Alto Dinghy

   Anyone know where I can get info online on the Alto Dinghy?  According to the Y&Y website there was one racing at the Alton Water Frostbite Series (visible in the photo contained in the report), but I can find no mention of it in the Y&Y classes section, or the RYA website, or the DinghyDatabase, etc, etc...
The Alton Water results page mentions that it was racing on a PY of 930, so clearly it has a respectable performance, but it's not an Alton Water boat (it's from "DYC", wherever that is) so I don't know where to find more info.
Any ideas?

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sailnick Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 01 Dec 04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote sailnick Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Alto Dinghy Posted: 28 Mar 07 at 6:46pm
	Anyone know where I can get info online on the Alto Dinghy? According to the Y&Y website there was one racing at the Alton Water Frostbite Series (visible in the photo contained in the report), but I can find no mention of it in the Y&Y classes section, or the RYA website, or the DinghyDatabase, etc, etc... The Alton Water results page mentions that it was racing on a PY of 930, so clearly it has a respectable performance, but it's not an Alton Water boat (it's from "DYC", wherever that is) so I don't know where to find more info. Any ideas?

MattK Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 02 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 221	Post Options Post Reply Quote MattK Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Mar 07 at 7:04pm
	What wikipedia says for the 505, Various modifications to the accepted design outside of the class rules have been conducted at different points in history. Such modifications have included setting up a double trapeze system, installation of a bowsprit, and inclusion of an asymmetric spinnaker. The most recent of these modifications have been made by Mike Arnold of the Deben Yacht Club in Woodbridge, UK, who has been experimenting with a 505 hull and rig modified to have a higher boom (i.e. a cut down main) and an asymmetric spinnaker that flies from a moveable bowsprit. This may be the genesis of a new class known as the "Alto".

sailnick Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 01 Dec 04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote sailnick Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Mar 07 at 7:12pm
	Thanks Matt - makes sense. DYC presumably is Deben YC. I shall go on their site to try to find more info. Nick

Andrewst Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 14 Aug 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 129	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andrewst Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Mar 07 at 7:49pm
	I was given a info sheet by the designer/builder at the Southampton Boat show. The website is www.altoboats.com

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Mar 07 at 8:08pm
	Dear oh dear oh dear. What a terrible thing to do to a great boat. I suppose they'd also put ultra low profile alloy wheels on a vintage Bentley... The 505, one of the great boats of all time, doesn't deserve being turned into a half ass imitation of a mediocre modern design.

English Dave Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 06 Location: Northern Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 682	Post Options Post Reply Quote English Dave Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Mar 07 at 8:54pm
	When I was growing up the 505 was THE boat. It was faster with more strings than anything else. It still impresses me to see it sailed well. Got to agree with JimC on this one.
	English Dave Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700

Medway Maniac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788	Post Options Post Reply Quote Medway Maniac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Mar 07 at 10:10pm
	Except that the guy doing it is a past master in the class ('60's I believe). There are plenty of old 505's that will never be competitive, maybe never even used again, and he's giving them a new lease of life.

sailnick Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 01 Dec 04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote sailnick Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Mar 07 at 10:50pm
	Thanks for the info and the link, chaps! I agree that the Five-Oh is one of the all time greats (although I prefer the price of a new Hartley Osprey or Jeff Green Javelin to a new 505!), but there are about 1,000 vaguely competitive Five-Ohs and 8,000 wrecks out there. I cannot imagine 'bastardizing' a new Five-Oh, but I can certainly see modifying an older one. Still, no class racing...

Windspirit1333 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 10 Sep 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 71	Post Options Post Reply Quote Windspirit1333 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Mar 07 at 12:12am
	we had the Alto at our TASA event at weston!
	'The Original Pitchpole Princess' Wanna race your Trapeze and Asymm boat against others? check out www.TASA.org.uk I14 GBR1333 'Windspirit'

dopamine Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 26 Oct 06 Location: Burkina Faso Online Status: Offline Posts: 68	Post Options Post Reply Quote dopamine Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Mar 07 at 7:50am
	There was one in the Alton Frostbite Series and it went quite well. I think it has now left for summer pastures but I will ask the owner for details this Sunday if it's still there.