1. The Didi Mini Radius Chine Plywood Trans-Atlantic Racer
Performance on a small budget
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

2. Radius Chine Plywood? What is that? Where did it come from?
I had a need to build a new boat:-
Quickly
At minimal cost
It had to be fast
It had to look good
It had to be capable of crossing oceans
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

3. Build it quickly Typical amateur boatbuilder
Holding down full-time job
Build weekends & evenings
Time demands of family & home
Quality time with family
Home maintenance etc
Vacations
2 Years build time available
Need efficient building method
Sheet materials for rapid assembly
Minimal temporary structure
Waste of time & money
Build mainly alone
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

4. At minimal cost Typical amateur boatbuilder Limited funds available
Build with minimal facilities
No costly toolings
No costly equipment
Efficient material usage
No spare cash to pay professionals
Exotic materials out of the question
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

5. It had to be fast Race across the Atlantic Fun to sail
Capable on all points of sail
Emphasis on downwind speed
Quick to surf
Plane in strong conditions
Easy to control
Easy speed
Tiller steered (Lightweight & cheap)
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

6. It had to look good Close as possible to round bilge Not multi-chine
Elegant simplicity
Good resale value
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

7. Capable of crossing oceans
1st Goal - Race Cape to Rio
Across the South Atlantic
Some owners will race oceans
Others will cruise oceans
2nd Goal – Race back double-handed
Thereafter, race & cruise Cape of Storms
Notorious wind and sea conditions
Winter storms with massive seas
Summer gales
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

8. The Result Didi 38 “Black Cat”
LOA 11.5m [37’ 9”]
LWL 10.33m [33’ 10”]
Beam 3.4m [11’ 2”]
Draft 2.25m [7’ 4”]
Displ IMS 4 tons
Displ sailing 4.75 tons
Ballast 2 tons
Ballast ratio 50%
Displ/LWL 120
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

9. Cape to Rio 1996 Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc The “Peanut Butter Boat”
Sponsored by Black Cat Peanut Butter
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

10. Cape to Rio ’96 Summary 3640 miles in 21 days 15 hrs (avg 7 knots)
Best 24hr run 250 miles (avg 10.4 knots)
Best speed knots
Best speed knots
Finished in top 20% of fleet
On similar LOA, only beaten by Farrier 38 trimaran
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

11. Developed from Didi 38
Chronological design development - each influenced by preceding designs
Didi 34
Didi 26
Didi Mount Gay 30
Didi Mini
Didi 40cr (variation on Didi 38)
Didi Cruise-Mini
DH550
Didi 23
Didi 28
Dix 470
Didi Mini Mk3
Didi Cruise-Mini Mk3
DS15
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

12. Didi 34 LOA 10.5m [34’ 5”] LWL 9.6m [31’ 6”] Beam 3.4m [11’ 2”]
Draft 2.25m [6’ 3”]
Displ IMS 3.6 tons
Displ sailing 4.3 tons
Ballast 1.73 tons
Ballast ratio 48%
Displ/LWL 135
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

13. Didi 26 LOA 8.0m [26’ 3”] LWL 7.55m [24’ 9”] Beam 2.47m [8’ 1”]
Draft 0.5/1.7m [1’ 8”/5’ 7”]
Displ light 1.0 tons
Displ sailing 1.5 tons
Ballast .44 tons
Ballast ratio 44%
Displ/LWL 97
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

14. Didi Mount Gay 30 LOA 9.6m [31’ 6”] LWL 8.4m [27’ 7”]
Beam 3.25m [10’ 8”]
Draft 1.95m [6’ 5”]
Displ IMS 2.3 tons
Displ sailing 3.16 tons
Ballast 1.15 tons
Ballast ratio 50%
Displ/LWL 149
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

15. DH550 LOA 16.75m [55’ 0”] LWL 15.7m [51’ 6”] Beam 8.70m [28’ 7”]
Hull beam 2.0m [6’ 7”]
Draft 1.0m [3’ 4”]
Displ sailing 12.5 tons
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

16. Didi Mini LOA 6.5m [21’ 4”] LWL 6.45m [21’ 2”] Beam 3.0m [9’ 10”]
Draft 2.0m [6’ 7”]
Displ light 0.85 tons
Displ to DWL 1.05 tons
Ballast 0.32 tons
Ballast ratio 38%
Displ/LWL 109
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

17. Didi Mini Lines
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

18. Didi Mini Details
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

19. Didi Mini Construction
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

20. Didi Mini Sailplan
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

21. Didi Mini Interior
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc

22. Didi Mini Water Ballast
Dudley Dix Yacht Design, Inc