Dates that have been confirmed for next year are as follows:
NWNW 28th July - 4th August
Burton Wk (Brixham YC) 28th July - 3rd August
Salcombe YC Regatta 5th August-10th August
I have not yet seen dates for Bass or Tummel, although I suspect that somebody will have them to post here soon.
Obviously from the above information it is clear that there is a very unfortunate clash between Norfolk and Burton Wk, and doubtless there will be people that choose the joys of Norfolk Wk rather than Burton Wk and some that wish they could do both. Trying to avoid a clash is the reason for the delay in publishing the dates of Burton Wk, but as I am sure people understand Torbay gets pretty busy and Brixham could not offer us a week without a clash. Importantly nobody has 'caused' this issue, with the NTOA, NWNSA, Salcombe YC and Brixham YC all doing everything possible to help.
My hope is simply that we can see more 12s on the water at all these events in 2007 than in 2006. If there are volunteers out there to be the 12 'representative' for both NWNW and Salcombe next year, to act as a point of contact to promote and encourage attendance at these all important weeks, then I would love to hear from them.
Any questions please get in touch.
Antony
N3484
That's a bit of a blow - as my parents live 15 miles from Hunstanton I had hoped to be at NWNW and burton week next year.
As this week is the youth sailcamp at our club - it seems I'll miss BOTH.
Philip
n3253
Our guess is that Bassenthwaite Regatta will commence Saturday 4 August (it is always timed so that the Monday of Bass Week is the first Monday of August), ending Sunday 12 August.
Team Roly Mo
It is my understanding that the original date for Burton was 5th-10 August 2007.NWNW was already decided and usually check with the 12s to avoid a clash. IT seems unfair to Norfolk to have to clash because Salcombe wont move, dose it have somthing to do with the fact that more committee members go to Salcombe rather than NWNW?
Anthony,
Is there really no venue that can offer dates that do not clash with either NWNW or Salcombe week? I sailed the Hunstanton weekend with my daughter and she really enjoyed it despite the Tornado and storm force winds (or maybe because of the Tornado) for her first taste of sea sailing. We were seriously considering doing the whole week next year. It's going to be a bit tricky to do BW as well.
Regards,
Steve
N3436
Gerry,
I should have called you, or you me, to clarify what has happened.
1. It is not true that NWNW was already set, they were the last dates we knew, it is true that they do not really have a choice due to the tides.
2. It is true that Burton Wk was originally to clash with the Salcombe date, that is set by Salcombe Harbour Authority not the YC.
3. The whole committee discussed which was the lesser of the evils and decided to switch to the only other week that Brixham to do as the lesser of two poor options.
4. There is one Committee member that I know of at Salcombe this year, I am not sure who did bits of NWNW. I for one am very disappointed as I love both and have been to bits of both Salcombe and NWNW in the last three years, indeed I launched my boat at Hustanton in 2003.
Steve,
The NTOA decided that it was unfair on Brixham to drop them for reasons that were not their fault and leave them with no event in 2007. We also had no idea whether we would be able to find another venue for a week in August.
I am sorry, I have been totally open about what has happened and hope that is appreciated. If we had a better option that we thought was viable we would have pursued it.
Antony
Just out of interest, what was the rationale for choosing to clash with Norfolk rather than Salcombe? Particularly given that this year there were at least 3.5 boats (including Liz!) at Norfolk who will also be at the Champs and who will have to make the decision which to do next year (ours is made - we'll be at Norfolk).
Also, aren't there 2 Salcombe regatta weeks (Town Regatta and SYC Regatta) - was any consideration given to promoting the non-clashing regatta week at Salcombe as the week that 12's go to - and with SYC's agreement, presenting the trophies at that week (just a thought)
Ian and Alex
N3441
I've done both town and posh and enjoyed both. However the town (/04) was not well attended by 12's (5 attendees inc KathR Will Henderson) (only but lots arrived as iI was Leaving) .
I can't see why town would not be acceptable if we had sufficient numbers, though I guess there will be some with social connections that would wish to attend posh week.
Moving on, Tummel seems to be a fantastic venue, I purchased my design 8 frrom up there ("its just north of Edinburgh") last year, and was well impressed with the area and the Loch... As Mark suggests more of us should make the effort to go there despite th distance (Team Roly went further just to observe!)
Ian/Alex,
There was unanimous committee agreement on this decision, and the committee is a pretty diverse bunch, for a surprising number of different reasons. The number of Champs sailors at NWNW and Salcombe is pretty similar, I think this year it is a little higher at Salcombe but sadly some of them are sitting on the beach.
Serious consideration was given to asking SYC if the Twelves could sail their main event at the Town Regatta for one year, and it was decided that this was not a viable solution or in the long -term interests of the class.
As I said in my orignal thread we are all aware that this clash will impact Burton Wk, and my interest is not in maximising the attendance at Burton Wk but is in increasing the number of 12s sailing at all of these events next year. If you (Ian & Alex) are definitely going to NWNW next year then perhaps we can discuss off-line my idea of having a person promoting the week to other 12 sailors?
Antony
As a committee member I do not recall being asked to vote, only to give my opinion. Had I been asked to vote my vote would have gone for leaving the clash with Salcombe. If you are going to say the committee are 'unanimous' in support for a decision at least give us the opportunity to vote.
Looking forward to seeing Ian and Alex (and hopefully the rest of the regulars and some new faces) at Norfolk in 2007.
Bernard
Bernard,
I am sure you are right, I guess that the word 'vote' was not used, and I am sorry to mis-represent your view. That does not change the fact that nobody on the committee objected to the idea. In fact it is sad to report that a lot of members did not bother to respond. The simple fact is that we had a choice to make between two bad options, and one has been chosen.
