Qala Yampu: The Lake Titicaca Reed Boat Project

Sailing the Qala Yampu was a baptism to the ways of Titicaca and the ancient totora ship design. We set sail with a very seaworthy and solid totora hull, but are builders failed to meet the specifications of the other critical items required to navigate such a ship. My rudders were a fraction of the size necessary to steer her. My boat builders completely ignored my centerboards, or any method to keep the boat sailing straight. My mast was 2 meters too short for my sail.

While modern sailboats, depending on the boat, can sail roughly 45 degrees into the wind, we could get as close as about 80 to 85 degrees which certainly restricts your tacking abilities and makes you dependant upon wind shifts. What this meant of course was that when the wind was blowing directly from the direction we wanted to go, we would have to anchor and wait. Tacking back and forth would only succeed in putting us where we started.

We changed the angle of the rudders, making them more vertical, and we dropped them deeper into the water. This improved the performance tremendously. Next we took 2 of our oars and lashed one vertically to each side, 2/3 of the way to the bow of the boat, deep in the water. Although they were small, they performed very well in the absence of more substantial daggerboards. Our only critical problem remaining was that almost 25% of our sail was sitting on the deck because the mast was 2 meters too short.

Upon reaching Tiquina we contracted a new master totora boat builder. We made the rudders significantly larger. We added very large daggerboards, or guarras, to each side of the hull that could be raised and lowered. Most importantly we added 2 meters to the height of the mast.

From that point forward our boat sailed beautifully with no noticeable change in performance once the stone was on the boat. At times we would use our oars when there was no wind, a slow and arduous process. Other times, for example around the shallow shores of La Isla del la Lune, The Island of the Moon, we would use poles to propel ourselves and the boat forward. This was effective and faster than paddling, and considerably easier. We would also send a couple of people ashore with one end of a long rope. The other end was attached to the boat. They would pull as others would pole. This also proved to be very effective, efficient, and relatively fast. In shallow water, our totora ship could easily and quickly be pushed or turned by one person. She certainly did not feel like 12 tons.

		*Click the thumbnail below to see the larger photo!*
"It takes a long time to become young." Pablo Picasso	Sailing the Qala Yampu was a baptism to the ways of Titicaca and the ancient totora ship design. We set sail with a very seaworthy and solid totora hull, but are builders failed to meet the specifications of the other critical items required to navigate such a ship. My rudders were a fraction of the size necessary to steer her. My boat builders completely ignored my centerboards, or any method to keep the boat sailing straight. My mast was 2 meters too short for my sail. While modern sailboats, depending on the boat, can sail roughly 45 degrees into the wind, we could get as close as about 80 to 85 degrees which certainly restricts your tacking abilities and makes you dependant upon wind shifts. What this meant of course was that when the wind was blowing directly from the direction we wanted to go, we would have to anchor and wait. Tacking back and forth would only succeed in putting us where we started. We changed the angle of the rudders, making them more vertical, and we dropped them deeper into the water. This improved the performance tremendously. Next we took 2 of our oars and lashed one vertically to each side, 2/3 of the way to the bow of the boat, deep in the water. Although they were small, they performed very well in the absence of more substantial daggerboards. Our only critical problem remaining was that almost 25% of our sail was sitting on the deck because the mast was 2 meters too short. Upon reaching Tiquina we contracted a new master totora boat builder. We made the rudders significantly larger. We added very large daggerboards, or guarras, to each side of the hull that could be raised and lowered. Most importantly we added 2 meters to the height of the mast. From that point forward our boat sailed beautifully with no noticeable change in performance once the stone was on the boat. At times we would use our oars when there was no wind, a slow and arduous process. Other times, for example around the shallow shores of La Isla del la Lune, The Island of the Moon, we would use poles to propel ourselves and the boat forward. This was effective and faster than paddling, and considerably easier. We would also send a couple of people ashore with one end of a long rope. The other end was attached to the boat. They would pull as others would pole. This also proved to be very effective, efficient, and relatively fast. In shallow water, our totora ship could easily and quickly be pushed or turned by one person. She certainly did not feel like 12 tons.	*Rudder* Justino, the master builder repairing our boat, shows a corrected rudder. ________ Daggerboard Completely missing upon initial sail, these allowed directional sailing. ________ Mast Readied Originally 2 meters too short, the new mast is ready for hoisting. ________ Under Full Sail With corrected rudders, daggerboards and mast, she handled beautifully.