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Thank you peeps for the various enquiries; all the spare sails (and carbon boom) have now gone. It's just the surplus boats to sell...

Hi Bryan. For new sails my first stop would be HD Sails in Birmingham 0121 356 2175 and ask for Andy Davis. If you only want second hand, I have a decent suit of North Sails, and several older Alverbank mains. 07710 324 800

Greetings N12 Sailors. Following various accidents and operations I have been read the (medical) Riot Act which means that my sailing activities will have to be restricted and also that I will have to much reduce my collection of N12s. The following (first of design) boats are now for sale/looking for a caring home either with separate owners or for someone to take over the collection.

N1650 Smuggler, N2020 Starfish, N2359 Shotgun, N2399 Mr Jones, N2492 Whisper, and N2750 Cheshire Cat. All are in racing order with combi trailers (except N1650 launching only) and covers; several have undercovers.

If you are interested please contact me; I'm not looking for a fortune more good homes for these heritage boats. I have really enjoyed saving, restoring and lending out these fab boats but, sadly, the time has come....... 

paul@ryehillfarm.com

PS the Vintage Champs are coming up 15/16th July at Notts County SC just down the road.....

Black Cat hull deemed past restoring, rig being donated to N3301 Grizelda

It is with deep regret that I report the death of Harry Dalby in mid-December. 

 Harry was a member of Trent Valley for more than fifty years.  He was the eldest of the four Dalby brothers and the first to become a TVSC member.  He was an active and highly competitive dinghy sailor during the 1960s and 1970s.  He competed at the Club and in open meetings locally and further afield, often with one of his younger brothers as crew. 

He was a passionate National 12 sailor and a member of the 'Trent Valley Ditchcrawlers' along with Paul Turner and the late Clive Robinson.  He designed and built his own National 12s, the names of the designs reflecting his business interests in industrial ovens – 'Gas-Fired',  'Hot Planks' and 'Red-Hot Shot', and where he lived - 'Oadby Owl'.
  
 Harry continued his sailing interests into later life, keeping a yacht on the Hamble.  His children attended the TVSC Junior Camp on a number of occasions and Harry had acquired his nephew Philip's Merlin Rocket with the intention, sadly unfulfilled, of teaching his grandchildren to sail at Trent Valley.
  
 Harry was a Committee member during the 1970s and Rear and Vice Commodore towards the end of that time.  He remained a Trustee of the Club until his death.
 
 The funeral service will be at St. James the Greater, London Rd. Leicester at 12.30 on January 10th, and then moving onto the Masonic Hall, London Road. 

Jean Gill's funeral will be on Wednesday 7^th September at 14:00 at St Chad's Church, Wilne, Derbyshire with the Rev Gary Dundas officiating.

Feel free to contact me if you need any more information. Paul

A message from Nick Gill:

"I am sad to report that my mother, Jean Gill has died aged 93. She sailed National 12's for around twenty years from 1950 till 1970. Her first boat was N580 called Phantom which she persuaded Dougie to pass onto her when she tired of crewing. After that she owned N1900, a Mk 8 called Champers, a nod to the hedonist 60's I think. Her last boat and the one she had most success in was a Starfish N2307 called Roundabout. She sailed actively at Trent Valley Sailing Club and competed in the Midland area circuit. I recall one championship at Llandudno around 1966 where she sailed in a fleet of well over a hundred boats. She was one of a very few lady helms in those days. Her final dinghy days were in Fireballs which on the River Trent was quite a challenge. After that she took up golf with similar enthusiasm. Off the water she ran Yacht Supplies in Breaston, a well-stocked chandlery, until the early eighties."

I first met Ken in the late 1960s when my sister crewed for him at TVSC. He was always great company and put so much time and effort into supporting sailing at Trent Lock but he also worked tirelessly at promoting the vintage wing of NTOA. A very kind and thoughtful man. So many happy memories and stories of incidents, including him winning a Derwent meeting only to have the Commodore of that Club pinch his opening joke that he had been rehearsing - but he rose to the occasion! We will miss you, Ken.

Greetings. Only 10 days to go and we only have seven entries for the Vintage Champs and the Sunday Open meeting at Trent Valley. Dust off that clinker yot that you have lurking in your garage/hiding in the dinghy park and sign up. We are welcoming any non-racers who just want to whiz round the bay/chat with other N12 sailors. The Sunday is an all comers standard open meeting. We are holding a Trent Valley rules skittles night on the Saturday evening (with food). So that we can organise catering, please let us if you are coming along even if just to watch and natter. RSVP paul@ryehillfarm.com

Greetings. The Vintage Champs at Trent Valley on 14/15th May are not that far away now, Angus! Who is coming out to play? Graham Camm has already booked "Shotgun", Gerard Copsey "Mr Jones" (subject to dodgy legs), John Sears will be there with N1903 so who else is joining us (even if it's just to watch, eat drink and reminise? P 

Hi Chopper. I have just been in touch with the owner of the CC and he is happy to donate the boat to you. He is digging out the rudder and centreboard, and he thinks that I have the sails and mast; I have serval booms for you to choose from. There is a tatty cover. The boat is at TVSC; we can sort pick up arrangements. Need to check boat number. P

Yo Chopper. There's a Cheshire Cat languishing at TVSC and I've just texted the owner. There' s also a Crusader lurking. Call me if you want to proceed with either. I'm in the handbook.  Paul

Greetings. An early date for your diaries - 14th & 15th May 2022 Vintage Champs at Trent Valley. Usual format with three race Derwent Handicap on the Saturday, evening social and Open Meeting on the Sunday. It would be helpful to have an early indication of interest; there will be vintage boats from the Turner Collection available to sail by competent(!) helms. Px

Anyone taking a vintage to NWNW? P

Greetings. Pleased to see that we have a programme for NWNW but sad to see no Brancaster or Sunny Hunny. And looking at the N12 calendar I see that the week is not listed as part of the Vintage series as in previous years??? Was thinking about taking (the) Whisper N2492 so maybe (the) Cheshire Cat instead...? Px