The " Una's " stores, copied from an inventory of the same, made when she was packed off by rail to Southampton, were as under : One mast, one boom, one gaff, one pair of oars, one sail, one sail cover, one hatch cover, one rudder and tiller, four blocks, one main halyard, two bell-metal rowing-pins, four pigs of lead ballast. All that need be added to this list is a " baler," and it would do for a Una of the present day.
The rig, it will be seen upon reference to the sail plain, Fig. 88, is simple in the extreme, and even the famed balance lug cannot beat it in this respect. The sail is hoisted by a single halyard. The standing part is made fast on the gaff at a, then leads through a double block at j on the mast, through a single block 8 on the jaws of the gaff, up through j again, and down to the deck where the fall leads through a block n by the side of the mast, and belayed on the aft end of centre board case. The fall can then be taken aft to the hand of the helmsman, who, in case of need, can drop the sail between topping lifts (not shown in the drawing) without leaving the tiller. The Una had no stay at all, but the Cowes fashion now is to have a forestay, which prevents the mast going aft when sailing on a wind. The larger Una boats over 20ft. are fitted with topping lifts, and the smaller ones would be all the better for them, as a lift is handy in setting, stowing, or reefing the sail.
The main sheet is made fast to an eye bolt on one quarter, close to the intersection of gunwale and transom; it then leads through a block on the boom, and through a block on the other quarter, the fall coming into the well or cockpit to belay. This plan of fitting the mainsheet is still known as the " Una," just as the plan of working the halyards all in one is.
Practically, the Cowes Una boat of the present time differs very little from the original. The floor, it will be found, upon reference to the
diagrams and tables, is a trifle flatter than the Una's ; the quarters are lifted a little, as will be seen upon comparing the transoms ; and there is more freeboard—the latter being a very desirable addition. The load water-line of the two crafts are almost identical, as will be found by comparing the half-breadths for the same. The centre-boards are of about equal area, the only alterations being that the modern plan is to pivot the board in the keel below the garboard, whilst formerly they were pivoted in the case inside the boat. The Cowes Una has a trifle less draught forward than the orginal, and the stem piece does not tumble aft; but, in other respects, there is not much difference in the two sheer plans, always of course remembering the increase in the free board. The draught of water of the Cowes Una forward appears to be excessive, and off a wind at least she would be lightened by the head to the extent of three or four inches.
The design for a Cowes Una (Plate XII.) has been made so that it is adapted for either a real " Una" of 15ft. 6in. in length, or one of greater size 21ft. in length. The sail plan of the Cowes boat is a smaller one than the Una had, but it will be found large enough for ordinary sailing. The sail, of course, will be laced to the boom, and a topping-lift would be found of service to keep the boom up when the peak is lowered, or when running off the wind.
The Una is still in existence on the estate of Lord de Ros, in Ireland, the late Marquis of Conyngham having presented her to that nobleman in 1873.
In the body plan of the Cowes Una the midship section is shown on both sides of the middle line, o, between Nos. 4 and 6 sections. The station for the midship section is shown at No. 5 in the sheer plan.