Buzz (dinghy)
Encyclopedia
The Buzz is a sailing dinghy designed in 1994 by Ian Howlett and manufactured by Reg White Limited of Brightlingsea
as part of the "White Formula" range of boats marketed by Topper International Ltd
. The Buzz is a double handed racing boat, with a single trapeze
for the crewman. The boat has a fully battened mainsail, furling jib and an asymmetric
spinnaker
. There have been around 500 boats built. The Buzz is designed to be an easy to sail boat, but it can also be raced competitively.
The Buzz can be an exhilarating boat to sail and is claimed to be a safe starting point for sailing novices. The boat also has good performance, making it suitable for racing by more experienced crews. The Buzz has proven itself to be easy to right after capsizing, and it is straightforward to re-board the boat from the water, partly due to its low centre of buoyancy and self draining cockpit with its open transom
. The open transom also means that the boat drains quickly on righting doing away with the need for self bailers.
The Buzz can be sailed by a wide age range; in the UK National Championships for Buzz's the crews who won the individual races varied greatly in weight, proving that the Buzz offers opportunity to sailors of all ages and weight. The Buzz has a beam of nearly two metres, giving it a very large width, which means that it is easily accessible to older or larger sailors.
Brightlingsea
Brightlingsea is a coastal town in the Tendring district of Essex, England, located between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea, situated at the mouth of the River Colne, on Brightlingsea Creek. It has an estimated population of 8500....
as part of the "White Formula" range of boats marketed by Topper International Ltd
Topper (dinghy)
The Topper is an 11 foot sailing dinghy designed by Ian Proctor. The Topper is a one-design boat sailed mostly in the British Isles. It was recognised as an International class by the International Sailing Federation...
. The Buzz is a double handed racing boat, with a single trapeze
Trapeze (sailing)
In sailing, the trapeze refers to a wire that comes from a point high on the mast, usually where the shrouds are fixed, to a hook on the crew member's harness at approximately waist level...
for the crewman. The boat has a fully battened mainsail, furling jib and an asymmetric
Asymmetric
Something which is asymmetric displays asymmetry. Specific uses of the term may include:*Asymmetric relation for information on such relations in mathematics and set theory*Asymmetric warfare for information and theories of modern war...
spinnaker
Spinnaker
A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90°–180° off the bow. The spinnaker fills with wind and balloons out in front of the boat when it is deployed, called flying. It is constructed of...
. There have been around 500 boats built. The Buzz is designed to be an easy to sail boat, but it can also be raced competitively.
Performance
The Buzz is similar to the ISO racing dinghy, it is scaled down version of the larger boat, being 10 kg lighter and with a smaller sail area of 12.85m², compared to the ISO's 14.74m². However, unlike the ISO the Buzz does not have the option of wings to assist the righting moment for shorter or lighter crews.The Buzz can be an exhilarating boat to sail and is claimed to be a safe starting point for sailing novices. The boat also has good performance, making it suitable for racing by more experienced crews. The Buzz has proven itself to be easy to right after capsizing, and it is straightforward to re-board the boat from the water, partly due to its low centre of buoyancy and self draining cockpit with its open transom
Transom (nautical)
In naval architecture, a transom is the surface that forms the stern of a vessel. Transoms may be flat or curved and they may be vertical, raked forward, also known as a retroussé or reverse transom, angling forward from the waterline to the deck, or raked aft, often simply called "raked", angling...
. The open transom also means that the boat drains quickly on righting doing away with the need for self bailers.
The Buzz can be sailed by a wide age range; in the UK National Championships for Buzz's the crews who won the individual races varied greatly in weight, proving that the Buzz offers opportunity to sailors of all ages and weight. The Buzz has a beam of nearly two metres, giving it a very large width, which means that it is easily accessible to older or larger sailors.