Last weekend there was a moderate 12knot onshore wind in Auckland and it was an ideal time to take out the T3R and really enjoy the pace of sailing the reaches and the waves with the small T3R rig. 
The water was warm, the breeze was warm - and with the TIWAL 3R and a few waves, it was a great intro to summer sailing.  
The boat was really powered up with the small rig.  I was right at the back of the hiking bars and still having to work the waves to keep the boat going fast and not into the back of the next wave.  When I did go into the next wave the boat just kind of slows and a puddle of water floods it. It drains super quickly and then you are off again - exhilarating fun - if I may say so myself. 
The centreboard and rudder are slightly longer and it would be interesting to play with centreboard height a bit more downwind.   
For upwinds and bony bottoms, I recommend the hiking pads, (which are still on their way to this side of the world from France). 
Dont forget to book in a demo in the next few weeks - we are starting to get around the place and schedule times, - but if we don't know where you are, we wont get to you!  Twenty hour car rides are not in the schedule this year (no Lake Eyre trip either!)  but we may be tempted to put a demo boat on the plane and come to see you! 

Look forward to hearing from you. 

Melinda. 

Do you know what sort of sailing you want to do? 
​
Bill Gladstone's racing pyramid provides an overview of the time, money, and effort required to become an all-round sailor.   Whether or not you plan to race,  boat preparation is a large part of getting on the water (except if you own a TIWAL Inflatable Sailing Dinghy, of course!).

1. Boat Preparation
◦ This will vary according to IF you own a boat, what type of boat it is, and where it is kept. 
◦ Rigging the boat, choosing the right equipment.

Racing vs. Cruising?

Racing: Focuses on speed, competition, and continual improvement. It demands
dedication, skill, and strategic thinking. Consistently competing and evaluating
performance is the key to being able to put the whole package together to get a
good result.

Cruising: Emphasises relaxation, exploration, and enjoying the journey. It requires
good seamanship, navigation skills, and a love for the open water.

Skills include:

• 1. Mastering a winning start using timing and positioning at the start line. Use

transits (visual markers onshore) to judge your distance and angle to the line.

• 2. Use a combination of twist, depth, and angle of attack to optimise your sails.

Learn how to use tools like tension gauges to fine-tune rig settings and mast
bend.

• 3. Understand wind patterns and shifts. Study local wind conditions and

geographical influences on wind flow. Use forecasting models to anticipate wind
and weather.

• 4. Refine your crew’s positioning for optimal boat balance using fore and aft and

side to side ballast.

• 5. Smooth tacks and gybes by coordinating the crew’s actions. Use "roll tacks"

and "roll gybes" to take advantage of the boat’s momentum.

• 6. Stay ahead with the latest in technology such as high-modulus sails, carbon

fibre spars, and low-stretch ropes. Implement performance tracking tools to
analyse your speed, angles, and manoeuvres post-race.

• 7. Handle the boat efficiently across a spectrum of wind and wave conditions.

Develop specialised skills for light air, including keeping the boat moving

through subtle weight shifts and sail adjustments. In heavy air, focus on de-
powering techniques, using your sail controls to maintain boat control and

speed.

• 8. Using Navigation Tools such as Charts, GPS, Depth, Compass, Radar, AIS and

Mobile Apps.

Action Steps:
- Pick a couple of above topics to learn about such as tactics, rules or navigationskills and carve out some time to spend reading or watching the info.
- Find a friendly boat owner and commit to a season with them (usually one day a
week over summer or fortnightly over winter).
​
OR
-Find a boat to buy (and find a crew if needed) and join a sailing club.

If you have any questions about how to start your journey send me an email: [email protected] 

Today I sailed the pole race from Manly sailing club which is a seven mile race from Beach to Pole and return.   
On the first short reach I was  worried I had the battens too tight as there wasn't much wind and the top batten didn't pop,  but with a bit of breeze the boat very quickly accelerated and with a bit of centreboard up the TIWAL got on the plane.  I held onto the Zephyrs for a while, but in the light patches they pulled away from me.   
Around the first Mark then upwind for 3 1/2 miles sailing in 6-10 knots.  I had the small sail on and I had plenty of power.  I was using the controls through the puffs; playing with the outhaul, vang and the cunningham.  I sailed towards the shore hoping to find some extra breeze there to make up some ground on the Zephyrs but it was a no go.  It looked nice there - flat water but not as much wind.  It was a warm, humid NWer with rain clouds that didnt produce breeze, only seemed to suck it away.  It was one of those few occasions when heading to the shore wasnt the best course.  Of course the local Zephyr sailors seemed to know this - should have followed them!  
Downwind, unfortunately the wind died to 5 knots so the TIWAL wasnt given the chance to show its lightweight speed but it was pleasing that with each small puff there was a pleasant humming noise and slight vibration as the boat got on the plane. 
Overall, it was good sailing the boat with plenty of power.  I put plenty of shape in the battens before I left the shore which was perfect for the conditions.  The adjustable  battens will provide me with a bit of learning as I have never played with batten shape like this before.  

