Of all the dinghy designs that have passed through my hands over the years, none has given me more pleasure than my Mirror 16, Footloose. Built from a kit over the winter of 1969-70, she has served me well for thirty-five years, and shows every sign of serving me for another thirty-five if I can manage it.

The Mirror 16 was designed by Barry Bucknell and Jack Holt, and was introduced in 1965 as a bigger sister to the ubiquitous Mirror dinghy. Where the Mirror is 10ft 10in long, the 16 is 16ft; where the Mirror has 69 sq ft of sail, the 16 has 140 sq ft (or thereabouts - the figure varied over the years as the class developed). The 16 is a proper big dinghy, with accommodation for a crew of four adults, or two adults camping aboard. She was sold as a kit of parts by Bell Woodworking of Leicester, who produced the Mirror kits, and could be assembled in a matter of weeks by anyone with modest woodworking skills.

The hull is of stitch-and-glue construction, using pre-cut plywood panels joined with copper wire and glassfibre tape. The distinctive red sails were part of the package, as with the Mirror. The rig is a Bermudan sloop, with a fully-battened mainsail and a roller-furling genoa. A spinnaker was available as an optional extra. The boat planes readily in a good breeze, and can be driven hard by an experienced crew.

For cruising purposes, the 16 has several advantages over her smaller sister. The extra length and beam give more room for stores and camping gear. The cockpit is large enough for two people to sleep reasonably comfortably, using the floorboards as a mattress base. There is ample stowage under the foredeck and side decks. The boat is stable enough to walk around in, which makes cooking and other domestic tasks much easier than in a smaller boat.

The 16's performance under sail is excellent. She points well, tacks quickly, and has good speed in light airs. In stronger winds she can become a handful, especially when running, but this is true of most high-performance dinghies. The boat is easily reefed, and can be sailed comfortably in conditions that would have most racing dinghies heading for shore.

Production of the Mirror 16 ceased in the late 1970s, and the class gradually faded from view. Today there are probably fewer than a hundred boats still sailing in the UK, and finding one for sale is not easy. Those that do come on the market are usually in need of some restoration work, but the stitch-and-glue construction makes this relatively straightforward for anyone with basic DIY skills.

For the dinghy cruiser seeking a boat that combines good performance with reasonable accommodation, the Mirror 16 remains an excellent choice - if you can find one.