"Nyra" Model - Gaffer

[Frank Hagan]

I received this email today:

Hi,
I have just purchased an old hand made model ship. She is a two masted gaff rigged schooner with a square sail set-up on the foremast and upper/lower gaff rigged sails on both fore and main masts. I would guess her length to be about 120' to 124' with a beam of 20' to 24'if the illustrated crew is 6' tall.

The name on the model is "Nyra". Can you help me identify this ship and
find out about her history? I am looking for pictures of this ship as well.
Any information that you can furnish would be appreciated.

I searched the Wooden Boat Register of Wooden Boats, and looked at the Mystic Seaport site, and didn't see anything (other than the racing association NYRA and the "New York Rowing Association").  Anyone else have any ideas?

[JeffM]

Aren't schooners entirely fore-and-aft rigged?  Maybe you're searching under the wrong rig.

[Charlie Jones]

Not necessarily. Many of the older, larger boats carried a square sail on the fore for down wind or off the wind work. A schooner doesn't really shine way off the wind.

My copy of "The Tall Ships" from OpSail '76 pictures three of them with a square sail on the fore, in addition to the regular foresail of course..

[Frank Hagan]

Yeah, I wasn't sure on the description, but thought it important to post it in its entirety in case anyone knew this boat.

[John B]

Theres the Nicholson Nyria at 112 ft. She was one of the first big class boats converted to bermudan then subsequently a ketch so its entirely possible she could have been re rigged schooner. You could google her to check some similarities . If you have or can get your hands on Uffa Fox , Sailing and Seamanship, there are lines and a couple of rig drawings.