Forums > Land Yacht Sailing Construction

Mini - a blast from the past

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Created by VindisDad > 9 months ago, 2 May 2012
VindisDad
117 posts
2 May 2012 9:09PM
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Came across this pic of a 'yacht I made in about 1981-

It was made to fit in the back of my old renault 16 without dissassembly! The sail was about 4 square metres I think............

It tipped over a lot !

VindisDad
117 posts
2 May 2012 9:11PM
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Actually I seem to remember the sail was about 25 sq ft.........

Chook2
WA, 1244 posts
2 May 2012 9:59PM
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That's brilliant!!!!

I really love the slip streaming feature on your ankles too.

Keep those old pics coming please.

landyacht
WA, 5921 posts
2 May 2012 10:02PM
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I didnt realize bill oddie sailed little landyachts

Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
3 May 2012 6:27AM
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Damned! If you aren't right Paul..
As for the Slip Streaming Chook I would have thought keeping them open would have made for great Air-conditioning for over that way--------"Nothing like having an Appendage Cooler on a Hot Day"
Ron

PS; Did the Mini Mini come before the Mini??

Gizmo
SA, 2865 posts
3 May 2012 9:28AM
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Ah yes the yacht you could assemble in the passage of the rental house on Harrow Rd.
That micro mini led to many micro yachts being built..... The yacht I built had 20" bike wheels, (built in the lounge room of my flat).


Gizmo
SA, 2865 posts
9 May 2012 7:09PM
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Nikrum said...
PS; Did the Mini Mini come before the Mini??


The mini mini was first.... Adelaide was sailing Class5 'HotStuff' (VindisDad [Bill Finch] design) and 'FreeFlight Manta' yachts.

Manta style yacht...


Bill then started playing with mini yachts of approx 1m wide this led to several yachts of varying designs being built including the 'Rickshaw' using 20" bike wheels.



From that the 'Sandpiper' with bike wheels was developed. Many of the spoked wheels failed including plastic BMX wheels.



The wheels where then changed to wheelbarrow style with better results. A jib was added for a bit more speed (but less control)
I don't know if the seat mould is still around but with the lack of aluminium in certain sizes and tempers it would be difficult to manufacture the Sandpiper these days.



Class6 was developed by ALSA to accommodate the smaller yachts around, Class5 being the standard race yacht and 'open class' was for the big yachts.
NZ also had a class6 a bit different than the Aust specs. these have all been superseded by the current FISLY mini 5.6 yachts rule.

This is what happened in Adelaide but WA as far as Im aware tended to stay with Class5 size yachts, in the days prior to the www there was only small amounts of info was circulated and most of that during championships.

Years later Paul [Landyacht] with help from various others came out with the LLMini design and put the plans on seabreeze as a DIY yacht.
The size of the LLMini was based on the same size wheel base as the Blokart.







Chook2
WA, 1244 posts
9 May 2012 8:26PM
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Hey thanks Guy's for taking the time to give us some of the history/ evolution of yachts here in Australia.
I'm loving this thread.

Great stuff

VindisDad
117 posts
9 May 2012 8:35PM
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'Course, not all the yachts were mini..........

'Hot Stuff mk2' built 1980, my dad Pat sailing

Gizmo
SA, 2865 posts
10 May 2012 8:54AM
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Then there was the era of the big yachts...
Jolly Green Giant ....Built by Martin Bell and then made even bigger by Ray Potter (it was painted green so it could be spray prainted on a lawn and keep a Mrs happy)
Note the safety wear of the time.... Japanese work boots and a towelling hat





Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
10 May 2012 11:13PM
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C'm on Giz.. There is a difference between Scratching your Butt and tearing chunks out of it..
Ron



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"Mini - a blast from the past" started by VindisDad