Bregir

Damn me, this was a hard vote! So many absolutely excellent entries. Particularly class 2 gave me pause, all entries being of extraordinary quality in both hull and rigging, while still being widely different in type and construction. But great entries all around!

Can't be pierced, but will fall off in a moderate breeze...

Voting is now open:

Many interesting designs had been entered into the P. A. cup and now the time was to pick out your favourite design. Find the links to the builds below. (You should be able to vote multiple times per category, if you so prefer.) Deadline will be added. Cat A entry : - Ross Fisher : Lloyd's landing - Professor Thaum : Race Control Center - Captain Braunsfeld : Forgotten Forepost - TomSkippy : Finish Line Cat B entry : Class 1 - Captain Braunsfeld : De Neushoorn - Ross Fisher : A'chua's Catamaran - TomSkippy : Sangiovese - Professor Thaum : Exocet - Bregir : Marlin - Wellesley : Orion Class 2 - Professor Thaum : Arkham Chaser - Gedren Y : Glittering Wind - TomSkippy : Spirit of sir Edward - Bodi : Idol - Bregir : Jinn Dhow - Wellesley : Lydia Class 3 - Capt Wolf : Aqua Fina - TomSkippy : Golden Rat - Bodi : Mayu

No. You could (should, perhaps). Her sides are simply placed loosely on top of cheese slopes and leans inward. On the inside I have placed a few bricks that slide in between the inner frames and gives some stability, but in reality, if I tilt her to one side, the plates will fall off... :P Once I am back home, I will see if I can get you a picture.

Double post, for some reason...

I can propose three techniques (that may or may not be covered already above): Hinge based hull A fairly simple technique, where the sides are vertical (I haven't managed a reasonable tumblehome with this technique) Used here: And here: The SNOT design i used on the Ironsides. It is basically just plates with tiles mounted (loosely...) on a frame. Or the bent sides I use on this WIP: (A technique I often used after being enticed by @Legostone to try bending... It can with good results be combined with the hingeplate technique around the bow and stern.

Am I the only one reading these write-ups in the inner voice of a horse-race-announcer? These write-ups have been absolutely brilliant, and not just because my ships have been doing well Absolutely outstanding work, @Capt Wolf! (And I will now take a quick write-up of the rules and get you all a voting thread. Sorry for the delay)

Great rendition of a star fort, Legonaut! The pointy bastion is excellent, and you have merged very well with the terrain, which I always find a challenge when working with angles! As Spud says, the weeds look very nice too. One thing I would reconsider is your guns - the narrowest part of the barrel becomes too narrow I think. I'd also like to see a bigger picture of the whole thing and some more details - right now the overall picture is quite small. But overall an excellent build! I think Howe may soon see Edward receive new orders!

I am crossing my fingers! These are excellent, and surprisingly fascinating write-ups!! :D

Cool little bastion, and good story. I like the angles you have achieved and would love to see you work it on a bigger scale. What's that supposed to mean? Have an issue with "red"! *rages in Corrish*

A fascinating race to follow! You had me sitting at the edge of my seat! I will be setting up a voting thread for finding the favourite builds soon(tm) and you will all be asked to vote:)

"A shame we could not have participated in the Rover herself, sir" "I doubt the less... morally liberally minded people around here would not take kindly to her presence - all this talk of piracy and all." the gentleman in the bowler replied to his mate. "But the Jinn is a fine vessel and shall do us proud - and I wonder not if a good placement in the race will make her fetch quite a fortune in the markets here." "Indeed, sir. A fine prize she is. Here's to hopin' her original owners do not show up..." the mate chuckled. "Oh, but they will find her papers in order - a legitimate purchase - or so it will seem!" "We are certainly outrunning that navy cutter" came the conclusion from the man with the sextant. "Never thought she would be such a flyer going large!" The Gentleman privateer has joined the race in a recent capture - a lateen rigged dhow. (At least that is how her... original owners described her...) Class 1: R2 M3 G0 C2 $5 H0

Natives are joining! The (not yet) (in-)famous Gentleman Privateer joins the race in a recent capture - the dhow "Jinn":

If the socalled "civilised" nations of the Brick Seas thought they would be alone in the PA cup, they thought wrong! Captain Itzcali and his crew of pearl fishermen would be joining, and while their crab claw sailed catamaran might not be the best close-hauled, it was dreadfully fast with the wind on her quarter, and could turn in an instant. This crew was set on taking on the challenge, and show the westerners what indigenous techniques could achieve. Class 1: R0 M6 G0 C1 $2 H0

Just as a reminder. That would be good :)

You will get some options (next turn) - and we will see what you make of it! ;)

