Chinese Junkies wanted... and Chinese Junks

Founded in 1979 by UK south coast enthusiasts and a couple of Australians, the JRA has always been a worldwide organisation, but now a massive 44% are overseas. Given the origins of the rig, we were surprised to hear the JRA has no Chinese members. We asked secretary Edward Hooper why.

"I guess they haven't really got into sailing, yet," he said. "I think they'll begin to appreciate their maritime heritage – some of the world's greatest voyages were in junks - as they become more affluent. We'll soon pull in some far eastern members, especially with the growth of our website and the Verbrugges' junk hunting' expedition."

Edward has has just given his Van de Stadt Splinter 21 Amiina (top) a 'split junk rig', one of the powerful sail-forms that JRA members have come up with in the last few years.

Hunting Junks

JRA members and ex-teachers Lesley and Rene Verbrugge will soon be hopping from Borneo to China in Crib, their Rival 41 schooner junk, hunting for traditional junks. Whilst their trip isn't 'official', the JRA wishes them the best of luck and hopes they will sign up the first Chinese member soon! See www.huntingjunks.org.

Junk sailor wins O.C.C. medal

While Edward was rigging Amiina, JRA chairman David Tyler was organising the JRA website and sailing south, a trip for which he's recently been awarded the Ocean Cruising Club's Rose Medal for the 'most meritorious short-handed and exceptional voyage on his junk Tystie for his trip from the UK to Hawaii.'

David began the trip with a self-built wing sail, but replaced it in New Zealand with a 'fantail' sail. He says the wing worked well but he's happier with the junk; perhaps he missed being part of the junk 'clan'.

www.JunkRigAssociation.org

A question we asked when Edward told us that JRA membership has doubled in recent years was: why? "That's down to our website," he said. "We didn't publicise it when we launched. We've only just got round to doing that!"

Almost two years old, the site offers much. Its fora encourage members, wherever they are, to swap ideas and 'chat' to rig-designers, cruising couples and ocean cruisers. They can access research papers, articles, videos and an expanding library of out-of-print books; this enthusiastic bunch of amateurs are even working collaboratively to supplement Hasler/McLeod's Practical Junk Rig. The JRA prints a colour magazine three times a year, packed with cruising tales and 'how to' tips, so 'offline' members remain well catered for. Even non-members have plenty to get their teeth into, from photo albums of junks old and new to design information on 'flat' 80's sails, plus cambered panel and split junks racing in the UK and Europe. There's even a JRA 'dating' service to sign up as or find crew, or request a trial sail. Membership is from £10 to £28, depending on how you want the magazine delivered, as a pdf or by post, and where on this ever-shrinking planet you live.