But by the time Ramona-Ann bought her, the rig was over 50 years old: we even had trouble getting insurance to sail her home from Cowes to Hamble.
SO NOW:
• The new taller mast is aluminium with rod rigging – that’s exactly what Firebrand had when she started life in 1965.
• Gone are the 150% Genoas, but we increased upwind sail area by adding 3.5 m to the mast and 1.5 m to the boom: the center of effort scarcely moved, but we gained a very welcome 20 m2 on the Spinnakers.
• When we started work we found no less than three cockpits stacked on top of each other: very modestly, we decided one was enough.
• We streamlined the deck layout with new gear throughout; including jammers to replace the mare’s nest of winches and cleats just aft of the mast, where the poor pit-man used to crouch at permanent risk of falling overboard.
Firebrand is a little lighter than when she was first launched: we have saved about 250Kg on the steering and rig - nothing has been added.
Down below she is essentially unchanged: we have some original plans, but they show multiple options. We do know she must have had room for the racing sails, plus room for the off-watch crew to sleep to windward – and that’s exactly how she is now.