Feature

Class

Review e classes

The International ISAF – IRSA Recognised classes are A, Marblehead, •Promoting Rewarding individual the sport service to and IOM. UK Classes currently ‘recognised’ by the MYA are the 36” and the MYA with suitable trophies and . There are a number of other boats listed by the MYA under its Combined awards. Strengths initiative, and many of these together with the International and recognised classes are described below, beginning with the oldest established • Encouraging innovative design classes. through Chris Dicks Award.

• Organising events at the Dinghy WhenA little racing background in full sized yachts to ‘took the off’ ‘rules’ in the late 1800s and early 1900s the Show to promote model yachting to a fl eets where of mixed shapes and sizes and the handicapper had the unenviable wider public. job of allocating a time allowance to each boat so that a well sailed ‘little un’ could claim its time allowance and beat a badly sailed ‘big un’. Clearly a nightmare for • Running an annual Trade Show. the handicapper - and a recipe for much ill feeling amongst the skippers! The solution was to create rules under which each boat was measured and the fi gures put into a formula. The output of that formula divided the fl eets into classes and the need for time allowances disappeared, whilst allowing designers the liberty to e International world tweak their designs and get the best out of any given class. of Model Yachting Early attempts at creating that formula were not always successful, and were • Through the International Radio modifi ed or replaced over the years. Perhaps the most successful formula was Association (IRSA) and the so called Metre Rule produced in 1906 for the 1908 Olympics and this has through the International Sailing been used with some modifi cations down the years. The formula produced a Federation (ISAF) your voice is heard single number – 5, 6, 10, 12, 15 and so on. Thus a boat measured under the Metre at international level. rules might have a formula producing the fi gure 12, the well know of Americas cup fame for example, but to be clear, 12 was simply the product of a bit • The MYA organises National and of maths – not the length of the boat which in this case would be around 72 feet. International events. A lot of Nevertheless all the 12 Metre boats raced together without handicap. expertise is needed at this level and the MYA provides it. Model yacht builders racing followed follow the same suit trend and our early classes were scaled • Technical agreements. Through the down from the full sized rules, at say, 1 or 2inches to the foot. In many cases the he work of the technical team at UK model of the day aped the customs of its full sized counterparts. and at international level – we get Indeed some models were built specifi cally to test ideas for the full sized world. agreements internationally, clarifying It was really not until the 1930s that models were introduced without regard to the both sailing rules and measurement full sized rules. Since then of course we have seen the introduction of the rulings for international classes. 36” class, Marblehead, IOM and others, each of which has to be measured under their own rules which allow designers to work their magic within limits, just as the early designers did.

InternationalThe 10 Rater grew out 10 of Raterthe Length & Sail Area Rule adopted for full sized craft in 1887 – models followed at 1in = 1ft. In his 1923 book Model Sailing Yachts, Edward Hobbs, fi rst Secretary of the MYRA (later to be the MYA) describes the early 10s as ‘some of the fastest craft afl oat.’ In the 1937 MYA minutes, the 10 Rater was the most popular Class with over 300 boats registered. Not numerous today, the 10 Rater is a specialist boat appealing to the skipper who wants to sail a really big yacht. 10s are a development boats; modern designs producing a boat typically 1.60m overall (around 5’2”) and carrying about 1000sq inches of sail on a tall rig. To see a fl eet of them reaching fast in a strong wind is quite an experience. The modern trend is towards narrow-ish hulls, long overhangs, and maximum

