Minisprint Max sail Sold!

Now sold.

This is a hardly used battened sail for a Minisail or (more likely) a Minisprint. At some point it belonged to Sprint 10016, but is now a free agent!

It has a few creases from where it has been folded for a long time, but it is otherwise looking much like it must have when made.

£70.

And sailing!

The next stage is to take her racing, and to compare speed to the Minisail and the Lightning!

Lnisail, part 2

Well, I got her rigged and on the water. Amazingly, not only does she work, but actually seems to be better balanced than the original rig.

Was only sailing for a few minutes, so can't comment too much on speed, but handling was sweet.

The mast concersion involved taking the old sleeve off and putting a thinner (2 mm wall 60mm tube) one on. This jammed on very tight.

Once rigged, she looks like it was meant to be!

Putting a Lightning 368 rig on a Minisail, part 1

Spring is here - time to start playing again!

Thinking about putting a Lightning 368 rig on the Minisail. I have a spare mast and sail, so why not?

First question - how to the sails compare?

So, the Minisail sail is a tiny bit longer, which is a surprise, but otherwise has a longer foot but lacks the roach at the top. Not much in it, but the MS sail is bigger.

Then I thought to compare the R&J sail I used above with the Morgan sail:

Looking at them, the Morgan sail and the Lightning sail are about the same length in the luff - a few inches shorter than the R&J, which was extended by the maker after trials when new. The sail areas must be very similar. Not clear in the pic, but the R&J has more luff curve, making it a fuller shape. Explains why the Morgan sail needs no cunningham compared to the R&J.

So, next stage will be to make the Lightning 368 mast fit the MS mast pot. That will be a project for after Easter.

Converted Mirror rudder

Spent some time over the last couple of days turning a Mirror rudder and stock into one that fits a Minisail...

Time will tell if  it works, and isn't dead slow. I had to sand the edges much further up the blade, but left the shape as I didn't want to lose area, and the stock needed completely re-modelling. The tiller is new. Black to match the hull, of course!

Minisail Max

A huge thanks to Phillipe for sending me thse photos of his new, larger Minisail Max sail, made by Morgan sails in Southampton. He had this to say about it:

Last weekend I finaly had the chance to take my revived minisail out on the water again.

A nice temperature and a bit of wind. I do say 'a bit' :(

They predicted windspeeds of 6knots and gusts of 8.

I was gently breezed across the pond and only had to sit ou 4 times in a small gust.

 

But on the up-side I could give the new "MAX" sail its first outing and it looks great.

There is a significant difference in power and even in soft wind I could take a friend out on the water and get the sailing feeling.

 

Coming weekend the predictions are 12 knots with gusts blowing to 20 knots.

I guess I will then appreciate a second person sitting out.

 

The lack of wind, and possibly some inexperience in setting the sail means it doesn't look as good as I think it can, but at least we can get an idea of the shape.

 

 

Minim, 3446, withdrawn from sale

 Edit: A Change of plans - she sounded so good when I re-read this ad, I have decided to keep her and sell the GRP boat instead!

Minisail 3446, twice winner (2011 & 2012) of the Classic and Vintage Racing Dinghy Association Nationals is for sale.

A wooden Sprite variant, she is in very sound condition, and is ready to sail or race, though there are a couple of touch-ups that could be done on the hull, and the varnish on the deck, whilst complete and not needing doing, has a change of colour where the edges have lifted in the past and been sanded back and re-done.

There is a nice varnished centreboard, and a rudder that works well but maybe hasn't got the prettiest tiller attached.

She comes with a stiff boom, all controls working well, and an excellent 2 year old R&J sail, which produces loads of power, but flattens off nicely for upwind work.

Also comes with a trolley, but without a trailer.

There is an almost new breathable cover, made to measure by Sail Register, which keeps the boat absolutely dry.

Selling as I have 2 Minisails, and I have decided I have too many other wooden boats to look after, so I'm keeping the GRP version.

Price £450, ready to sail.