Rossiter Pintail Mortagne sur Gironde, near Bordeaux |
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Laser 28 - Excellent example of this great design Hamble le rice |
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Laser 140101 Tynemouth |
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List classes of boat for sale |
Cruising - Miracle or Solo or ?? |
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Late starter ![]() Far too distracted from work ![]() Joined: 24 Feb 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 481 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posted: 10 Jun 16 at 1:55pm |
The Miracle is tailor made for single handed cruising, but with the ability to take an extra passenger if needed. There is a bit more space than in a Solo (though as single handers go the Solo is pretty spacious), and the boom height is fairly sensible. The Miracle crowd tend to be a relaxed and pleasant bunch too. Speed wise, well I'm guessing a £1k Solo will be way off the pace of a modern example so in practice I'd expect there wouldn't be a lot of difference between a £1k Solo or Miracle. Older wood Miracles fetch no sort of money too, if you can find one in decent nick and don't mind keeping on top of the maintenance you will have one heck of a bargain. I used to sail one when my daughter was 4 or 5, and found launching and recovering the boat myself was no issue - I can't remember the exact weight but its pretty light.
Edited by Late starter - 10 Jun 16 at 1:56pm |
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Rupert ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956 |
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Of course, the classic small cruising boat is the Mirror. Slower than either of the above, and shorter, but with far more useable space.
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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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ColPrice2002 ![]() Far too distracted from work ![]() Joined: 25 Nov 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 222 |
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Both the mirror and the miracle have mainsail and jib. This means that it's easier to manage the balance (less stuck in irons), and you can drop the jib to reduce sail area if needed.
Both are also spinnaker dinghies for more complexity! The Solo has a "Plan B" sail - basically an old mainsail with the foot cut off and loose footed (an older Solo may well come with a couple of sails, so it only cost the sailmaker's time). That does mare the Solo tamer in stronger winds.
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Late starter ![]() Far too distracted from work ![]() Joined: 24 Feb 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 481 |
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Thumbs up to the Mirror from me, like most of my sailing generation I learned to sail and race in Mirrors. The Miracle was launched back in the 70s as the Mirrors big brother, and was initially called the Mirror Miracle. Mirrors are very flexible, in that they are car toppable, take a small outboard fairly well, and can even be used as a row-boat ! I love them to bits, I do think there is a bit more space in a Miracle though and its that bit faster. Horses for courses etc though.
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Rupert ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956 |
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It was storage I was thinking of and being able to strap stuff on the front tank, where I was considering it more spacious.
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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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FCDB ![]() Newbie ![]() Joined: 11 Jan 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 10 |
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I've got a Miracle which I sail single handed. It's easy to do, I have a few mods to make it easier, slightly longer tiller extension to let me sit forward to the thwart. Mainsheet slightly longer to suit. Jib sheets tied together to make it easier to trim. To windward you need to sail with a leg each side of the thwart, but as I am fairly hefty I don't need to hike, that's not too uncomfortable. In light winds the Miracle is a treat as you can heel it, and unstick the transom and sail away from all the heavy roto moulded slow handicap classes. The boat is light and easy to handle on shore. On the water it is nimble and just fast enough to cheat a foul tide. (That's probably the best advantage over a Mirror.) It is a friendly boat, it doesn't frighten novice crews. I sail on the Solent and have cruised to Beaulieu, the Folly, Calshot. It is a simple easy boat to sail. Great fun, give it a go.
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Rupert ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956 |
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You make it sound so appealing, I must borrow one of the ones that sail at Whitefriars and give it a go. Not sailed one apart from a wreck of one on a river, which wasn't the best intro, I think!
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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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Rupert ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956 |
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Another option, if you want more space, is the Enterprise. The main would either need to be reefed, or a smaller sail put up in stronger winds, but the boat is pretty light, especially compared to the more normally cruised GP14. Well worth borrowing one for a go.
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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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