Here we go again
Constant (expensive) development of yacht classes
When the DN sandyacht arrived on the scene it became very popular and many of the DN events
rivalled the European Championships. Eventually the yacht was fitted with a wing mast and became
Class 3; and the ordinary masted DN died out mainly because the wooden wing mast was much
harder to make and also a new sail shape was needed. When the DN faded away I toyed with the
Class 3s with some success, but they started to become very expensive and were constantly
developing.
Class 5 (initially starting as Class 4 Windskates and Mantas) started a new inexpensive entry level
to the sport, but the regulations left too many loop holes ? we all know these ? expensive, hard to
make 26inch wheels and, at first, problems with tyres that did not last long (prior to the development
of the stronger mountain bike tyres). The next expensive move was to be the carbon Kevlar epoxy
resin seats that cost as much as the rest of the yacht.
Get the picture? The yachts became expensive and sometimes fragile and we can see that this
class is now about to disappear.
Enter the mini yacht, a cheap fun yacht and an entry level to the sport. Manufactures such as
Blokart and X-sail et al were already sailing in their own events and class associations and we in
the sport thought it would be advantageous to invites them to join the FISLY association - but this is
where we are about to make a mistake ? not by inviting them to join us; that was a good idea! The
problem is that the specification for the yachts to be raced, i.e. to fit within a 5.6 metre loop of rope
for the yacht wheelbase and width, a tubular mast and wheelbarrow sized wheels.
This specification is too open. What about the depth of the sail pocket? What about banning
camber inducers in the sail or Standart type stiffeners? What about banning carbon Kevlar epoxy
seats and titanium chassis; get the message, you will get (and are already getting) expensive mini
class 5s and you are about to lose the people you need ? the people who want to build their own
yachts and others like the Blokart pilots etc. How many times are they going to race with us when
they are being lapped by the high tech yachts that we are promoting. It may already be too late;
I hope not! Words of experience from Ian Dibdin K8

why can't there be a "run what you brung" class as well,,, I for 1 am not really in to racing all that much, I just enjoy a bit of a sail from time to time,,i think that there will always be those of us that don't want to race and just want to "experiment", getting bogged down with to many rules and changes to rules will only discourage people to come out and have a go. personally I think that before we go getting all tied up in rules particularly in this country and particularly in South Australia where I live and where land sailing is almost a non event making all sorts of rules is only going to discourage average joe citizen from getting out and having a crack,,the old saying build it and they will come, doesn't seen to hold true for the sport in this state that's for sure.

In the States we have quite a few guys buying old 5 s m and chopping them down. From what I under stand they are heavy but so is my new boat. They may work fine on a dry lake bed with the extra weight but I'm not so sure if they would on a typical beach racing situation. We also have Manta Twins being chopped up into minis. I think someone is making and selling conversion kits for them. There is also a group that is making LLF minis that fit the 5.6 rule. It will be interesting to see what happens with all the new developments. I am curious to see what transpires after the 4 years.
Our most successful classes participation wise are Manta single and Manta Twin. Blokarts are too but do there own regattas. I assume what people like are the small size (portability) lower costs at least for the Manta 's. There are always a handful of folks that win and a handful that are always in the back of the fleet in every class no matter what.
Certain classes in sailing in are very trendy. Some classes stick around and some don't. The DN iceboat for example started out as a simple garage built iceboat. Now to be competitive you need a carbon mast ($2000. on up) that will last a limited number seasons before it explodes. A few sails to match the bend characteristics of the mast. And a bunch of runners for each ice condition. The whole package may run up to $20,000. for a garage boat! Ironically the DN has the biggest world wide class registry of any class including water sailing classes. Water ice or dirt boating it appears all the same.

Is this the Chris Wright mini you were referring too?
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3991386389470&set=t.1347964399&type=1&theater

kiwi307 said..

Well this has stirred up some thoughts, and that is not always a bad thing.
Paul, you need to read some up to date race reports. Dibby and Chris Wright lapped every other Mini with their latest developments ant a recent regatta.
Class 5 shrinking, oh really?

the shrinking comment was supposed to have one of these with it,. I suspect that minis will eventually help boost cl5 numbers.
in terms of minis lapping, that has been the case on our surfaces in WA for a few years. spirit of stupidity has been a rather fast yacht and was unbeaten in Australia up until last january when barry pulford ,having rebuilt and tweeked his 2nd mini finally gave me a race where the slightest mistake would cost you first place,
Best racing Ive had in years, much more fun than working out how many yachts youve lapped.the basic minis are so nice that they made us have a standing start 200m downwind of the blowies flying start and still half our fleet beat them to the first mark
im really inspired by US772's observations that old unused yachts are being chopped and reborn,.it makes me so happy when i hear it. even a kit for remanta-ing a manta
all this and were still keeping the price stupidly low

