Mirror dinghy sailing out of the Hamble in a blow

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[@OldJong]

Lots of motorboats with masts around you! You are the only one sailing out there! ;-)

[@daleskidmore1685]

As some one with no sailing experience, I am always loath to say that the sails make a noise suspiciously like an internal combustion engine, lol.

[@bromaxx]

Great video, I am pretty much a fair weather sailor now, but its good to see what a well outfitted Mirror is capable of in experience hands...thanks

[@karls6802]

I enjoyed you video and am amazed as I watch this adventure that your doing it all on a eleven foot dingy! Wonderful

[@bulow453]

You are a real sailor. Hat's off! And a fine little boat as well.

[@msf60khz]

Thank you.

[@PeterMumford]

Great video. What a fine little vessel you have, and how nice it is to watch an experienced seaman work his boat in challenging water. The helm lashing (helm impeder?) seems to work nicely.

[@londonboywanderer306]

Yet again lovely video to watch I am hoping to get a dinghy or boat soon I live near to emsworth hope to see you on the water but ba a long time before I get to your standard really inspiring stuff

[@msf60khz]

Look forward to that, as I live in the same area.

[@linzearth]

No matter where we sail we always see other places we would like to go. Although I do get to go out all year in West Oz. Southampton to the Isle of Wight. In my dreams.

[@anthonyfuller6740]

I’ve just bought myself a mirror and living In Bursledon I’m looking forward to getting out on the Hamble once I’ve finished restoring her!

[@msf60khz]

Look forward to seeing you.

[@kevinu.k.7042]

Skilfully done - A joy to watch, Thanks

[@astrazenica7783]

Lol, the big yachts had the right idea Great camera angle, very educational

[@Mikinct]

Nice Dinghy, stay safe

[@sharpiesailor]

I am very impressed!

[@msf60khz]

I knew that I had a safe haven under my lee, being the entrance of the River Hamble. I agree with you to never run off unless you have a certain of shelter to leeward, without a bar where waves will break. The standard rule is to head out to sea for safety.

[@sumobear2031]

Fearless, crazy, a nutter and an excellent sailor. I'm sure you could enter that mirror in the next fastnet race, and win it.

[@msf60khz]

Thank you Sumo.

[@stevenwhittard6967]

Dicey. Well done!

[@somerton123]

Nice video as always, surprised by the speed under bare poles. That little yacht owes you nothing, good to see you stick with it. You have inspired me to take my mirror out again in Spring but its 12deg C here in OZ at the moment not much better there by the look of it.

[@msf60khz]

12 deg C sounds pretty reasonable! We tend to sail all round the year, even when it is frosty and there are snow flurries. Thank you for your nice comments. good sailing. D

[@CaptMarkSVAlcina]

Well you must be from Tasmania then as I an from Victoria.

[@SleepySkipper]

Is 12 degrees the air or sea temp? Either way that's still quite warm/mild for the UK! Saying that though, I usually take out with me at least neoprenes or a wetsuit in summer, or a drysuit in winter/spring because without thermal protection if the worst case happens and you end up in the water in need of a rescue then hypothermia may well finish you off in the time it takes for help to arrive.

[@msf60khz]

SleepySkipper We occasionally sail in Winter when it is just a few degrees above freezing, and sometimes we see a bit of snow or frost. D

[@smythie27]

Makes us Aussies look pretty soft. Though I wouldn't take a mirror on some of the wet Port Phillip Bay conditions.

[@kevinbarrow3550]

RESPECT !!!!

[@msf60khz]

Thank you Kevin.

[@johnhood9567]

Amazing!

[@msf60khz]

Thank you, John. Not really amazing, just basics. D

[@johnhood9567]

@@msf60khz my Dad and Mum built a Mirror from a kit here in Canada after falling in love with the class whilst visiting friends around Windermere I believe. My dad was NOT handy by his own admission but they got it done! Family folklore 😁 - I think it was number 41091(not sure now) - early 70s. It was never sailed in such conditions, although Charleston Lake, Ontario where we were is about 10 miles across on our side and can see some surprisingly challenging conditions. She has been in the rafters for well more than a decade now and I have lately been seriously considering doing the restoration she needs; it would be quite a job, but I've seen far worse brought back on here! I really enjoyed watching your video - best regards!

[@msf60khz]

@@johnhood9567 Hi John. Great to hear about the Mirror. Get it down and try to get it going again. D

[@johnhood9567]

@@msf60khz thanks again for the inspiration!

[@dgrewar]

Great video.... Very brave of you to persevere. I'm busy teaching myself how to sail on a 14ft Wanderer. So far every time I've been out things have gone wrong. I think because the wind has been blowing to strong for my level. I'm going to keep on persevering.

