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I have been wondering the same thing with refit of Subversion. The last dinghies I sailed before coming back to 12’s, it was all deck stepped masts and ‘locking’ the bottom of the mast up with lowers and sometimes a strut. Subversion has a ram its just weather I add lowers to it.
One thing which has struck me is t with a hog stepped mast without the ram on the mast bends a lot through the gate. So you defiantly need something and with the national 12 main being pretty big and deep. You are going to want to be able to adjust it whiles you are on the water. So a ram or simpler is probably best.
Whether you are going to need lowers I guess the biggest factor is how stiff your mast is. Pretty much all carbon masts looking to be using both but people still sailing with tin masts don’t seem to using lowers much.
 
Those are my thoughts hope it helps.

Good question if you look in the data base all the wooden ones are listed as 4 plankers and all the others a listed either GRP or foamsandwich. I'm confussed :-/ I guess the glass ones are a bit more 'round' than the wooden ones maybes?

Chapter 2 The Myths and legends of Subversion
Hello just wondering if the collective intelligence of the 12 class can help me sort out weather a couple of stories which surround Subversion are true.
When I was at the inlands I asked both class aficionados Kevan Bloor and Michal Brookman if they could shed any light on weather myths around Subversion are just that. Neither of them is really sure what fact or fiction is. Mostly because the stories have been kicking about for so long is hard to separate fact from fiction.
The first Subversion legend is;
Is Jo started building Subversion in the cricket practice nets at college. I guess because he was planning an autumn/winter build  and it was a good indoor spot to being used because it was outside the cricket season.  All was good until he got discovered so with nowhere else to go Jo finished building Subversion in his college digs. Which resulted in him getting thrown out college. “Now that’s commitment to 12 building”
The Second is;
During the Burton Cup race Jo lead all the way till he stopped for a ‘pit stop’ halfway up the last beat which lost him the lead. Which bad luck I ‘spose but good luck the Burton Brick didn’t exist as that’s an almost guaranteed winner.  As someone has recently won it for the use of the same ‘alternative’ propulsion pit stop.
 
So are they true? Or just another part of N12 folk law?

 My issue with the boat / current rule set is that our sails have got a little out of hand if you go for all the unmeasured area that is possible the jib does not last very long.  

Back when I was doing a bit of competitive 12 sailing I often thought it would much better to de-regulate the rules around sails and move to system were just measure total actual area or close as you can. Also weirdly I’m just going back and wading through frank bethwaite’s High Performance sailing and in the section talking about setting up the NS14 he talks about the problems of using sail measurement systems were don’t measure the total area and the leave things like the roach free. ( I would like to caveat this statement by saying I’m not proposing changes the rules to get more people into 12’s but you have it might work eg. The cherubs change from ‘97 rules to ’05 rules)

  The rule change to limit size is useful. 

This worries me that a restriction on wing size might restrict evolution. I always like to rely on the natural restrictions like drag and materials. Unless there is a real danger of development producing something undesirable eg. Having no restrictions over mast/luff length

I understand there is a renewed interest in 4 plankers which is a step in the right direction as long as they are raced with the age appropriate gear. 

 
Yup four events 5^th July at Ely SC, 20^th July at Trent Valley SC and 16^th at August Olton Mere SC. And yes like the vintage champs no carbon spars, foils, wings or trim taps.

Evening all
I have had bit of dig back through the google data mine yesterday  back to when the idea of t foils was first being kicked about. Actually there‘s loads of info out there to read for anyone who’s been out the loop for a while. And found a post from when the idea of t foils was first being kicked about, I can’t remember who posted and I can’t find my way back to it ( I think I might have dreamed it) but it basically said after the 14’s had done the planning end of foil development, the 12’s have got the chance to focus on the displacement end of foil development.  

So taking on board what the mighty JimC said about bracing what you have got celebrating it. This got me thing as opposed to being down on t foils people go back to thinking about of making ways optimizing them for area’s 12’s sail in. After it’s already been proved t foils help reduce the total displacement of the boat. So that’s gotta’ help with weight caring abilities.  
 
Also how difficult would it be to come up with an PY for non-foiling doubled bottomed boats?

 
A prize is given out to Non-foiling boats.  I think one thing we cannot criticise the class over is there attempts to keep people happy by handing out prizes.  The list of different prize winners at Burton Week is pretty long...