Antony
I will make sure my views are more clearly expressed in future!
B
Strikes me that we are very lucky! How many classes have a choice of weeks where they can sail against others? We have a few great weeks available to us - no one can do them all (even though we gave it a good go as students) and we just need to get good turnouts at all of them!
Jane
What is NWNW?
North West Norfolk Week.
A week of sailing at different venues in North West Norfolk (Hunstanton, Wells, Blakeney, Brancaster, Kings Lynn, Snettisham etc) almost every day.
N12, Enterprise, Laser and Handicap racing.
Good fun - I'll be there next year.
Barry
N3364
NWNW is good fun - and not just for the sailors. As sailing holidays go it is definitely our favourite, because the sailing tends to be either in the morning or the evening so the sailors can spend time with the non-sailing element of the family too. The venues range from wide open sea at Hunstanton and Snettisham to some of the loveliest shallow water harbours (Blakeney is a particular favourite of ours). There's stacks of accommodation in the area and plenty of good places to eat, drink and explore, and the clubs make the fleet feel incredibly welcome.
Come and join in the fun.
Antony - Having just come back from my first Bass Week for 25 years realising why my parents used to take us every year and having no intention to go to either NWNW (although I'm tempted), Salcombe or Burton next year, I think your desire to get more 12 sailors attending the "traditional" 12 events, regardless of where they are to be exactly the right approach.
In support of Bass Week, as a family friendly class we have to be able to get more than 4 boats to such a cheap, fun and easy sailing venue...and Phil David needs some competition!! RS200s got their own start this year. Maybe we should aim to ensure that we do the year after next.
Mike
My My people have been talking about Tummel with out me noticing. I just saw fixtures 2007 and thought that won't interest me.
A little a side for those of my sort of vintage with creaking knees etc. I am trying to get tummel to run a cvrda event either the weekend before or overlapping with tummmel week so if you have a 12 thats over 25 years old you can compete in that. As mark says the club is really friendly with a great atmosphere during the week with games for the kids as well and to top it all you can have a shot on my ToY as well. Worth the trip just for that although I did split the plank up the middle on Sunday.
Would it be possible to get the BW dates for 08 much earlier - family holidays commitments often get booked up quite early and this may also help anyone planning on doing BW in the future a chance to accomodate the weeks. Currently I already have my 07 holiday booked (and it clashes with BW) so any help in future planning even as far out as 08 would possibly help families planning.
Thx,
Kean
North-West Norfolk Week.
JIm N3130 (A boat, a boat, my kingdom for a boat! and no sweeties from "plastic fantastics")
Kean,
The honest answer is that it is very difficult to set a firm date for Burton Wk much more than 12 months ahead. As this year has demonstrated it makes it even more impossible to avoid clashes even if the hosts are able to give a firm date further in advance, and it is already sometimes impossible.
As far as 2008 goes we do not yet have a firm venue, so it is even harder than usual!
Antony
I know its very hard to plan so far ahead for such events but maybe we could develop some sort of action plan to identify what's needed to get more folks to attend these key events. Location and dates are obviously very key to a decision for folks to commit.
What input do you get from the fleet in terms of preferred locations or is this the BW commitees job? I'm sure its a huge task which is hard to get right for everyone!
Kean
Kean,
Burton Wk venues are usually left to the committee and are a mix of re-visiting old favourites and trying the odd new place such as Brixham when we have heard good things from other classes. Any suggestions based on previous visits with other classes are always welcome.
People in the class seem to want the following:
A venue in a town, with easy access to eating and drinking venues other than the club.
Places outside a town so that driving/parking is easy.
Places in the SW of England where the weather is good.
Places outside Cornwall as the sea breeze is not so good as the peninsular gets thinner.
A trip to Scotland, or not as the current majority seem to feel.
A short sail to the course, but obviously very sheltered launching.
Cheap accomodation within a walk of the club, but obviously better than the Duporth site.
A warm welcome (Porthpean always win on this one)
Good sailing, did I mention that.
Plenty of stuff for the on-shore family members to do, beaches etc.
Dates in the school holidays (for those with chldren) and outside those dates for those wihtout kids who want cheaper accomodation.
I am sure that i have missed some, but that is enough to give the picture. I am not sure how we would ever be able to set the dates much earlier.
Antony
How was Tenby for the Merlins? I was on holiday around there the week after and it seems to have everything on the list (except good weather!)
Mike S
Antony
Presumably you also meant to include "Not clash with Norfolk / Salcombe" as a reasonable priority as well!!
Dear WLN,
I thought I had covered that issue in my previous post!
Mike,
Tenby is a great venue and one we should definitely go back to. It is a great shame that the last two occassions that we have been there were not great from a weather perspective (torrential rain the first time and lack of wind the second). I have been there four times in three classes, and I think that my sister has been four times in four classes, and think it is up there with the best of the venues in the UK. One key tip if we do go there is to book accomodation early as it is not a great place if you have to drive in every day.
Antony
Probably too late for 2007 but we should think about East Lothian YC at North Berwick (Edinburgh Sur Mer).
This is a fantastic venue and the club has experience of running Nationals ie rs400, laser 2000 this year.
Lots of B&B, two good campsites inc statics etc within walking distance, pubs and Restaurants (posh to pizzas) sep from club but within easy walking distance. Eburgh short train ride away, regular sailings for non sailors, good beaches -- see Roly Mo's Spiel pre Scottish Nationals..........
Roger
n3334