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Mo Jenkins aboard her Spray 33 "Lucia"
Paul Fay Photo

Maureen Ann Jenkins of London, England, better known as Mo surprised the J.S.S.I. by sailing into Newport on her 33' Bruce Roberts Spray, " Lucia" built by Paul Fay in 1994.

With only a few months of experience in sailing, in May 1995 Mo single-handed sailed " Lucia" to Horta in the Azores in time for the 1995 Slocum centenary celebration. She was the only Spray to have made it! The Slocum Spray Society of the U.K. recognized her achievements by naming her " Yachts Lady of the Year."

In the next two years Mo single-handed from the Canaries to Grenada, Dominica and on to Bermuda & Rhode Island to be a part of the 1998 Centennial Celebration honoring Slocum's return to Newport. Indeed we were honored by the courageous efforts of this charming lady and presented her with a gold pendant in the form of " Spray" . We look forward to her next adventure!

MORE INFO SPRAY 33

"INSPRAYTION" is the name of the DUNCAN Spray mentioned in your book. I built her next to my works in Bradford West Yorkshire. In May 1997, she was launched in the docks at Goole - West Yorks. A great day, my wife and I have four children and launching the boat was more traumatic than the birth of any one of them -- well for me anyway! We spent the best part of a year in Goole in a very small marina surrounded by canal boats and canal cruisers. Goole is the furthest inland Port in England. To get to it from the sea, it requires coming up the Humber, then into the Ouse River, and finally locking into the Port of Goole. It is 25 miles from Hull and about 38 from the mouth of the Humber. Together the River Ouse and the Humber are among the most dangerous waters in Europe. The river is treacherous, with moving sand banks, vicious tide rips and commercial shipping restricted in their ability to navigate. What a place to learn how to sail a gaff rigged ketch.

Then May 1998, I left Hull marina for Spain. I have sold my business and retired,so that I can indulge myself in the hedonistic life. Now we keep our place in England, and have the boat in Spain on the Costa Brava. She is lying in San Feliu de Guixolles at the moment - our summer quarters- and then I move her back to Ampuriabrava also on the Costa Brava for the winter.

I took a huge amount of video during the course of construction, and have condensed most of it into one film for lecture purposes. If any one is building in steel and wants to write. I will be pleased to help if I can. I made the masts from Sitka spruce. I went into the forest in North Yorkshire, and bought 4 growing trees from the forestry commission. I had them brought down to the works and seasoned them for four years. Making them into masts was a joy. Getting information on how to make your own wooden masts was very hard. The guys who used to do this work in the past weren't good authors. " Inspraytion" is gaff rigged on both masts and all the spars are from these four trees. I made some video of the method I used - again if this is of some use to anyone get in touch. The trip down from the Humber , down the English Channel, across to France, round Biscay, north of Spain, round Finisterre, along Portugal, round Cape St Vincent, into Gib and then up the Med. coast of Spain, to Costa Brava, taking in a quick trip to the Balearics en route, took me three months. It's a whole story on its own, and a wonderful experience.

SPRAY is a great boat. She is safe, has stacks of room, carries weight and has been a joy. Because we are gaff rigged and because we are a Spray, we get noticed immediately. In every Marina people come to see her, to talk, and admire. At sea we have had motor boats pass and then turn round and come for another look. At anchor, we have had people swim out to see her and compliment us on her looks. I could go on and on, but enough. If you want any more drop me a line, and then stand back! look forward to hearing from you or any other Spray owners, Regards, Bob Duncan

Hi Bruce, We had a hull-turning party for our Spray 27 today and it went beautifully. I'm building it in a steel shed 32' wide. We ran two big nylon ropes under it as slings tightened with come-alongs, lifted it off the form, then with ample helpers, turned it over within the rope slings, pulled out the form, and put it down on blocks. It looks very imposing, now, and very attractive, too.

I am building in plywood/epoxy, and I'm the guy who modified the design for "epoxy chine" construction--no real difference, I just have lots of fillets to make now that the hull is turned over. I live in Montana. I'll get our pictures developed and get them to you. Also, my son will be posting some on our website for us. Is it easier for you to simply adopt them from that? Either way is fine--we'll get all this done, hopefully, within a week.

Perhaps you'd pass on the word to others who have bought Spray 27 plans recently that I'd sell them the building jig (very well built, I might add) and all the temporary frames. This would get someone off to a flying start--they'd only have to use their patterns for the stem and the bulkhead at station O--the rest would be ready to go. All are made of pine with glued plywood gussets and, of course, waterline and headstock lines drawn on. I'll send you some pictures once they're developed. Thanks for a fine plan. --Dan Aadland