Introduction

Peterborough Sailability took delivery of the Deben Lugger in June 2014 named Blue Bird by The Princess Royal. The boat is used to take our Sailors on Gunwade Lake at Ferry Meadows. The Deben Lugger is an 18ft traditionally styled day boat of lapstrake design built in GRP with 2 pack foam buoyancy and Iroko hardwood trim, has a shallow long keel that gives the boat great stability for its size, is a Category C specification, having a main and mizzen sail, with an electric outboard motor.

Qualifications & Training
Qualifications; The Lugger is a mono hull and the helmsman must hold RYA Level 2 Dinghy sailing qualification. Those qualified only to sail Challenger Trimarans are not qualified to sail the Lugger without formal mono-hull training.

Training; Lugger training will be provided by our SI & Assistant Instructors. The training will consist of rigging, launching, mono hull sailing, capsize procedure, leaving and returning to the jetty, de-rigging and ultimately safety. Our Senior Instructors will give finally type approval for buddies to sail the Lugger with passengers.

Rigging
Rigging training will be provided by our SI & Assistant Instructors. The main sail has three reef positions that can be used depending upon wind conditions.

Launch & Recovery
The Deben Lugger is launched and recovered at the beginning and at the end of the day using the tow vehicle and trailer. The Lugger operates during the day from the Sailability pontoon where our Sailors embark and disembark.

Shore crew
As the Lugger leaves and returns to the pontoon it needs two shore crew to assist.  The shore crew will control the Lugger with one person at the bow and one person at the stern using the painter and stern lines, and securing them to the pontoon cleats.  The shore crew will also take instructions from the helmsman.  The Lugger needs to be windward when moored alongside the pontoon.  The shore crew will also assist with loading and unloading carers and sailors from the Lugger as required.

Operational
The Lugger can carry a maximum of five adults by weight or equivalent (PS specification). Consisting of, Helmsman, carer / PS volunteer helper and three sailors. When there are sailors (clients) on the boat there must be a carer / PS helpers on board to manage the sailors, allowing the helmsman to concentrate on sailing the boat.

The Lugger has an electric powered outboard motor, which can be used when leaving and returning to the pontoon, during light winds to take sailors onto the lake. It can also be used in stronger winds if the sails are not used. The kill cord must be used at all times when the electric motor is in use. We have established that during boarding and unloading the mainsail will be raised with the topping lift to give additional headroom. In addition our sailors must remain seated with only one person standing at any one time.

Safety
Lugger training will include all normal boat handling skills including managing the risk of capsize, which is minimal due to the design of the boat and particularly the keel weight. And that sailing will be suspended due to inclement weather etc, as determined by the PS procedures under the guidance of the SI & Shore Master.

• During sailing we need to keep our sailors reasonably firmly in their seats, to achieve this, the helmsman must prevent the boat from heeling as much as is reasonably possible. The SI will advise when the weather conditions require the sails to be reefed, particularly with a gusting wind.

• To minimise the risk of grounding the helmsman must keep the boat a minimum of 10 meters away from the perimeter of the lake.

• Whilst sailing, a safety boat with a qualified driver will be on duty at all times. In cases of emergency or assistance being required, the helmsman must immediately radio the Shore Master requesting assistance.

• The electric outboard motor can be used at any time, for example when leaving and returning to the pontoon and in an emergency. The kill cord must be used at all times when the electric motor is in use.

Luff in gusts controlled by watching the section of the sail that protrudes forward of the mast for signs of backing. Setting the sail higher gives more headroom during sailing and theoretically makes use of the wind speed further off the water, whilst setting the main sail lower reduces the heeling tendency. Control lines include main halyard, downhaul and single line for lazy-jacks which doubles as a topping lift.

SOP 11 Deben Lugger; General Conditions           Version 04 dated 21 May 2024