Mirrors Rock (but don't roll)

I felt I just had to share this with other people.

I am into about week 4 of a Start Racing course at my local club and last night the wind was about 15 knots gusting 30.

I am the only Mirror on the course, all the others being Lasers or Toppers, so admittedly I'm usually left standing, but about 30 mins into the session a dark black cloud came over and the wind picked up even more, which made for challenging sailing.

Everywhere I looked there were boats on various states of capsize, so much so that the safety boat guys suggested we should go in until it calmed down.
I responded that I'd never had so much fun in my life and bore away on a reach with a big grin whilst all the other boats slunk (or were towed) back to the jetty.

They crept back out later when the sun came out again, and I think the way they all look at my old Mirror changed forever.

Singlehanders do it with three sails.

Chris.

Chris,
The single handed nationals are at Shustoke Sailing Club near Birmingham in October.
Come and try your skills in one of the MCA events.

I might just do that.

Then I can find out if I'm just a poor sailor or a poor Mirror sailor <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Chris

If you want to get to the front of the fleet you will become definitely become a poorer Mirror sailor after you have bought all the latest go fast bits!

Go on give the single handed nationals a try, otherwise you will never know. You will certainly learn a lot and your sailing techniques should improve by leaps and bounds.

Glad to know you enjoyed the heavy airs and showed these light weather dinghies that Mirrors are all weather boats.

Roger Clark
59725

I was out sailing yesterday at the sailing club lake (Midlands, 7 acres). Force 6 with some very strong and sustained gusts. I was in survival mode when sailing by myself, but actually felt in control when two up, although there were still some scary moments. The only other boat launched was a Topper, which lasted about 20 mins before it's rudder broke.

One of the clubs experienced sailors (normally sails a Laser) went out solo in my mirror and it was a real treat to see somebody who was really in control - I swear on one reach the hull was completely out of the water!! After about 30 mins, I turned to see my boat dismasted, but after a quick rescue it was apparent that one of the shackles attaching the shrouds had broken. A quick replacement and restep the mast and we were good to go for the rest of the afternoon without further incident.

A good days sailing and demonstration of how forgiving and sturdy a mirror is. It also showed how much my sailing can improve - hopefully see you at Shustoke for the training.


Andy J

On Bank Holiday Monday I went out sailing singlehanded on Windermere, the first time on my own for a long time. The wind as usual was very variable in direction by up to 60 degrees and strength from almost flat calm to gusts of Force 6. I was having a wonderful time until I tried beating a little bit too close when a very strong gust hit me.

I was leaning out as far as I could without toestraps and fully clothed that is over 15 stone! I then had to dump all of the main, but this still did not bring back control. Unfortunately I had forgotten to tie the jib sheets together and therefore was unable to release the jib. Yes you guessed it, I capsised with all the indiginity of it. I was a little late in dropping into the water and caused the Mirror to turn turtle.

As I swum to the stern I realised the rudder had dropped off because the stainless steel retaining clip was not close enough to the pintle. So after re fitting the rudder, I climbed on the upturned hull. I gently started to right the boat by putting my toes from my right foot on the gunnel and holding onto the centre plate. The centre plate could certainly bend with up to several inches of bend at the tip. Slowly I brought the boat to horizontal and then carefully upright as the wind was still quite strong.

Thats when my real problem started. No I managed to keep the Mirror upright, but I could not haul my weight back over the stern. I needed something to put my foot on to help me get higher. I quickly pondered which shore would be easiest to sail to whilst still in the water. Then I saw an inflateable rib coming towards me and they asked if I needed a hand. I tried climbing onto the rib, but I had the same problem of needing a foot hold. The father and son then gently reversed me back to a jetty near by in the lee of some trees. The father held the transom and, whilst still in the water, I held onto both the Mirror and rib.

It transpires they were sitting in the cockpit of their 32 foot yacht and had been watching me sail, as many years ago they had learnt to sail in a Mirror. So after many thank yous I got back in the Mirror and started to sail home as I realised I was beginning to feel slightly cold.

