Saltash - anyone out there??

[david w (Guest)]

Kean

There are quite a few of us at Spinnaker - we're in the rather extended Thames Area but would be happy to be considered SW too!
We're a friendly bunch and youths are encouraged!

Cheers

David
3481

[John Murrell (Guest)]

David,

If my memory serves me correctly we did include Spinnaker in the SW series a few years ago. Think we should do it again?

[Jimbo42]

[DavidW]

John

Of course we should - we're happy to be bi-area. A Thames meets SW venue.

Cheers

[Kath (Guest)]

To all you folks who say 12s are dead ( including Tommo - where have you been all season?) I have been sailing my 12 all season at Saltash, and local regattas. (I would love to travel farther afield and if anyone would like to set up creche facilities at their club....!)
Also "Aida" made it as far as the dinghy park but not into the water!

I  believe I am still club rep and if anyone would like to contact me my number is in the book.

As to the 12 open, it is probably best saved for another year until there are a few more active 12s to have enough numbers for a fleet. The club will host an open if enough visitors are going to turn up.
Club apathy- I know what you mean but you have to speak to the right people.

Don't forget us!

[THG]

Kath - hope to see you out on the circuit next year - what boat no have you got?  The more we can get out the better.

DavidW - I always thought the Cotswolds WP should be part of Thames - after all our water goes in there!  I'm all for dual Opens where the areas overlap.  Can the same result be used to qualify in both or does each sailor have to nominate which series they're entering in e.g. SW vs TA???

BTW - who is the Thames area rep??

Kean

[Antony (Guest)]

Kean,
There is plenty of precedent for open meetings being in two areas, Thorpe Bay is certainly in both the Eastern and the Thames area.  One set of results, and it helps more people qualify for both areas.  These things are pretty flexible and simly require agreement by the people involved.

Mike Day is your Thames man.

Keep up the good work.
Antony

[MikeDay]

Kean

No problem from my point of view if Spinnaker want to put their meeting in both Thames and SW area - let's try and encourage as many people as possible to get there.  As for the Cotswolds, why not?  Are you thinking of S.Cerney?  I'm sure we could add it to next season's Thames Area, providing that we can take a view on whether it's a 'restricted water' event or not (this has special meanuing within the Thames area), and also that we can fix a date that doesn't clash with other Thames meetings.

In the spirit of true democracy, the Thames Area is traditionally run by a Committee of one or two - that's me and Anne at the moment - so decision made, if that's what you'd like.

Mike D
N3496

[Emma G]

We are all for getting the SW series up and running but I hate to say this, sorry guys but I think we are starting to get a bit too far on the area. For us further south west, it is a good 5 hours and Devon is only and hour from us.

The South West is a large area to cover but people who live nearer London have more opportunity of going to N12 events as these events are not that far away!

Call me bias but the West Country (Cornwall Dev and Somerset) have some beautiful areas and good clubs as good as the rest and I feel we are going off track area wise with setting this SW series up again, Spinnaker Cotswolds etc are hardly the centre of SW and easy for all members to get to, which I feel to get more people into the 12 fleet should be taken into consideration.

Perhaps we should try clubs where there are no 12s at present.

Emma & James
N3304 n N3402
Penzance (end of the earth) Sailing Club

[Tom Jefferies]

I agree with emma that we should be concentrating on clubs without a large 12 presence because we are try to build the numbers that are going to attend  the big racing weeks (burton week, salcombe and northwest norfolk) How else is this goin to happen if we are not activley trying to promote the class to other clubs! Posters are good but they only do so much. an open meeting where people can look at our lovely boats is much more likely to attract people!
tommo

[DavidW]

Emma,

Spinnaker was  in the SW area when it was last active. We are some distance from London and many Lodoners do consider us to be in the West Country! Spinnaker is hardy in the centre of the Thames Area either and is about as distanct from the opposite extreme of that area as it is from you. We're a bit stuck in the middle - we're delighted to be in Thames Area and would love  to be in the SW too. I am also a fan of the SW, particularly Salcombe, and will always try to get to the SW meetings - regrettably this hasn't always been possible for me of late due too clashes with family commitments.

Tommo
In terms of promotion in other clubs this can be tricky as most tend to stick with their own adopted classes  - ideally we should aim to share an open meeting day with a suitable 2 person feeder class, turn up in numbers armed with an eyecatching display board and put on an impressive display of racing and socialising leaving time for others to try out our boats. Perhaps a Mirror event?

Cheers

[Adele]

(In addition to Davids comment)
Being the crew I'd be happy too as I'm from the SW, but equally I have thoroughly enjoyed doing the Thames area circuit this year for the first time, so I'd love to see Spinnaker and any other venues people wish to suggest as a bi-area meetings.
Adele
3481

(Not sure that it matters, but I've noticed that the BBC weather forecasts class Southampton and Bournemouth as being in the South/South West . . . )

[Alex D]

As one of Kean's lurking few (at Chew Valley http://www.chewvalleysailing.org.uk) I'm planning to do as many events as possible next year.

For me the size of the South West is the issue here. The Devon & Cornwall view looking NE very different compared with the Dorset / Somerset / Gloustestershire / Wiltshire view looking further SW. It's about the same time for me  (from Bath) to drive to Falmouth as it is the Lake district.

It mostly depends on how much travel time my family will take, but Spinnaker and Cotswold WP would be high on my list.

[Emma G]

I didnt want to push Spinnaker off the list, infact would be good to meet people of the Thames circuit too , we are looking forward to going to all the places where we have never been and getting ourselves on the circuit.  I didnt realise that Spinnaker used to be SW - not been a member long.  

Was just worried that we may start aiming most of the series up that end of the woods instead of spreading it a little in the south west.

We would love to get you guys down to Penzance but do appreciate that it is a vvvveerrryyyy long way and the traffic can be a nightmare we are lucky we are normally going the opposite way but we are really wanting to get ourselves out there on the circuit Gill series burton week so are prepared to travel we are very lucky as there are no kiddies to worry about.  

Anyway will stop waffling now.  Just had our dinghy forum too tonight so pretty dinghied out :-/

Looking forward to seeing you all again - hopfully graftham

Emma

N3304 n N3402

[DavidW]

Penzance is a long way but we have been known to pop down to St Ives for just a day trip so its not out of the question.

Frances could bring her surfboard and we'd both be happy!

See you at Grafham  - Salcombe's before that , I trust we'll see you there too?

Cheers