. It’s quick and neat. The tack lashing it left alone and all tension comes from the halyard. Less gear and also very quick. I must say I don’t envy you guys with centerboard winches: 45 cranks! Mine is a 3-1 tackle so it comes up in less than a second. A nice feature when you find yourself over a rocky ledge.
We row ours with 9’ oars stowed under the side decks. The oarlocks are on the bulwark cap rail. I suspect that it will be hard to have your “oarlocks” on the coaming as your gearing will be too high, especially with ten foot oars. We can row along easily at a couple of knots; longest row about three miles. The beauty of the boat is that she sails in such light air that you’ll be moving under sail until there is absolutely no air movement. She also short tacks well, so getting through tight places if it is blowing is very easy. I applaud your dumping of the motor!

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Jonnie Taylor   1 July 2010

Hello everyone. My wife, Dee, and proud new owners of Romilly 24 (Bridgend built). Thanks for all your comments – really helpful to Romilly newcomers.

On the subject of oars, we’e fitting a single sculling oar 10’6” long stowed under the sidedeck with a sculling rowlock on the port transom. We’ll let you know how we get on with it.

The thought of lugging an outboard and its trunking ijn and out everyone time we go sailing does not appeal. The previous owner left it down the whole season (and antifouled it). Because of this, and for environmental reasons, I’m thinking of fitting an electric outboard. It seems that a Romilly will need about 750watts of power which seems to point to a 24v system. The required batteries would possibly act as ballast. Any thoughts?

Are there any other Romilly owners within reach of the Fal? We would really appreciate the chance for a chat to learn more about sailing, and cruising, this beauty of a boat.

I have asked Concord Beheer if it might be possible to beg, buy, borrow or steal their owners manual. At the moment no reply but will keep you posted if anyone’s interested.

Jonnie

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Carl Hague  21 July 2012

Help please!

I recently had the good fortune to buy Romilly 30, “Barmy Owl,” and she’s turning out to be a little sweetie and much admired hereabouts.

She has been renamed “Sarah Louise,” after my daughter (as one does!) “Barmy Owl” doesn’t translate easily into Spanish.

I live on the island of Ibiza and towed her down with relative ease – however I would very much appreciate help in setting her up correctly.

After studying the sail plan that came with her, some friendly local ‘marineros’ and I managed to fathom the set-up of the lugspar, parrel, main halyard and mainsail. However I/we are still puzzling over a few points.

Ry 30 has one pulley block set on deck to the Port side of the mast(looking forward) and a cluster of three to Stbd, we’re having difficulty working out how they’re used and what they’re used for.

In addition I’ve seen pictures of some recently built Dutch boats that appear to have reefing lines that lead into the cockpit. Ry 30 doesn’t have this arrangement. When she needs reefing how is the tack re-set?

I’ve also seen references in mails and blogs to ‘lazy jacks.’ I know what ‘lazy jacks’ are but how are they set up on a Romilly, please?

One last thing, if anyone cruises at night or dusk, could they tell me please how they have fitted a tri-colour masthead light. I had hoped to find one with a photovoltaic power source, to avoid having to pass wires up or through the mast, but to no avail.

Having spent the last 15 years in a “stinkpot” I would very much appreciate any help from any kindhearted Romilly owner(s) in getting to grips with the rig setup – better still with closeup photographs. In fact any advice at all would be much appreciated.

With thanks and regards to all in anticipation.

Carl Hague

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Phil  21 July 2012

“a cluster of three to Stbd, we’re having difficulty working out how they’re used and what they’re used for.”

They are for your reefing lines. My boat has a deck organiser something like this on the side deck about half way between the mast and cockpit and a gang of 3 clamping cleats, the kind with a lever on top on the side deck near the front of the cockpit. If you don’t have this setup it would be easy to fit and you could use more traditional if you prefer.

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