Sail Number of the Day

Another obscurity - a Wakeman

sorry a bit late

Originally posted by Wee Man Originally posted by patj Here's another that Grmf has probably never heard of - the Express dinghy, from the days when newspapers sponsored classes, hence Mirror, SigneT (Sunday Times), Express and the Enterprise (News Chronicle).   I had one of these many years ago (K503) my sail went all the way to the top of the mast, I recall it was a pretty nice wee boat to sail, it had a decent sized spinaker.

Edited by fudheid - 25 Apr 14 at 1:23pm

Originally posted by fudheid Originally posted by Wee Man Originally posted by patj Here's another that Grmf has probably never heard of - the Express dinghy, from the days when newspapers sponsored classes, hence Mirror, SigneT (Sunday Times), Express and the Enterprise (News Chronicle).   I had one of these many years ago (K503) my sail went all the way to the top of the mast, I recall it was a pretty nice wee boat to sail, it had a decent sized spinaker. Express pirate is actually a yacht - this is someone sticking an express mainsail up a mast to go sailing, which will explain the really shabby look......and it looks like a really old bosun jib too :)

No, the Express you see here (complete with blue jib) was a DIY GRP dinghy from the days when boats were taxed a stupid amount as luxury goods, unless you built it your self.

I sailed one at Aberystwyth 25 years ago. It was nearly as tatty as this one even then.

Originally posted by JimC One for GRF. This is at my home club, the sailor is Mike Storey. When you look at that got to think that the EPS wings are too low to the water. © Jim Champ

Is he a bit good that chap? How has he managed to get that sheeted in so quick after gybing/hardening up, whatever? yes the whole boat needed more freeboard it's the lack of volume in the lower hull which slows it down, so even though it has the length, weight, sail dimensions similar to a 300, it's way off the 300's pace for example, how it hung onto a handicap of 1024 for so long is beyond me...

Having said all that and knowing the hopelessness of ever recording any kind of result on handicap, I still love sailing it and will be very reluctant to part with it in favour of either the Aero or Zero when the time comes..

Edited by iGRF - 25 Apr 14 at 7:55pm