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In Australia

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 12:12 am
by Lindsay
Hi guys,

Firstly I'd like to say this is the most amicable forum I've ever browsed, haven't come across any of the usual internet forum crap yet.

I live just south of Melbourne, Australia. I'm currently in the process of selling my Taipan 4.9 that I bought purely to sail with my girlfriend, but she doesn't have the time anymore. I also sail an i14 but have so much trouble getting crew. The idea of a single handed skiff always really appealed to me and now a good one exists. I know this is a ridiculous question to ask but do you think the class will take off in Australia, and on what time frame based on how it has progressed over there. Obviously you guys are biased as you sail and love the boat.

My only other concern is that being that there is only one boat in Australia currently and it and the dealer are in Brisbane (about 2000km from where I live) my chances of a test sail aren't great. The boat doesn't look harder to sail than the 14, and theoretically it shouldn't be as there isn't the issue of coordinating two people. I'm 21, 6'1" and 83kg so fitness and size won't be an issue. I'd be interested to hear how people from different classes and skill levels have found the transition.

Also I really want to be able to be self sufficient with the boat, can you all rig/derig, launch/land and get the boat on and off the trolley and the road trailer by yourself without too much difficulty?

Thanks and sorry about the long post.

Lindsay

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:32 pm
by Clarkey
Hi Lindsay

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the comment. We aim to be a very friendly class where ever we go.

You are right that almost everyone on this forum will be hugely biased towards the boat, but occasionally we do try to rein ourselves in and be as objective as we can.

The boat is now doing very well numbers wise in Europe with recent numbers presented at the class association committee meeting showing 111 based in the UK, more than 20 in Germany and more than 30 in Switzerland. There are smaller fleets in Spain and Holland that we are trying to support and grow in the coming years. The guys from Holland regularly attend the Gold Cup events and a couple of them came over for the UK Nationals / Europeans last summer. We just need to get one of these two countries numbers up above 20 boats and we will be eligable to apply for ISAF recognised status.

Australia and the US are targets for a number of us sailing in the UK for a couple of reasons.

Ian Renilson is one of the most active sailors in the fleet, spearheading the Scottish Skiff events organisation and providing many of us at the big events last year with encouragements and tips on how to improve. A regular comment from Ian is that he would love to go to hold a Gold Cup event over in Australia and I certainly echo that. To achieve that we need to get more people over there aware of the MPS which would hopefully lead to orders and I am confident that would lead to people recognising the excellent potential of the boat. It is a little bit of "chicken and egg", but hopefully the "egg" has arrived over in Brisbane and it won't take long for it to catch on and then with Victor Boats expertise I am sure that the class can take off.

Ron Radko is leading the way over in the US from his home in Seattle and has been over to the Gold Cup events held in Europe the last 2 years. He has recently announced the combined event to be held in Florida in April with the Swift Solos and hopefully that will lead to more US sailors getting hooked on the idea of the MPS.

In terms of transition from other classes to the MPS, I don't see that would be too much of a problem to you. At one end of the spectrum you have Richard Stenhouse who you may have read in sections of the class site moved into the MPS from the Finn class, having not sailed a trapeze boat in anger before. Ian Trotter came into the class from a background in the International 14 class, Ian Renilson with his background in the Contender class and many others having come from far too many other classes to name here.

You can be self sufficient with the boat, I manage to step and lower the mast up on my own, rigging is a very simple job for one person and launching and recovery is just like any other single hander really. In fact it helps that the overall weight of the boat fully rigged is only in the region of 80kg as Rick points out in a recent post.

Hopefully this response is of help, and is not too long in reply.

Look forward to hearing more from you over in Aus and hopefully you will get a chance to sail an MPS soon.

Regards
Paul

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:54 pm
by Lindsay
Thanks for that Clarkey,

Not too long a reply at all, it was an interesting read. I think I have read everything else on the site 10 times and know every stat off by heart, so it was nice to have something new to read, haha.

I'm really excited about the prospect of getting a boat, I just have to wait until my other boat sells, I'm praying it's this season (before May) but I don't know how long it will take to get a boat once I have the money.

I really wish I lived in Europe at times. After reading everything on this site and articles and comments on other sites, I wouldn't feel uncomfortable buying one without having test sailed one first.

I'd love to hear anyone elses comments too.

Lindsay

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 6:20 pm
by Ian Renilson
Hi Lindsay:

Did I hear my name?

I'm certainly looking forward to sailing a Musto Skiff in Australia. I wish you guys out there would get the finger out and get the class going! I particulary fancy sailing at Melbourne - I have relations there and several Contender friends at Black Rock.

Jason Beebe is a good friend from my Contender days and he has just started sailing a Musto Skiff at Brisbane. His first sail was last weekend - it was only in light winds, but he had great fun and is looking forward to getting it out in a bigger breeze.

He is absolutely sure it will take-off quickly in Oz - it's just a matter of people having the confidence to go for it. Several of our Contender friends are interested, and he knows some I14 people who are just itching to give it a go - and once people see the boat they will be hooked (that's what happened to me).

