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Sailing
Not Bailing
INTRODUCING
THE PITTWATER JUNIOR "SELF DRAINING" / UNSINKABLE KIDS’ SAILBOAT
Read the Australian Sailing Test
Article by Bob Ross
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Dinghy
Sports is Australia’s premier builder of sailboats for kids. Since
1985, 234 Sabots have been built by Dinghy Sports. The Sabot is the
most popular kid’s sailboat in Australia and is sailed in every state
and territory. At the recent Australian Championships, there were
over 200 boats in the Junior (2 up) and Senior (under 16) divisions.
The other popular kid’s trainer in Australia is the Manly Junior:
Dinghy Sports has built over 200 MJ’s as well. It differs from the
Sabot in that it is a 2 up boat with 3 sails (main, jib and spinnaker). |
It is an evenly
divided argument as to whether the simple Sabot or the crewed MJ is the
best way for kids to start sailing then racing.
Many clubs don’t
mind either way and run both classes together (ie. Avalon SC, Lane Cove
12’ SC, Bayview and Vaucluse).
The Manly Junior
class and Dinghy Sports worked together to "evolve" the Manly
Junior to a modern mini skiff by the addition of a false floor self draining
cockpit. Safety was the most important improvement.
The "evolution" of
the Pittwater Junior is now complete. Since sailing 3 prototypes (each
one a development on the other), we think we have developed the simplest
and safest kids sailboat ever.
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By combining
the best features of the Sabot with the simplicity of a Laser and
the modern rig and materials from windsurfing and some rational
thinking, we have come up with a boat that is safe, simple and relatively
inexpensive.
This boat
has the same hull shape and sail plan as a Sabot and can be raced
against existing Sabots at club level. (Dinghy Sports will be working
with the Sabot class on this).
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CHANGES,
DETAILS, EVOLUTION, REASONING
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1.
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False Floor Moulding
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The Floor
is set as low as possible with a curve (up to 100 mm in the centre).
The centrecase support and front bulkhead are incorporated in this
one-piece moulding.
The false
floor is absolutely as low as it could be. Drain holes were cut
thru the transom to drain the hull completely dry.
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2.
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Front
Tank
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When a
boat is capsized, too much buoyancy is not good. The boat floats
too high, making it hard for the crew to climb up on the centreboard
and also causing it to turtle quickly, which could trap a crew member
underneath. By reducing the front tank by half, the boat with the
false floor floats level and lower in the capsize position. When
the boat is righted from a capsize, the water drains out and the
boat can be sailed immediately. No bailing bucket or venturi bailer
is required.
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3.
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Transom
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When the
Pittwater Junior is righted from a capsize the false floor does
its job, all the water drains out, and the boat floats up on its
lines. This makes the boat harder to climb into than a Sabot (which
remains half full of water).
All good
Sabot sailors know that the best way to get back into a Sabot without
swamping it again is by climbing over the transom. Now that the
back tank is gone, there is no need for the transom to be so big.
The cut
away transom makes the boat a snap to step in or out off the ramp
and to re-board after a capsize or a swim.
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4.
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Mast
Step & Hull
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The Laser
style mast step is simple and strong. The new hull is built with
a more durable outside skin and weight of 25 Kg.
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5.
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Windsurfer
Mast & Boom
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These
fibreglass / carbon masts are light (3 Kg), relatively cheap ($350.00
with track) and easy to get (any sailboard shop) They are in two
pieces and each piece is similar in length to the boom. The mast
does not rotate in the step. All three can be kept in the sail bag
for easy storage. The plastic track is riveted and glued on. It
has a quick release halyard lock. The boom is a simple anodised
tube (no sail track).
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6.
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Centreboard
Case
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Same size
as centreboard. No need for slot gasket, centreboard stays in correct
position for balance of boat.
Kick-up
rudder - new casting design - easy to use. Designed to suit new
transom.
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7.
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Sail
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The sail
plan is the same as a Sabot, as are the black bands measurements.
The standard sail is cross cut dacron from North Sails.
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8.
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Cost
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Complete
boat sail-away (on rigging cradle) - $3,990.00 (including GST).
(Introductory, direct-from-factory price). See Price
List for further details
Replacement Foils if required. see "Freddy Foils"
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9.
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Safety
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Un-sinkable
hull
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Sealed mast
top section
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Easy access
transom
Following legal
advice, all boats will be supplied with a safety warning sticker
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Please don’t
hesitate to contact me for further details.
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