The dinghy cruiser has also become established on the Rhine, though less because of its particular suitability than because of the spaciousness which a skilful layout of its interior allows. Last year, there were already five such boats in use, two of which are based on the Lower Rhine, two on the Main and one on the Upper Rhine. Three of these are class boats, and the two on the Main are fitted with auxiliary engines.
In light breezes whilst travelling downstream, they demonstrated satisfactory speed, as experience shows that the current pushes wide boats faster than slender ones. Conversely, however, their speed when travelling upstream leaves much to be desired, as the boats are too short, or rather because their width-to-length ratio of 1:3.03 is too unfavourable for sailing broad reach against the current.
On the Rhine, therefore, the 30-square-metre dinghy cruiser should rather have been made at least 1 metre longer and also 10 to 15 centimetres narrower, which would have improved its speed, scarcely reduced its stability, not restricted the interior layout, but rather extend the interior layout and, above all, enhance its appearance. In this latter respect, people on the Rhine are particularly spoilt and discerning due to the daily sight of highly advanced, modern large-scale shipping.
What is particularly jarring is not so much the low ride of the high-sided dinghy cruisers as their unattractive and stiff manoeuvring, when compared with the sweeping lines of the clipper ships based on the Rhine, which are, after all, merely ordinary cargo ships.
This design for a new vessel, dating from 1926, takes this aesthetic into account, with the result that the silhouette of the boat and its rigging harmoniously follows the example of the Rhine sailing ship.
The more pleasing appearance, which is more in keeping with Rhineland tastes, has been achieved by moving the lowest freeboard height far aft, right to the end of the cabin superstructure, and by raising the sails, as well as ensuring that the luff of the staysail and the leech of the mainsail run exactly parallel. This also successfully avoids the common ‘squashed’ appearance often associated with dinghy cruisers.
However, the bulky appearance of the hull itself can and should be softened by using different colours of timber for the hull, superstructure and deck, as well as by painting the top plank in a contrasting colour and applying a different colour to the bottom of the hull. Rhineland shipping, in particular, provides very suitable and tasteful examples of this, whereas many of our dinghy cruisers lack artistic lines and careful craftsmanship to soften their sedate, if not downright clumsy, appearance.
As a crew of three is permitted on the 30-square-metre dinghy cruiser, it should therefore provide sleeping accommodation for three people throughout, rather than just the usual – though, for the designer, very convenient – symmetrical arrangement on both sides of the cabin.
In this design, the primary focus has been on ensuring the interior spaces are airy, and the cabin has been left open at the front. Only a half-height bulkhead separates it from the forward storage space, which is accessible from the deck. The cabin and sail locker can therefore be well ventilated.
The entrance is on the starboard side, and beneath it are half-height kitchen and sideboards, on top of which you can comfortably prepare meals whilst standing in the entrance hatch. In front of this is a sofa bed, the foot of which slides under the foredeck and which has a seating area of 1.15 m.
Opposite, on the port side at the bow, there is an identical sofa-bed; behind it is a tall, deep wardrobe, and at the rear a pull-down berth. Between this and the centreboard case, discreetly concealed by the cabin’s rear wall and the centreboard case, there is a bucket toilet. As is customary, a folding table is situated on the centreboard case. Finally, drawers could be fitted between the foot ends of the two sofa beds for table linen and underwear, and further storage space is available under the cockpit benches and beneath the aft deck.
The mast can be folded down over the boom, a process which can be made even more convenient in the Rhineland style by using a so-called ‘Schrenkel’ – a two-strand jute rope between the püttings and the jib stay.
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