Today I took the T3R out for a quick sail in a moderate 6-10 knots.   There is a bit more rigging time to adjust the battens for the conditions and to rig the ropes which adjust the sail shape - but I imagine I will get quicker at this.  It took me 35mins from boat laid out and the sail already on the boom. 
It was around 6 knots and I was out on the hiking bars (at 55kgs that is usual for me) and then I looked up at the sail and had a bit of a wow moment.   How can I describe the joy of trimming a really good looking sail?  Well, its good!   The material is a soft laminate with full battens so it will last a long time.  The battens are adjustable so you can choose your sail shape for the conditions.  
I lined up against a couple of lasers who were racing and to my surprise I held my height with them.  Despite more wetted surface of the TIWAL I was able to stay the same height as them.  No doubt the longer, well shaped centreboard and rudder helps; as does the stiffer rig and the sail shape.  
I need to test it in stronger winds yet and I'm looking forward to that!
Go TIWAL - we have a product fit for racing now! 

I'm fortunate in that when I was a child I spent time in the Malborough Sounds  with boat only access - ie no car, so being on the water became natural.  I also learned to listen to weather forecasts, learn about tide, figure out what clothes were needed, how to manage waves, how to look after a boat, tie knots, use tools, navigate to different coastlines or beaches. ​

I recently sold a TIWAL to someone who grew up in the middle of a country with no land in sight.   But now he lives near the ocean, hoping to bring up his family to be capable both on land and on water. 

Did you grow up in the middle of the country - have you considered sailing as an achievable capability or is it something that you have never considered at all?

There are many sailing schools or if that is too expensive, there are boat owners who always need crew.  You need only turn up at a marina on a race day or check out crew wanted sites.  You need to know how to listen , follow instructions and ask questions. You will learn so much in one day!  (If you can't swim, wear a life jacket).  

The TIWAL is a simple boat - once you have set up the boat the first time, there is no need to tie any knot other than a figure 8 knot, and the parts click or slide together.   The boat is simple and comfortable enough to be able to give everyone a go in it.  Even the most unenthusiastic about sailing might find this a fun experience.  The only issue is you might never get to use the boat yourself! 

Why tow when you can stow? Tiwal fits snugly into a medium sized sedan boot, SUV or camper van load space.  No more towing or backing a trailer when launching.  In just 20 minutes from boot to briny you can be sailing a boat with all the lively qualities of popular monotype class dinghies.  In addition you can sail alone or two up, teach the children sailing independence at beach front, estuaries or navigable rivers. 


Check www.tiwal.nz to get your TIWAL delivered in 5 days to NZ or Australia. 


Or email [email protected] to book a sail.  Sailing lessons offered (NZ only)

The TIWAL NZ fleet had a great day at Maraetai on Saturday 26th November.  The weather was great and we started the day with lots of fun and laughter with an assembly race, followed by beach starts, short races, a shared picnic and a longer course in the afternoon. 

Congratulations, John Rusk, from Wellington, for winning the TIWAL Cup! 
On Sunday a few hardy sailors braved the slightly wet conditions at Royal Akarana Yacht Club for a harbour course. 

Thank you to the owners for making this a special weekend. We are inspired to keep the events going over the summer and look forward to more days on the water together. 

Thank you also to the supporters of TIWAL, Rob Dickson, Anna Wirth-Hogan and Tim Hogan, who helped us on the day. 

Thank you very much to the sponsors: 
Harken 
North Sails 
Max International 
Energiser 
Maraetai Sailing Club 
The Gibbs/Lane Family for the support boat. 
and Catherine Henshaw for the trophy! 

