Mirror & Junior Handicap Monohull Fleet Captain – Dave Ewing

THE INTERNATIONAL MIRROR DINGHY

 Safe family sailing and racing performance at an affordable price

The International Mirror Class Dinghy is one of the most versatile sailing dinghy ever produced. Designed to satisfy both the safety needs of families and the demands of the Junior club racer, it is an extraordinary international success, with over 70,000 Mirror Dinghies owned worldwide.

If you are hoping to introduce the younger members of your family to the pleasure of sailing, no other training dinghy offers comparable value for money. Indeed, many of today’s most famous yachtsmen learned to sail with the Mirror. Built in buoyancy tanks and high stability make it particularly safe for beginners. Equally important, children always feel secure because they sit in, rather than on, a Mirror Class Dinghy.

For more experienced sailors, the special appeal of the Mirror is that it is raced competitively at every level. And whether you choose to race single‑handed or with a crew, use both sails or just one or even fly a spinnaker, you will be impressed by its performance.

 SAFETY- The Mirror is remarkably strong, buoyant and stable

SIMPLICITY- The Mirror is the ideal first dinghy for learners

PERFORMANCE – The Mirror is raced competitively all over the world

 CONVENIENCE - The Mirror is light enough to be carried by two people and transported by car roof-rack or trailer.

VERSATILITY- You can row it, motor it and sail it!

The Mirror Class Dinghy is a great little all-rounder – designed for the whole family, from the very youngest sailing enthusiast through to the very oldest. Equally suitable for training or racing, it is buoyant, portable and extremely simple to sail. 

Specification

Recognised RYA youth Class.

 Many of the top UK sailors started their sailing careers in the Mirror including.
Stuart Childerley, Ian Walker, Pete Goss and the late John Merricks

 Designers Jack Holt and Barry Bucknell

Maximum number of persons 4

Stability and buoyancy assessed to ISO 12217

 Interested please contact David Harris

POINTS TO CHECK

q       With a sharp knife examine the floor of the cockpit, especially around the centreboard case, for rot. . Most Mirrors are varnished inside. Beware of one which has been painted inside, this may have been done to hide signs of rot.

q       Look for areas which are stained black under the varnish? This may be a sign that water has penetrated the wood.

q       Look out for any de-lamination of the ply This is a sign of advanced decay and will be expensive to repair. Examine the glass tape on the seams and joints. If white it means it has become detached from the wood.

q       Examine the outside of the hull for signs of damage.  If the corners are rounded at some point or if there are any bumps or hollows, this may be a sign that the boat has been damaged.  Repairs to the hull may not be serious if they have been done properly, but talk to the owner.

q       Check the hull is not twisted. This could be a sign that the boat was not built properly or left for long periods half full of water.

FINDING A SECOND-HAND MIRROR

The price of a second-hand Mirror depends on how well it was built, what condition it is in, whether it has a measurement certificate and what extras it has, rather than on its age (sail number). A boat built by Widebeam or one of the other licensed kit assemblers will have been built to a good standard. But a kit boat built privately with real care and attention to detail can be even better.