[@msf60khz]

Donald. Thank you for the comment. I suggest reefing the sails and carrying heavy stuff in the boat. Get used to tacking gently and avoiding gymnastics. Try stopping the boat for a break - no need top keep moving, it's not an aeroplane.

[@dgrewar]

@@msf60khz Thanks for the advice. I'm hoping to get out over the Christmas break. Am going to practice the reefing procedures on my drive way. What do you suggest I use to add weight to the boat.

[@dgrewar]

There is shallow gap of about three inches below the floor boards. I'll figure out some way of packing weight below them.

[@dgrewar]

I'll also practice stopping the boat safety

[@nigelmtb]

Excellent stuff as always. I love this boat and the way you sail it. Just finished Roger Barnes' book on dinghy cruising and dying to get started. Probably a mirror, single handed like your good self. The gaff rig is awesome - are you going to add a bowsprit and go full cutter??

[@msf60khz]

I have tried a bowsprit for setting a big jib, like an asymmetric, but it is only successful over a narrow range of wind directions, so not really worth the complication. I do set twin jibs for downwind running sometimes.

[@onanysundrymule3144]

Adventurous stuff Sir. My instinct would have been to seek the sanctuary and lee of the windward shore, yet you in fact ran for the leeward shore, please explain your instincts and reasoning here. Kind regards.

[@williamfraser]

Would a rolling furler for the jib be a worthwhile heavy weather option?

[@msf60khz]

I feel it might jam and would be a fault liability.

[@nagow_360]

I was just sailing my mirror dinghy for the second time today at felpham and I could keep up with the fevas and toppers! By the way what camera do you use to record your great videos

[@msf60khz]

Well done! My cameras are a Hero 3 GoPro mounted on the tiller and a hand held waterproof Cannon. Now you need to sail in a sheltered piece of sea.

[@nagow_360]

ok thanks

[@jamescorcoran704]

Hi thanks for your wonderful videos. I had a mirror and it wasn’t as stable as yours. Can you tell me how much ballast you have?thanks again

[@msf60khz]

Glad you enjoy the videos, James. My boat is very heavy as it has double thickness floors in the bow area, the pivoting centreboard and stowage boxes. It carries a lot of equipment. Weight is a huge benefit to the dinghy and the loss of speed is very little..

[@jamescorcoran704]

Thanks and best wishes… I think I’ll start with 30 kg and experiment..

[@arekkaniewski4442]

Took my new to me mirror out with my son yesterday, had a blast in force 3-4. Just had a question of how you set up your main sheet as it looks more responsive than the standard set up. I'm in Toronto , Canada sail number 5707. Fair winds

[@msf60khz]

I have sheeted it to a central point and got rid of the vee arrangement. My sheet goes to a ratchet block mounted on my tiller near the rudder head. My tiller is much heavier then the standard one. D

[@davidmeijer1645]

Lucky you! How did you manage to get a "new to you" mirror here in Canada? I'm looking for one! If you know of another for sale...I'm in Kitchener, ON

[@granthostheflatulent]

Brave outing solo. I used to race Mirrors a lot so I'm well aware what a pig they can be in a blow. May I suggest your main would be more efficient if the luff was laced properly to the mast, sagging like that must increase the risk of the luff reinforcement failing - or is there a reason for not rigging it that way?

[@msf60khz]

Thank you John. You reminded me to try lacing - I was trying to avoid the complication.

[@granthostheflatulent]

@@msf60khz Two easy ways of doing it, either use the standard long line in a spiral or use individual short lines to make horizontal loops (better in my opinion as it makes mast to sail gap independent of down haul tension. It will make it far more controllable and the sail should last longer too - glad I didn't cause offence.

[@ianedmonds9191]

You don't have the jib up up. Are you sailing with the mast in the forward mast step?

[@msf60khz]

No, it is balanced OK always in the aft position.

[@danielthomas3333]

A ratcheting main block, nice. Intrepid sailing

[@mikefriend7570]

I notice you never seem to adjust your dagger board up or down depending on your point of sail. Why is this?

[@msf60khz]

I have investigated the amount of drag caused by the C/B by looking at the speed drop it causes when motoring and it is very small, so I just leave the C/B down. I have found that when running, the full C/B reduces the rolling of the boat.

[@mikefriend7570]

@@msf60khz well I must try this. I’ve always been instructed, by ‘her who must be obeyed’ to move it up and down, which is jolly difficult at times because I’m 6’2”, and struggling around with the dagger board up can be an issue. I’m also interested to hear you say it stabilises the boat down wind, my least favourite point of sail since the boat tends to yaw and roll all over the shop. Thanks for that