Topics

Well, we went to a fair amount of trouble, laid on a National level instructor, rescue boat and all the bits you need for a training day and hey ho, no-one can be @334d to turn up. Shame really, but there you go.
I'm glad I told the caterers not to come, that would have been really embarrassing.
Simon
N3454

Hi there, did anyone do the bloody mary and how did you all get on?

Hi Everybody, just to say Happy New Year to you all. We are having a New Years Day 'race' at Spinnaker so hope to see a few of you Spinnakers 12's there.
Simon & Tom

I need to get hold of Nigel Waller (or Ben) to ask if they can remember the colour they used to spray my boat (N3454 formerly 'Amy' and 'Sunset Surreal').
I have some small damage caused by a Solo who has problems understanding basic sailing rules and rammed me despite my considerable efforts to avoid him. Excuse ~ I was too busy trying to see if I had some weed on my rudder!
Cannot get an answer from Nigel on the number on this site and neither me nor the repairer can get an answer from the email.

While we're on the subject of excellent venues, we sailed at the Swanage Regatta over the weekend of 4th and 5th August. OK. On this occasion we were the only 12 sailing, as the other Spinnaker 12's were at Burton Week and Salcombe.
However, Swanage is a great place to sail, all us visitors were made very welcome and there was plenty of competition on the water. In all, an extremely well organised and well run regatta.
 If you enjoy sea sailing in a lovely location lock this one in to the memory banks, I'll let you all know when I know next years dates.
I am telling you this as I am aware if we turn up with enough 12's, we will get our own fleet racing and a nice cup for the winning boat.
If the dates are right it could be a date on your way back from the Nationals...
Simon
3454 Jammy Dodger

Spotted several times on this discussion board but noticeably absent at the club!! Come back David!

Guess Jim must be on his way to Brixham, he's disappeared off the forum!
 

The fleet is growing on our little lake and there's some real competition down here, so make sure you all ink in our open meetng in July. Felix is coming on big time and handed it out in a club meeting last week to Steve Adshead. With Phil Bown about to come on stream with his Design 8 it can only get better. James (Paradise Pudding) is improving too quickly for my liking and I'm learning how to get Jammy Dodger (ex Sunset Surreal) going proper.
On Wednesday night we have a good get together at the weekly evening pursuit race, visitors are always welcome... even Bavarian folk!  
We are all planning to do Burton Week, must get my entry in!
Smon
3454

Published on Scuttlebuck, this also applies to us. It is a timely warning to wear the right gear when afloat, even inshore!
You can subscribe via: http://www.scuttlebutteurope.com
DEAD BEFORE THE LIFEBOAT IS LAUNCHED!
If one of your crew falls overboard this weekend he may be dead within five
minutes of hitting the cold water. Your well planned and frequently
rehearsed man over board drill (joke) may have him along side your boat in
ten or fifteen minutes but getting him back over the side without further
injury is an exercise that you certainly have never practiced. He may be
dead before the lifeboat is launched but at least they can recover the
corpse for you.

Cold Shock is the killer in water below 15 degrees Celsius; Bramble Bank is
reporting a sea temperature of 9 degrees today! (March 25th). Thousands of
keen sailors will be afloat this weekend blissfully unaware of the risks
they are taking in the coldest sea water of the year, some will have sea
survival certificates stuffed in their knickers as good luck charms,
cycling proficiency certificates would be as much use. The biggest selling
sea survival manual in the UK devotes just 47 words to cold shock whereas
drinking warm turtle blood before it congeals and catching a fish in your
sock warrants 70 words!

Cold Shock is about gasping, panic, hyperventilation, inhaling seawater,
heart attack, stroke and rapid drowning.  This is not Hypothermia, the
favourite topic of sea survival instructors and scout leaders since Noah
shivered in the Arc, hypothermia kills over a time scale of hours, cold
shock kills in the first few minutes of immersion. A fit young crewman
wearing a lifejacket may survive the sudden immersion but an 85-kilo
sub-prime athlete in his fifties with an undiagnosed dickey ticker probably
will not survive, and when did you last have an ECG?

