Sailing a Pogo
Pogo, have you heard of them? I’m not talking about our favorite 80’s toy which destroyed many ankles and toes, but rather a sleek and fast sailboat made in the heart of French sailing territory, Brittany. The Pogo Structures yard produces both offshore racing and cruising sailboats. Most notably, their now 3rd generation of Mini 6.50 class, and 4th generation class 40 racing sailboats. Shift over to their cruising line and you’ll discover the same lightweight and minimalist approach, yet comfortably refined with a proper head, shower, galley, forward facing navigation station and port hull windows for a light and inviting atmosphere. Floorboards? You won’t find them on the smaller models. Smartly, they keep the headroom high and coach roof low by utilizing the space normally reserved for hiding all that bilge wine. Even for me at 6’3” (1.95m) I can stand comfortably in their 36 footer.
Pogo 30 ‘Gavia’ - Don’t let the 30ft nameplate fool you, she is impressively roomy.
We met Steve and his beatuiful Pogo 30 ‘Gavia’ on a bright sunny day, tucked away in a picturesque inlet among many in the greater Casco bay area. Now we have spent some time aboard (not sailing) a Pogo 36, and what was immediately apparent is the design similarities. So much so that you would have to really know the boats to spot the difference from a distance.
Stepping aboard, we were blown away. First, I want you to envision a ‘classic’ 30 footer with her slender hull, small bathtub like cockpit, and a dark cave-like interior. A Pogo 30 is NOTHING like this. Cockpit is huge, beam is wide, and down below is roomy and light. As for the overall length, I like to call this the Pogo effect where really, the 30 is akin to a ‘normal’ 36, the 36 more like a 40, and so on.
Photo Courtesy of Pogo Structures - https://www.pogostructures.com/fiche-bateau/pogo-30
Steve gave us a comprehensive tour, discussing all Pogo details with great enthusiasm. Now being passionate about your hobby is not surprising, but there is a uniqueness we have found among Pogo owners. Probably because a Pogo is exactly that, unique!
Eager to hoist the canvas, we fired up the little two cylinder Volvo, which happily ticked away, propelling the Pogo towards a patch of anticipated wind. Hoisting the square top main was rather simple, and Steve pointed out a few tuning abilities to get the main looking proper. We bore away, unfurled the jib, and off we went!
The first moments under sail of any boat are extraordinarily special. It’s an intimate exchange between the boat and your senses, being attune to every feeling, grasping to understand the relationship. I finished trimming up the deck-sweeping jib and looked back to find Amanda at the tiller sporting a big grin. I stepped back and took it all in: the summer sun, cool sea breeze, and the Pogo’s ease at which she sliced to windward. There was no fuss, no initial ‘getting used to’, no drama. Just as if we’d been sailing this way for hours. Fantastic!
Amanda on the tiller, the pair inseparable.
Immediately clear the sport-boat-like feel of the Pogo. The helm is responsive, sail plan powerful, and maneuvers easily handled thanks to the generous cockpit space with a 3.8m beam (12.5ft). What was more nuanced was her sure-footed-ness due to her powerful hull shape, inspiring not only confidence but reassurance. This wasn’t a light-your-hair-on-fire boat where you live on that knife edge, broach at any moment, feeling. No, this was the lightest weight tank I’ve ever sailed, if that poor analogy makes any sense. Granted, the wind conditions weren’t anything near sporty, but in the puffs she simply heeled a little, and accelerated even more. The grip of twin rudders is amazing. It’s not that you can’t broach, but, you can really put the boat on edge with WAY more confidence than a traditional hull. Feeling overpowered? Simple: mainsheet traveler is right at hand. Drop it to leeward and lose the heel. Need more power? Bring it back to windward. Proper!
We made it out of the bay, but checked our watch to find Steve was almost late for dinner plans. “Want to fly a kite” he asked? “Absolutly!”. Afterall, downwind is what these boats were made for. Granted, we had very light wind, but still, we could dream about those long Pogo surfs right?
Pogo showcasing an impressive cockpit for a 30 footer - plenty of room for all that spaghetti!
These models are equipped with a very nice carbon fiber deck-mounted retractable bowsprit. From the cockpit, Steve tensioned the extender line, even putting it on the winch for the last bit to really get some positive tension on the bobstay. Next was to simply attach the tack line, two sheets, and the halyard, then hoist the A2 (downwind spinnaker) which was conveniently stowed in a sock. Dowse the sock and poof, the spinnaker filled with vigor and I swear, the Pogo smiled as we accelerated downwind.
Gigantic foredeck space to work with a suite of downwind sails.
I can only extrapolate these feelings in bigger air, but what I gather is the same confidence inspring sensations as we had upwind. Actually, it felt more akin to our first experiences aboard our multi-hull - effortless acceleration and huge stability. Tacking a spinnaker can be a challenge, but Steve showed us the pro he truly is. In just a few moves we had the spinnaker and main on their new tack as Amanda continued to helm, playing slalom around Maine’s infamous lobsterpots.
Another look back to Amanda on the tiller: Pure bliss! #selfieseltzers
Winding down our day we settled back to the mooring and packed away the sails. Steve ushered us back to our boat where we reluctantly parted ways, still reveling from the amazing sailing and new frendships. Isn’t this what this sport is about? Thank you Steve for sharing the Pogo love <3
Once upon a very lucky time we toured the Pogo shipyard and toured a Pogo 36:
