Why I'm Following Sven Yrvind

See: July 12, 2018 Yrvind explains his situation in a short video



In the July 12, 2018 video at ± 3:48 to ± 4:49 Sven tells to have 2 options for ExLex I.

Option 1 = to have ExLex I transported back to Sweden and reuse there whatever is possible in ExLex II.

Option 2 = to salvage as much as possible from ExLex I on Porto Santo Island in Madeira, and send that stuff in a box to Sweden, and then cut the hull up and drive her to the dump there.

That was the last I've heard or read about it, since then my guess is that option 2 has become reality.

 

I've seen the aforementioned video and and the post where Sven stands in his workshop besides the packages containing the salvaged Exlex bits, and had the same guess. Would be nice to know the fate of Exlex.

While his creations are interesting and might provide a starting point for further development, I'm afraid they fall into a rather non existent market niche. I fear the faith of Yrvind 10 and (probably) Exlex awaits the Exlex Minor.

 

I went to Sven's website a few days ago and read his manifesto.

I first read about Sven years ago and thought his stuff was cool. But his manifesto comes across as one long set of insults towards anyone who disagrees with him, and one long paen of self-praise. He seems to respect no one but himself, and to recognise no room for personal taste, experience or preference or for the knowledge that others have earned by vast (and often greater) experience. It's very disappointing.

 

Both of these have spoon bows. One has some reinforcement for a bowsprit. The other doesn't.

A spoon bow is meant to create some dynamic lift along with buoyant lift, and is useful for sailing down wind in big waves. It generally does not dig in, causing a possible broach. And it carries considerable buoyancy forward of the bow water line.

Sven's version is more sow-like to be sure, but I wouldn't call it a scow bow. If it were half the beam at its narrowest point, then I would change my mind. As it is, it operates on the same principle as PAR's does. My guess is that it is more effective.

Beauty does not guarantee seaworthiness any more than ugliness negates it. I have noticed that the more purposeful something is, the more ugly it tends to look.

I doubt anyone sees the foiling AC boats as things of beauty, as well as the more contemporary ocean racing sailboats.

However, I have also noticed that I have seen the IOR racing boats, I grew up watching, as things of beauty.

Perhaps anesthetics are learned tastes.

 

Definately that.

I have also noticed that, as an artist, the things I create myself, I find particularly pleasing. I imagine Sven, being the proud designer, finds all his creations beautiful.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

PAR has extended that on his Emily Rose (RYD-21.7) design, which he calls a Indianhead bow profile.

PAR yachts - Riccelli Yacht Design → Sailboats ↓ Emily Rose (RYD-21.7) (clickable pics and drawings for enlargement there)



‘‘ . . . . A recent upgrade to this design is a new Indianhead bow profile and a counter stern extension. The counter stern is better mannered in following seas and the new bow profile lengthens the LWL slighted when heeled and happens to be my favorite shape. . . . . ’’

 

For any possible responses on PAR's Emily Rose (RYD-21.7) in the above post #156 not related to Sven, I've copy pasted the post to the ‘‘Random Chip Thread’’ post #10, to not distract this thread's main topic with it. I've also posted some historical Indian Head Schooners there.

 

A second one has showed up, so you're not alone in that anymore.

My vote was and still is "Probably", as I think it still would be possible, if Sven would find the means and took the effort to adapt the boat on the Azores.

 

Sven is now at the latitude of the Azores, he will probably sail further south, then west, and then north east down wind to one of the islands, like he has planned in one of his previous posts on August 7, 2020, 40 days at sea.

‘‘ . . . . I plan to sail south until I get into the northerly winds and then south of Azores, sail west and up to the islands. . . . . ’’

Sven Yrvind ExLex II tracker screenshot on August 24, 2020, at the posting time of this post, at 57 ¾ days in the trip from Ålesund, Norway.

 

Being so close to the end of the voyage, I kinda hope he would dump most of the muesli (not in its containers of course) to gain maneuverability. Turning maybe 2000 SEK worth of dead weight into fishfood might well be a good tradeoff.

 

Yes JPE, I agree. Or at least when he is so close that he knows he can reach harbour if he can sail faster and upwind to a decent extent.
I don't know how much storage he has, but if he saves enough for 30-45 more days.. Should be plenty for a plan B. Heading for Madeira for example.
As the boat performs now, approaching land is the absolutely most dangerous part of the journey.
The boat is very slow and has no engine. And he will be weakened by not moving much for more than 2 months.

 

He needs to make some attempt to sail loaded for a sensible passage and demonstrate reasonable performance or the 'mountain bike of the oceans' claim is just rubbish. Maybe that already exists, has been thoroughly proven, and is called the Tiki 21?

 

For those willing to live in a dry suit a lot, like Rory McDougall often did on his Cooking Fat, is the Tiki 21 indeed a good ‘‘mountain bike of the oceans’’.

 

As it now is, I would rather call Exlex Minor "the tricycle of the oceans"

 

Well mountain bikes don't prioritise protection from the elements either but, like the Tiki, they get you where you want to go in a relatively efficient way.