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Marblehead Tech Dinghy Association

Robert Brown

Marblehead Tech Dinghy Association

This past Sunday afternoon we had the pleasure of taking photographs of a newly formed frostbite organization in Marblehead called the Marblehead Tech Dinghy Association. The organization started when MIT decided to sell its fleet. The group was formed and decided to purchase the MIT fleet.

A Safe Group Activity

The timing could not have been better. Covid put restrictions on people’s activities, but this activity required only one person in each dinghy. This made it a safe activity during these challenging times. With a small investment of $1,250, the participants discovered a way to have fun through the winter.

Jocking for position

Racing a dinghy is far different than a majority of the sailboats in Marblehead. The typical sailboat is much bigger and heavier. The dinghy requires a totally different set of boat handling skills. Skippers are required to “roll tack” and adjust their body weight.

Pay Close Attention to the Wind Shifts

The race courses are short, which means a good start is crucial along with mark roundings. Starts and mark roundings are when it can be crazy. The boats tend to be within close proximity of each other. Inches often decide the winners. The winds tend to be very shifty within the harbor, which can alter the positions in seconds. Skippers need to pay close attention to the wind shifts.

As potential buyers of real estate on the Northshore look to see if there are activities that are of interest, it is good to know of the diversified choices. Creating awareness and energy is so important.

If you’re interested in learning more about it we encourage you to visit their Facebook account

We’ve shared some photos below, but if you’d like to see the entire album, click here!

Below are a series of instructional videos provided by Tomas Hornos. He covers a variety of topics:

  1. General Rigging

  2. Sail Shape

  3. Sail Trim

  4. Roll Tacking

  5. Tuning Shrouds & Forestay

Great article in Sailing World magazine:

https://www.sailingworld.com/racing/tech-dinghies-take-to-marblehead/