mizzen. Te jib is set to the stemhead on a roller furler, while the marconi mizzen is placed on center with a drop-in step. The cockpit is self bailing, and spa-


cious enough to hold four adults and a dog without crowding, providing plenty of space for a tall adult to sleep under a boom tent if the cabin berths are occu- pied. Te boat is designed with flotation chambers, accessible by inspection ports that also allow ample storage. There is storage space beneath the bridge deck suf- ficient for a large cooler and a porta-potty. The cabin is spacious for a 20-foot


boat. Designed with a V berth long enough for the 6'5" Chase, I added a removable filler which converts it to a full-width double. Tere is comfortable sitting headroom,


and the forward end of the centerboard trunk forms a step down into the cabin from the companionway, with no intru- sion into the cabin space. One cautionary note concerns place-


and garboards are skinned in fiberglass and epoxy, and the cockpit sole, decks and cabin roof are also fiberglassed. Te finished hull is very stiff and strong. Te build took about two years, with some delay related to pandemic supply-line issues toward the end. I made several small changes to Umami during construc- tion—in place of two strips of bronze quarter round on the bottom of the box keel, I fabricated a full bronze keel shoe for better protection when drying her out on beaching legs, and instead of the hollow wood spars specified in the plans, I chose much lighter carbon spars because I wanted the rig to be easy to set up and strike, even when sailing single-handed. The mainmast is stepped in a stainless tabernacle, and I can have the boat rigged and splashed in under an hour. Under sail, the boat demonstrates


much of the character which I’ve admired in the Ilur—communicating what she is doing and what she likes or dislikes


SMALL CRAFT ADVISOR


gently and then progressively. Te helm is light and well balanced, with predictable weather helm if she gets hit by a gust. When well trimmed and happy in her work, she rewards her crew with satis- fying visual, aural, and tactile feedback; she is a delight to sail and a sparkling performer. Despite being fast for her size, the Jewell is a boat without an ounce of ill temper, balancing fine performance with consistent, gentle manners. She’s a boat that will take care of you. Te 235 square-foot gaff yawl rig is a


pleasure to live with, and easy to manage as all control lines lead to the cockpit. I asked my sailmaker to build the 150 sq ſt main with full battens, which limit noisy slatting of the sail when hove to, and also mitigates twist in upper portions of the sail, yielding a sail which is both quiet and powerful. Te first reef reduces sail by about 40 sq ſt, the second by another 45; the third reef is to lower the main altogether and carry on under jib and


ment of an outboard. Vivier designed the transom and afterdeck with removable panels allowing a small outboard to be installed for auxiliary power. The boat needs only a small motor, but many tiller-controlled engines will not tilt up enough to get the lower unit entirely out of the water due to interference between the aſter deck and tiller arm. My solution is a bolt-on, tilting motor bracket, which works well to get the motor out of the water, but which is not visually elegant. Deck and transom arrangements that allowed a variety of outboards to be deployed without needing the bracket would be a neat refinement, and are in the works through Chase Small Craſt, but for now I advise careful attention to tiller arm and tilt arrangements. The Jewell is a remarkable marriage


of modern manufacturing and materials to a classic design aesthetic. Umami has the excellent manners and sea keeping Vivier’s boats are known for; suitable accommodation for multi-day cruises, and is efficient to windward with her high aspect foils and jib, while remaining simple to tow, rig, and launch. She has met or exceeded all my expectations, and I highly recommend her as a day boat for a family. She can do double-duty as a coastal cruiser for a crew of two or three. Fast, forgiving, comfortable and pretty, she offers tremendous capability in a small package. •SCA•


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