Another Didi Mini Mk3 Launch

About 3 weeks ago Ronald Groenewoud launched his Didi Mini Mk3 in Netherlands. Last week another was launched,  meticulously built by Mark Paterson in Vancouver, British Columbia. Named "Voodoo Child", Mark has no plans to race her in the formal Mini-transat class but will compete in local mixed fleet club racing. He has outfitted her with all normal Mini 650 equipment plus a few extras for comfort.

Transported on her road trailer.

"Voodoo Child" in the travel lift slings, on the way to the water.

Rig up and testing sails for fit.

Transom with twin rudders.

Cockpit and cabin with crew shelter. 

Mark has opted for the fixed keel option, with trim tab.

Robust companion hatch, as seen from the cockpit.

Electrical and electronics panel.

Plumbed-in toilet, shown during construction.

Compact galley, shown during construction.

Mark is now doing sea trials, bedding the rig in, testing sails and systems and learning what his new boat can do, as well as its character. Testing was with white sails last weekend and will move on to the powerful asymmetrical next. I will show sailing photos on this blog when available.

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Didi Mini Mk3 Launch in Netherlands

Ronald Groenewoud is in Enschede, Netherlands. He has been building his Didi Mini Mk3 for the past three years and launched her today. (Mobile web page for this design). This is a radius chine plywood boat, built from our plans.

From his photos it seems that he has done a great job of building her. I don't have info on the boat or the builder to write a story, so will rely on Ronald's photos to tell that story for me.

Hull completed. It is built over permanent plywood bulkheads.

Deck stringers added, ready to receive the 6mm plywood deck skins.

Completed hull and deck, finished to a beautiful standard.

Pouring encapsulated foam flotation required by the Mini 650 Class Rules.

Fabricated aluminium keel.

Pouring the lead ballast bulb in halves, to be joined over the keel.

Ready to leave the workshop. Tight fit, with some plaster removed from both
sides of the opening to let it squeeze through.

Custom road trailer, ready and waiting.

Loaded and ready to go.

Launched with a travel-lift.

Afloat.

Waiting for her rig. Maybe tomorrow?

Ronald built his boat single-handed, as he is likely to sail it most of the time. Congratulations Ronald, looks like you have built a good boat. Ronald has a Dutch-language blog but the photos look the same in any language. :-)

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Didi 40cr Build in Ukraine

There is a Didi 40cr project that has been going on quietly and without any fuss in Eastern Europe. My communications with them are via my translation program, which is good but sometimes a bit confusing in its results. I hope that my reporting here has no unforgivable errors.

Their boat is now nearing completion and I have received the first photos that I have seen of her. The hull was built in a private boatyard in Kherson, near to the mouth of the Dnieper River where it enters the Black Sea. After that is was moved for fitting out and completion at the Ilyichevsk Shipyard in Odessa.

Didi 40cr nearly ready to get wet.

There are three experienced sailors associated with the project, who plan to campaign it next year in the Rolex Middlesea Race. Owner is Sergey Mashtakov and he has with him Eugene Kobozev as skipper and Sergey Ivchenko doing tactics. Sergey Ivchenko bought the plans from us and built the hull. No doubt the rest of the racing crew will be from their normal sailing circle in Ukraine.

Deck finishes and hardware going on.

She is being equipped to a good standard, with Selden rig, hardware by Barton and Andersen, Raymarine instrumentation and power by Mitsubishi.

Interior fitting out.

Launch will be about the end of this month, in Ukraine. I look forward to more info and pics when she is sailing.

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