Race committees fly the flag Y to require the wearing of lifejackets when
the wind exceeds force 5, it would make more sense to hoist flag Y when the
sea temperature is below 15 degrees and in many places that would be to end
of May. The best reference for survival in cold water is the Essentials of
Sea Survival by Prof. Mike Tipton of Portsmouth University, but much of his
wisdom has yet to become common knowledge and cold-water hazards are not a
hot topic of conversation in the post-race animated bar chat.

Skippers can set an example by wearing their own lifejackets from dock out
to dock back, and by ensuring that the newest and hence poorest equipped
crew members are properly briefed, clothed and wearing lifejackets all the
time. A quick survey in any marina when the fleet returns from even a very
short race reveals dozens of seriously chilled crewmen who have endured a
couple of hours on the weather rail while the better equipped and more
experienced after-guard skulk in the relative shelter of the cockpit.
Should any of this pre-chilled rail ballast, chosen for its gravitas, fall
over the side the prospects are pretty grim. There is little hope of reform
for our more experienced and black suited heroes, their macho image would
not allow for the wearing of a lifejacket in the Hamble or even the
Atlantic!

Yotties going afloat in Spring sailing conditions would be wise to dress in
the best of modern sailing kit, three layers is standard, no one wears
denim jeans under their oilies these days do they? But the top layer should
be an 'over the head' smock top with neck seal and wrist seals, this will
reduce the rate of inflow of cold seawater around the torso and may
mitigate the severe pain of cold shock. Crowned with a fleece beanie hat
that provides some insulation when wet and there may be half a chance of
surviving the immediate immersion. An auto-inflating lifejacket with
integral harness and spray hood is essential, not the separate spray hood
worn in the dainty pack on the belt.

And by the way, sun sailer, it is impossible to blow a whistle when gasping
let alone inflate an oral lifejacket.

The lifejacket debate is currently at the same stage as was car seat belt
discussion in the '80's, freedom of choice being the main argument, but
once the decision has been made to wear one it feels strangely
uncomfortable to be without it, who would drive now without a seat belt,
Machismo or moron? Motor cyclists in the1960's protested about crash
helmets, Sikhs requested dispensation while 16 year olds could ride a road
bike at 100mph on tarmac in a flat cap but had to wear a crash helmet for
Moto-Cross on grass!  Trust the legislators to get it right,' 8
shrink-wrapped lifejackets ready for inspection Sir, still in date - tick'.
 This is not a plea for legislation but for information and a step change
in the attitude of early season sailors in their understanding of the
hazards they unwittingly face.

The man overboard situation is vitally urgent and requires a MAYDAY call
immediately by anyone who witnesses the event, it is not the sole
responsibility of the boat involved. Two handed racing faces an even bigger
challenge as the boat involved is suddenly single handed and may have
spinnaker handling issues to overcome before a classic rescue is attempted,
with extreme the panic if close family are in the water, without a life
jacket of course. Obviously the pursuing fleet is best placed to recover
the casualty, but is this understood by the skippers or will they race on
by like rubber-neckers on the M25, in ignorance of their maritime
obligations? -- Jerry Freeman, Racing at Petit Bateau Ltd.

The author learnt to sail in the Dark Ages, has twice crossed the Atlantic
solo in the Ostar and sailed with charter guests to Iceland and Greenland.
This is relevant to all of us, it was extremely cold at Burghfield at the weekend and plenty of boats capsizing, a timely reminder to wear the correct kit when afloat, especialy at this time of year. As a number of us also do the inshore and offshore stuff in bigger boats, thought this was of interest.

For those of you feeling lonely out there in the South, we will have at least 6 boats sailing regularly at Spinnaker this summer. There is some great sailing to do on the lake and any number of laser and Solos to wind up.
The 12's always do well and lake sailing is excellent practise for sea sailing (it helps you learn to sniff the slightest breeze), as a group we do consistently well at other meetings.
Spinnaker is one of the friendliest clubs you could find and we must have some of the nicest 12 owners on the block!
If you want to come and join us to see what it's like, call me or Dave Wilkins (our numbers are in the book).
Simon
3454

I'm thinking it's time to get in your stories for the Spring Ratchet. I want to make it as interesting as possible, that means everyone helping me make it good. Please do not suffer from any delusions that there is a big team producing the magazine, it is just me with some valuable help from the same movers and shakers in the class association.
In addition to news, views and the coming season, I am planning two lead stories, one on boats and designers, the other in conjunction with Nick Gill, long term National 12 owner and one of our leading lights in the Marine Industry. I am also reporting on the new P&B boats, the boat shows, a piece on Trent Valley 70th anniversary and much much more!
If you know something I should be talking about, please call me (my number is in the N12 book) or e-mail me.
Simon Walworth
N3454

Hi Everyone, a mate of mine is looking to buy a twelve and needs your comments on Freak Outs. Boat to be sailed mainly at Spinnaker.
Anything good/bad about Freak Outs? Said to be a good all rounder and also in light airs.

