Manly Junior
Encyclopedia
The Manly Junior is a junior racing dinghy class popular in Sydney
Australia
. It was designed in 1959 for younger sailors and the length (2.6 m) was originally decided so that the boat could be stored vertically downstairs inside Manly Yacht Club
(the founding club). To provide as much performance as possible in a short length, the designer, Ralph Tobias used a "snub" bow.
Typically the helmsman is aged 10~14 and the crew 7~11 years old. It is amongst the smallest of classes with a "full rig": mainsail
, jib
and spinnaker
. The class has a strict set of rules on sail size, shape and hull construction. Some variation is allowed in the details of how the boat is rigged (position of fittings etc).
The class has made some significant changes since inception, in the 1967 the bouancy tanks were redesigned to allow the boat to come up after a capsize with little water on board. In the 1980s the class underwent a transition from plywood to fibreglass hulls. In 2000 false floors were added allowing the boat to completely drain of water after a capsize or swamping.
Racing is competitive with many previous sailors going on to become world or Olympic Games
champions in other classes. The skill level shown at a State or National event is high with racing being completed in up to 25 knots (49 km/h) of wind.
Many children however join in for the social side. Sometimes you will get two 11 year old friends match up to have fun while learning. Other times the younger children look up to the older children as "hero
es". Club racing is often like a friendly "family" where the focus is on learning. Even at major events "Novice" (learning) fleets allow the less experienced to compete and enjoy the fun.
As the sailors grow they often move onto Flying Eleven (dinghy)
, 420 (dinghy)
or laser dinghy.
A quick count would suggest over 30,000 children have been introduced to sailing via the Manly Junior fleet.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was designed in 1959 for younger sailors and the length (2.6 m) was originally decided so that the boat could be stored vertically downstairs inside Manly Yacht Club
Manly Yacht Club
Manly Yacht Club is a sailing club in the suburb of Manly on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.-External links:* *...
(the founding club). To provide as much performance as possible in a short length, the designer, Ralph Tobias used a "snub" bow.
Typically the helmsman is aged 10~14 and the crew 7~11 years old. It is amongst the smallest of classes with a "full rig": mainsail
Mainsail
A mainsail is a sail located behind the main mast of a sailing vessel.On a square rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest sail on the main mast....
, jib
Jib
A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bow, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast...
and spinnaker
Spinnaker
A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90°–180° off the bow. The spinnaker fills with wind and balloons out in front of the boat when it is deployed, called flying. It is constructed of...
. The class has a strict set of rules on sail size, shape and hull construction. Some variation is allowed in the details of how the boat is rigged (position of fittings etc).
The class has made some significant changes since inception, in the 1967 the bouancy tanks were redesigned to allow the boat to come up after a capsize with little water on board. In the 1980s the class underwent a transition from plywood to fibreglass hulls. In 2000 false floors were added allowing the boat to completely drain of water after a capsize or swamping.
Racing is competitive with many previous sailors going on to become world or Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champions in other classes. The skill level shown at a State or National event is high with racing being completed in up to 25 knots (49 km/h) of wind.
Many children however join in for the social side. Sometimes you will get two 11 year old friends match up to have fun while learning. Other times the younger children look up to the older children as "hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
es". Club racing is often like a friendly "family" where the focus is on learning. Even at major events "Novice" (learning) fleets allow the less experienced to compete and enjoy the fun.
As the sailors grow they often move onto Flying Eleven (dinghy)
Flying Eleven (dinghy)
The Flying Eleven is an Australian boat designed as a high performance racing skiff suitable for 12 to 18 year olds. High performance sailing is fast becoming the goal of a great many dinghy sailors with the appearance of 49ers as an Olympic class...
, 420 (dinghy)
420 (dinghy)
The International 420 Class Dinghy is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy with centreboard, bermuda rig and centre sheeting. The name describes the overall length of the boat in centimetres . The hull is fibreglass with internal buoyancy tanks. The 420 is equipped with spinnaker and optional...
or laser dinghy.
A quick count would suggest over 30,000 children have been introduced to sailing via the Manly Junior fleet.