Search found 6 matches

by sailorgilly
Sat Jul 30, 2016 8:26 pm
Forum: Boats and bits for sale
Topic: Otter 37
Replies: 4
Views: 6129

Re: Otter 37

Yes, right, it's 'not a fast boat' - especially when it fills up with water - which they love to do ! Yes again, they do bury their bows in any kind of breeze. They also wallow downwind and love to turn turtle ! Essential piece of kit is a bailing bucket !
by sailorgilly
Sat Jul 30, 2016 8:17 pm
Forum: Boats and bits for sale
Topic: Firefly 1066 "Hastings"
Replies: 10
Views: 8556

Re: Firefly 1066 "Hastings"

Fireflies are great single handed boats.
by sailorgilly
Sat Jul 30, 2016 8:13 pm
Forum: Boats and bits for sale
Topic: Merlin 950 Desperation for sale
Replies: 4
Views: 5644

Re: Merlin 950 Desperation for sale

Chippendale built the most beautiful boats, surely some relation to the great furniture designer !
by sailorgilly
Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:18 pm
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: The worst classic dinghy.
Replies: 37
Views: 28668

Re: The worst classic dinghy.

Hmm, yes, Coypus were horrible, and I take your point about set up on the Gull. I did try an early [70's] Laser not long after they were introduced to the UK and couldn't see what all the fuss was about - not comfortable, mainsheet wrapped itself around the transom far too often etc, I didn't know i...
by sailorgilly
Wed Aug 12, 2015 11:27 am
Forum: Boat Chat
Topic: The worst classic dinghy.
Replies: 37
Views: 28668

Re: The worst classic dinghy.

Gulls weren't great and they did have unbelievable weather helm but the worst dinghy I ever sailed was the Otter. The only good thing about them was that they capsized very gracefully, after they had filled up like a bathtub ! Then they were inclined to turn turtle and were a pig to right. I remembe...
by sailorgilly
Sat Jan 03, 2015 10:38 pm
Forum: Boat Identification and Dinghy History
Topic: Wildcat Dinghy
Replies: 8
Views: 11647

Re: Wildcat Dinghy

Our school had one of these and I sailed it rather a lot in the 70's as a fearless [!] teenager. It was called 'Ratcatcher' and if my memory serves the sail number was 257. It had been converted from sliding seat to trapeze by the sailing/woodwork teacher, Harry Walsh, who was a demon Merlin Rocket ...