IOM Worlds at Isreal Acquaint © MYA MarPhoto: 2013 Hanneke Issue Gillissen 2 acquaint 9 Racing at the Round Pond, Kensington. go. Radio ‘A’ Class grew out of the Photo: Charles Smith need of to carry the bulky radio, up to 9 lbs, equipment, which sail areas, in contrast to the pre-war became available in the 50s and boats which tended to be somewhat 60s. Clearly a substantial hull was e shape of a modern A Boat. shorter, beamier and under less necessary and the only suitable boat is is Chris Durant’s Powder Monkey. canvas. at the time was the A, which for a Photo: Charles Smith The measurements are quite period was christened the ‘Q’ class or straightforward, trading off Length 15 Rater when radio controlled. True Fleetwood Poole Greenock, Ashton against Sail Area and details of the radio ‘A’s developed as the now familiar Quays, Birkenhead, Birmingham, formula are available on the MYA lightweight radio equipment became Bournville, Huntingdon, Chelmsford, Knowledge Base. Any boat which available. Coalhouse Fort, Swanley, Woodspring complies with the rules may be used in The A is a development boat within and Yeovil etc. 10 Rater competition and we regularly the A Class rules, typically producing Class rules and Measurement see Marbleheads sailed with some boats about 6’6 long, weighing forms: MYA web site: Members Area/ success, under very big rigs. between 12 and 30kg, with No1 rigs Technical Documents Competition: There is local interclub standing at about 8’0. Modern trends More information: Read Robert competition at MYSA, Hampton Court are towards somewhat lighter weights Hobbs history of the class 1001 and elsewhere, and an International and carbon fi bre construction, but the Yachts Bumble Championship annually at different class retains a strong feeling for its Publications. 02380 255896 venues, often in the UK. It is regularly classic origins. It has a wide following attended by competitors from other in the UK both in radio and vane forms parts of , particularly from including a number of events for classic France where there are strong fl eets. examples. Annual championships 6 Metre Class Registrar: Phil Playle. 01376 generally alternate between the - MYA recognised Class 339362 Gosport, Fleetwood and the Poole This boat retains a strong feeling Class rules and Measurement Clubs with the PRACC series being for its classic origins. The fi rst boats forms: MYA Web Sit / Members Area/ promoted by Linda and David Munro were based on the modifi ed (full size) Technical Documents (from Poole) being mainly responsible 6 Metre rule of 1933 – 39, and scaled Web site: No separate web site for the RA revival in the UK at 1 1/2 inches to the foot. The rating Interested Clubs: MYSA Kensington, Class Registrar: Bill Green. 0121 formula will interest skippers keen on Hampton Court, Frensham Pond, Poole 705 4478 exploring classic design – it includes and others. Web site: http://radioaclass. the difference between skin girth and wordpress.com/ chain girth for example – but should Interested Clubs: There are not worry newcomers to the class interested clubs in most parts of the because second hand and new builds TheInternational class originated Ain 1922 Class when country with strong fl eets at Gosport, are available and Bill will be happy to major Heckstall Smith proposed the A Hampton Court, advise. Class rule which was derived from the full sized 6 metre rule. Tension at the start. Originally the free sailing A’s were A Vanes at Gosport. under Braine control and after 1947 Photo: Charles Smith vane control became universally accepted as the way to

10 Racing at Bournville.Acquaint ree elegant © MYA6s on their Mar way 2013 Issue 2 mya-uk.org.uk to the windward mark. Photo: Charles Smith e Marblehead, the F1 of Model yachting. Photo: Charles Smith

