The Mudlark is an ideal boat to introduce 8-12 year olds to sailing.
It is a small single-handed sailing dinghy designed and built in Western Australia. With a minimum weight of only 20 kgs and a length of 2.1 m it can easily be transported on the roof of car.
It is simple to rig, easy to sail and has a self draining hull made of fibreglass or wood.
Secondhand boats are available from $250 - $750 and new boats can be made at home.
Sailed at Shelley, Perth Dinghy, Mounts Bay Sailing Clubs and Geraldton Yacht Club.
Contact: Mudlark Manager
Western Australian designed and using fibreglass hybrid construction, which allows for
home construction, this one-design high performance 3.4 m dinghy with a crew of 2, one on a trapeze, offers the junior sailor plenty of thrills
The class is ideal for 12-18 year olds progressing from classes like the Mudlark.
It has working sails of 8.6sq m and now uses an asymmetric spinnaker set from a retractable pole. This has made the class the fastest per dollar of it's type.
Secondhand boats are available for around $1000.
Clubs Sailed at: Shelley, Perth Dinghy and Koombana Bay Sailing Clubs
Contact: Alan Spargo (08) 9417 4548
Jay Dee Association e-mail to Shayne Leslie
This one-design 3.4 m gaff-rigged sailing dinghy with a crew of
two, usually two juniors or an adult and a junior,offers uncomplicated and inexpensive sailing for the family.
Made of timber or fibreglass the Heron is easy to sail competitively or purely for family enjoyment.
Secondhand boats are available from around $600 to $2000 usually with a trailer.
Sailed at Shelley, Perth Dinghy and Mounts Bay Sailing Clubs and Maylands Yacht Club.
Contact:
Heron Class Captain
WA Heron Sailing Association
At 4.2 long and weighing 58kg Lasers are sailed single-handed by men and women from 15 to over 60 years of age.
Different sail sizes cater for different crew weights and experience. The Radial rig of 5.7sq m is designed for persons under 70kg and the Standard rig of 7sq m for 70kg and over.
The Laser is the most popular single-handed one design racing class in the world with 170,000 boats registered in over 115 countries.
Secondhand boats are available for around $2500
Sailed at Shelley, Princess Royal and Koombana Bay Sailing Clubs, Geographe Bay and Maylands Yacht Clubs.
Contact:Chris George (08) 9446 6462
WA Laser Association e-mail to Chris GeorgeMinnow
The Minnow is a strictly one design class which provides an affordable entry to sailing and is ideal for juniors who have outgrown Mudlarks.The craft uses an the easy-to-build ply or fibreglass construction.
Sailed at The Cruising Yacht Club, Rockingham and Maylands Yacht Club
Contact: Minnow Manager
Minnow AssociationPelican
The Pelican is the premier two-handed training dinghy for junior sailors in WA. Pelicans are 2.9 metres long, constructed of fibreglass or wood with aluminium or wood spars. The combination mainsail and spinnaker configuration, gives young sailors and easily handled boat, to develop sailing fundamentals.
Sailors learn from the age of 8, can progress to club racing and State championships. WA sailors have gone on to represent Australia and win the youth world championships.
Secondhand boats are available from around $300 (wood) - $1200 (fibreglass) or $3500 new.
Pelicans are sailed at Shelley, South of Perth, East Fremantle, Esperance, Augusta, Geographe Bay and Geraldton Clubs.
Contact: Warren Keating (08) 9354 1742
Pelican Association
This 14ft GRP and aluminium off-the-beach catamaran is built in Perth and won an Australian Design Award for its innovative yet simple features which makes
it an affordable boat with low maintenance.
The Windrush is suitable for the beginner, serious sailor and the family and can be cat or sloop rigged. It is easily rigged and handled single-handed.Secondhand boats are available from $2500 and new boats can be purchased for around $8000.
Sailed at Shelley, Jervoise Bay, Lake Hagboon and Whitfords Bay Sailing Clubs and Geraldton, Carnarvon, Denmark, Geographe Bay, Nedlands, Port Walcott, Safety Bay and WalpoleYacht Clubs.
Contact: Cliffe Rolfe (08) 9443 3970
