HISTOIRE DES HALFS

Introduction, Halftonner List, Architectes, Résultats, No Voile

 

BRAINSTORM, IRL 3102
à jour au: février 2010
1972 Plan George O Brien Kennedy, built by Donal Conlon and Bert O' Mahony in Co. Roscommon
in wood with double chine, LOA: 29,25ft; LWL- 22.5'; Draught- 5.4'; Sail Area 382sq.ft; Displacement: 2,6t.

1972 Late in season: launched.

1973 June "Yachts and Yachting", article, see below
23 juin, Morecambe Bay race, 210 NM: DNF/3 Classe V, G. O'B. KENNEDY
30 juin, Dun Laoghaire-Clyde Race, 207 NM: 3e/3 Classe V en 28h22' réel, rating: 22.0'

1974 Howth Yacht Club East and West Cup: 1er/??
ISORA: 35e/51 Div B, G. O'B. KENNEDY

1975 Isora race #3: 5e/6 Div B, G. O'B. KENNEDY

1976 Irish Sea Race, Holyhead-Cork: 28e/29 Classe V corrected time 45h20'

1980 ISORA, 3/7 races: dns - 11 - 17 - dns - 8 - dns = 18e/26 B1, G. O'B. KENNEDY

2007 Vu sur le site halftonclassEurop.

Source: unknow

2010 February: received mail from Brenda Delany, with these information: "Plywood double chined hull 1973. Length o/a 29.25ft. Length w/l 22.5ft. Beam 9.5ft. draught 5ft. 4ins. disp.2.6 tons. sail area 382sq.ft.  Built by designer George O'Brien Kennedy. Original keel was a lead torpedo at the bottom of a Steel plate. Second keel was 20mm steel plate with timber farings. Third keel was a hollow Stainless steel keel partially filled with lead. Final keel solid lead."

And I have found these information, but without source's name: "Among the most remarkable boats built during that period was ‘Brainstorm’ designed by Brian O’Brien Kennedy in 1973. (O’Brien Kennedy is well known in Ireland for his more orthodox designs such as the IDRA 14.) She was a remarkable boat for many reasons. She was home built by Donal Conlon and Bert O’Mahony in plywood in a shed on Lough Key in Co. Roscommon, (with double chine layout similar to en Enterprise dinghy) the most economical material for one-off boats at the time. There was not enough funding available during those years to construct moulds which could then be reused for production runs during subsequent years. ‘Brainstorm’ incorporated all the ideas of the day which were either ‘rule beating’ or performance enhancing. She had a masthead rig with the mast located exactly midships. (The IOR rule penalised boats with large mainsails and small headsails). This idea worked well for windward work but she performed poorly on reaching and running The next brilliant idea was to have two rudders, one near the bow and the other at the stern. The bow rudder or ‘canard’ which was quite small in surface area was controlled by a pegstay mechanism in the cockpit to give the hull lift. It is said to have worked well but would have benefited from a better control mechanism. This idea is still being used by some America’s Cup boats today. What is most remarkable is the fact that the winner of the Half ton Classics Cup in 2006 was a similar hull form to ‘Brainstorm’ but with a more conventional sail plan and mast location. Where is ‘Brainstorm’ now?"

From Vincent Delamny: "The remarkable Brainstorm  belonged to yacht designer George O'Brien Kennedy. She was cheaply built in 1973 in plywood and incorporated too many features:
1. Canard rudder operated by a second tiller which sat over the main tiller. 2. Very large headsail and small mainsail. 3. Stainless steel hollow keel.
4. Tapered topsides to minimise windage. 5. Displacement 2.6 tons; She was good upwind but could not compete with Shamrocks on all other points of sailing.
" with this picture and the plans.

 

Extract of "Not All At Sea" book, received from Vincent (2015):

Picture from the book "Howth a century of sailing" by W.M. Nixon, received from Vincent (2017):


Picture from Northern and Southern Ireland racing yachts past and present Facebook 2020,