N12 site has them as modified Crusaders but only 5 have been built.

Is it that other designs Foolish and Final Chapters etc were developed leaving the Crusader derivatives behind? Do you know what the modifications were intended to achieve? The picture on the website shows an open foredeck (ie none!). Is that a common feature? Can't be too clever in a big sea.

Wishing all of you a Happy New Year.
Thomas and me will be on the stand at LIBS on Saturday the 6th January, look forward to seeing you!
We have just started a major rebuild on Thomas's Baggy 2, the hull has been cut about, we are looking at redecking and a self draining floor. Would like a second hand carbon mast some time this season if you have one, please let us know.
Simon
3545

'Ere Graham, where's the weather??

Hi James, can't crew for you, but if you are still interested, I still have the aluminium mast from passion pudding in a rack at Spinnaker. No use to me nor Jim so let me know if it is of use to you, as it is the right size for you.
Simon Walworth (tel number in the book)

I want to do an article in the next Ratchet on National 12 ownership. As this is likely to go in the 'London Boat Show' promotional issue, I would like to build an accurate picture of who owns 12's, where we sail them, where we keep them.
How old is the average National 12 owner? What is the average age at an average 12 event? How many boys, how many girls, what levels of expertise, what is the average age of the boats?
No doubt I can get data from Michael Brookman, but I want to know what you lot think and see how it compares with any data we hold.
How many 12 owners sail in different classes? what results do you get when sailing in different boats?
I believe we will all be surprised at the outcome of any survey and am sure it will present the class in a very positive light.
I'm going to try and get a survey together with the committee and post / email you all, meantime let's have an open forum...
Simon
ED, Ratchet
N?

Ratchet has now gone to the printers, hope you all think I've done a passable job! Hope I have got everything in!
Next issue will be in the new year, I want to hear from you builders what's coming and who's buying.
Profile ~ who should we do, suggestions please...
I have published a story on weight, I know what I think but want to know what you all think. Now that will be contentious...
With the price of carbon sky high, build costs will vary enormously. I would like to know how much it costs to build a competitive boat ready to sail, then we can compare with the competition and see where we are in the big picture.
Finally, are we an ageing bunch? where are the new boys and girls and what are we doing to encourage them? do too many N12's sit in garages rather than in the clubs?
What are your feelings? let me know.

Got a lot of email today, well done! Now I have something to work on... but more is welcome. I will ask in the next Ratchet that the non web members a) use the web site and b) send me their stories. I believe strongly the web site is the heart beat of this or any class and the best form of communication we can have. The magazine is perhaps could/should become redundant if everyone joined in with what is clearly an extremely well managed and up to date web site.
I personally find all I want on the web site, it is always up to date and makes me think why we need to waste several trees worth sending out information that is always available in an easily accessed media.
What do you think?

Hello everyone, I've still received absolutely almost no stories, so guess you'll be getting half a dozen pages of race results and my resignation, that's a result...
If you want a newsletter, I need your news, stories and pictures to put in it. I am happy to devote time to publish and print it, but do not have the time to chase down stories.
It takes me about two to three days of MY time to prepare the letter, drive to the printer and get the copies sent of to Mike. I am doing this willingly as I believe the newsletter is valuable to the class.
It appears that you lot don't agree by the amount of input I am getting (with the notable exception of a few of you).
I will do this newsletter and the next, if I don't get some proper stuff through for the next I will pack my bags and let some other poor sod have the thankless task.
If some of you put the same effort into the newsletter as you do the forum, it would be great. I have obviously looked at the forum and got some interesting tit bits, but why couldn't you have sent me the stories in the first place?
There are a lot of members who for whatever reason don't see the forum, let them see what's happening by getting the stories in ratchet.

Simon