RNSA 14' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

Romeo

Romeo

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RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

Anyone got a picture of one of these that they can post? There must have been hundreds of them at one point. Where did tey all go? Is anyone still sailing one? A quick search engineoogle has not turned much up.
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

If you look one the Maritime museum Greenwich site, there's one of a model I posted years ago.

Aw heck, here it is.


dinghy clicky
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

We had one in the sailing club at school in the 1960s.
Or something very similar - definitely ex-navy.
Compared with the model, ours was wider, and had a large drum and a chain for hauling up the centreboard.
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

They were the standard sailing dinghy for the RN for many years until replaced by the Bosun. Many if not all were built in the dockyards by apprentices and were wondreful examples of clinker build boats. They were heavy and in many ways quite unforgiving, once water started to come over the gunwale there was not stopping it over you went.

I suspect that when the RN replaced them with the plastic Bosun in the late 60s there was no real market for a heavy clinker dinghy with cotton sails, hence their present scarcity
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

I have sailed on one a couple of times (didn't realise at the time you could push them hard enough to put them over!) I would be really interested to track down any others that are still sailing. I think there are both bermudan and gunter versions?

cheers,

R
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

I think that confirms that what we had must have been an earlier and beamier version. We used to try hard to capsize her but no one ever succeeded!
I remember once sailing on the Stour near Ipswich in a strong wind and choppy sea, with water slopping over the gunwhale. We just bailed hard and pressed on.
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

Yes we had one at our school club as well.. Every one hated it.. a real drag if you got allocated that instead of one the the 3 Enterprises !

Nick
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

Hi
I believe there is one in our marina.
If you need a picture, I'm sure I could take one or the owner could supply one.
Cheers
D
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

Hi, I have a restored one at Arnside which has been photographed, try searching Arnside Bay Photographic or goto "www.farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2674853771_906c384b5f.jpg"
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

Boat at Arnside comes up on searching Google under "Arnside Beach 1". It is the white clinker sailing boat with turquoise topsides and wood mast (not the rowing boat)
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

Ah, I remember it well

21stAug2005.jpg
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

Nice one. Quite a lot of sail area for an old dinghy of that size. I am not even there and I am annoyed with the jetski. (I must become more tolerant!) There used to be about 8 of these in our harbour in the sixties (ie before I was born), but none now. Anyone know how the gunter performs compared to the bermudan?
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

They were quite easy to capsize if you were racing, even with two big lads in them. The standard RNSA was only gunter rigged, to ease stowage on deck when carried on warships, but that does not mean that those that escaped the clutches of the RN were not rerigged.

All of the more traditional RN sailing boats ahd 2 part mast systems standing lug (I think that is the right term) in the 32 ft cutter and montague whaler and gunter in the RNSA and 3in1.
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

I repaired one of these boats last year at Trematon near Saltash, Cornwall. It has not yet gone back in the water, it is being painted when weather permits. It is now 13ft 11ins having replaced the transom and trimming the planking to good wood.
John.
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

I have an RNSA, which I purchased from an ex RN officer via his son-in-law last year. I just don't have time to sail/restore her. I was drawn to her through my memories from school, but I just work too hard get anything done. If anyone fancies taking her on, drop me a line.
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

I am based in Leamington Spa, in the centre of England - about as far away from the sea as one can get in the UK. I see you are on or near the Forth(?)
 
Re: RNSA 14\' Dinghy (aka Islander class)

Yup, bit too far for any of my pals who I am trying to convert to real boats to come down to have a look. Hope she is sailing again soon though.
 
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