I finally made it for a sail on Russell Brown’s Jzerro! A steady 15 knots, sunshine, and proa, what more can you want? Russell and Simon, his crew for the day, picked up Jack and myself at the linear dock in Port Townsend at 1:30. He motored in, came to a stop at the dock, we jumped aboard, and Jzerro powered out the way he came in, opposite bow leading. No wonder ferries are double ended.

Once out of the marina, up went the main and off we went like only a light multihull can. Simon assisted with the headsails during tacks, while Jack and I made ourselves useful shooting pics and asking questions. No water ballast in the ama, the genoa pulling hard, and we gently flew the ama a few times as we got some wind gusts over 17 knots, flying across Admiralty Inlet to Keystone on Whidbey Island.

Now Jzerro was in his element, the narrow canoe hull surging over the swells, outpacing them. The boat becomes alive, moving almost like a swift animal of the sea - a wind-powered dolphin. No wonder we couldn’t stop grinning - apes riding a white unicorn.

1. Our ride arrives.
2. Our captain.
3. Simon on the foredeck.

4. The bow at speed.
5. Ama riders on the storm.
6. Jack rides the couch.

7. Into the sun.
8. Spray!
9. Our ride departs.

Thanks again to Russell Brown for the excellent sail!

I can just see that big cheesy grin all over your face, Michael 😊

Jealous!

Very nice pictures!!!

Please tell us more about your sailing!

Cheers,
Johannes

Very cool.
Thanks.
If you have a moment to spare, tell us a bit more about the sailing.
Cheers,
Peter

I’m happy to answer any questions. It was about a 2 hour sail, we probably shunted 5 or 6 times, best speed by Russell’s GPS was 16 knots when he was looking, but we topped that a few times. I think the details of shunting and sailing a Brown proa are well documented around here, so not sure what I could add to that. It sure was fun!

I was lucky enough to go along as well.  What a magic carpet ride!

Working back up wind, Simon and Michael were out on the ama (where it seemed drier).  I was on the couch (where it seemed wetter). We added no extra ballast.  The ama lifted once or twice briefly.  There was a big tide against the wind that made for some heavy chop.  Jzerro skipped across the tops of the waves.

I have been across that stretch of water in a lot of different boats, but it never felt like that before.

Thank you Russell.

About Jzerro:
How close to the wind can it sail?
What’s the sail area?
What’s the sail area to displacement ratio?
What’s the sq. area of the daggerboard?
What’s the sq. area of each rudder?
What’s the vaka/ama displacement ratio?
What’s Jzerro’s righting moment?
What’s Jzerro’s beam over all?
What’s the waterline beam of Jzerro’s vaka?
What’s that little spar off the windward side of the bow for?
thanks.

Hello Red Cedar,
Let me, as the moderator here, welcome you to our forum. As a tip, if you would like your questions answered, you will find it more profitable to phrase them politely. We are not used to such abrupt postings here especially from members who want something gratis in return. You could tell us a little about yourself, too, while you’re at it as we are always interested and it makes the whole process more personable.

Thanks,
James

Russell Brown and Jzerro are a great inspiration. I hope some day I’ll meet them. I have one question - how do you pronounce ‘Jzerro’? Is it jzerro, or wtherro, or yzerro…

RC: I only know the answer to one, as I’ve never seen Jzerro’s specs published anywhere.

What’s that little spar off the windward side of the bow for?

A: The mainsheet.

cpcanoesailor: I have one question - how do you pronounce ‘Jzerro’? Is it jzerro, or wtherro, or yzerro…

A: Cat Stevens knows. 😉

Editor - 03 October 2013 09:48 AM

RC: I only know the answer to one, as I’ve never seen Jzerro’s specs published anywhere.

What’s that little spar off the windward side of the bow for?

A: The mainsheet.

Thanks for the mainsheet reply, and i haven’t seen those specs either.
Wish i knew Russel, those are the first questions i’d ask him.
But if Russel is reading this thread, and has time, i bet i’m not the only one here who would like to know the answers to those questions.

Thanks for posting the pics! I bet you guys had a blast out there, and I can definitely see that grin from all the way over here! 😉

Great pictures!  Thanks for sharing this, Michael!