My goodness, I stumbled across your wonderful channel, and the song has me captivated. I am a city manager (civil servant) “who works for the council” and I’m researching sailing dinghy projects for my son and I to construct. Thanks for the inspiration! Fair Winds my friend!
Nice work Kevin, I have No 5523 Mirror in my shed at the moment, as you can tell by the sail number she is one of the first, she is in good condition but needs some work here and there, bought her off a little old man who taught his kids and then grand kids to sail in her and even he bought her second hand LoL Look forward to seeing more of your adventures, we live near Westernport in Victoria, so we sail most weekends, it is life at its very finest
Kevin, really enjoyed your Mirror video. You have some things the same as me and I wondered if you have seen my videos. What a shame we live 12000 miles apart!
Mirror Cruising Yes, I watched your videos when I got my Mirror and I'm very impressed with your boat and your voyages - it inspired me. I used to sail a very tippy Enterprise dinghy across the Firth of Forth when I lived in Edinburgh, so the Mirror feels a much more stable boat. Good luck with the upcoming season - & remember to make a video for all us Mirror tragics!
Hi Kevin, really enjoyed your clip; I live in NQ and I've recently bought a Mirror to replace a TS16, but haven't been out yet - very busy in retirement! Very impressed with your set-up for solo cruising. Also like the look of your Casio watch - what model is it please? Happy sailing!
Hey Kevin, Great video. I really love it. I found it when I was given a mirror to fix up. I've fixed it up now and was quite dissappointed to find that it was too small for me. Do you maybe have some tips on how to make it roomier? I'm thinking of raising the boom by 30cm or so to give me some space - what do you think about that? Thanks!
Mirror Cruising Hi, Most of my light gear - boomtent, sleeping bag, stove etc - is the forward bulkhead that is accessed by a large 8inch hatch I fitted. Water & heavier stuff is towards the stern to balance the trim. My foodbag is in the open locker near the mast.
Nice video Kevin I would like to do a cruise like that myself in my mirror but no location as good as that in Victoria that I am aware off. I have made a gaff rig sail for mine using "sail cut" program which I thought would be better for cruising reefing etc. as per the "mirror cruising" from UK on youtube. Also put 2 reefs in the gunter rig sail, now looking for somewhere to go. Well done please show more and details of your tent. Did you hug the shore incase it blew up and did you take a marine radio for weather reports. I got caught on the Gippsland lakes and got capsised but luckily had bought a bounancy cushion for the mast and it just lay on its side until I drifted ashore, it was too dangerous to right it, best thing worth every dollar I paid for it.
Hi somerton123, Thanks for the positive response. I'll sort out some video clips of the rebuild and the tent making. The tent making was a lot of work for me and the sewing machine but worth it. I also made a second section (loads of work!) that covers the bow - prevents water rolling down the foredeck into the cockpit when it rains. Reefing is simply done by rolling the mainsail around the boom. I've been out in 20 knots with the Mirror fully canvassed - which was dangerous but she's a very stable boat compared with other dinghies I've had. Yes weather forecasts are essential as is a VHF radio. I've just done a family sail in one of Australia's best areas - 3 hours north of Sydney - the Myall Lakes. Two enormous lakes with a third one in between and lots of bush camping. Bouncy coushion mast trick is a good one!
There are plenty of great places to sail in Victoria, try Westernport, lots of places and inlets to explore and pop over to French Island, its very tidal and you wouldnt do it without a little motor on the back but it really is heaven.
I noticed you don't have any reefs in the main, what do you do if the wind comes up? Did you sail on the day it was 25 knots? I have trouble in 15knots and that's reefed down to the first batten. I can then reef the jib with a roller reef system. Have you seen the BC cruising video, they made a cover for the bow which looks good and keeps things dry and together. Look forward to your next adventure
***** Hi Somerton123, I use boom reefing - by having a masthead halyard to lower the head of the sail (thus avoiding touching the gaff). I actually had to use it the other weekend when it was blowing about 20 knots. To shake it out I hove-to.
Kevin Green When you say mast head halyard, do you have a sheave at the top of the gaff to lower the sail down the gaff track. Also how do you roll the foot around the boom with the Vang n the way. If you could detail how you reef the main I would be very interested.
***** Yes, I have a plastic eye on the top of the gaff (you don't need a sheave). RE rolling the sail - yes I roll it around the boom and have an extra long line on the vang so I can still use it. It is prevented from unrolling by the Cunningham at the gooseneck. To enhance the shape of the reefed sail, sticking in the sailbag at the leech is a good idea, but I don't bother usually with this.
Great film, thank you. I love my Mirror too. Great boats.
Great camera work and sailing.
Also, I loved the song Dignity by Deacon Blue a great band from Glasgow.
My goodness, I stumbled across your wonderful channel, and the song has me captivated. I am a city manager (civil servant) “who works for the council” and I’m researching sailing dinghy projects for my son and I to construct. Thanks for the inspiration! Fair Winds my friend!
Appreciate your comments Brian and hope you get a Mirror because they have real personality and are seaworthy little boats. All the best!
