Minisail class association

[Rupert]

Took Dotted Minim, my new GRP Monaco out for her 1st sail since the re-ferb today, using my R&J sail from Minim, the wooden boat. Just a quick 20 minute blast, but still tipped her in once. Certainly a frisky ride. Whether it is because she is lighter than the wooden boat, or because of the hull shape, she felt much twitchier. Mind, I wasn't sitting out much at all, and being cautious in a small boat never works that well.

Everything worked, though. The rudder needs adjusting to get it vertical, as it is very heavy currently, and the kicker lengths needed fiddling with, but other than that, all went well! Looking forward to trying her with the new sail and with Minim on the water at the same time.

[trebor]

Hi Dean, Based in West Brom, I have not joined club yet due to my main sport being Kayaking, when I spoke to boatyard owner, he told me I could only sail when safety boat was available, and that was when he was there, I asked him how would anyone know someone had been in the water, he said " the whole lake and dam are covered by cctv for security reasons" presumably terrorists, however he was friendly and offered to hire one of his Toppers and give me instruction to sail an aft-rigged boat.

[trebor]

Hi Rupert, Have you uprated Boom? being GRP are you going for a full within the rules tweak?

[Rupert]

The boom is an old Mirror mast! It still has a rowlock as a gooseneck, though. I've updated all the control lines so they work (8:1 kicker, 4:1 cunningham and outhaul, put ball bearing blocks on much of the boat and bunged a rachet block on the mainsheet. So, yes, I've made sure everything works, but there isn't actually much you can do to tweak the boat more.

Still has the little plastic bailer in there - I though I'd see how badly it leaked before doing anything with it! JUst a little dribble, so I may just clean it up and hope for the best. However, it is about 1/2 a centimetre inset from the hull on the outside, so i'm thinking of bulking it out with something - anyone got any ideas what I could stick on to it?

[trebor]

sounds great,

Looking forward to trying her with the new sail and with Minim on the water at the same time

I know you are a good sailor, but this should be worth seeing. I continue to seek a Minisail. all good news on Minisail website, another european member, keep up good work.

[v8deanoncvrda]

Photo of the picnic (possible launch) site
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... =3&theater
The flag that we had to display is hanging from the back of the topper boom. black or dark blue with red. I think he only had the one! There were two of our boats that day so we were ready to explain the buddy system (which I heard about while in Bough Beech), but he had absolutely no problem with us being there.
OK the safety boat was on the water most of the time, but he wouldn't have seen if we'd have got into trouble. He was busy with a large in-experienced group canoeing. (most of the time out of sight!)

[trebor]

I know lake really well, I had an holiday home a few miles away for about 10 years, the large tables are shaped like insects, their are better launch sites on opposite bank with a smoother surface and laybys for parking, it will be good publicity for Minisails if you are detained by security services, dinghy sailors detained whilst attempting to ram dam with boats loaded with semtex, only joking, the only signs I have ever seen around lake say "no bathing", if you sail out of hours and get away with it I may try it myself.

[Rupert]

http://minisailnews.blogspot.co.uk/2012 ... water.html

A couple of photos of the new boat on the link above. One shows the kicker and cunningham layout - not ideal, but it is tricky when the places you might want to put screws in seem to have mush inside, not deck stringers!

[trebor]

looks tidy, the red and white sail looks good with blue hull. what diameter is bottom section of mast? their is a good chance I can get hold of a similar nylon stopper to the one on my mast ( to rest rowlock on ), if you are sticking with rowlock.

[Rupert]

The mast is about 60mm, I think. A ring for the mast (dunno what they should be called, really) would be great, thanks - I've failed to find one (mainly because I don't know what to call them, I think!). Actually 2, please, one for each boat!

Somehow it is the little quirks like the rowlock gooseneck that make the boat feel different to everything else out there.

[trebor]

I will try to get them slightly over 60mm, I do not know what they are called either, they can be larger due to being compressed by jubilee clip, I think rowlock is easier to repair than a gooseneck and certainly cheaper, I will pm you when I have got them.

[trebor]

Hi Rupert, further to post regarding collars, I have spoken to a work colleague, the collar on my sail is a cut down oar collar, this ties in with rowlock I suppose.

[Rupert]

Of course! I shall investigate from here, then. Thank you!

[Rupert]

My new sail has arrived!

Photos here:

http://minisailnews.blogspot.co.uk/2012 ... uting.html

[trebor]

Hi Rupert, looks good, I like the window, that is something I need, nice bend on the mast in third photo, should help upwind. Rob.