Here is an update from France: 

Tiwal is going to be 10 years old this year! 10 years of adventure, joy, challenges, but above all, 2,500 Captains in more than 50 countries.

In 2012, Designer Marion Excoffon took on a crazy challenge: to fit a sailboat into two bags and send it off to sail on all the seas of the world.

And now, 10 years later, it's a team of 10 people and more than 50 suppliers, working together to spread the pleasures of sailing, with a range of four boats. We want to go further, and we have more surprises in store for you for the coming years! A big thank you to all those Captains for their confidence in us.

Have you found your ideal sailboat yet? 
Check out this article in the latest Yachting World magazine:
https://www.yachtingworld.com/.../inflatable-sailing.... 
In it you will find a review on the The TIWAL 3R - an exhilarating performance sailing dinghy. 
The original TIWAL 3 is already an award winning sailing dinghy, and now the new super charged model is another step forward in realising your sailing dreams. 
Send me a message on [email protected] and I will send you an order form so you can get your TIWAL delivered to your door! 
Cheers 
Melinda
TIWAL Australia and New Zealand 
+64 21 611 623

Once when I was an inexperienced moth sailor trying to come ashore in Sorrento, VIC,  I had to sail downwind at speed while dodging anchor lines and moored boats.   It was a ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’ situation as I had a whole fleet behind me and no time to hesitate.   And, I had to get back to shore somehow. 


Like any challenging points in life sometimes having a simple way forward and a few tools up your sleeve makes the difference. 


If you or someone in your family has lost confidence in your sailing ability somewhere along the way then the following words are for you. 


Do you want to get back to a place where you find pleasure in planing downwind on waves, or making the most of good weather, relax time and time for good internal reflections?


Fear of failing to get the boat off the shore on the first go, of looking silly or having to be rescued are fears we all have when starting out. 


Here are a few steps to get you moving forward again (so to speak). 


⛵️Get a wind pennant : 

• To get a feel of how close you are pointing to the wind - especially in light winds when it isn't always easy to feel the wind on your face. 
• To reinforce where the wind is and where the sail should be  .. are you sailing across the wind or directly downwind?
• To give you a clear indication you are on the edge of a gybe

See the link for a wind indicator that will fit your TIWAL mast.https://www.huntsmarine.com.au...


Try one of these exercises each time you go sailing:


⛵️How is your exit from the shore going to look?
- Examine the angles from shore and imagine how you are going to get upwind.
- You will need to be moving forward before you try to point upwind.
- Take into account the amount of space you will need to sail in a sideways direction across the wind.
- Allow for a little sideways slip as the boat gets to full speed. 
- Tack only when you get to full speed.  If you try and tack at half speed you will end up stuck into the wind or ‘in irons’ and sailing backwards. 


⛵️When you are on the water practice coming to a stop near a stationary boat or mark in the water. This is like a ‘man overboard' drill so it is great to practice anyway. 

• Sail a reaching angle across the wind towards the mark. 
• Give yourself enough time to ease the sail and slow the boat before turning upwind enough to slow the boat
• Turn the boat upwind only enough to flap the sail - ie not all the way into the wind so you lose steering and control. 
• The object of the exercise is achieved - coming to a stop where and when you want to. 

For a visual aid go to:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?...


⛵️Practice sailing in circles talking to yourself as you turn -  I’m reaching, I'm bearing away,  I’m sailing downwind, I’m gybing, Im luffing up, I’m reaching, I’m sailing upwind, I’m tacking...  and so on! 




⛵️Coming ashore:
Practice stopping 20 metres out before you come ashore.
- Stop the boat by letting the sail go and turn slightly into the wind.
- Have a good look at the angle you want to come at the shore and imagine sailing that angle and how you will stop. 
Are you on the right gybe to turn the boat into the wind and stop?
Have you lifted your rudder up a little?
Will lifting the centreboard a little help you slip sideways to land in the spot you want to land?


I fail to do a perfect landing all the time, and but luckily that particular landing at Sorrento turned out to be just perfect (and the sailor following me just happened to be world famous. - a moment in time I wont forget!) 

Recreational sailing has just blown up beyond your sweetest dreams!
TIWAL Inflatable Sailing Dinghy. 
Bring your new sailling pal and potter around in bays, anchorages, and lakes. The ideal training yacht. 
Contact us at www.tiwal.nz and get the TIWAL delivered to your door in Australia, NZ and the South Pacific.