SMALL BOAT REVIEW
The Windmill Story By Jabbo Gordon,
Like Dr. Frankenstein, Clark Mills created a monster, and he had to do something about it. Photo by Lisa Farth
M
ills’ monster was the Clearwater Optimist Pram, which has evolved into the International Optimist Dinghy. More than 150,000 have served youngsters all over the world, and it is the largest one-design vessel on the planet. Not bad for a boat that some folks call a shoebox with a sail on it. When Mills designed it in 1947, his main purpose was to create a training platform so kids could learn to sail. Quickly, his little pram hooked hundreds on sailing in general and racing in particular. However, the age limit was— and still is—15. As some of his disciples aged out, they found their options were limited. The class of choice around Clearwater, FL, at the time was the Snipe. And while the Clearwater Yacht Club had some great Snipe sailors and hosted the midwinters every year, a Snipe was relatively expensive, especially for a teenager. A competitive Snipe in those days might cost about $1,500, which was big money in the early 1950s, especially when the kid had paid about $75 for his Optimist Pram. It was back to the drawing board for Mills. And he designed still another winner and named it after himself:
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Nonsuch 30 Many Recent Ultra 1989, Great Condition Upgrades. diesel, Max prop, Reverse 30hp Universal anchor windlass cycle heat and air, DC refrigeratio with 2 anchors, top loading n, full stove/oven , propane galley with propane propane cabin hot water heater, teries, custom heater, new Lifeline or cushions, dodger and Bimini, AGM batdepth/speed, new autopilot, new interiVHF, GPS, AM/FM/CD TV/DVD $59,000 , HD OBO (813) flatscreen (1/10) 244-3050.
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Hunter 30, Very good 1978. condition. 3 jibs, spinnaker, asymmetrical—a ll in great condition. New cushions, dodger, portlights. Chartplotte r. 4-foot draft, standard Rebuilt engine. rig. Extremely wellmaintained . New Bottom Paint. $16,500. Palmetto, FL. (941) 7205750. (2/10)
WHAR RAM TIKI CATA MARA 30 FOR SALE N
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1977 Cheoy Perkins 4-108.Lee Offshore 33 Ketch with Loaded with equipment. new Wind Gen, Only 3' 8" draft. Recent upgraded GPS, H&C Solar, Windlass, Refrig, Awl-Grip, and more. APressure water, Head withPropane, classic beauty Shower www.CortezYachts.com asking $33,000. or (941) 792-9100.
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30’ Hunter diesel, Bimini,Cherubini 1982 with new Genoa, dodger, Harken roller Yanmar Autohelm furling, marine air 3000 sure water, conditioning, hot and autopilot, bow sprit w/anchor cold presgreen top sides, roller, $19,500. Cortez very well maintained Imron . Asking Yacht Sales. (941) 792-9100.
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Go to www.tiki30 .blogspot.com to view an online the step-by-ste journal documenti ng p building of this boat. Built by Boatsmith, www.boatsmithFL.co Inc., Jupiter, FL m. (561)744-0 855 ATLANTIC CLASS 30’ Beautiful classic fiberglass sloop. day sailer responsive. or board, (941)Norths, roller furler, racer, fast inme@veriz 366-3812, 284-6785covers, outon.net. (3/10) (cell). rck-
$25,000 ter rigged 30’ custom built, aft transmissionketch. The hull & Volvocabin, cutwere completely engine & in 2007. Hand re-conditioned laid up Sweden in 1980. Mainfiberglass hull. Built in tee/berths each cabin has 6-foot setward V-berth. side and a semi-enclo sed forTom O’Brien Boat lies in Cortez, zon.net. (3/10)(941) 518-0613. FL. Contact jtoaia@veri-
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Nassau 34 by President boat, fiberglass, Marine, 1983. Project keel, aluminum diesel, double spars, davits, ended, full refrig, Marine teak decks, Air, propane. www.Corte $15,900 zyachts.com . (941) 792-9100.OBO 1974 Morgan 2431. (2/10) 35 Sloop. $13,000.
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1996 MANTA top with davits. CAT 40. 3 bed/2 bath. Hard 3210 Garmin sonar, chartplotte with r and weather.radar, GPS, autopilot, 3 Invertor, tric winch, depthfinders, VHF, 2-speed windlass with elec2 marine A/Cs, CQR and Danforth. 40hp diesels. large fridge and freezer, TV, 2 Sell $249K 12’ CC Caribe dinghy or trade for w/40hp. diesels. Located 40’ Mainship (305) 743-9629. in Marathon, Florida w/2 (3/10a) Keys.
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ER www.CortezY achts.com 941-792-9100 Brokerage Slips Available www.south windsmaga zine.com
(941) 795-8704 editor@southwindsmagazine.com Place online at: www.southwindsmagazine.com/classifieds News & Views for Southern Sailors
“Wind-Mill.” It is the same length (15’ 6”) as a Snipe, but it is three inches narrower and somewhat lighter at 198 pounds (minimum) compared to a Snipe’s 381 pounds. Another difference is that the Windmill uses a wooden daggerboard instead of a metal board. It has a hard chine that adds stability to the hull shape, which has a slight “vee” to it, but it will still plane. In addition, the Windmill was simpler to build and could be purchased in kits, like the Optimist, with the idea that a father and his son or daughter could put it together. The cost: $750, half the price of a Snipe. The rigging is about the same, although a Snipe’s sail area (main and jib) is 128 square feet whereas a Windmill has only 119 square feet. Neither boat has a spinnaker or a trapeze. Ah, but how would it compete against the more established Snipe? It was actually faster. Still is. Ethan Bixby, of North Sails in St. Petersburg, grew up racing 505s out of Melbourne Yacht Club on Florida’s east coast and sailed collegiately for Tufts University. He still competes in 505s along with Contenders, Snipes and Windmills. And Bixby is quick to say that a Windmill is quicker than a Snipe.
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