Sorry my bad:B I noticed just after posting prizes being given out for non-foilers this saturday.
Ps Hope you have got the date for the 4 planker event at Ely Sailing club in your diary 

Having looked at the range of suggested PY’s I’m kinda with Martin that makes sense look into adding another suggested PY.  For either boats not designed for winged rudders or boats not simply not using winged rudders.   I’m also wondering if it is worth taking it further and introduce prizes for boats not using winged rudders. As it might help entice those people who don’t want to get involved with playing with hydrodynamics out and about racing.

On the subject of weight carrying, yeah it’s always been the case that 21 stone is at the heavy end of the weight spectrum. This as much to with anything 12 foot long doesn’t carry weight very well, eg Cherubs are about the same.
 
Re; The Icon I know what you mean I like the look of it as well, it’s just a bit too much of a toned down NS14 for me.  If it’s not another SMOD than it’s another deferent threat for the 12.

As someone who started in 12's and has recently return because they offer lots fun to sail  and good boat to sail with my girlfriend.  Kez hasn’t done lots of sailing and I feel 12’s offer the perfect comprised between a boat which isn't too complicated to sail (no spinnaker- symmetric or asymmetric) but interesting enough to stop me getting bored. It is said to have left a class in what seemed to be in rude health and returned to find the 12's looking sickly.

It's not all bad the classic fleet looks to be growing nicely. With plenty of people rescuing lots of boats from a fiery end and on personal note I hope the new 4 planker series follows the success vintage series. This also isn’t a bad time to get into 12 sailing as you can pick up a decent boat without breaking the bank. Plus it can't be all doom in Gul is still happy to support the national series.

But there does seem to be a feeling something is wrong and if I'm honest I have felt it before I left (I've been out of sailing for 10 years and left 12's a couple of years before that) This might be down to the fact that even though 12's inspired me to take my sailing further and get into boat building. When it came to designing and building my first boat I had already moved over to cherubs. Because I felt they offered me a more open set of rules to experiment. Looking around I don't seem too alone MikeyC is doing very well with is Rocket in the Moths and other people I used to sail with are sailing B14's. There also seems to be a lot of people who have migrated to Merlin's and other RS products. I don't know whether this is because they offer a wider weight range, there's better fleet racing or it's the case of sailing what friends/club sail. Judging by what John Murrell post these all might be the case.

New 12's have become expensive but the ball park cost of fitting out any boats is the same. In fact I could easily spend the same on a complete refit of Subversion as I did when I bought her. It's also worth remembering campaigning a boat to win a national title is never going to cheap in any class. But 12k for a new boat is lot of money to spend especially in this economic climate. In saying that, if you did spend the money given the pace 12 development you will get plenty use out of hull before you have to think about up grading (Dead Cat Bounce 2008). I guess there is still lots of optimization left to do with foils and their control systems. So given time there might be more of trickle down of technology bring old boats up to spec. This in turn should lead to increase in the knowledge base and tempt more people into designing new hulls. After all if really want win you stand a better chance if do more than buy a boat off the shelf. But this all depends on much and how many people are kicking new ideas about and playing with new ideas.

As already mentioned there have been some big changes in the wider world which the class cannot control. The committee and members just have to be aware of them and react accordingly. So fuel bills have gone up and there is a crowded market place. If there isn’t a regular flow of new people into the class bringing in new ideas and not discounting all the hard work it takes to run a class association. If people have got stuck in roles with no one coming forward to take their place can suck their enthusiasm from the committee and lead to stagnation. It is notable no one any of the committees has posted yet! And the forum does seem pretty dead these days.

A couple things are confusing me. The first is if double floors have made the boat uncomfortable to sail for some people. Why hasn't there more experimentation with lower floors or higher shear lines or semi draining boats. The other is the introduction of winged rudders. In class which has taken conservative approach do the adoption to new ideas. Having not around for last 10 years it seems winged rudders  were experimented with freely leading full adoption with boats being designed especially for them. I do wonder why during this period there is still some aversion to rudder gantries which might make life easier to convert existing boats. I also wonder why boats are still sailing around with lead in their masts (I hope I'm wrong on this). I also wonder why the sail plan hasn't evolved to free up restrictions around battens and sail shape. To me the boats still look very traditional but now sporting the latest in foil technology. I just feel like the 12 is giving out mixed messages.  

 With Crusader 3244 I also wonder if the RYA's long term trend for using single handers to teach people to sail is having an effect. I also wonder if then leads/pushes people into sailing SMODs. This is leading to lack crews and people who don’t get fazed by a boat with more than 3 control lines. This before they have start getting their heads round the fact all the boats aren't the same and if don't like something/think it can be done better you can change it.

