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 New
Rig
ISAF have now approved
the new rig with full International adoption 1st August 2006, see
press release below. In the meantime MCA members can apply to the
Class Secretary
for dispensation to use in UK events up to and incluiding area Championships.
NB the new rig will not be allowed at the 2006 Nationals and Europeans.
Please also note the rule about the position of your mast step if
you are using a new rig, you probably will have to move it back.
Download new rules
Click
here for where to buy
Press release
A Bermudan
makeover for the Mirror
The Mirror dinghy is arguably the most popular double handed sailing
dinghy ever designed and now if you own one you can have an optional
Bermudan rig. Spars for the traditional Gunter rig are made of wood
but the modern alloy equivalent is cheaper, stronger and much easier
to rig and maintain. You can still use your same Mirror sails with
the new rig and upgrade in stages by getting the mast or boom separately
as required.
"We've allowed adoption of the new rig after three years of consultation
and testing and we've had unanimous support for it from Mirror Class
Associations around the world, " commented Simon Lovesey, Mirror
Class secretary.
"The wooden parts were getting prohibitively expensive but the Mirror
was always designed to be affordable. The traditional rig is prone
to breakages particularly when tuned for racing," added Simon. "It
also requires lacing of the gaff making it more complicated for
juniors and no other popular dinghy has that sort of rig these days.
For the future of the class to prosper we needed to move with the
times and modernise it."
Now approved by ISAF, the new rig will race alongside its traditional
counterpart in the Mirror fleet just as modern GRP Mirrors race
against wooden hulls. So far testing has not indicated that it's
any faster, however indications are that it is fairer because middle
ranking sailors will find it easier to tune their boats. There's
also no danger of the gaff falling down and hitting people on the
head. Off the water owners won't have to spend time varnishing spars
either.
The alloy mast is available in one or two piece sections, so if
preferred the spars can still be transported in the boat. For racing
there's the option of a tapered top section to make the boat easier
to handle in gusty conditions by crew in a wide weight range. Internal
running rigging is also an option.
Masts start at approximately £180 for a cruising version with a
racing one at £259 and booms from just £55. Suppliers include Selden,
SuperSpars, Trident and Z Spars but any spar manufacturer can supply
one as long as it complies with the rules.
Full International adoption will commence on 1st Aug 2006, in the
meantime UK sailors can apply for dispensation to use the new rig
in class events up to and including Area Championship level
ends
Where
to buy
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