A development class, typical boats are about 60 inches (1.5m) overall, weigh around 26lb (12kg) and carry some 1000-1150 square inches of sail. Modern designs include the Roccoco and Ravenna (Bantock) and Drisky RC sailing in D rig (Ackroyd/Taylor). Southwater Dabblers conditions at Fleetwood – has a class of classic Dolphines by veteran skippers. Originating Bob Underwood. Anyone wanting to as a vane boat (radio was not used competition are continuing sail a modern classic might well turn until the mid seventies) there is today to grow, somewhat overtaken by the to the 6 Metre, and whilst competition a competition for Classic and Vintage popularity of the IOM at similar length, is currently somewhat limited there Vane Marblehead’s and a National Vane but 36s are attractive boats giving the is an annual championship for these Championship. skipper plenty of room for experiment. attractive boats. Boats are available in complete and The Radio 36 has in recent years Class Registrar: Bill C Green kit form, older boats whilst relatively established a greater following than 0121 705 4478 Email biollgreen@ inexpensive are good introductions to Vane, with good size fl eets at Solent btinternet.com the Class at club level. MYC, Coalhouse Fort and Bournville Class rules and Measurement forms: Class Registrar: Phil Playle. 01376 to name but a few. Sunday morning Members Area/Technical Documents 339362 club meetings are attracting 10+ R36, Interested Clubs: Bournville, Broads, Web site: http://marbleheadsailing. that said the vane fl eet at Gosport is Clapham, Coalhouse Fort, Dovercourt, wordpress.com/ Greenock, Lee Valley, Paisley Bridge, Class rules and Measurement Setley, Solent, Southwater Dabblers, forms: MYA Web Site / Members Area/ Two Islands and others. Technical Documents Interested clubs: Marbleheads are sailed in many parts of the country. TheInternational Marblehead originated Marblehead at Note: The Marblehead may also the Marblehead Yacht Club in be rigged as a dual purpose boat and Massachusetts, (legend has it that it sailed in 10 Rater competition. was designed to fi t across the back (There will be detailed article seat of a car), and it fi rst appeared in describing the development of the the UK in the early thirties. Its design Marblehead in the Winter edition of owed nothing to the ‘big boat’ rules Acquaint, Ed,) of the day but produced a pure racing model. Often described as the Formula 1 of model yachting, the Marblehead is extremely fast both on and off the wind. 36” As a development class, the boats - MYA recognised Class average 1.28m (50”) overall and carry The pre-war 36” class began life around 0.5161 sq m (800 sq inches) of in 1930 and rapidly reached some sail. Maximum fi n length at 700mm but 700 boats. The rules are simple, Vane 36 by Mike Dann, this is Geckaroo the current trend is towards 600mm. requiring only length 37” (36” plus Modern design trends are toward bumper), beam (9”), and draft (11”) to very active with new boats appearing narrower beams, and great success be measured, and restricting spars regularly mainly due to the many has been had from both conventional to wood or aluminium. With their designs of Gosport local Mike Dann. and swing rigs, of which a maximum, of moderate draft, 36s may be sailed in Interest is also growing from the north six is allowed at any one event although quite shallow and restricted waters, with one or two boats at Fleetwood and most skippers carry four. and with freedom in sail area they will the new Llandudno MYC also pushing The modern radio boat has a strong also interest skippers who build their the Vane 36 class. A two yearly vane following, with local and interclub own rigs. Competition is available in competition is run against American competition (GAMES), National and both vane and radio forms; the vane skippers, sailed alternately here and European Championships, and a World boats carrying a skeg aft to help with in the USA, see report of the 2013 Championship in 2014. Whilst the course keeping, sometimes designed Challenge on modern boats are highly technical there to be removable so that the same page 27. is also competition for older models hull may also be used under radio Modern designs include Diversion – the ‘attic greyhounds’ and also for competition. Numbers in both radio & Gecko (Mike Dann), Raptor (Martin

