The Gannetsway Project-
Sailing to a new world.
Our Purpose.
The first necessity is to get the Anna M back to sea, and we propose to run sailing trips again, with a particular emphasis on dolphin and whale-watching, up and down the Gannetsway between the West of Ireland and the South of Spain.
She will also function as a test-bed and demonstration vessel for custom-built electric drives. If successful, the development of a business for producing and fitting them will follow.
Anna M is a 13.6 m long staysail schooner, built of acajou (mahogany) in France in 1968, and designed by John Illingworth, who won three Fastnet races in boats which he designed himself, at the peak of the development of wooden sailing boats.
With 7 berths, she is both very sea-kindly, a powerful sailing boat, easy to handle and comfortable to live aboard. With an electric drive she will provide an even better platform for dolphin-watching.
Joe and Fiona Aston have owned her since 1998, and operated her for commercial trips from Carrigaholt in Co Clare and Sherkin Island in Co Cork. Since that they have sailed her to the Cape Verde Islands to make a film about humpback whales with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) , and cruised to Rome and the Caribbean.
Dolphin and whale watching in the ‘Anna M’, with Dr Simon Berrow of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and film-maker Tony Whelan in the Cape Verde Islands, and below right are bottlenose dolphins bow-riding in Shannon Estuary.
Joe and the Anna M have been involved with the IWDG in the project of monitoring the dolphins resident in the Shannon Estuary since its inception 30 years ago. The Estuary is on the brink of massive industrial development, but it is of the highest importance to maintain awareness and vigilance regarding the impact of this development on the resident bottlenose dolphins and the entire ecosystem of this protected area of conservation. At present there is no dolphin-watching boat there.
Anna M berthed at Carrigaholt.
Bow-riding Anna M
Five difficult years for everyone….
This was myself sailing north up the Portuguese coast 5 years ago, and mulling over whether it was safe to proceed across Biscay with the bilge pump working five minutes out of every ten. I decided it wasn’t, especially as I had done my best to fix the leaks from outside. I would have to put her on the concrete and investigate. At least I was fortunate to find a good place to do so in Nazaré
Her refurbishment and restoration is a spectacular project. With new steel floors, laminated frames and some new planks, as well as a new epoxy-glass skin, she is stronger than she ever was, and is ready to be fitted with an electric drive. The photo above shows the planking ready to be splined with hardwood strips glued between the planks, and sheathed. Next the new cockpit is being constructed and hydraulic steering installed. Now (at right) she is ready for painting.
What about electric drives?
Alec Lammas of NazaréNautico is teaming up with Anna M to develop a new breed of electric drive, delivering power from the propeller as well as driving it, which he has been researching for at least 5 years.
Electric propulsion is quiet, vibration and odour free, and also features economy, enhanced autonomy, instant availability, low maintenance and environmental benefits.
A new era in mobility and propulsion is bursting on the world, and inviting a new relationship with nature and the sea.
Sail Power
Batteries and fuel cells have been making huge strides in their development, but our idea is to incorporate the production of power within the vessel, rather than relying on shore power to recharge the batteries. Our aim is to harness the rotation of the boat’s propeller while under sail. Solar panels will be used mainly for day-to-day domestic supply.
Three phases:-
Costing, phase 1 (in euro)
Recommissioning costs
Finish refit* and launch 18000
Electric drive and associated fittings 11000
Batteries* etc 3000 Personal expenses, travel etc 3000
Unforeseen expenses etc 5000
Total €40,000.
* Further details available. Quote is for 8 deep cycle drive batteries, 120 amp hours each (giving roughly 3 hours at half-speed, 6 at quarter speed), plus 2 for domestic supply.
Income
50 3hr trips @ 200 10000
12 3 day trips @ 1000 12000
60 nights @ 70 4200
Total €26200
Annual Operating costs
Maintenance 8000
Food etc 3000
Crew 5000
Insurance 2700
Berthing 1500
Admin/travel 3000
Total €23200
Phases 2 & 3 would require further investment totalling approx €80,000 - another days’ work!
A new sport.
‘If someone could invent a way of powering ships with the wind, they would make a fortune’! We have in mind a return to reliance on the wind, while moderating its many vicissitudes; however, using the wind to maximum advantage, instead of merely starting an engine when it does not serve our need, will call for a higher level of skill and of communion with the sea. We propose a renewed emphasis on the art of sailing, as opposed to motor-sailing, with liberation from the necessity of buying diesel oil, - and a new layer of interest as well! There is the possibility of a club associated with the Gannetsway Project, which if it attracted a membership of 50 @ €50 would produce an income of €2500, and open interesting new possibilities such as building a bigger sail/electric vessel in the future.
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The Crew
The chief engineer is Alec Lammas, who has over 30 years experience in sailing, boat-building and marine engineering, in England, Holland, Germany, Brittany and Portugal, where he now has an industrial-sized workshop near Nazaré. He built himself a small steel trading schooner in Brittany, plying a trade between there and the English West Country for some years.
Skipper Joe Aston has 70 years experience of sailing, including commercial trips orientated to dolphin and whale watching, extensive cruising on European coasts, to the Med and Caribbean, and also 26 years as a commercial fisherman on the west coast of Ireland.
Both Alec and Joe, though English is their native language, are proficient in French, Portuguese and Spanish, and envisage a fully ‘Europeanised’ undertaking (though not in any exclusive sense) .
Joe Aston talks about 25 years with the Anna M
IIiN
Dolphin and whale watching, sailing the Gannetsway, renovating a 50 year-old wooden boat, and looking forward to experimenting with innovative sail/electric drive systems.
Introduced by Dr Simon Berrow
7.30 pm on Wednesday 15th January, Cultúrlann Sweeney
Joe Aston talks about 25 years with the Anna M,-
IIiN
Dolphin and whale watching, sailing the Gannetsway, renovating this 50 year-old wooden boat, and looking forward to experimenting with innovative sail/electric drive systems.
Introduced by Dr Simon Berrow
7.30 pm on Wednesday 15th January, Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee.
When we look back in history, we shall hopefully see the pandemic and Ukraine war as providing the impetus to get serious about transitioning out of fossil fuels.
This is a chance to do so, with both profit and fun!
- Joe Aston - gannetsway@gmail.com - 00353877972366 - blog - gannetswaysailing.blogspot.ie