Messages

Hi
Brian Herring has done some really good retoration work on several National 12,s his contact details are in the book and his email address is brian@brianherring.wanadoo.co.uk
Brian is based in Cheshire so not quite as far as some builders.  Hope to see you on the vintage circuit at some point and good luck with your restoration.
Howard Chadwick Vintage Wing Representative N2, N2266 and N3356

Apologies again but Tim Gatti and I are heading to Frampton with our vintage boats to try and beat Brian Kitching on his own patch!  Have a great day chaps although we are hoping you dont learn too much from Graham whilst we are away.  Neil will be keeping the Yeadon flag flying though.
Howard C
N2, N2266 and N3356

Just to back up Bernard!  If you can make the training at Ripon it will help a lot and you will get all the advice you need.  Unfortunately I cant make it due to a vintage event at Frampton but I know that they will look after you.
If you dont make it give me a call and I can meet up with you since Knaresborough is not too far from York and I am happy to help out as is everyone else as you will have noticed by now.
Howard C aka Chadders8)

Hi
I have 2 vintage 12s and sailed them for circa 53 years hence I have seen and used most types of kicker starting with 2-1 on a toggle and then 2-1 with a real v jamming cleat and block.
I agree with all of the above 8-1 is a minimum and I use 16-1 cascade in Dyneema on my 43 year old 12 led back to the thwart at each side which works well but does neen a few blocks so costs a few quid to do.   Attachment on the mast works well just make sure the kicker clears the centre plate handle and or tackle if you still have a metal plate. 
For the smuggler era she would have had a kicker winch fastened probably to the mast, if you want to be authentic I have a couple in my spares box but I think they are only 8-1 and the wire tends not to last all that long from memory.  Difficult to twin to each side as well but easy to double up to 16-1  Let me know if you want a winch (its in Yorkshire but can be picked up from almost any vintage series event)
Howard C aka Chadders
N2, N2266 and N3356
 

7/16ths or 15mm?? are not the same size unless its changed since I had a proper job?!  I will search throught he Donald boxes etc and report back.
PS Is icecream man trying to suggest we older sailors horde things do you think?

True if a bit harsh.  In fairness to the OOD he did say they had been over the entire course and and just pre start there was wind over the entire course area.  I agree with you the narrow bit was bad but thats river sailing for you and hindsight is a wonderful thing. Howard C

OK back to the serious stuff for a mo!
I like Paul Turners nice simple 4 planked rule as above. 
My main concern is that the original suggestion and support came from 2 well respected vintage sailors (sailors of vintage boats). 
So far I have only had one comment from someone with a 4 planker as to whether they would support a series if  we had one and that came by phone rather than this forum.
My question remains would 4 plank boat owners support a series if we ran one?
Howard C aka Chadders
N2, (ribbed vintage) N2266(vintage) and N3356 Admirals Cupper) (no 4 planker at the moment)

Squidgy Bits was first owned and sailed very succesfully by John Williams at Derwent Reservoir and Tynemouth. 
I bought her in January 2000 and owned her until early 2006 when I deserted her in favour of Radical Edward a double bottomed Big Issue.  I was soon to discover that with 23 stone upwards as an all up crew wheight and 60 year old knees a Big Issue is not as fast as a Design 8.  At this stage the then owner of Squidgy Bits (Paul Watson of Hykeham SC) let me know that he was thinking of moving up to a double bottomed boat.  Without further ado a deal was struck and and in June 2007 Squidgy Bits was back. She has been going well ever since and made an old sailor very happy!   Photo courtesy of Brian Herring and taken at Newburn on 17th feb 2008.

Extra pictures added on the 17th Feb show some serious rot and damage!   
She could be saved though with skill and enthusiasm, not a write off but a lot of work to say the least. Current bid is a tenner as at 12pm on19th Feb with one day to go.

Good point another thing that would need to be ironed out is how to define a 4 planker!  Final Chapters can be 4 plankers but the original idea was to create competition for the older 12's, not sure Final Chapters fit that description?  Double bottomed ones definately dont in my view (especially purple and green ones)

[face=Calibri]Do you own a 4 planked National 12?  Would you be interested in an open meeting series?[/face]
[face=Calibri]It has been suggested that we could run a series for 4 planked 12’s possibly alongside some of the vintage series events.  Currently three vintage events also have 4 planked racing in the fixture list and these are Derwent at the end of August, Trent Valley in September and South Cerney also in September.  [/face]
[face=Calibri]If you would support a series I would be interested to hear from you with a view to perhaps adding some more events in and doing a trial series this year for a suitable trophy.  Please add to this discussion if you would support a series or email me direct on [/face][face=Calibri]hchadwick2@talktalk.net[/face]
[face=Calibri]Howard Chadwick Vintage Wing Representative[/face]
[face=Calibri]N2, N2266 and N3356[/face]

I saw Gipsy in August 2007 and although still owned by ISCA she was being restored by Mike Evans a Burton winner from the 60's who lives in Wroxham.  Several new ribs had been fitted and she had been re-varnished internally, a very nice job!  The next phase was to re-deck her and this Mike was hoping to do over the coming winter with a view to her being back on the water as well as remaining part of the ISCA collection in 2008 and beyond.
Howard Chadwick Feb 08

I have contacted the owner to see what the boat number is as the advert  suggests that they bought the sails from ebay hence this is not the boat number.  The hull has no number I am told though they did look for one, it appears that at some stage they have been told by the "association" that the boat is a mid sixties Proctor design.   Howard C N2, N2266 and N3356

Hmm hot chocolate eh?

Squidgy Bits will be playing out too and I understand that Brian Herring is coming up with prizes for Mark n Emma so they must be coming too!!  11am start I am told by Howard S with warm westerly winds and an even warmer meal at the Keelman afterwards

Andrew Dawson sold Goldcrest to Howard Chadwick in 2003 and she has since undergone a partial restoration including new decks and some restorative work to the hull. She was re-launched at Yeadon Sailing Clubs Open Meeting in October 2006 and raced by Howard, Dougie Macdonald and finally Graham and Zoe when she performed very well indeed. Further work is ongoing albeit very slowly to fully restore her and hopefully she will be back on the water again in 2008.
Howard Chadwick Jan 08