After getting back to the holiday cottage and telling my tale of woe to my wife and daughter, they both burst out laughing. A few days later I suggested to my daughter to try climbing over the transom from the water, even she could not do it.

Thinking about the problem of getting back into the Mirror, I realised I should have used the end of the mainsheet and tied a bowline with the transom in the loop. I think the best solution is to have a line that goes from each corner of the transom and sits under the lower pintle. One side is fitted through a dead-eye to a piece of shock cord to allow the rope to drop when weight is applied. A stopper knot in the rope can then be made to ensure the shock cord does not take the loading. I believe an arrangement like this is within class rules.

A few days later in similar conditions but with my daughter as crew, we managed to get on the plane under main and jib. I thought it was great, but Chloe was a little frightened as she had never sailed on the plane before.

Roger Clark
59725

Are righting lines allowed in Mirrors? saw them the other day, I think it's a very good idea. Bit different to what you suggest Roger, they often go along under the gunwhales most of the length of the boat to hang onto when on the centreboard. The other thing is being agile enough to hook a leg over the gunwhale as it comes up and then climb in - think this is harder for larger sailors (inlc. me!) as it comes up faster. Maybe keep a length of rope with a stirrup in attached to the transom?

64799 "Dolphin"

I always sail with a rope tied between the two transom drain holes and under the lower pintle, the loop is big enough to reach the cockpit floor in this position. I loosely feed the tail end of the rope through the toestrap anchor point - this holds the loop in position while sailing normally.

If I capsize then a couple of pulls on the loop will pull the tail end out of the anchor point and the loop then hangs low enough for me to step into it and haul myself over the transom.

I find this works very well, you just need to remember to position the rope under the pintle when you fit the rudder - it also helps to pull the loop back on board after you have capsized, otherwise you tend to get a humming noise from the back of the boat and it takes a while to figure out what is causing the noise!!

Andy

The idea of my design for a line to help re-entering over the transom was that it was not going to drag in the water as a slight tension would keep it on the underside of the lower pintle. When any weight was applied then the shock cord allowed it drop until it reached the stopper knot, so you knew it was the right length to help you use as a foot step. After use it would automatically return under the pintle.

It seems so simple and easy to fit, I am surprised no one else has thought of it. All I would like to know is it class legal before I fit it? I cannot see why not as it does not affect the performance of the boat, only aid the ability to get back into a boat after a turtle capsize.

Is there any video clip that shows the best way and wrong way of righting a Mirror? If not then perhaps this might help many sailors especially new younger sailors.

The solution that Andy uses has the major fault of blocking the drain holes in the transom, if they are the original round holes rather that the elongated oval used on race boats. His system would certainly work, but feel my design has the benefit of never dragging a line in the water and being permanently available.

Roger Clark
59725

Roger,

If you do a search of the forums you will find lots of suggestions for aids to get back in to a Mirror after capsize.

I am a little rotund, and struggle, even with help from crew to get back in. I have tried two solutions, as have many others with equal success. For me the best is a simple rope loop tied through a transom drain hole. It can be kept in the boat until needed and just pulled down when needed as a step. Adjust the height of the loop to suit.

Alternatively, a long chunky rope tied to the thwart with a loop in the end. It can be used to help righting and then pulled over the transom for use as a step up. The extra length gives something to pull on without having to stretch for a toe strap. As I tend to sail in bare feet when I can, I have the additional refinement of passing the rope loop though a piece of plastic pipe to make it gentler on my tootsies.

These are all other people’s inventions but without what the kids call “Daddy’s Rescue Ropeâ€

Cush you must be a wuzz with a DYB! I thought they were only for catamarans.

The solution I am proposing is neater and certainly will not foul any other rope or get underfoot. Anyone care to comment on the legality relating to the rules.

Although I do not race, I am trying to keep my Mirror within class rules so if in the future I want to I will be class legal. Also useful when it comes to sell, again in the distant future.

