Classic_Boat_2016-09

CLASSIC BOAT SEPTEMBER 2016

LATEEN SAILS

70

Above left: close

racing in the

Burtiz Regatta,

Murter, Croatia

Above right:

lateens racing in

the Voile de

Lateen regatta, St

Tropez

Above: an

instructor at the

Lateen Sailing

School, Torrevieja,

Spain

In 2015 a course of six half-day theory and practical

lessons cost a mere €30 (£25). This sailing school must

be one of the cheapest in the world. It is arranged that

way in order to foster this most traditional sailing skill

and culture. The instructors are dedicated, experienced

volunteers. The establishment is supported in kind by the

local authorities suppling the restored salt wharf and

dock and shoreside premises. The courses are usually run

in Spanish but they say they would be pleased to arrange

lessons in English. One of the joys of sailing with them is

not having to be concerned about being hit by a boom.

Torrevieja has its own lateen rig regatta as late as

December to coincide with the festival of Our Lady of

the Concepcion. This is possible due to the clement

weather on the Costa Blanca.

LATEEN REGATTAS

These days, most weekends outside of winter will see the

lateeners racing somewhere on the Spanish or French coast.

The largest and best known attract dozens of boats and

many spectators. Every May, Saint-Tropez gives up space

from the millionaires’ yachts to welcome entrants to its

famous Voiles Latines event. All kinds of boats take part,

some with two or even three masts based on the lateen

rig, and some luggers also find their way in. The sublime

harbour of Cadaques on the Spanish Costa Brava hosts

its festival for Spanish llauts in early autumn. One of the

most prominent regattas is in Stintino in Sardinia. These

events have been written up in the past in Classic Boat

and they have grown in size and stature since.

On the Dalmatian Island of Murter in northern

Croatia there is particular dedication to the art of lateen

sailing, and a large fleet of boats. Many of these, albeit

with engines, are still used for fishing and transport in

support of farming on the nearby wild Kornati Islands.

Each year Murter holds a month-long festival called

Burtiz in honour of their wooden boatbuilding and

lateen sailing. In a host of cultural events based around

the sea and their heritage, there are two races – one for

children and one for adults. Throughout the summer the

children have learned lateen sailing and this race is the

climax. In 2015 the youth race was held in sublime

gentle breeze and perfect autumn sunshine.

Not so the adults’ race a few days later. Fifty sailors

made it from the three other ports on the island to Murter

town, despite a strong Bora wind. The boats form three

classes based on hull shapes, size and deck layout. These

native boat types are leut, gajeta and kaic.

Owing to the size of the fleet and the lateen rig’s

awkwardness at tacking, a conventional race line is not

considered practical or safe, especially in a strong breeze.

So the fleet moors stern to the quayside with an anchor

rope outhaul holding each competitor facing the race

course. The crews are all aboard but the sails are brailed

to the antenna spar. This start line, of up to 80 vessels,

can be compared to the classic Le Mans motor race and

is certainly no less exciting. A hush falls over the large

crowd of spectators and crews wait in tense anticipation.

The start maroon rocket is fired from the committee boat

with a loud bang. They’re off. The quayside moorings

are released. Simultaneously the sails are set. The crew

on the bows of the boats haul out their craft on the anchor

ropes as if their lives depend on it. All this on a closely-

packed fleet, each with an average crew of five busy crew

members. There are few spectacles on the water like it.

Lateen-rigged boats are tricky to tack. However

experienced the crew, they sometimes get stuck in irons.

So there is another dispensation in the rules: when

tacking, the crews get out a large oar and frantically

paddle the boat through the wind. A recent race saw 50

boats start but only 21 finish in a strong breeze. For

many, discretion was the better part of valour and they

retired after a short sail. Others were forced to when

masts or antennae snapped under the strain.

The fate of one boat deserves special mention. The

century old leut Jarua, crewed by a prize-winning

helmsman, another experienced crewman and three

Croatian Government ministers – for tourism, transport

and environment. Before the tack at the furthest reach of

the course the distinguished but inexperienced crew were

briefed on how to balance the substantial boat.

Unfortunately the sail was caught aback mid-tack.

Before crew weight distribution could be corrected, the

unbalanced boat capsized and promptly sank.

Fortunately it was in shallow water and the venerable

old boat was in due course recovered. Luckily too, the

crew and government ministers could swim in the warm

water and were soon rescued, wet and no doubt chastened.

Croatians enjoyed the happening on TV that night,

and in the next day’s papers, giving these antique vessels

a coverage they might otherwise not have dreamed of. It

can only help their already-bright future.