Sit-in J-Class miniature dinghy?

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agillanders

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I'm starting to think I'm going nuts. I am sure I recall some years ago a small sit-in dinghy (literally sitting on a seat in the hull in kayak like fashion is my recollection) that was steered with the feet leaving hands free for sheets.

It was fairly small and mostly for fun...again my, almost certainly, shakey memory suggests it might have been losely based on J-class lines or something similar.

My wife saw something like this in Newport, RI this weekend and was asking about it. And of course I can't find anything at all...any suggestions/links gratefully accepted.

Or of course feel free to ignore the demented rantings of a deranged memory! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Thanks

Alistair
 
Probably an Illusion or more recently the 2.4m class
illnatjones4a.jpg


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saw something like this on my way to Manchester last week.

at first i thought it was a large model, but looking closely-er it was a sit in job.

on the trailer beneath the keel was a small plastic seat, not much room aboard for a toaster though.

steve.
 
I saw one off Cowes a few years ago and I seem to remember a television news item showing something similar being used by disabled sailors.

Only snag I can see is that you might think it's a big J-class boat a safe distance away, when it isn't!
 
I think that the first of these was designed by Jo Richards. He won an Olympic medal and participated in an Americas Cup campaign. More recently he has designed most of the 'Full Pelt' range, monos and multis, and the Laser Vortex.
 
There is strong competition in the 2.4m class, especially in Scandinavia. The World Champs were held at my home yacht club [Royal Yacht Club of Victoria] a few years ago. It was humbling to see the sailors who we consider disabled [they don't see themselves as such] getting out there and going hell-for-leather. The boarding dock was littered with wheelchairs and prosthetic legs. Steering can be either by a short tiller in front of the helmsman or by a aeroplane-style rudder-bar. The design is intended to be a scaled-down 12 metre. A number of the boats in the club are named after past America's Cup yachts.
Peter.
 
They have fun racing at Antigua Classics week, in Falmouth Harbour, using what they describe as mini-J's. Since the big J's are there maybe they carry them. Might be worth trying to get hold of the J-Class Association, or the organisers of Classics week, and ask them. Good luck with the hunt, they look really good fun to sail.
 
[ QUOTE ]
There is strong competition in the 2.4m class, especially in Scandinavia. The World Champs were held at my home yacht club [Royal Yacht Club of Victoria] a few years ago. It was humbling to see the sailors who we consider disabled [they don't see themselves as such] getting out there and going hell-for-leather.

[/ QUOTE ]

Peter,
This is actually one class where disabled people can race against fully capable people. I have been tempted by these myself when on the odd occassion I think I'm getting too old to sail my Finn. Also there are two versions of scaled down 12 metre yachts that have appeared on Ebay lately. Apparently these were made for hire fleets. The last one on Ebay had the moulds for sale plus one completed hull, this had a conventional lead filled fin keel. The other ones I have seen are scaled down versions of Australia 2, complete with the colour scheme and the winged keel. These are slightly bigger than the 2.4 and carry two people and have conventinal controls. the 2.4 is a singlehander.
 
BINGO!!

Thank you...Mini-J was the magic phrase. Some pictures can be seen at http://www.vision-art.be/asp/pagina.asp?d=1&pag=1450&taal=3

Now all I have to do is find someone who makes them.

This has been an interesting investigation though. The 2.4m boats also look fun but we think what my wife actually saw was a Beetle Cat boat which, if I 'd thought about it, I know are popular in the Newport RI area. Forgive her she isn't a sailor...details like a gaf rig and single sail escape her until quizzed in more detail than I had!

These things all look seriously fun for single handing...I am starting to think prices...not a good sign (for my bank manager anyway:-)).

Fair winds,

Alistair
 
The link to mini J's shows Illusions racing, there is still a class of these at Bembridge on the IOW, so try asking them who might still build them. I use to race them in the 80's when they were a fairly new idea. Great fun, they actually behave like yachts rather than dinghies.
 
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