Minimalist Voyaging Under Sail: 2

Another view of a minimalist voyager is an old 1984 Frers-designed IOR racer, the former Evergreen. Renamed, Rumor, she was sailed to the Caribbean from New England and double handed between the various Caribbean regattas.

The boat was a stripped out racing machine with four berths, an excuse for a galley and a tiny head. There were no head liners or trim. Everything was exposed. The boat was fast (PHRF in the 60s) and actually very easy to sail. For instrumentation, she had two each of hand held VHF and GPS, one installed depth meter and a masthead fly. One person could clean the boat thoroughly in a morning. It was the simplest boat to operate.

From the point of view of minimalist, this boat was it. The large cockpit made Rumor a popular boat for getting together with friends in foreign ports. The berths were comfy, the galley produced some good-enough eating, and she sailed like a dream. More time was spent sailing her than fixing her.

An old picture of Evergreen from 1985 or so.

Many old IOR war-horses are available for short money and make great cruisers without major refits.