Acquaint © MYA Mar 2013 Issue 2 acquaint 11 A modern 36” racing at Bournville. RG65 Photo: Peter Moore. The RG65 began life in Argentina in 1950, brainchild of Juan Gherzi. As Houlton) and Sybora (Martin Dovey) its name suggests it is 650mm overall and a recent design by David Hollom. and so fi ts readily into the average However, designs dating back to the motor car fully rigged. Competitive early 80’s with Realistic (Chris Dicks) fl eets have grown up in Europe and Graham Bantock’s Spartan and a the UK over the last two or three years series of boats by Alex Austin including and the class has attracted top British Taxachun, Deductchun, Extenchun designers. and Screw Loose, also are still being Earlier boats were largely home extremely competitive. The simplicity built as hard chine boats from freely of the 36 rules has had the effect of available plans. As the class developed encouraging more people to design round bilge versions appeared and and build their own yachts. The 36 today there are some 35 sets of plans class Register has now reached 1900 freely available for download, together registrations since concept of the class Standard boat as delivered (minus carry case) with a number of kits and completed Class registrar: Martin Dovey Email: – Photo Tim Long boats. (See below) The rules are quite [email protected] straightforward, (updated 2010) and Class rules and Measurement forms: ability that his ability to buy the latest boat is limited to three rigs with a Members Area/Technical Documents gear. maximum height of 110cm. Web site: no separate web site There is a healthy class association More information: Acquaint, Spring who organise the racing and 2013. competition is available at club, district and national level with both District and Annual Championships and a TheRC RC Laser Laser is a strict one design Championship of Nations which is 1054mm overall and will be very familiar held every couple of years. to any skipper who has sailed the full More details sized version. The model is true to UK Radio Controlled Laser: its Bruce Kirby design origins and is Association http://www.rclaser. moulded in polyethylene by one builder, org.uk/ with the one design concept extending Builders: Suppliers are listed at to hull, foils rigging and sails. It is http://www.rclaser.org.uk/buy.php available complete and packs fl at into a Membership secretary: John tough purpose made travelling case. Park, see website A full set of sails in includes A, Interested clubs: there is a B, C and D rigs, of which the B rig is national spread of clubs, details on standard and delivered with the boat the web site. along with a decent 2.4GHz radio set. There are few modifi cations allowed, largely concerned with running rigging but nothing which detracts from the one design concept meaning that the Home built in strip wood to a freely racing is more a test of the skippers available plan.

12 mya-uk.org.uk Acquaint © MYA Mar 2013 Issue 2 e Force one design RG65. Plain sails are available. Photo: Coleman

Dragon Force: http:// original Mk1 yacht and includes carbon dragonforce65.com fi bre spars and mast, upgraded fi ttings Interested clubs. Several clubs and sails, modifi ed fi n and rudder. The have adopted the RG65 as a fl eet racing rules only allow the use of two boat servos, although the design does allow Builders: Go to http://www.rg65. for a third servo to be used as a jib org.uk/ for the list of UK suppliers adjuster. Forum: Dedicated RG65 Forum in In the UK several clubs have RG65 several languages with useful building adopted the Micro Magic as a starter Dragon Force pics.http://www.rg65.org/forum/ boat but there is competition at club, Recent developments include the viewforum.php?f=3&sid=2bde4e09046 open and International level with an Dragon Force, a design by Mark b0780e785001f35133f22 UK Championship attracting some Dicks now in mass production in Competition: Open and RG65 25-35 boats. Whilst the standard ‘snap together’ form including a 2.4 Championship GHz transmitter. Supported by the

MYA , Dragon Force is coming to be regarded as a one design fl eet boat, providing a two sail starter boat at a sensible price, but also providing excellent competition amongst experienced skippers some of whom regard it as a match racing boat. Built to the RG 65 rule, Dragon Force is also fully capable of competing in races with the development boats and is eligible for international competition. Web site: Two Micro Magics fi ght it out to windward. Association http://www.rg65.org.uk/ Photo: Charles Smith Rules: New Rules will be introduced in 2014 (available now) boat is competitive at club level, rig Plans from: TheMicro Micro MagicMagic is essentially a modifi cations are allowed in the rules The French RG65 association at smallish two-sail one-design at 530 and additional rigs are available to top http://rg65.free.fr/ mm overall. Complete with radio gear skippers, who would normally take Marine Modelling at http://www. it is ready to sail ‘straight out of the between three and fi ve to an open marinemodelmagazine.com/article. box’ and is also available in kit form. meeting. aspx?a=3686 The boat was originally developed Those of you who have visited the Traplet Publications http://www. in Europe, particularly in Germany, London Dinghy Show will have seen trapletshop.com/gb/ and there are large fl eets throughout the Micro Magic demonstrated on the Class Secretary: Mark Dicks. Email Europe and elsewhere. The current pool, providing competition for visiting [email protected] racing boat is a modifi ed version of the youngsters.