Nice work Kevin, I have No 5523 Mirror in my shed at the moment, as you can tell by the sail number she is one of the first, she is in good condition but needs some work here and there, bought her off a little old man who taught his kids and then grand kids to sail in her and even he bought her second hand LoL
Look forward to seeing more of your adventures, we live near Westernport in Victoria, so we sail most weekends, it is life at its very finest
Wonderful video and little dinghy!
Love your Mirror films, looks like a top adventuring area you've got there.
Hi Kevin, very nice video - quite inspiring - thank you
very nice clip! tx for sharing your adventure
Looks like excellent fun. I know that part of the lake well, it's a great place.
hey kev mate we should go mirror cruising. i sail at dobroyd most weekends!!
Kevin, really enjoyed your Mirror video. You have some things the same as me and I wondered if you have seen my videos. What a shame we live 12000 miles apart!
Mirror Cruising Yes, I watched your videos when I got my Mirror and I'm very impressed with your boat and your voyages - it inspired me. I used to sail a very tippy Enterprise dinghy across the Firth of Forth when I lived in Edinburgh, so the Mirror feels a much more stable boat. Good luck with the upcoming season - & remember to make a video for all us Mirror tragics!
Hi Kevin, really enjoyed your clip; I live in NQ and I've recently bought a Mirror to replace a TS16, but haven't been out yet - very busy in retirement! Very impressed with your set-up for solo cruising. Also like the look of your Casio watch - what model is it please? Happy sailing!
Deacon Blue....Mirror Dinghy...what a fantastic combination.
Thanks +Branch Out, One day I hope to do a west coast dinghy sail!
Hey Kevin,
Great video. I really love it.
I found it when I was given a mirror to fix up.
I've fixed it up now and was quite dissappointed to find that it was too small for me.
Do you maybe have some tips on how to make it roomier?
I'm thinking of raising the boom by 30cm or so to give me some space - what do you think about that?
Thanks!
You can set it up with a 'topping lift' to hoik up the boom for rowing etc. If you raise the boom you'll need to cut the sails down; risky!
Hi Kevin. Enjoyed the video - a great cruise. Where do you keep all your kit? My boat is full up with sleeping bag, clothes bag and food.
Mirror Cruising Hi, Most of my light gear - boomtent, sleeping bag, stove etc - is the forward bulkhead that is accessed by a large 8inch hatch I fitted. Water & heavier stuff is towards the stern to balance the trim. My foodbag is in the open locker near the mast.
Nice video Kevin I would like to do a cruise like that myself in my mirror but no location as good as that in Victoria that I am aware off.
I have made a gaff rig sail for mine using "sail cut" program which I thought would be better for cruising reefing etc. as per the "mirror cruising" from UK on youtube.
Also put 2 reefs in the gunter rig sail, now looking for somewhere to go.
Well done please show more and details of your tent.
Did you hug the shore incase it blew up and did you take a marine radio for weather reports.
I got caught on the Gippsland lakes and got capsised but luckily had bought a bounancy cushion for the mast and it just lay on its side until I drifted ashore, it was too dangerous to right it, best thing worth every dollar I paid for it.
Hi somerton123, Thanks for the positive response. I'll sort out some video clips of the rebuild and the tent making. The tent making was a lot of work for me and the sewing machine but worth it. I also made a second section (loads of work!) that covers the bow - prevents water rolling down the foredeck into the cockpit when it rains. Reefing is simply done by rolling the mainsail around the boom. I've been out in 20 knots with the Mirror fully canvassed - which was dangerous but she's a very stable boat compared with other dinghies I've had. Yes weather forecasts are essential as is a VHF radio. I've just done a family sail in one of Australia's best areas - 3 hours north of Sydney - the Myall Lakes. Two enormous lakes with a third one in between and lots of bush camping. Bouncy coushion mast trick is a good one!
There are plenty of great places to sail in Victoria, try Westernport, lots of places and inlets to explore and pop over to French Island, its very tidal and you wouldnt do it without a little motor on the back but it really is heaven.
I noticed you don't have any reefs in the main, what do you do if the wind comes up? Did you sail on the day it was 25 knots? I have trouble in 15knots and that's reefed down to the first batten. I can then reef the jib with a roller reef system. Have you seen the BC cruising video, they made a cover for the bow which looks good and keeps things dry and together. Look forward to your next adventure
***** Hi Somerton123, I use boom reefing - by having a masthead halyard to lower the head of the sail (thus avoiding touching the gaff). I actually had to use it the other weekend when it was blowing about 20 knots. To shake it out I hove-to.
Kevin Green When you say mast head halyard, do you have a sheave at the top of the gaff to lower the sail down the gaff track. Also how do you roll the foot around the boom with the Vang n the way. If you could detail how you reef the main I would be very interested.
***** Yes, I have a plastic eye on the top of the gaff (you don't need a sheave). RE rolling the sail - yes I roll it around the boom and have an extra long line on the vang so I can still use it. It is prevented from unrolling by the Cunningham at the gooseneck. To enhance the shape of the reefed sail, sticking in the sailbag at the leech is a good idea, but I don't bother usually with this.
Wait do they have engines
Bradley Productions!
No.
Boooooooooooring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!