Messages

Nigel seems to have got up to first in class now!

Only 57 boats left in the race at 16.00hrs!

Here here - and between John, this board and the beach  we found enough willing crews for all!

Cheers

just had a look at the photos - she's a beauty! Good luck with her Philip.

cheers

Don't know what happened to the e-mal Tim.  - mobile 07810502348.  look forward to seeing you.
Cheers

Tim - we'll be able to offer you a bed in Bonaventure Rd - you may have to cook a pasta bake!

See your e-mails

Cheers

Thanks for all the offers of help.

I'm now spoilt for choice it would seem! Adele will now be sailing with me at least on Sunday and hopefully later in the week, Emma will be around, there will be a spare Davies twin and also Lottie - and that's before other irons come out of the fire!

I'll see you all there and we'll work out what happens during the week!

Cheers
"that nice man"

Sailing with Adele I'm sailing very light for me at just 21.5 stone!  Inland in light winds this hasn't proved to be too much of a hindrance with a win at Ranelagh at the weekend (against the slight weight of  Fran & Clare circa 17st I'd guess) and a 2nd at South Cerney. Tipping the scales a just over 20 st isn't heavy and certainly shouldn't give you cause to feel you're too heavy for a Twelve. Light weather inland sailing is more about making the most of the wind that's available than every last ounce of boat speed.

Meds sails with a similar weight to me an has proven that this is not uncompetitive. It does get a lot more difficult to et near the front once your over 23st all up - though I've still managed some respectable inland results with more than this.

Cheers

Jim

Believe me I am very much aware of the difficulties those of us face who tip the scales comfortably over 90Kg (that's without a crew!). My point was that it was not committee who increased any width. It was the members over the years who had been building ever wider boats. The rule was to written (drafted by the technical sub-committee) for very good reason and voted in by the membership. Take a look at the picture of Mr Jones taken against Gypsy in 1968 (handbook  page 30).
There is no doubt at all in my mind that the boats have become much more fun to sail on a windy reach as result of their beam. My first 12 was number 925 - sailing her was similar to sailing a Firefly (though obviously even then a  bit more rewarding!). To what stage in the development of he class do you think we should revert?

Cheers

For the record Jim the committee have never increased the maximum beam. The owners association decided to put he current limit on the beam as National Twelve owners were building them ever wider. There was previously only a minimum beam! The time was 1980 - well before the advent of double bottoms and when many were building in wood.

This is sad news

Andrew was a larger than life character and a very talented craftsman. He built some very beautiful Twelves including two for us. His enthusiasm fo the class and for life in general was inspirational. His energy seemed endless and saw him restoring a classic Triumph TR4A at the same time as building 2 National Twelves over a few months, all in his "spare time", and delivering all to programme.

His death comes after a battle with cancer which has been going on since 2004 and which he refused to allow to prevent him from enjoying life and sailing.

Andrew's funeral will be at Porchetser Crematoriam next Wednesday.

We should be there too.

See some of you at Ranelagh on Sunday.

Cheers

Sadly I was unable to get to Desborough this year - does anybody know the results?

Cheers

I remember Elizabeth not only as a ruthlessly efficient  measurer but also as a very competitive Thames sailor who we invariably met at her home club's (Staines SC) open meeting and many others. We all new not to push our luck with her on the start line or at any of the marks!

My first experience of Burton Week (Pevensey Bay 1974) saw me unpicking the Bruce Banks logo from my jib as Elizabeth had established that it fell a few millimetres outside its permitted position!

She was a great character and a lovely lady. I had the pleasure of meeting her again a couple of years ago when she handed back the decanter trophy. We had aranged to meet in a car park in Dorchester - would I be able to recognise her about 25 years on from when I last saw her? - No problem - she'd hardly chaned and was as sharp and quick witted as ever. I suddenly realised that this quick handover had turned into a half hour chat abouut old times and I had to leave for a meeting!

As the boat starts falling over on top of you quickly pull in a couple of feet or so of mainsheet - this is likely to save your swim - if it keeps coming pull in more mainsheet, when all seems lost drop the tiller and use two hands for the job, the rudder will be next to useless at this stage anyway - it's amazing the angle that you can recover from with this technique.

Can't say I've sailed a Crusader much but have certainly experienced this urge to fall over to windward in many designs and with different crew/ helm weight combinations.

Could be not nough kicker - the top of the sail suddenly twists off and balance is lost.

Good luck  -  report back on the results here.

Cheers

Paul

Dinner for me & I suspect my crew, Ruth, who seems very organised and has probably booked hers already! I would much appreciate a bunk too if that can be arranged - see you soon!

Cheers