N2359 Shotgun

[National 12 Webmaster]

The life of N2359 Shotgun. Design: Shotgun, designed by: Mike Nokes in 1966

[paul turner]

This was probably the last N12 designed and built by Mike Nokes. Using the theory that other classes with easy fore and aft lines and a flat bottom went fast off- wind, Shotgun's bottom four planks are flat(two either side of keel) with a modest rocker). The design focused on the fact that on Burton Week courses, there were two off- wind legs compared to only one to windward - down wind performance therefore being more important.  Initally she had a pram type  bow, but after a weekend sailing at Blakeney (where she was extremely fast downwind, but very wet to windward), Mike chopped 6" off the back, put on a new transom, and extended and reshaped the bow. Mike sailed her only briefly before lending her to Alan Brunton who raced her for a season at Trent Valley with reasonable success with a lightweight crew, (even though not in her ideal sailing conditions, - (river instead of open water). She was lent to a few others,before being laid up, and has not been sailed for over 30 years. She now resides in Mike's front garden awaiting minor restoration by an enthusiast.

[paul turner]

I have now acquired Shotgun (together with the original transom complete with 6" planking still attached!) from Mike and she is now safely tucked up in a barn at home drying out and awaiting restoration.

[paul turner]

I am indebted to Ken Goddard for supplying me with futher infomation about the short sailing career of Shotgun. At the 1966 Burton Week Mike Nokes finished 23rd overall out of 117 recording a 9th on the last day. The Y&Y Burton Week Report of Friday 30th September 1966 contains the following observations:
The only really radical hull design this meeting was Mike Nokes' "Shotgun". With Nokes' rather deadpan sense of humour it is always difficult to be sure just when he is joking and when he means business, but under certain conditions, particularly off-wind, there is no doubt that "Shotgun" will go.
Originally built with a completely flat floor, measuring nearly 28 inches wide at its flatest place on the beam, "Shotgun" ended with a pram bow 14in wide at the bottom and 11in wide at deck level. Tests on the River Trent promised a fast planning ride, but the pram bow stopped the boat in anything of a chop, so the bow was sawn off and 18in scarfed on to the bows to a point - though with somewhat of a skeg bottom.
The boat was now about a 13ft National Twelve and so a foot was sawn off the stern to bring her back to size and it was in this form that she was sailed at Llandudno. Light weather gave her no real chance of getting up with the leaders, but on the Friday when the wind blew a little harder she finished eigth. Further development and sailing remain before Nokes can show us that he really has a winner on his hands.

[angus]

Shotgun in action at Yeadon. Photo by Brian Herring

[Tim Gatti]

So - now she's restored and back on the water and sailing competitively what do her helms think of her?
Paul - are you pleased after all the effort?
Please let us have an update....
Tim

[paul turner]

Shotgun was officially re-launched at the TVSC Vintage/Midland Area Open Meeting on Sunday 12th September 2010 with Mike Nokes, the designer and builder, in attendance. She was sailed to victory by Graham Camm, crewed by Andrea Murphy - see the meeting report.
Angus Beyts then took her to Ripon (photo above) and Yeadon at the beginning of October and to the Inland Champs at Pitsford 6th & 7th November (also staring in a few photos) - I haven't sailed her yet!
She now sports the aluminium rig from N3157 Perfect Kiss and the "cunning plan" is to sail her at the 2011 Burton with a new suit of Alverbank Sails and carbon boom (formerly a dead mast) to have a try at the Shotgun Trophy - but there's still a lot of work to do on her before then!

[angus]

She is quite interesting to sail and seems quite tippy for a vintage boat. At Ripon we over cooked a roll tack and had an affie lot of bailing to do. I have only really sailed her in light winds, but at Ripon with a light crew she seemed quite competative with the other vintage boats, the following day with a heavier crew we struggled. At Northampton on saturday in light winds we seemed relatively qucik on the reaches and managing to keep up with the back of the fleet but she did not point well and we always lost ground to windward. On Sunday with an almost windward leeward course and stronger winds we were left for dead. For and aft trim is always going to be critical but it will be really interesting to see hoe Paul gets on on trianglular courses on the sea, might well be the vintage boat to beat at Burton.
A rather baggy jib probably didn't help her windward performance. Also when reading these comments one should take into account the lack of ability of the helm.

[ntoa]

Shotgun at TVSC 2011 being sailed by Graham and Zoe

[ntoa]

And Another right way up

[grazz]

Notes from Mike Nokes "Came across 2 pics of shotgun which show the long easy buttock lines, and unusual mid section, with completely flat garboards and first planks, and a hard-chine effect either side.  They illustrate what I was trying to describe, so thought you might use them."  Mike Nokes.