Norwalk Islands Sharpies sailing on Cowan Creek

NIS 26 Coraki and NIS 23 Rose enjoying a wonderful day’s sail on Cowan Creek and Pittwater north of Sydney Australia
Further details of these boats can be found on the Norwalk Islands Sharpies owners group on facebook / 22338. . . If you're not on fb, message me and I can help you in other ways.

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Thanks Peter. Those Sharpies are an interesting boat. Just a tip, flip your phone on it’s side when filming. Landscape orientation is better for viewing.

[@Nispete]

Thanks for the reminder , Josh. I need to check the video editor I used as I think it offered me choices re landscape or portrait orientation. I did actually film a lot of it in landscape…..

[@Tyr-not-mars]

I seen these boats advertised with plans on the NIS website...it isn't clear if it's s set a set of plans or a booklet ..I wrote to them many times and asked if a home builder could build this boat with the " booklet'...didn't get a reply so their customer service is naff ..shame as it's a beautiful boat but the snobbery of the designer puts me off building one ..yes he designed the Lazer dinghy also and maybe has a right to be but shocked to see Iain Oughterad advertised on the same site ..working boats being his theme .. his boats are gone down in my expectations too..Stray moggy boat company or something ...hard to believe they could design a boat do practical and intelligent..yet be so boorish. Thanks for the video

[@Nispete]

Thanks for your comments. Sorry you haven’t had responses to your questions and on that basis you have a negative view towards Norwalk Islands Sharpies. As you say they’re beautiful and very practical boats with a growing following worldwide. The business you contacted is small and from time to time people go through challenges in life such as health and ageing and other things so it may be a factor here. I would not take it as snobbery or anything against you. I would be willing to approach the owner of the business and highlight you’re seeking some response if you would like to share your email address with me? Would that help?
Also just to be clear the designer was Bruce Kirby, but sadly he passed away several years ago. Nisboats (now called Straydog Boatworks) is run by Robert Ayliffe who is a worldwide authority on the NIS design and a highly experienced sailor and builder. He is / was supported and authorized by Mr Kirby to handle kit and plans sales globally and has done so for at least 10-15 years. Similarly Iain Oughtred being originally from Australia and I believe connected with Robert has agreed to have his designs supported in a similar way.
The NIS design is a relatively straightforward boat to build by someone with limited experience - particularly in the kit form which comes with an ingenious jig which allows the bulkheads and rest of the hull to be assembled properly aligned and with all the spacing accurate. I am building a NIS 18 kit currently and have no previous boat building experience apart from building a small dinghy with my father as a child. There’s an active group of owners globally and a small but growing group on fb if you would like to learn more