N2556 Minuteman

[National 12 Webmaster]

The life of N2556 Minuteman. Design: Minuteman, designed by: Jim Aldis in 1971

[david coleman]

[quote by=ntoa link=Blah.cgi?b=boats,m=2556,s=0 date=1172428147]The life of N2556 Minuteman. Design: Minuteman, designed by: Jim Aldis in 1971[/quote]

The designer Jim Aldis was or just before this time the Commodore of the cadet section of Earlswood Lakes Sailing Club and went on to study marine engineering or similar.

I helped  Graham Lewis build this boat in a garage at the bottom of the garden of his familty home in Kings Heath Birmingham.We were about 16/17 at the time and although only 4 planks a side scarfing the lenghts of ply and then shaping to fit was the most challenging part.

It was trailed on an adapted  2 boat trailer and sailed mostly on inland waters  based at Earlswood Lakes sailing club Solihull taking part in open meeetings and cadet team racing on the midlands cicuit in the early 1970's .It had a very full  and bouyant bow and the crew often sat in front of the shrouds upwind .It had a flat hull to rear, planed easily but was stable downwind although relatively narrow beam compared to other contemporary designs at the time.It was nearly written off in Salcombe Week when  as we were approaching the finishing line during very heavy weather (and leading our class !) We felt "imune" on Starboard but the cox of the ferry was apparently collecting fares and hadn't seen us.The bow of the ferry made  it through to the gunwhale and to the the third plankbefore turning  us turtle ( I still have the scars to prove it).The rear fixed bouyancy tank let in water and we had difficulty righting and getting ashhore. The boat was repaired and sold on to a lady owner at E.L.S.C.  I last saw this boat in the mid 1970's

David Coleman