This was an intriguing question, and I too felt the need to investigate. There seems to be no overall consensus and many different suggestions to how it is done. It would also seem that the only real living examples are small dhows and similar, which may not be handled like a larger xebec. My findings suggest the following: Many models and paintings suggest that most xebecs carried their lateen yards and sails on alternating sides. (First yard on starboard side of the mast, second on port, etc) Examples include your picture and the two below. This makes sense *if* the yards were not shifted round, but were sailed on the "bad tack". Both since this would always allow one of the main sails to be carried on the right tack for optimal performance, and since this will allow sailing gull-winged before the wind. (Like the galley on the left in your picture) Most sources seems to suggest that lateen yards are carried inside the shrouds, which has a few implications (the galley on the oil painting suggests otherwise, though, clearly carrying its lateens over the shrouds - I put this down to inaccuracy, as there is no way to get the sails from inside the shrouds to outside, or the other way round.) Lateen yards could conceivably be raised to near vertical when going into the wind and shifted to the other side, although the very large lateens on a galley or xebex would likely be hard to handle through this manoeuvre in anything but light winds. Further it would also be a complex and time consuming process. My best guess is that if done, it would only be done if going for a long leg upwind, not during continuous tacking. In the latter case, most likely they would simply sail with the sails on the "bad tack" (pressing against the mast). I actually doubt it would make too much of a difference in performance. Additionally, any rigging connected to the lower end of the lateen yard would probably also have to be shifted, which again would make it a complex manoeuvre - so maybe it was really rarely done? There is a limit to how gull-winged they could go, as the shrouds would hinder the yard from hinging out too much. This may be remedied somewhat by slackening of the shrouds on the lee side, but then the windward shrouds and any backstays would have to take the full strain. This could potentially be solved by having both inner and outer shrouds, which is my theory. When going close-hauled (upwind) out shrouds would be set, but when going down the wind, they would be slackened and inner shrouds and backstays would take the strain. This is pure speculation, though, and I can't make it out on any of the models or pictures I can find, but I think it would solve the issue. (Inner shrouds could potentially be replaced by a strong backstay, which could more or less solve the same issue) On the other hand, I have always heard lateens described as performing less than optimally downwind, which may in part be due to these issues. Those are my thoughts. I might well investigate and consider further, and will let you know if I have any revelations!

No worries. Don't you want a closing statement? I feel like this should result in something of an advantage, having found the artefact, and I have a few ideas. It will probably require something in terms of building to reap them, but rather than just hiding it away in granoleon, I would like to offer you at least a few alternatives, with some pay-off.

I think it looks quite cartoonish, in a nice way. Crew would be nice (and make it easier to establish the scale.) Not bigger than a class 2, it would seem to me, though.

I agree with BD - an excellent story and a very nice build. There are many things to mention, but I will just take a few. I like the waves and how the building/bastion is angled to the build, and I think the large telescope is very well built too. The various other implements are well-built and humourous too. The windvane is very well done - how did you make it bend like that? Just unattached bricks? And I always love me a semaphore! Well done!

Take a look here:

KPA Special Bulletin: Mesabi Landing rebuilt! After being wrecked by a tsumani in January, the WTC has put efforts into rebuilding and stepped up the quality of construction and materials being used. The streets and the port has been cleared and the settlement can now again accept investments and settlers. Its markets have been reopened, and trade is once more starting to flourish. Only time will tell if the WTC will fall back into old habits, but perhaps there is hope for the rogue TC?

KPA Special Bulletin: Mesabi Landing rebuilt! After being wrecked by a tsumani in January, the WTC has put efforts into rebuilding and stepped up the quality of construction and materials being used. The streets and the port has been cleared and the settlement can now again accept investments and settlers. Its markets have been reopened, and trade is once more starting to flourish. Only time will tell if the WTC will fall back into old habits, but perhaps there is hope for the rogue TC? OOC: Having reviewed the builds and Mesabi's situation, the court has decided that sufficient commitment to quality has been displayed. The builds have shown that Mesabi is capable and willing to listen to feedback, and have been of good quality. The court applauds Mesabi and other contributing builders for their efforts and results, and accepts that it is not feasible, due to RL circumstances, to play it to end. Hence, we have decided to relieve all restrictions imposed on Mesabi and Mesabi landing by the tsunami(The city can be considered largely rebuilt and new properties can now be licensed), with the expectation that a reasonable quality will be upheld. (NB: This goes for anyone anywhere: Since this is to some degree a competitive game, the court always maintains the right to step in if anyone is considered "gaming" BoBS with subpar builds) @Mesabi @Drunknok

@Kwatchi: Has the Magnolia removed from your ownership and the Stormbringer II transferred to you? And please check the account sheet from october 18 to see if you have received a transfer of the funds. I am almost positive I completed that transfer. 2: Hammerhead (5) 60% of 420 dbs = 252 dbs 3: Mimi (4) 75% of 300 dbs = 225 dbs 1: Misty (4) 50% of 300 dbs = 150 dbs For a total of = 627 dbs Which I will transfer directly. ( @Legostone: Can you check if the magnolia has been deregistered, and deregister the three vessels condemned? Also whether the Stormbringer has had the proper change of ownership) Edit: Payment done