Acquaint © MYA Mar 2013 Issue 2 acquaint 13 Footys racing in almost windless conditions. ey are equally happy when it’s blowing hard!

e ISAF Class More details UK Micro Magic Association: http://magicmicro.org/news. Part 5. is article, kindly provided by php Graham Bantock, brings us up-to-date Micro Magic International Association: http://www. micromagic.info/ with developments in the ISAF One Metre Class, and addresses a number of the technical issues including those of AtFooty one Foot (305Class mm) overall Footy is the smallest of all our racing class but nevertheless the Class has a full program beam and stability. of open meetings each year, a strong Midlands League, an The 2012 European championship held on the sea in Cres, annual championship, a European Championship, and a Croatia, gave two days of stronger winds and relatively big following in America, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. seas where boats were hard pressed in No 1 rig or more Racing skippers fi nd the boat able to tack ‘under the mast’, comfortable in No 2 rig. Following that the wind died slowly and think nothing of ‘putting to sea’ in conditions which leaving only 13 races completed after 6 days of racing. Still, might deter other boats. more than enough races to decide a champion. Many of The rules are simple requiring only that the boats fi ts a the narrow designs were present. 20 per cent of the fl eet virtual box one foot (305mm) long by six inches (153mm) were BRIT POPs with 10 or so other designs from the narrow wide by one foot (305mm) deep with additional allowances camp. Possibly there would have been more sailors using for rudder and bowsprit. Sails are readily homemade narrow hulls but the perennial shortage of building capacity and the class is enjoyed by skippers who have a taste for in the sport means transition to any new theme will usually experimenting with design at low cost. Plans for successful be relatively slow. This is good as it gives time for new designs are readily available through the Footy web site and trends to be well evaluated against the existing fl eet. In the it has been known to start a hull and fi nish it in bear form in aftermath of the 1997 world championship anything labelled about 20 minutes using Roger Stollery’s Supabug design. a ‘skiff’ was desirable and the wider the better! Although See a video on: http://www.sailfootyuk.com/supabug.html there were several ‘fashion’ copies of the TS2 none came Modern designs include ICE and Supabug, Razor, close in terms of performance. Ranger 3, and others. The TS2 was, in fact, a well designed system that worked Kits and complete boats are available from Peter well as a whole. This should ring warning bells both for Henderson: http://www.refl ectionspjh.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ owners and would be designers.... it is not one feature of a bmyc/footy_plans.htm boat (the hull, the fi n, the rig, etc) that renders it a success, it Breaking Wind Worldwide for Half Pint Too: http://www. is invariably the integrated whole system. Likewise we should breakingwindboats.webs.com learn to not write off any design of hull (or whatever) just Class registrar: Peter Jackson Email: avro1@btinternet. because it does not perform at world championship winning com MYA Web Site / Members Area/Technical Documents level. We should always seek to identify the elements that Web site: http://www.sailfootyuk.com/ are good and bad and, more importantly, the way they work Interested Clubs: fl eets of Footys are found in several together. The record will show that BRIT POP has joined the parts of the country including : Abington Park MYC, ranks of great IOM designs by taking 6 of the top 11 places Birmingham MYC, Clevedon & District MBC, Cotswold MBC, at the 2012 European championship and winning 9 of the 12 Guildford MYC, Hill Head Sailing Club, Southwater Dabblers A fl eet races. Of course, other designs took part in the event MBC and others. too!

e , Fiesta and, Victoria, World e trendchampionship towards winning narrow boats in the IOM class have will all be dealt with in a future issue taken just 14 years to go from the 300 mm beam of the TS2 (1997) to barely over half that with BRITPOP (2011). But of Acquaint. during that time there has been the opportunity to evaluate

14 mya-uk.org.uk Acquaint © MYA Mar 2013 Issue 2