there you go , it shows that people are busting to experiment.whilst they may not have the skills to build from scratch,they are doing small things to tweek their machines, I reckon many of these sailors will eventually start to think about a whole build.
. now we have a situation where instead of a few designers and builders in a country , there are budding new designers taking an interest ,whether it be for personal satisfaction or with the intent of making money.
all this in a few years just by promoting a small landyacht.
Awesome eh

had some more thoughts on rising cost & developments.
I broke down my yacht into components and had a thought abouthow each part has been effected
wheels
locally it took a few years to find a good plastic or light metal wheel that would suit. found the fallshaws at about $60 .since weve beeen buying a few and the good publicity theve received from us price is now down to about $40 and other local manufacturers are competing on price.
In europe weve seen a flurry of new wheels on the market , the US has seen people finding wheels like the asuzza suitable.thats 2 from me.
Carbon wheels? Ive just made a skinny front for lil stig , cost was a whopping $50 inc bearings. so a carbon wheelbarrow ?i think I could build cheaper than the prices being asked by local kite buggy makers for plastic
masts
here in Aus weve pretty much declared aluminium to be unobtainium and gone forth to play with windsurfer mast. a few of us have managed to pick up cheap or even freecarbon gear , but most of us seem to be getting on great with a wide range of cheaper windsurfer gear.
Sails.
lately Ive found that ive got less sails than usual because I using the same sails on my minis and my class 5. s a set of sails for a class 5 my mini and lil stigs mini is 1 5.5m a 4.5 a 3 and a 2m sail ( i recon blokart got it so close to the mark)
as the wind goes up and down we are swapping sails up and down.
that load of sails has 3 masts, the cl 5 ally mast , 1 3 peice ally mast for my mini(could be a 4.6m IMCS26 glass mast witha a small internat stiffener,and stigs skinny cut down original windsurfer mast.
body, all our bodies are either plywood/glass,or sewn hammock style,so they are some of the cheapest,Ive ever had.
my mind is thinking back to a Yframe,soft seated mini for the next build( but dont expect photos soon).
most of the new minis im seeing are still going with the ethos of portability, even though theres no rules regarding such a thing
chassis's. even the most complicated cold drawn steel is using only small quantities.
stainless and welded ally seem to be the specialty of manufacturers, but I see that as partially a looks things.
all things considered, form a local point of view the faster , slicker racier yachts we are buiding now compared to our first Lake Lefroy Minis are costing the same as the first one we built back in 2006

ChrisClarke said..

Another new Mini:

I must admit, as a relative newcomer to the sport I am surprised at how some people tolerate what must be extremely poor visibility. There was a fatal accident in the UK some years ago where a class 5 ran over a person walking on the beach at Lytham St Annes. I have often wondered if reduced visibility might have played a part?

What I fear is not an escalation in terms of money, but in terms of safety and comfort. Everyone who has sailed a Class 5 knows how this yachts can be demanding and pretty "rough" over the pilot (I'm talking about North Atlantic beaches, not on the flat) and this can be pretty discouraging to new people to get close to the sport.

ChrisClarke said..

Another new Mini:

I must admit, as a relative newcomer to the sport I am surprised at how some people tolerate what must be extremely poor visibility. There was a fatal accident in the UK some years ago where a class 5 ran over a person walking on the beach at Lytham St Annes. I have often wondered if reduced visibility might have played a part?

I thought it was in a class 3?
actually a class 5 set up right has fine visibility, you just have to have the neck for it and war a light enough helmet that it doesnt strain your neck.
As i get older I put more emphasis on my neck comfort. laying down low in the yacht often get you under the slop and spray that come off the wheels.
being so close to the wheels in the mini, means that you need to be in just the right spot to get the same effect, hence lots of experimental minis

landyacht said..

ChrisClarke said..

Another new Mini:

I must admit, as a relative newcomer to the sport I am surprised at how some people tolerate what must be extremely poor visibility. There was a fatal accident in the UK some years ago where a class 5 ran over a person walking on the beach at Lytham St Annes. I have often wondered if reduced visibility might have played a part?

I thought it was in a class 3?
actually a class 5 set up right has fine visibility, you just have to have the neck for it and war a light enough helmet that it doesnt strain your neck.
As i get older I put more emphasis on my neck comfort. laying down low in the yacht often get you under the slop and spray that come off the wheels.
being so close to the wheels in the mini, means that you need to be in just the right spot to get the same effect, hence lots of experimental minis

You are quite correct, it was a class 3. My bad.

Excited as I am by the developments in Mini design I must admit in some ways they strengthen my admiration for the Blokart. It really is an excellently pitched piece of design - enough performance to be fun, accessible and not intimidating. One of those things that just about anyone looks at and thinks 'that must be fun, give me a go'.

great to read your thoughts...."..do you build your own blokarts?..." very funny!