Messages

Just to remind you all that the Thames Area coaching day will take place at Desborough SC on the Thames near Shepperton this Saturday.  Start time - arrive 10am for 11am.  Leading the coaching will be Graham Camm, national champion, so you can't get any better than that.  And there'll be a chance to try out a double-bottomed boat.

If you're interested and haven't already indicated you're coming, post here or email anne@annemurch.co.uk, or phone 020 8783 9243.

Mike D
N3496

Just to say a big thank you to Paul Turner and the whole Trent Valley team for a great weekend.  Those of you not there missed a terrific first Gill river meeting.  Now if only we could all the tell the difference between port and starboard when it comes to going round marks ...

Mike D
N3496

Paul - have got as far as downloading form, filling it in, and writing cheque.  However, no apparent information anywhere on form about where to send it.  Anne, I and Flipside will be there, and will send entry in advance if you can give address ...

Mike D
N3496

Unfortunately, Anne and I won't now be able to go to Salcombe week. We have a nice two bedroom (sleeps 4) apartment close to the centre of town booked through Coast & Country Cottages.  I'll be cancelling in the next few days.  If anyone wants it, let me know so that we can coordinate cancelling and rebooking - email anne@annemurch.co.uk if you're interested.

Mike D
N3496

Money sent for tickets a while back but nothing received in return - I assume that tickets will be given out when we get there?

Mike D
N3496

Quite simply, no - all aids to sitting out except toestraps and muscles are expressly prohibited - check out the rules in the handbook for the exact wording.  Twelves have the beautiful flared shapes they have because of this - to get the crew and helm weight out as far as possible without artificial aids.  

Mike D
N3496

I'm not even sure you would need to put a block inside the boom.  You can double or even treble the purchase between the clew and the end of the boom using appropriate blocks.  Then take the string straight through the boom and stick another block on the end.  If you are then leading the string back either side, you'll get another extra purchase and that ought to be enough.

Mike D
N3496

Hmm, happy memories eh Antony?  Not sure mine are ... I was at Leeds Univ and sailed there team racing over the pretty miserable winter of 1971-2 - yes, it was that long ago.  Wetsuit with yellow taped seams had to be stuck together after every outing in beaten up Fireflies and I recall being very cold and the water being very grey.  All that doesn't make the prize draw any less attractive, of course.

Mike D
N3496

The 12 stand at the show was superb - thanks to great work by Graham, Nigel and many others, not least the owners who prepared the five boats so beautifully.  We made a real impact and I spoke to around six people personally just on Saturday morning who are seriously considering converting to 12s.  

In answer to the previous post, you'll get Cheshire Cat's lines from Mike Jackson - it would be a very retro thing to do - but why not?

Mike D
N3496

You're right - Whitastable had a good fleet a few years ago plus a regular open meeting and occasional championships.  The club is still listed on this website but it seems all the previously active members are now hibernating or moved on to less good things.  You'll find active 12s and open meetings at Chipstead (not that far away towards London) and Thorpe Bay (er, quite near by water). You'll be very welcome at any of the Thames Area meetings this year if you fancy some travelling - it's a good way to meet other 12 sailors and pick up some tips.

Mike D
N3496

Meds finished 31st overall incl a 12 in race 7 - pretty impressive ...

Mike D

The Newsletter's been a bit delayed this year due to technical reasons (!), but should be arriving early March - so the report went at the last Committee meeting.

Mike D
N3496

Regret ...  just travelling back from week's skiing that day so will have to miss the fun.  However, hope we get as many boats as possible for this great traditional winter river meeting.

Mike D
N3496

In the spirit of opening up debate (though I know that some people will get very exercised about this), I'd be interested in seeing experiments with the rig (as long as we keep it to 2 sails) - because changes would be relatively affordable and would not necessarily outclass existing boats.

I'd especially like to get rid of the minimum mast weight rule.

However, as a veteran of d*****board debates in the last century, I do not want even to engage in hypothetical discussions on that.

Mike D
N3496

... and it is us - in Exmouth in 1992, frightened silly!

Mike D
N3496