N3157 Perfect Kiss

[National 12 Webmaster]

The life of N3157 Perfect Kiss.  Design: Micro Clipper, designed by: Barry Jones in 1981.
Previous boat names: Micro Clipper, Perfect Kiss, Micro Clipper, prior to reverting to Perfect Kiss February 2010.

[paul turner]

Notes from Mark Simpson about N3157 Perfect Kiss (Microclipper design)
I spent a number of seasons crewing for Barry Jones in Microclipper.  We did most of our sailing at Tynemouth but travelled to local open meetings at Derwent Res.  There are few things that stick in my memory about the time I spent sailing with Barry.  At one event at Derwent I remember him telling me about the two tone colour on the outside of the hull.  Back then it was an exceptionally attractive boat (not that it’s not now, it was just newer then) with a varnished wooden bottom and a pale brown/beige upper hull and varnished interior.  He explained to me what he was trying to achieve when he designed the boat, sadly I can't remember much of what he said other than where the wooden lower section met the painted section was supposed to be the water line.
 We did two championships, one at Llandudno in 84, I think.  There were about 90 boats there we finished 10th overall, won the canter trophy and had a 6th place in one race.  During one race we were sat in drifting conditions and watched a line of wind/waves moving towards us in the distance.  The change in conditions was almost instantaneous; it was very strange, hence why I remember it to this day.  I think it was during that race that I also remember flying down runs/very broad reaches tucked in the little hole behind the thwart and between the buoyancy bags with Barry rather nervously telling/shouting at me not to move.  I seem to remember that boat was a little twitchy on those legs in high winds!
 We did the Tynemouth champs the following year, 85?  We managed to survive the windy Tuesday (or Wednesday?).  Anyway I remember Barry pointing out that it was now survival conditions as we sailed up one of the beats in the North Bay, the salt water was flying everywhere and we were both complaining of stinging eyes and the foul taste. 
 I don't think we sailed together much following Tynemouth, I think I was starting to get a bit big and perhaps lost a bit of interest at that point and also Barry moved away from the area due to his job. 
 I've not seen Barry since he moved away, but a quick look in the 2009 association handbook shows a B.D.Jones, owner of 3337 living in Newcastle.  Looking 3337 up in main handbook, it is a 'Microwave' designed by Mr Barry Jones.  In previous years Mr BD Jones has been living in Suffolk, so I suspect that Barry has actually moved back to Newcastle within the last few years.  If you make contact with him let him know that I have very fond memories of the time I spent sailing with him and that I wish I had paid more attention to what he was doing to make the boat go!

[paul turner]

N3157 “Perfect Kiss” Microclipper design by Barry Jones, built 1981 by Dave Ovington
What’s in a name? I have always thought, like many others, that the original name should always be kept on a boat, but have managed to shoot myself in the foot. I spotted what I thought was a “very minor error” in the hand book (I did say from the start that it was certainly my fault) and this prompted some interesting  email correspondence with Michael Brookman and Kevan Bloor, the edited highlights of which are as follows:
Me: “The story â€" when I bought N3157 the name on the boat was “”Microclipper” so I assumed that was the name and used it for all open meeting entries, TVSC cups etc. Then, at the Dinghy Show two or three years ago I was reading through the last handbook and saw the photo of N3157 “Perfect Kiss” â€" I had no idea that that was her name â€" so I have reverted back to the original! Perhaps I should look at the certificate to see if it needs to go back to Kevan for updating!”
Kevan: The Certification records show:
·         1981 original name Microclipper
·         1987 ish RYA certificate says 1897!!  name changed to Perfect Kiss Miss N Gallon
·         1990 Perfect Kiss   A. Spicer
·         1992 Perfect Kiss   A. McCormick
·         2000 Microclipper  Rachel Downing name changed to back to Microclipper
·         2002 Microclipper R. Whitlock
·         2003 Microclipper Gail Mottram & Angela Hoyle
·         2007 Microclipper Paul Turner
Michael: I think we have a very very minor error brought forward from the 2000 edition.  Please see page 242 of the 2000 edition and of course page 245 in 2010.  The photo credit is to Terry Rice who with this name could well be a Middle Nene member, Rice being a name of Middle Nene members of that time and before, if not the present.  Did he write the boat name on the back of the photo, who knows?
Kevan: The registered boat name, at the present time, is Microclipper (which was definitely its original name). The name change to Perfect Kiss took place 1985/1986 by whom we don't know as this was under the RYA jurisdiction. In 2000 the  name was  positively changed back to Microclipper by Rachel Downing, who did not like Perfect Kiss, and the name has been officially Microclipper ever since because no one has applied for an official change. There have also been at least 2 non registered owners who may have chosen to alter the name unofficially. Nevertheless the boat’s name is Microclipper and for it to officially be Perfect Kiss you need to return the cert to me (so I can make sure I have all the correct rig data etc)
Michael: Just to add that I am referring to the caption for a 1985 photograph and not the boat in 2010.  Page 244 shows the current name; possible further debate is whether it should have been listed as one word instead of two as per this page in the new book!
So the result:
·         Mea culpa â€" it was me who jumped to the wrong conclusions about the boat name; I should have checked!
·         This just proves how lucky we are to have such dedicated officers of the NTOA; where else would you find this sort of detail and history?
·         I have re-registered the boat as...... “Perfect Kiss” coz I think it’s a much sexier name! And she’s still one of only two “Microclippers”.
Paul Turner (N12 anorak) 24.03.10 :K)