Field trip for Composites

The Composites class of 2010 took a field trip to Janseneering, a CNC milling shop in Topsham, Maine. The composites techs at Janseneering used 5-axis CNC machines to build the plugs for the new LS-20 sailboats that are going under construction this year as part of the Composites Program curriculum. The hull plug has already arrived at the school and students are currently sanding it. The deck plug is on its way soon. Stay tuned for construction photos.

All Things Considered

Listen to Maine Public Radio's piece about the current state of the Maine boatbuilding industry as the three-year federal WIRED grant comes to a close. The WIRED grant provided millions of dollars to the marine industry in the form of training, marketing and business development.

Old school

Cleaning out the closets we came across this newspaper article from a 1978 issue of the York County Coast Star. Aside from the moustaches, big hair and bell-bottoms, our students don't look much different -- proud, eager and prepared for the marine industry.

Winning spirit

This was the view from the cockpit of the LS-30 shortly after the downwind start of this year's Eggemoggin Reach Regatta on August 1 in Brooklin, ME. It was a fabulous view of the entire 76-boat fleet, all of which were about a half-mile or more behind the LS-30.


A fight between the land breeze and the sea breeze caused a temporary standstill just as the first gun went off. With her asymmetrical chute hoisted seconds before the official start of the Spirit of Tradition Class A, the LS-30 ghosted across the line at a hot angle to find a clear lane to the dying breeze. Not only did she find her lane, but she kept going. With a 2- to 3-knot current and a whisper of wind carrying her down the course, she passed the entire class and, as the guns were going off for the starts of the rest of the classes, she put a lot of blue water between her and the fleet.

Within an hour of the first gun, the sea breeze won its duel, filling the hundreds of sails on the Reach. The LS-30, which has one of the shortest waterlines of the entire fleet, maintained her lead as she rounded Egg Rock and headed up close-hauled to the furthest mark in the 15-mile course, Halibut Rock. The larger yachts in the fleet appeared to begin closing some of the distance the LS-30 had established in the light airs — until she got her kite up in a 12- to 15-knot close reach.

In the final leg to the finish, the LS-30 popped out of the water on a plane and shot down the course as the rest of the fleet continued toward Halibut Rock. Her rudder hummed as she held steady down through to the line, finishing more than three minutes ahead of her closest competitor, JUNO, a 65-foot schooner built in 2003.

The Landing School took line honors and was awarded the first-place trophy for the Spirit of Tradition Class A. Amid a sea of classic and traditional boats along the Reach, the LS-30 stood out as less traditional with her plumb bow, open transom and carbon spar, but she demonstrated handily that a modern wood-composite construction is stiff, light and fast. We're looking forward to the next regatta later this month.

Education for the unemployed

The Landing School is providing significant tuition support for displaced workers who want to re-train for a career in the marine industry by enrolling in the 2009-2010 school-year. Thanks to a generous grant from a private foundation, The Landing School is able to offer unemployed and recently laid-off workers from all industries who qualify for financial aid the opportunity to train for a new career affordably. Interested candidates should apply for both enrollment and financial aid immediately.

“We are very grateful to have received this grant money earmarked for displaced workers,” says Barry Acker, president of The Landing School. “As the economic climate improves, the marine industry will be in need of well-trained tradespeople to support its growth. The financial aid we can provide to eligible people now will foster experienced, productive workers ready to contribute to the industry next June.”

The Landing School offers five unique education and training programs designed to prepare students for careers in the marine industry. The Small Boats Program teaches contemporary and traditional wooden boat construction techniques. The Cruising Boats Program teaches modern wood composite boatbuilding. The Composites Program is a study in modern building materials through the construction of small composite boats and tooling. The Marine Systems Program teaches students to install, maintain and repair today’s increasingly complex boat systems. The Yacht Design Program provides the theory behind yacht design and the skills to put it into practice. Each program is a comprehensive, full-time, 10-month course. Many students spend one term at The Landing School and then begin careers in the marine industry; other students choose to take multiple programs over two or more years to develop a variety of valuable professional skills.

Each program has a maximum capacity for enrollment, and some programs may have already reached their respective capacities. Prospective students should contact an admissions officer (info@landingschool.edu or 207-985-7976) as soon as possible to inquire about availability of programs. The financial aid is distributed based on need, eligibility and availability of funds.

Testing the waters

One of the LS-30s got a trial by fire last weekend during the Maine State PHRF Championships in Casco Bay, hosted by Portland Yacht Club. After only a few hours of test-sailing the boat, a couple of staff members and the sailmaker, Win Fowler of Maine Sailing Partners, entered an LS-30 into the Class A Division of the two-day regatta to see how she could keep up with the local racing fleet. The boat showed herself off nicely despite a very tough provisional PHRF rating of 72; and she proved herself strong, stiff and powerful in unexpected big breeze the first day she ever graced a race course.


In 20-plus knots, the boat was surprisingly dry and comfortable upwind. She isn't easily overpowered and never needed a reef. With only 25 feet of waterline, she hung in well with a J105, which seemed to be her closest competitor in speed. Once she turned a corner and headed downwind with a kite up in a strong southerly, she certainly took off. Unfortunately since we were all busy holding onto our hats (in vain, as it turns out!), no one had a chance to clock her speed on the GPS. Some poor crew work on our part resulted in a couple broaches, but when we managed to keep her upright, she gave us a wild ride.

The second day of racing brought a moderate southwesterly that petered in and out early in the afternoon, but filled in with a 10- to 15-knot sea breeze by mid-afternoon. The LS-30 was in her glory in those conditions. She handles like a dream, turns on a dime and stays flat without a lot of crew hiking out. Kite sets and take-downs are very easy to execute without a lot of fuss, and the boat manages to maintain her speed through the gybes.

We're still standing by for a PHRF rating, but following a weekend of test-sails against a range of boats in the region, the general consensus is that the boat should come in around 85 to 90. Her strong point is certainly a nice reach where she can heat things up a bit and play the angles. Future owners may want to consider complementing its current suit of sails with a second, bigger asymmetrical for light to moderate breezes since the stiff and stable boat has certainly proven that she can hold it. Overall the sailors so far are very satisfied with her performance, her sleek and stylish appearance, and her efficient layout. We're looking forward to more upcoming regattas, appearances and boat shows where we'll continue taking notes in case there's room for improvement for next years' boats!

Listen to The Landing School

Our friends at Professional BoatBuilder magazine invited The Landing School to join in on a conversation about marine industry training and education through their new medium, ProBoat Radio. The Landing School's marketing director, Nicole Jacques, and the Marine Systems Program manager, Roger Hellyar-Brook, joined representatives from ProBoat, GRPguru, and MA Marine Trades to promote the new opportunities available to people interested in beginning careers in boat building, design, survey and repair. Take a listen.