But I will quote his e-mail, easier for me and more understandable for you ;*)
" And yes it is quite different from the normal boats now. It was built November 94, before the
current edition of rules regarding freeboard, cabin top, hatch in the stern and so on. It has very low freeboard, average about 580mm, not 750. 30 inches (750mm at the bow and only 18" or so (457 mm) at the stern. The rig and keel meet the 14 meter rule. It is 8 feet ( 2.4m) wide, max water ballast, fixed keel, weighs about 1500 lbs (750 kg) without all "the stuff" for the ocean sailing but ready to sail around the Harbour. I built it largely myself with lots of help from Tom Wylie, the designer and some friends on the west coast and many in the Newport sailing community, Hood, Hall spars and rigging, Goetz boats, Carroll Marine Holby marine and so on. Plus of course all my friends. The keel is a Melges 24 keel, (installed by Goetz-very strong...)a prototype from when that boat was to have an alum mast so the keel is heavier and stronger (I have an
alum. mast, J-80 section. Bit heavy but Strong. Gibe with no runners...)
The (single, I hate double rudders) rudder is from a J-24. Not perfect perhaps but since it was given to me hard to argue with and it does steer the boat perfectly adequately even at 11 kts, fastest speed so far, two reef, two sail reaching. I have the full 8 sails: Main, say 35m squared, 100% jib with reef, a Jib
topsail, 115%, a code zero, a mast head asym on a sprit, a fractional kite on same and two storm sails. Perhaps less total sail area than the French boats but I also have less wetted surface than they do and with less beam the boat is very even and manageable when heeled. I have gone over 6.5 kts in 4-5 kts with Code zero up. Felt great. All fore and aft sails are Hood woven Dacron, no films. I also have slides on the luff of the main. Very good for sail handling.
My main interest in
building the boat was to have a strong boat and I
sure have that. I used to sail Finns and I hate braking stuff. It just cuts into the real business so much.
There is a race from Newport to Bermuda every two years, in the odd
years, now in fact, the Bermuda 1-2. (www.bermuda1-2.org) East coast sailors may know of it. Solo to Bermuda and 2 hand returning about 10 days later. I tried to
get in a couple of years ago but the then Race chairman was not interested.
Now, different fellow, and a show of hands from the skippers permits a petition from 6.5 owners to submit their particulars and if all are in order, they see no reason why a Mini may not compete. Must have an OB motor though with 150nm range, so this is a bit different from the MT, but OK considering. "
I (Leo) am
pleased that Joe gave some sail speeds, handy for those sailors who are trying to optimize boat speed without another mini in the neighborhood. And he shows that you can do a lot with some imagination.
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