Skua - 30ft Racer

Skua under sail

The SKUA is the largest boat that can be sensibly demounted and towed behind a car.

Skua hull after turning over

With round bilge hulls, dagger-boards, kick-up semi-balanced rudders and a performance rig, Skua was designed for those who want a larger version of the micro. (See Gwahir). Basically still a 4 berth, the hulls are larger enough to have 'snug doubles' if required. With a greater loading capacity and off shore capability than a micro, Skua can also be considered the minimum size for the longer coastal races.

Skua on beach being rigged

"The boat has reached the speeds that you predicted, twelve knots to windward and twenty knots offwind"

Pat Webb UK

Despite the above description, German sailor Frank Schernikau sailed his Skua from German to the Caribbean in 2002/3. He coasthopped from Hamburg, across the Bay of Biscay and down the Spanish coast. Then across to Morocco and the Canaries and Cape Verde islands.

Frank in the Canaries prior to crossing the Atlantic

The 2100 miles from Cape Verdes to Barbados took only 13 1/2 days. Frank then sailed up through the West Indies to the Bahamas Cuba and Jamaica where sadly he had to stop sailing, ship the boat home and go back to work.

Fast sailing in the Caribbean

Although this trip proved the seaworthiness of the design and should give anyone contemplating building a Skua a lot more confidence most of the credit for this voyage is due to Frank. He is a very experienced, tough sailor. He had earlier sailed a Hobie Cat round Denmark, so a Skua must have felt like luxury.

sailing in the Caribbean

Frank's Skua sailing in Bequia, West Indies

Here is a short Youtube clip of a Skua sailing in Holland

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Contact
 Richard Woods
Foss Quay, Millbrook, Torpoint, Cornwall, PL10 1EN, UK

 
 

SKUA - trailable racer

THE FACTS AND FIGURES

strip cedar hulls, ply decks

cold moulded hulls, ply decks

LENGTH O.A. 9m
LENGTH W.L. 8.3m
BEAM O.A. 5.6m
DISPL (empty) 1.1T
DISPL (loaded to WL)1.5T
HEADROOM 1.6m
DRAFT 0.32 - 1.3m
SAIL AREA 41 sq m

 

Skua sail plan drawing

 

I send you photos of a Skua which I have built in foam in New-Caledonia. I put on a little cuddy. The total weight is about 900 kilos. The mast is about 13 meters length. The centerboards are about 30 centimeters longer. The speed is a little superior to the Great Barrier Express and the Turissimo (designer Malcolm Tennant).

Note: A new version of Skua with increased freeboard/headroom and a longer cabin is now available

CLICK HERE for more Skua photos