A-Scow
Encyclopedia
In sailing, the A-Scow is a large sailing scow
. It is 38 feet long and with reported top speeds of over 25 knots. With its rules of design, also known as scantlings, first beaten by its father in 1901, the A-Scow has a significant history. With a large sail area and little keel ballast, the five to seven crew members must work in unison on the A-Scow to keep the boat sailing fast and upright. The boat is mainly sailed in Minnesota
and Wisconsin
.
was the only builder of the A-scow, and so the existing boats all were from the same design. However, the rules left the door open for another builder and in 2002, VictorybyDesign began building A-Scows. Having an optimized boat shape and new rigging, the boat was significantly faster than the older design. There quickly developed a rift between Brad Robinson, the owner of VictoryByDesign, and the majority of the class. After three years of battle on the water, internet and court, the sailors decided to split the fleet. A one-design fleet would exist for the older boats, and a developmental design would exist for the new boat.
. In addition to the new one-design hulls, there will also be at least one new Victory design being built in Minnesota
.
commentator and world-class sailor Gary Jobson
, and features A-scows sailing at their best.
Scow
A scow, in the original sense, is a flat-bottomed boat with a blunt bow, often used to haul bulk freight; cf. barge. The etymology of the word is from the Dutch schouwe, meaning such a boat.-Sailing scows:...
. It is 38 feet long and with reported top speeds of over 25 knots. With its rules of design, also known as scantlings, first beaten by its father in 1901, the A-Scow has a significant history. With a large sail area and little keel ballast, the five to seven crew members must work in unison on the A-Scow to keep the boat sailing fast and upright. The boat is mainly sailed in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
New designs and division of fleet
With the scantlings being much like they were over 100 years earlier, the boat could be built with any shape and rigging as long as it fit within the rules. For many years, Melges Performance SailboatsMelges Performance Sailboats
Melges Performance Sailboats, is a United States company founded by Harry Melges, father of former Olympic sailor Buddy Melges. The company's headquarters is in Zenda, Wisconsin. The about six hundred existing boats are approximately evenly split between North America and Europe, with fleets in...
was the only builder of the A-scow, and so the existing boats all were from the same design. However, the rules left the door open for another builder and in 2002, VictorybyDesign began building A-Scows. Having an optimized boat shape and new rigging, the boat was significantly faster than the older design. There quickly developed a rift between Brad Robinson, the owner of VictoryByDesign, and the majority of the class. After three years of battle on the water, internet and court, the sailors decided to split the fleet. A one-design fleet would exist for the older boats, and a developmental design would exist for the new boat.
Fleet growth
Six new Melges boats will be built in 2006 in WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. In addition to the new one-design hulls, there will also be at least one new Victory design being built in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
Documentary film
In August 2006, a feature length documentary film about the history of the A Scow entitled The Ultimate Ride was released. It was narrated by ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
commentator and world-class sailor Gary Jobson
Gary Jobson
Gary Jobson is a decorated sailor, television commentator, sailing lecturer, and author based in Annapolis, Maryland. He has recorded many achievements in his sailing career, having won multiple championships in one-design classes, the America's Cup with Ted Turner in 1977, the Fastnet Race, and...
, and features A-scows sailing at their best.
External links
- National Class A Scow Association
- VictoryByDesign Page
- IMDB entry for the documentary titled The Ultimate Ride