Colin Thorne's Radio Sailing Technology

Started designing boats at age 5. Dad built this one.
Designed and built model aeroplanes in teens

At 19 built first Morris Mk 2 moth, sailed with River and Western Suburbs Clubs, Built a second 2 years later. Runner up club championship.

A season in VS’s then overseas to UK, sailed Merlin Rockets and National 12’s mostly at Raneleagh Club in London.

Returned Home, a season as club instructor (too broke to buy a boat) then a season in Herons.

Then a love affair with NS14’s. After 2 Javelin hulls, designed Tweededee, won championships in 1968 with sister ship second mainly due to low wave impact drag and adjustably conformable rig.

Wind tunnel tests with Frank Bethwaite, Charlie Mansfield and Dr P. Smith.

Designed Fiddle de Dee NS14, (on right, other is sister ship)club champion but too busy at work for serious campaigning.

Changed to trailer yachts, designed and marketed Timpenny 670 (Seacraft magazine Trailer Yacht of the Year, 1975). See www.Timpenny.com.au

Sold 110 of the 670’s in Australia and about 30 in UK before “Thatchernomics’ and oil crisis stopped sales.

Later designed Timpenny 770. Sold about 30 770’s in Australia.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia were concerned about self righting safety for the next Hobart race after NZ centreboard boats like Swuzzlebubble were lost at sea. Served on panel at with Messrs Alan Payne, John Meehan, and Marshall to formulate self righting requirment. Later wrote much of trailer yacht safety regulations for YA.

Gap for profession then had Polar Bear II built, cruised North Queensland and NE New Zealand when retired, so far about 16,000 sea miles.

In USA and Canada did “Great Loop” 6000 miles of rivers, canals and estuaries by power boat.

Circa 2006 started radio sailing.