Imagine - the fun of an I14, without any of the boat hassles AND none of the crew problems. AND it's a helluva lot cheaper - particularly when you take into account the huge depreciation of a development class. AND you get real one-design class racing.

We have all proven the boat in Europe, and we know that it is an excellent product and very robust.

It's just the best fun on the water!

BTW - if you are looking for another skiff web site to peruse, try http://www.ScottishSkiffRacing.com

Happy sailing,
Ian R.

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:55 am
by Lindsay
Thanks for that Ian,

Your absolutely right, I'm a bit of a way off from being able to afford to be competitive in a i14 both crew wise and money wise.

I guess I'm just killing time until my other boat is sold and I can get one. I've got the time to research so I might as well for once! I'm really excited about the boats, they look so well designed etc.

I've read in a few other places on the site that not much tends to break on them. That was comforting being that I live so far from the manufacturer and Jason I assume wouldn't be holding much in the way of spare/replacement parts yet.

Thanks for the link to the other site too.

I REALLY need my other boat to sell!!

Lindsay

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:52 am
by Lindsay
Hey guys,

I'm getting organised with getting the boat, decided to get finance and purchase one prior to my other boat selling. I've been in contact with Jason, the Aussie dealer and things are moving.

Without crapping on for too long; One of the main reasons I am keen on the Musto is because it seems like a really well designed and developed system. I plan to store the boat at home rather than a yacht club storage yard so I'll be trailering the boat around everywhere. Given that, having the trailer/trolley combo being as simple and effective as possible is pretty important to me. Obviously it could be a little costly, freight wise getting one of the trailers out here.

What I'm basically wondering is, do you guys think it's worth my while paying a bit extra to get one of the genuine trailers sent out? I wouldn't know where to go to get one made locally either. Does the boat go on the trolley and the trolley on the trailer? and if so how do they attach? I haven't been able to find any photos of the trailers, if anyone has one, or any comments on this I'd be interested to hear them.

Thanks,
Lindsay

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:29 am
by Rick
My boat is in the garage on a trailer; I'll go and take some shots....

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:42 am
by Rick
Here you go (I nearly froze taking those shots ...)

NOTE: There is a mast support that slots in the front to rest the full mast on but it's not shown below.

The trolly slides over a roller onto the road base.

Image

Then you just put a pin in to hold the fronts together (the trolley axel locates in tabs on the road base)

Image

And then you are good to go ..

Image

The whole lot is heavy but I guess when you guys get a container sent it will be on volume not weight so just get one put in ...

Rick

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 12:04 pm
by Lindsay
Hey Rick,

I really appreciate that, thanks for braving the cold. What a neat setup, that's exactly what I was hoping for!

By the looks of that I'd really like to get a genuine trailer. If shipping did turn out to be an issue, I wonder if Victor Boats would provide the plans and allow them to be made under license here or whatever.

Thanks a lot for that,
Lindsay

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 3:30 pm
by Victor Boats
Lindsay

Good to read your comments, it's always nice to hear peoples thoughts on our products.

As indicated by Rick's images, the road trailer system is a neat interlocking design. So there is no fuss.

There would be no problem in supplying a road trailer with an order, and these are held in stock. Fotunately, the constraint on the containers is volume, as the boats and gear are so light, it would not be possible to overload it's weight capacity. The trailer does not significantly add to the boats volume, so it would not effect the shipping cost.

Kind regards

Paul.

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:31 pm
by Clarkey
Hi Lindsay

Things sound like they are coming on well over there and it is really good to hear that you intend to place an order for a boat. Hopefully between you and Jason Beebe there will be enough interest generated to fill a container so that the shipping cost are shared across more boats.

You may have read the thread on this forum with another prospective owner here in the south of the UK. As Rick and I said in that thread, what we have found at our respective clubs is that where one person has led, the others have followed and a fleet does not take long to establish.

Fingers crossed that you will have the same great experiences as us and an Australian fleet establishes itself.

Cheers
Paul

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:36 pm
by Lindsay
Thanks for the info Paul, Clarkey, that's all good then!

I can't wait to get on the water and get a bit of a head start on all the other Australians who will no doubt start to get Musto's in the near future. I'm going to need it with the calibre of sailor i expect the boats will attract!

Lindsay

Trailer Size

Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 11:47 am
by bds
The trailers are all size adjustable so you can change the length of it to fit your boat. When I pick up my trailer I got Paul to help me change it from 250 to 275. It was not an easy task the first time due to the bolt being gas gunned on. It might be worth asking if it can be done before shipping it.

Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:29 pm
by Lindsay
Hi bds,

Why would that be the case? Aren't the trailers made for the boats anyway?

Lindsay

Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:21 am
by Clarkey
Lindsay

The West Mersea combi trailer base is now designed to be adjustable to fit a number of different sized trolleys. That means they have 1 design of trailer base that they produce which adjusts to fit the different sizes of launching trolley that they make.

The trolley for the MPS is a 275 (size) so the trailer needs to be set up for that. However, Paul at Victor Boats will probably have sorted this out for you before anything is loaded into the container.

Cheers
Paul