The pinky schooner Ardelle was launched recently from the historic Burnham Boatbuilding yard in Essex, MA. They used the traditional “Essex side-launch” technique, which, to my uninitiated eye, looks very odd. Nevertheless, it obviously is effective.
Thanks to Tom Russell at the Traditional Sail Professionals for pointing out the launching.
That is the strangest launching I have ever seen. I must say I do not like it at all. There seems great risk of damage to the hull “sliding” side. Beautiful boat however, truly wooden boats are special.
Good Watch.
The author explained that any vessel that couldn’t withstand the stress of the launching would not be very worthy in North Atlantic waters. That’s one tough boat!
When I first way the video, I thought that something had gone horribly wrong. I then find out that they did it on purpose. I can possibly understand the expediency in the approach but can easily understand why the technique was never widely adopted elsewhere.
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