On Ile a Vache, a small island off Haiti’s southern coast, I built a sailing sloop using only local materials, tools and knowledge. We had no model or drawings. Symmetry was achieved by sawing naturally curved branches down the middle to be used as opposite frames. The seams between the planks were filled with fabric and covered with natural resin. A beautiful and (I think) seaworthy craft was the result. With a crew of Haitian and American friends I plan to sail it to Florida. The construction took almost three months, and was at times interrupted by tropical storms. Click on the pictures to enlarge them or look at the slide show. “Sipriz” is Creole for surprise. For more information, click here.
Building the sloop Sipriz
Danmari, a native tree of Haiti
Danmari cut down for the mast
Oblit working the mast with his machete
Another tree was felled for the keel
Achel’homme, Oblit and Gracien carry the keel
The boatyard in the village of Kakok
The boatbuilders’ tools
Oblit sharpening his saw
Sawing the bow and stern timbers
Laying the keel
Drilling a hole for a big nail
The transom is made of cashew wood
Cutting the frames
A set of frames
Skeleton of the bow
At the boatyard
The frames are about a foot apart
The framing is complete
Calculations with sailmaker Ludor
Jean Emmaniste Samedy
(“Manis”)
Laying out the sail
Jana and Ludor marking and cutting
Ludor Alexandre
The mainsail, next to our house
Achel’homme and Oblit planking the hull
All the wood is danmari
A Haitian Viking ship
Covering the foredeck
Jean Oblit Laguerre, the “boss”, or main builder
His brother Achel’homme Laguerre
Shaping the mast step
The boatyard and the bay of Kakok
Decks, rails and bulkheads
Montraye filling the seams
The rudder and its hardware
Jean-jean painting the bottom
Kiki painting the mast
The masthead
Finishing touches by Gracien
Moris lettering the transom
Ready to go
Launching...
Launching...
Afloat!
Raising the mast
Attaching the standing rigging
The sails come aboard
Raising the peak, made of bamboo
The rudder floats behind the boat
Hanging the rudder
Manis and Oblit
Manis hoisting the main
Geert and Gracien
Owner and builder
Celebrating with a bottle of Barbancourt rum
Jana sailing Sipriz
North Sails donated material for the sails
Gracien Alexandre
Under full sail
Sipriz off Ile a Vache