 A good course of action might be a campaign of  'have a go 12's days' or when ever someone's intrested in your 12 take them sailing. It might also be worth doing some cunning marketing pushing clubs where there is still a strong 12 fleet and making more use of facebook and Twitter. The open circuit is still very strong while the numbers have dropped there looks to be plenty of close racing at all levels the fleet. This also worth shouting about! Remembering that to get to the front of the 12 fleet you are going to need to be good as the standard is very high.

The website does this very well  it's also worth promoting the second hand boat list with DB boats around the 2k mark. As good stepping stone into the class which will be lots of fun to sail along with giving you chance to still bag some decent results at club level and open events. As most boats around this price band have still lots of racing life left in them.
While on subject of promotion I remember I had a chat about 12's with a work mate. He mentioned he always felt the class was wasn't selling itself very well. Sorry, but he also felt the class was mostly sailed by old people who didn't really know why different developments had taken the route they had. I can kind’a  vouch for this at this year’s Dinghy Show while it is nice to be offered cake (being given cake is always good in my book) after brief chat my current idea about comfort over performance (I'm thinking rigging Subversion with a gnav) the conversation drifted into idiosyncrasies of measuring gunwale overhang. I'm an all round boat nerd and I could feel myself getting bored. Sorry guys I’m not getting at you and it was good to chat.

All this aside, there still some hope having returned to Ely sailing club last year there is one cadet at Ely who mad keen on his 12 sailing. Which is part of reason for me getting back into sailing and sailing 12’s from here I have been inspired to organize a 4 planker at Ely. In the hope it will inspire more people to get 12 sailing. Both of us have also benefitted from range of boats on offer on the second boat list. I was able to get back into 12 sailing for under 500 notes and he has just up graded his Crusader to Foolish for under 2K. Something which has got me thinking all is not lost is; Kez and me are going to start sailing at Milton Keynes Sailing and on first visit there they were very welcoming and excited about a 12 coming to the club. I have also sailed there a couple of times during their winter series and both times club members have said how good it is to see a 12 sailing at MK sailing club. Only time will tell is this interest turns into boats on the water. Which has got me thinking about organizing an 12 open there either late summer or early 2015 (this not just because I think it will cool to have a concrete cow trophy ;o)

All our worring could cleared up if there was a post from the people at the coalface manning the stand at this Dinghy Show. Fingers crossed there was tones of sailors keen to know more about 12 sailing and wandering off second boat lists in their hands. You never know someone might be out there now doing the maths and modelling coming up with DCB beater or convincing a boat builder it’s time to get the moulds out.
 
Sorry turned into a essay but I wanted to get most my thoughts and feelings down in one place.

could be more bots than peeps?? I will reply just doing some quauilty pounding first 

I better prod jack then now he's got a foolish White Knight is very much on the market

After a few hours on the sander I have almost got to the point where it’s time to get sticky on Subversion and sort the cracks and fill the odd ding. Being a bit of hippy at heart I’m thinking it would be good to be as good to the planet as possible while fixing up Subversion. After a bit research I have found this ‘Green Epoxy’ http://www.matrix-composites.co.uk/products-greenpoxy.html from Matrix mouldings.  
Has anyone used it? Or knows how good it is?
 
I have used their Sicomin products before and found them all pretty good, just wondering if this one is as good.

In a slight oversight I seam to have forgotten to add the date. For all those who might be intrested it’s the 9th of February starting at 12 o’clock. While I’m here, here’s a link to Milton Keynes SC website.

If anyone is looking for an excuse to get the boat out in February. Jack Knight and me are doing the Milton Keynes sailing club Icicle pursuit race.  It’s a 2 hour race starting at 12 o’clock entry fee is about fiver. They also mentioned if 5 or more 12’s turn up they don’t mind giving a class prize of a bottle wine or something. 

Jack and I raced there just before Christmas and MK sailing club was very friendly and welcoming. It’s on about 46 acres of water which is fairly open making a great place for a spot of city sailing. It would be great to have some other 12’s joining us in the cold. 

See you there
Smilie

High speed sailing at BCYC back in the 'How Ace Are Aardvarks' days. Notice some dodgy crew work from me ;o)
http://youtu.be/Hc8r55vlabo 
http://youtu.be/IVZMqWM7rTk 

Alex Tory and me sending it one very wet and wild Guy Fawkes at  Middle Nene SC in the late 90's
http://youtu.be/dCIo9i7m6UU