Editors note: The following story appeared in the Daily Mirror, Saturday 11th July 1964, page 15 so the text is © Daily Mirror. Also thanks to the www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk .
Well, mates, I'm not going to be caught napping. What’s more, I'm giving you the tip. I'm getting me and the boat in trim for The Battle of the Armada, 1964.
It happens off Plymouth from August 10 to August 14, and is called, for the history books, The Mirror Class National Championship Week. It's the big chance for all Mirror dinghy owners to start battling in boats in some real foam-in-the-face racing. About 100 Mirror dinghies are expected to take part. There'll be competitors from all over the place, even America. Of course there will be foaming pints - and bubbling champers. There will even be a reception and dance given by the Lord Mayor at the Guildhall, Plymouth, and trips up the River Yealm by steamer.
Cheap
But for those who, like me, want to be nautical on the cheap there is the Mirror dinghy. And, because of the advance warning I am giving you, there is still time to buy one. You can write for a full colour brochure about the Mirror dinghy to: Victor S. Shaw, Mirror Class, Daily Mirror, Holborn Circus, London, E.C.1. But there's much more to the joy of being a Mirror dinghy owner than beating the pants off me! There's the fun of sailing the Olympic course in the Sound and the chance of being the Champion Mirror Helmsman and winning the top prize — the Daily Mirror Trophy. The Cassandra Cauldron, the Peter Wilson Tankard and the Proops Pot are also there for the winning and will be presented by these famous Mirror writers.
For Four
The Mirror dinghy is big enough for the average family of four to go cruising in (10ft. 10in. long); light enough for one man to lift (100lb.); small enough to go on top of a baby car; easy enough for a beginner to sail yet good enough for regatta racing. Each day during the championships a launch will take spectators, at two bob a time, to watch the racing at close quarters. What a chance for the cine-camera fans! There are lots of chances too for non-boating Mums and wives to have the holiday of their lives. Plymouth is a lively modern city with good beaches and good countryside all around well worth visiting.
Editors note: The photo is of 1963 National Championships winner 96 - 'Appy 'Arry, the other boats are not yet identified (it's a very poor quality picture). It's not known where this was taken, maybe the 1963 Nationals.
