Hey Donal
 

I'm interested in the Kelt 39. Not much info about them out there,
even in French. I did notice that one named 'Adat' raced in your class

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.weale/results.htm

Can you tell me anything about this boat?

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Hey Donal
 

"DSK" wrote in message
...
I'm interested in the Kelt 39. Not much info about them out there,
even in French. I did notice that one named 'Adat' raced in your class

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.weale/results.htm

Can you tell me anything about this boat?

Yep. It is a bit unusual.

It has a lifting keel, a broad bow section, and a very unusual arrangement
down below. The saloon area is astern of the companionway - even though it
is an aft cockpit design.

I meet one of the owners most weeks, so I can probably get answers to any
specific questions that you have. John also lurks here, so maybe we can
tempt him to answer. John?




Regards

Donal
--

Hey Donal
 

"Donal" wrote in message
...

Yep. It is a bit unusual.

It has a lifting keel, a broad bow section, and a very unusual
arrangement
down below. The saloon area is astern of the companionway - even though
it
is an aft cockpit design.

I meet one of the owners most weeks, so I can probably get answers to any
specific questions that you have. John also lurks here, so maybe we can
tempt him to answer. John?


My experience of the Kelt 39 is that it is about the most uncomfortable
yacht I have ever sailed in.
I recall a passage a few years ago when I was one of a delivery crew taking
a Kelt 39 from St. Helier, Jersey to Cowes - we had a quartering sea all
the way and she rolled like a pig and most of the crew were seasick although
they were all pretty experienced sailors.
The wide aft saloon had no hand holds except for a flimsy "ladder" which
served as a companion way. On one occasion in the middle of the night, I
was struggling to get into my oilies to go on watch and was pitched across
the whole width of the cabin demolishing the ladder as I crashed into it on
the way across - and it is quite a long way!
The saloon table is built over the engine at a height that us tall chaps
have to bend our knees and bodies at an angle guaranteed to induce
indigestion.
The opinion of the rest of the crew was very similar - one of them remarked
that "The designer had a good idea for an aft cabin and built a boat around
it".
On the positive side - it proved to be very good as a "hospitality boat"
with ample space for entertaining during Cowes Week with G & T's and canapés
plus ample overnight accommodation for the guests.
The owner of Adat probably won't agree with any of this - he reckons she is
the best yacht ever built!
I think Kelt went bust and the moulds were taken over by Kirie/Feeling and
the Kelt 39 evolved into the Feeling 39 but with a more traditional
accommodation.

Cheers

JohnW

Hey Donal
 

John & Donal, thanks for the info. I've seen pictures of the boat and it
certainly does look beamy, perhaps a bit bluff-bowed too. My interest is due to
the specs and the centerboard, which made it seem rather promising... not many
boats have both shoal draft capability, and the ratio SA/D 20 with D/L 175 which
looks like a relatively fast boat. But it doesn't sound very good after all.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King


John Weale wrote:

My experience of the Kelt 39 is that it is about the most uncomfortable
yacht I have ever sailed in.
I recall a passage a few years ago when I was one of a delivery crew taking
a Kelt 39 from St. Helier, Jersey to Cowes - we had a quartering sea all
the way and she rolled like a pig and most of the crew were seasick although
they were all pretty experienced sailors.
The wide aft saloon had no hand holds except for a flimsy "ladder" which
served as a companion way. On one occasion in the middle of the night, I
was struggling to get into my oilies to go on watch and was pitched across
the whole width of the cabin demolishing the ladder as I crashed into it on
the way across - and it is quite a long way!
The saloon table is built over the engine at a height that us tall chaps
have to bend our knees and bodies at an angle guaranteed to induce
indigestion.
The opinion of the rest of the crew was very similar - one of them remarked
that "The designer had a good idea for an aft cabin and built a boat around
it".
On the positive side - it proved to be very good as a "hospitality boat"
with ample space for entertaining during Cowes Week with G & T's and canapés
plus ample overnight accommodation for the guests.
The owner of Adat probably won't agree with any of this - he reckons she is
the best yacht ever built!
I think Kelt went bust and the moulds were taken over by Kirie/Feeling and
the Kelt 39 evolved into the Feeling 39 but with a more traditional
accommodation.

Cheers

JohnW

Hey Donal
 

"DSK" wrote in message
...
John & Donal, thanks for the info. I've seen pictures of the boat and it
certainly does look beamy, perhaps a bit bluff-bowed too. My interest is
due to
the specs and the centerboard, which made it seem rather promising... not
many
boats have both shoal draft capability, and the ratio SA/D 20 with D/L 175
which
looks like a relatively fast boat. But it doesn't sound very good after
all.


The 2002 results on that page are a bit misleading. Under normal sailing
conditions, Setanta is the faster boat. That was the first race that I ever
helmed in - and my inexperience showed. My helmsman from previous years was
on the Kelt in 2002.




Regards


Donal
--