Peter Milne HIT 14 Dinghy

[Nigel]

Hi all,

This is a new one on me. Has anyone heard of, seen or sailed one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HIT-14ft-Sailing- ... 7C294%3A50

Nigel

[Rupert]

I've just got a fair amount of info from the seller in the form of a magazine article of the time. It looks interesting.

[PeterV]

Someone please buy it! If it can 'regularly outperform a Finn' it must be some boat!

[Rupert]

No one is doubting its acting ability - speed is yet to be tested!

[Nigel]

Was it really an Olympic triallist?

There should be some record.

[roger]

Either of the Davids should know.

[Rupert]

According to the article, it dates back to an Olympics when the Laser class turned down the chance to become an Olympic class. The (guessed?) 1978 build date of this one would either suggest the article (undated) is from slightly earlier and that it is the 1980 Olympics that are being discussed, or the lead in time is longer for 1984.
Annoyingly, I know I have info somewhere, because I can remember not knowing if it was supposed to be a Hit dinghy or a Hot dinghy with the strange middle letter.

[Garry R]

Or maybe there was an S missing!!

[Rich]

Looks interesting, but at 70kgs & 7.6 sq Metres probably a liitle underpowered for my fat carcass. Anyone know if they were centre or transom sheeted?

[Rupert]

Centre sheeted. Rig controls look a little like the Europe, with under deck control lines, but according to the blurb, a removable cover to get at them.

[Nigel]

Someone please buy it! If it can 'regularly outperform a Finn' it must be some boat!

The easy way to outsail a Finn. Just put me in it

[Southern377]

Can anyone provide any information apart from it might be prefixed with "s"..........?

Or is that indeed an educated informed opinion?

Regards,

Alan.

[Southern377]

Still hoping someone will come forward with more information????????

In the meantime I found this picture...........sliding seat????

Will a David or two put us out of our misery ......please?

http://www.pplmedia.com/online/detailgu ... iaId=23462

Regards,

Alan.

[davidh]

All,

sorry about the delayed reply to this.

Yes, I have the full story on this along with all details.

I'll have to dig them out and revisit them BUT...(working now from memory)

Peter Milne was one of the designers looking to create a design for the 1965 IYRU trials - the event that gave us the ToY, Unit, Trapez, Dart and ulimately - the Contender.

Peter's design was called Viking but had a number of issues, not the least being an overly stiff IYE mast. Then the designer and the 'hired gun' helm (a young Peter Bateman) could not agree on using a trapeze or sliding seat.

The boat failed and was dropped (one came up on fleabay about 3 or 4 years ago ) and the Hit was an attempt to utilse the design to make a commercially successful class.

If you want more in the way of detail.... shout

D

[Southern377]

David,

YES PLEASE!!!!

I remember Viking coming up; wasn't it somewhere along the Sussex coast from me?

Thanks,

Alan.