Roger Clark
59725

Yes I’m a complete and utter Wuzz. Especially when I’m exploring the upper reaches of the Orinoco, well Poole Harbour, without a safety boat.

“You mean to tell me that you sail your dinghy with your kids in it, without a safety boat to support you? Have you had a proper risk assessment? Do social services know?â€

Oh Cush, you have a one piece mast - wow! I bet you look a sight with the DYB at the masthead.

Never explored the upper reaches of the Orinoco, but sailing on the River Mudway (Medway) I know all about mud. Every way you turn there is mud close by , so there is far more here than in the Orinoco. Virtually everytime you launch you take mud into the boat and it can go a long way. Now I always take a folding water carrier in the car so we can clean ourselves and the boat up.

I certainly agree with you that Starboard should experience life as it is - without a safety boat or risk assesment. It teaches you to be responsible for your own safety, make your own risk assessments and improves your own judgement. Experience is something gained whilst doing something else.

Silly question why did you have to unstep your mast to clean the main halyard block? Surely it would have been quicker to pull the boat over. You can always use your cover to protect the paintwork if on a hard surface.

The one result of turning turtle in deep fresh water is I now find a little bit of water has entered the alloy mast. Only found out when I unstepped the mast at the end of the holiday and heard a sloshing sound. Suppose I will have to drill a drain hole near the base, just another job to add to the list.

I am certainly not planning to take another dip in the near future, it was about 40 years ago when I last capsized a Mirror. About 25 years ago I was on the foredeck of my 22 foot keel boat gybing the spinnaker when we capsized and I stood on the keel - later in the same race we were planning under double reefed main and storm jib (the only time we ever used the storm jib). This was all before 'elf an' safety was ever talked about. If you wanted to win races you had to take risks, and sometimes you got it wrong and learnt a hard lesson.

In all my days of sailing I have only ever got wet, had a few bruises and rope burns. In all the offshore races I did there was one head injury when a boom was gybed (the crewman had been warned not to stand where he was) and on another boat someone broke an arm during a violent broach and his arm became trapped between two winches. Generally sailing is a fairly safe sport unless you are an out and out idiot.

Roger Clark
59725

Roger,

Yes - we look very dapper with the DYB up the mast – but then I’ve never worried about how cool I look.


In fact unstepping the mast is easy – just undo the forestay and down it falls – I can then take the top section to the tab and drain all the water out of the bottom. Instead of drilling holes to let the water out ,why not seal the mast to stop the water getting in? My bottom section is open where the top section slides in. It is my intention to fit Topper style foam mast bungs to stop the water in the first place. I can’t imagine going back to the gaff now, the Bermudan rig is so much easier to handle for the kids – they can’t even reach the lacing.

I’ve read your impressive exploits in the Medway and thoroughly approve. We have a trip planned which will take us the up Frome to Wareham, but need Spring tides which coincide with a nice F4 Northerly to make it work. We can make use of Poole’s wonderful 5 hour stand at high tide to get up and down the river and over the mudflats. At least we don’t have to contend with the tides around the Thames Estuary. There should be time left this year to do the trip.

I always seem to capsize – then I’m not a very good sailor. I’ve never witnessed any serious injury although I’ve sailed offshore in some horrendous weather. I’ve always thought that you make your own luck. And I try to minimize risk and put credit in the luck bank by making sure for example, that the boat is prepared, there is a reasonable weather window and people know where we are. I have a hand-held VHF with me as a last resort. My biggest worry is that we have a rig failure and can’t sail back. The plan then is paddle down wind/down tide to the nearest slipway and ‘phone ATM to come get us with the car. We might get back late and hungry but I reckon that’d the worst to expect. The children are all well drilled with capsize practice and know in the worst case to stay with the boat while we drift into the mud…

Cush

I wish you well on your adventure and hope you have suitable weather to complete it in the next few weeks before the days shorten too much. Let us all know when it has happened as non-racing items make this forum more interesting to read.

Roger Clark
59725