What’s New
Fire destroys Abbott Boats
Martin 16 production facility
On Saturday, June 17, the Abbott Boats production facility in Sarnia Ontario was all but destoyed in a fire. The production tooling and materials inventories of Martin 16s have been partially or totally destroyed and there will be an interuption in the production of the Martin 16 through the summer of 2006.
Martin 16 Paralympic Bid Project
was formed to present the Martin 16 as proven equipment for a new Paralympic sailing event sanctioned by the International Foundation for Disabled Sailing. The Martin 16 Paralympic Bid Project generated an outpouring of endorsement and support from Martin 16 sailors and program operators from around the globe. You can read over 50 of their letters here.
2005 Martin 16 European Championship
Lovere Italy, October 24 - 29
On October 24 – 29, the first Martin 16 European Championship were hosted by Associazione Dilettantistica Velica Alto Sebino di Lovere (www.avas.it ) on beautiful Lago d’iseo, nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps. The town of Lovere offered a warm welcome to eleven teams of Martin 16 sailors from the U.K., Greece, Canada and Italy. Over the week, we discovered that the AVAS Sailing Center is a superb accessible venue and the racing on the north end of Lago d'iseo provides "textbook" conditions. (you can read more about the Martin 16 European Championship event here... )
On behalf of all of the Martin 16 sailors, I thank the town of Lovere and AVAS for their gracious hospitality and providing excellent racing for our growing fleet. Regatta Chairman and Olympic sailmaker, Pablo Soldano summed it up, saying: “the weather and sailing conditions were fantastic and Maria and Sergio (owners of the Hotel Continental) hosted our guests, graciously. Everyone enjoyed themselves sailing in Lovere and we're already planning another Martin 16 / 2.4 mR event for the spring of 2006 ”
There is no doubt that Lovere Italy will become a favoured venue for future Martin 16 events.
2005 Martin 16 European Championship Results
Martin 16 Boat Review by Yachts & Yachting Magazine (U.K.)
Ian Pinnell of Pinnell & Bax in U.K. invited Yachts & Yachting to test the Martin 16. John Robertson, UK Paralympic Sonar helmsman, and Mark Rushall of Y&Y took a Martin 16 for a spin on a blustery day on Pittsford Reservoir and they had quite a ride!
Martin 162 ... optimized for two-person sailing
The Martin 16 two-person sailing format has been under development since 2003. IFDS World Champion Dan Fitzgibbon from Australia recognized that the Martin 16 needs more horsepower to drive the boat through choppy seas with two typical men aboard, and Dan fitted a 29er rig to his Martin 16 with excellent results. 
This spring, I've refined the M162 rig by specifying a reasonably priced high-quality SELDEN tapered mast section, and having Spike Boston at DOYLE BOSTON SAILS design a great suit of M162 sails for the taller mast. So you use all of your existing Martin 16 rigging and controls, just the M162 mast section and sails are larger - just like the Laser Class "standard" and "radial" rigs.
I've sailed M162s in sea trials and in all Martin 16 Class events this season. The larger M162 rig performs well in all conditons (performance date is available) and the M162 LOOKS HOT! Paralympic sailors at the Toronto NOOD Regatta gave the M162 a big "thumbs up!" as more powerful, more challenging to sail, and MORE FUN!
The M162 rig/sails are not yet Class Legal. The Martin 16 Class Association has been involved in the sea trials this spring and is studyng how to include the new M162 in the Class Rules. The next step is for Martin 16 Class Members to get into an M162, sail the new format in local events and then recommend the M162 sailing format to the Class Association for approval.
Dan Fitzgibbon and I are committed to the M162 rig, and we want you to join us. Here's how you can get into an M162 this season ...
1. Upgrade your M16 with an M162 rig...
The M162 rig and keel modification can be fitted to any standard Martin 16! I have M162 spars and matching M162 mylar sails for sale at a very special price. The M162 upgrade kit includes:
- M162 mast section and rigging
- M162 main & jib (Doyle BOSTON)
- Split keel box N.C. machined bearing set and thwart
M162 upgrade package:
CDN $2,005 US $ 1,670
2. Order a new M162...
M162s are now factory-built, optimized for two-person sailing. The M162 upgrade includes
- M162 mast section and rigging
- M162 main & jib (Doyle BOSTON)
- Split keel box (1.0mR draft or 1.3mR draft)
If you're ordering a new M16, the cost to upgrade to an M162 at the time of order is minimal.
M162 upgrade - new boat order:
CDN $650 US $ 550
For more detailed information, you can download M162 Flyer.
Steve Alvey – General Manager, Martin 16
INVENTURE MANAGEMENT LIMITED
403-870-7210
steve@martin16.com
Martin 16 Paralympic Bid Project
On April 18, the International Paralympic Committee announced a new two-person keelboat sailing event will be added to the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. This new event will compliment the current one-person (2.4mR Class) and three-person (Sonar Class) Paralympic events and, for men and women with a Paralympics dream, the two-person event has opened a door for new teams to train and excel.
The Martin 16 Class has been developing the two-person sailing format over the past three seasons, gaining vital experience that will support our submission for the Martin 16 as the IFDS “equipment” choice for this new Paralympic event in the 2008 and 2012 Games. The IFDS Equipment Evaluation Commission is currently evaluating the Martin 16 as a potential two-person sloop for the 2008 Paralympic Games. The IFDS will announce their decision at the ISAF AGM in Singapore, November 2005.
The Martin 16 Paralympic Bid Project has been formed to prepare a submission to the IFDS Equipment Evaluation Committee , due August 1, 2005, and present the Martin 16 two-person sloop as the equipment of choice for the 2008/2012 Paralympic Games.
I am proud that the Martin 16 may now be sanctioned as a sailboat for men and women committed to represent their country in the Paralympic Games, offering opportunities for sailors with severe disabilities to compete at the highest levels. This would be a most fitting recognition of Don Martin’s remarkable design.
I invite you to Get on Board! and support the Martin 16 Paralympic Bid Project. Please contact me directly or anyone on our Martin 16 Paralympic Bid Project - Advisory Committee to address any questions the Commission Members may have.
Sincerely,
Sam Sullivan, Chairman
Martin 16 Paralympic Bid Project
604-688-6464 x107
Pinnell & Bax new UK Distributor
In January 2005, INVENTURE MANAGEMENT LIMITED and PINNELL & BAX signed a Distribution Agreement, giving PINNELL & BAX exclusive rights to market the Martin 16 sloop in the United Kingdom.
2005 will be another great year for M16 Class Events. Check them out! And RENEW YOUR M16 CLASS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP. Download the Membership Form (Acrobat pdf) and send it in! If you need to download Adobe Acrobat click here.
Sip & Puff Master Rene Dallaire in his beautiful new "Aladin" in St. Petersburg (that’s how Rene spells "Aladdin" in French...)
See you on the water!
Steve Alvey – General Manager, Martin 16
INVENTURE MANAGEMENT LIMITED
403-870-7210
steve@martin16.com