Messages

Remove all the metal fittings, keel band etc first.  Either treat these as scrap metal or hoard them!  Locally I offloaded much of my hoard at a boat auction.  When sawing up the fibreglass wear a face mask, particularly if using electric saw etc.  I hasten to add that I never scrapped any of my N12s, I always found some idiot to buy them!  I did scrap a very second hand tender I bought for £20 for my first post-N12 yacht.  I sawed that up by hand using an ordinary panel saw.

I was about to post a message thanking Angus and Ed Willett for the very interesting Newsletter.  Makes it worth continuing my Associate Membership!  I opened the chat page and was amazed to discover my name heading this topic!  The comments I made then are mostly what I wanted to say today.  Nice to see the chat page being made use of, there hadn't been anything since early November until this week.
It is nearly 14 years since an arthritic hip made me give up sailing Twelves.  We now have a 30ft Iroquois catamaran (built in 1969 so probably counts as vintage).  We wanted a boat that could sit on the mud twice a day, on its drying mooring, but still sail fast enough to interest an ex-twelve sailor.  
We still meet N12 sailors occasionally.  On a voyage round Britain in 2021 we were moored at the island of Islay (so I could pay homage to my favourite distillery) and met Mark and Emma Simpson who had chartered a yacht for a holiday.  I also see Tom Stewart when I go shopping at Fox's chandlery.
Forgive this off-topic rambling.  My best wishes to the class for the future.

Neil Kennedy's article in the Newsletter is very interesting and summarises the general decline in dinghy racing very well.  I think the trend has been downwards in most clubs and classes since about 1980.  However, some clubs seem to buck this trend: Brightlingsea Sailing Club (host of the 2016 Burton), for instance, still seems very active.  How do they do it?
Graham Ireland (RHYC) made an interesting comment a few years ago.  He pointed out that the clubs that had a good progression of junior members moving on to sail the "grown-up" boats had two-handed dinghies as their junior class (Brightlingsea had Mirrors, Waldringfield had Cadets) while the clubs that had Oppie, Topper etc struggled to retain their juniors when they grew out of the starter class.  We regularly sailed our Twelve at Brightlingsea's Pyefleet Week and noticed how the little ones started out crewing for more experienced kids then a year or two later they would be helming with a new child as crew while the original helm was crew or helm in one of the grown-up classes.  With single-hander starter classes most kids were not big enough to move on to Laser or Phantom etc and were not interested in crewing for an adult having always helmed.
I think its a great idea to boost the interest in the older Twelves, they are very good value for money (and if you need new sails get them second hand from the Burton winners!).  In 1979 I bought a Proctor IX to introduce my 7 year old son to crewing (I now crew for him on his 25ft cruiser/racer!).  Later my wife and I had a lot of fun racing a Design 8 specially when the Gill series started and had an "Admirals Cup" division - so we weren't going to open meetings just to make up the numbers but had some real competition.
We only gave up Twelve sailing due to age and me needing a new hip.  Our 30ft catamaran is more suited to our loss of agility!

Sadly no longer own a 12.  But total 122 if you count sailing a 12 for one day, team racing for Reading University against Trent Valley in the autumn of 1963.  However, didn't own a 12 until 1976.

To RHYC members and all who sail in the Orwell, Stour, Walton area.  Be aware that there is a proposal to install 5 large areas of commercial mussel beds in the Stour estuary between Shotley and Stutton Ness.  Full details at http://www.qualitysolicitors.com/parkinsonwright/sectors/environmental-and-planning-law/fishery-order-application-the-river-stour-mussel-fishery-order-2015 .  As usual the proposed order was apparently announced by a small ad in the East Anglian Daily Times about a month ago so local clubs and their members have only just become aware of it.  Any comments or objections have to be sent both to Defra and the solicitors by 6 April (full details in the above link) so if you have any views on this act now.
This will mostly affect the many yachts that use the Stour but the large number of marker buoys and crab pots (used to catch predator crabs) will be a big obstruction to dinghy sailors as well.
Sorry to use the N12 website for such a general item but I feel it important to spread the word.

JerryG ex-3500 3365 2997 2782

I was at Reading University 1962-6.  The university sailing club used to have a "marine meet" camping at Salcombe for a week during the long vacation.  I never went to this so cannot give details but I know a large rail wagon was pre-booked.  The Firefly dinghies were taken to the goods yard or siding on their launching trolleys, a long walk!  I think the truck took 4 or possibly 6 dinghies.  Perhaps some other ex-RUSC member can give more detail.

Note Angus' comment about keeping them warm.  Don't insist on finishing a race if they are getting cold and miserable.  Its got to be fun!
About 1979-80 I bought an old Proctor IX to sail with my 7 yr old son.  We were river or reservoir sailing in the midlands but used to take it on holiday to the west of Scotland and managed OK.  Once he was a bit bigger and more experienced we got a Cheshire Cat, which was a competetive club boat in those days.  
Be warned.  Look 20+ years on.  He now owns a 25ft cruiser/racer and expects me to crew in the local race series!
Jerry G
ex N3500

Worth noting that, even if upside down with all gear removed, it still needs tying down if outdoors.  The wide post-vintage boats are quite light and, if the wind gets under it, can take off!

The P&B weekly e-mail said Tom Stewart would be at Shotley SC last weekend "National Twelve".  Shotley is not a well known N12 venue but driving back from Shotley Marina Sunday afternoon (I had been crewing on a lead carrier) I spotted Jonno in the Shotley SC dinghy park.  Secret Ibbotson/Stewart tuning session?;D

Thanks to everyone at Aldeburgh for a great weekend's racing.  Thanks also for the lone of bouyancy aids when we forgot ours today! 
Jerry G
N3500

N3500 will be there.  Not able to stay for Sat evening meal as need to check our sheep before returning on Sunday.
Jerry G

1 x lasagne, 1x chicken curry for us.
Jerry G
N3500

will be there and camping.  not sure if arriving Fri evening or Sat am.
Jerry G
N3500

Anybody know details for the Eastern Area dinner this year? 

N3500 will be there.