Solo Launch and Sail - Mirror Dinghy

An early morning cruise along my favourite local beach showing how I transport, rig and launch my Mirror Dinghy, Mirabel
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[@JonathanWilson-c8c]

really keen to see a vid or detail on the trailer cradle. great stuff

[@stewartkeyes2643]

Great video! Thanks for making it.

[@chasingwind114]

you’re most welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. now that it’s our summer again, I have more videos planned!

[@MrDavewoolley]

I just bought a Mirror as a second dinghy for some solo sailing, along with family being able to learn to sail. I’ve never rigged a gaff before and there are very few good videos showing the complete process. Your introduction was very helpful. I’m sure a video showing the complete process would be appreciated by many. Thanks, and love the video. 👍😁

[@chasingwind114]

great! hope your mirror goes well with your family! they’re a great boat! I’d be very happy to do such a video or a few covering smaller portions of the rigging aspects. I’ve actually just bought a spinnaker and am in the process of getting rigging sorted, and will DEFINITELY make a video, as I found it hard to get good info

[@VictoriaClare-ix1ig]

That's lovely. Reminds me of Mirror-sailing in the 70's when I was a kid. Thanks for the memory!

[@chasingwind114]

What great memories to have! I’m so thankful to be making my own 50 years later!

[@rolandlewis-evans2381]

A wonderful video, taking me back to the late 60s when I built a Mirror dinghy with my dear Dad. Costing £75 for the kit, including the sails. Paint and varnish extra. Raced her for a few years at the local yacht club and many happy hours sailing in her. Mine was number 29226 and we added a spinnaker for the racing later. Such a versatile boat and still hanker after another at the age of 68. Wishing as many happy hours with her as I had. Thank you for sharing, bought it all back in a flash.

[@chasingwind114]

oh wow! what a precious memory to have! It’s quite strange to think of 70,000 ish families doing the same thing back then. Thank you! I am so lucky that my dad was around to help me restore her, and comes out regularly sailing with me. With a couple of little ones growing up fast, I’m sure they’ll be joining me soon too. I’ve got bought a spinnaker to set up too! I’m pretty excited as it’ll be the first boat I’ve skippered flying a spinnaker. You’re never too old! if you were in my neck of the woods I’d invite you out for a sail.

[@neill392]

We had mirror dinghies at our school sailing centre, Welton Water, back in the 1970's. Seem to remember the Daily Mirror promoted them and provided the plans to build it yourself.

[@chasingwind114]

fantastic! I’d have loved to see them in their hey day. there’s an excellent video from a British tv show a while back which is on KZbin which goes into all this history, see if you can find it, it’s a wonderful story!

[@parkarlsson7955]

Nice sailing! Calming video :) also some great setup with the beach dolly etc.

[@chasingwind114]

Thank you! I'll admit my sailing needs some work, I'm a bit out of practise! I can't take credit for much of the set up, as that goes to the incredibly clever previous owner. After several weekends tinkering I ended up back at his original set up. Part of why I made the video is to show these things!

[@PowerOfOne-u4h]

Great little water craft. I like your wheel and their securing to the back of the boat. Good idea.

[@chasingwind114]

Thank you! yes, she’s a beauty! I love that too, such a clever design feature! I’ve been meaning to get new wheels that work better for sand too.

[@malgyver1]

Very nicely done! I like the boom cam!

[@chasingwind114]

thank you! yes I was pleased with how it turned out :)

[@alanlake5220]

Love your ingenuity , a great set up .

[@chasingwind114]

Thank you. I’m refining things every week to make it easier and quicker to get on the water.

[@ianbell5611]

Great video. I agree entirely. Cruising along on a sunny day in a light breeze on a beam or broad reach and surfing the swells is Bliss. Guessing by your beach Dolly wheels you're a sparky. How good is Adelaides Brighton beach😁. I used to enjoy a lazy days sail boarding cruising over the shallow water watching the fish swimming around in the sea grass down at the Seacliff end back in the 80's on my windsurfer when the wind wasn't strong enough to get the short board up and planning. .

[@chasingwind114]

Isn’t it just! Thanks Ian. Good guess, I’m not a sparky, but the gentleman who set this up was acutely clever and thrifty! I’m glad it brought back such beautiful memories :)

[@OldJong]

Beautiful video and boat!

[@chasingwind114]

Thank you! I am so indebted to the person who lovingly built her, and the numerous owners who have taken such good care of her!

[@foxbat8895]

Nicely shot!

[@chasingwind114]

thank you! glad to hear some positive feedback :)

[@finlaysdad]

Great video, I would love to learn to sail.

[@chasingwind114]

Thank you! I encourage you to do it! It is such a beautiful thing, and a great antidote to today’s busy life on shore! Sailing a small dinghy is a great place to start, as you are connected to it all and learn from experience. It does not require much theory or instruction to get started, and I f you have a sailing club near you, there are plenty of people looking for crew, or reach out to see if there are some lessons/ come and try days, or someone who would like to take you out a couple of times. Big boats at yacht clubs are always short on crew too! Good luck!

[@marleyvonhoffstein3193]

Very helpful and interesting video as I'm wanting to buy a Mirror and sail solo as no-one else in the family is interested!

[@chasingwind114]

oh great! this is exactly what I wanted to share it for, it just doesn’t have to be an imposing endeavor to launch a small dinghy solo. I have since sold my trailer and have built a different launch system for my other box trailer which has made the launch process an absolute breeze! check back in in a few weeks to see that one, or subscribe and hopefully it’ll come up for you. I’d love to hear how it all goes for you. feel free to reach out if you have questions of ideas to bounce off someone

[@surferatapollobay1341]

like the trolley

[@chasingwind114]

Haha, yeah my too! If been meaning to share it for a while, as lots of people have posted in forums and groups having heard rumours of such. Credit to the previous owner though!

[@buffyporson1]

Great video. My brother and I learned to sail in a Mirror in Kingston Harbour Jamacia, 1976. My brother has since completed a trans-atlantic crossing (not in the Mirror!). I still love small boat sailing. My current is an 11' Snark Sunflower - another great boat.

[@chasingwind114]

Wow, I love how well distributed the mirror was all over the world! as a child I dreamed of sailing in the Sydney to Hobart or around the world, but I’ve contented myself with my little mirror adventures, and I’m having a ball! that sunflower is an interesting little boat!

[@henrymurphy8093]

That Snark Sunflower is one of the coolest boats of all time. Our family used one for years and years.

[@chasingwind114]

@@henrymurphy8093 they’re certainly a unique design!

[@namdarbolour9890]

Well-shot video with details of trailering, rigging, and launching. Very instructive, thank you. Where are you sailing?

[@chasingwind114]

thank you! I actually have sold my trailer since then and am using a far superior set up which I can’t wait to share! I’m in Adelaide, Australia. in the gulf of st vincent

[@marcus_k85]

BOAH - you're making me quite a bit jealous 😀 Where is this, where you were sailing?

[@chasingwind114]

haha, I’m in Adelaide Australia we’re very fortunate here with the sheltered gulf that allows us to sail small boats in relative safety.