Messages

With all 2010 open meetings now completed, it's time to congratulate John & Mandy Thornton who have won this year by one point from  Jon Ibbotson & various crews.  51 boats took part in at least one event.

Prize giving at Ranelagh on 5th December, as previously advertised. 

Mike D
N3533

And to balance the picture - I have insured with Noble continuously since the early1970s and have never had a single problem on any claim in all that time.
 
Mike D
N3533

This is just to give you all advanced warning that the prestigious Ranelagh Winter Open Meeting, followed by the annual Thames Area lunch will take place before Christmas - on Sunday 5th December, because of the tides in January.  The race start time will be 1145.

Children's lunch will be served at 1230ish and the grown-ups will eat after the race and packing up at around 1415.  

The racing will be testing and competitive on this famous part of the Tideway, and the race will count as the first open meeting in the Thames Area 2011 series.  Anne and Melissa will be doing their usual great stuff in the kitchen.  Fun will be had and everyone is welcome for the race, the lunch or both, from anywhere in the country.

Please make a note in your diary and post here or email so we have an idea of the numbers.  We'll ask for lunch payments in advance nearer the time.

Mike D
N3533

Alistair - yes, Anne and I will be there with Rock Lobster.
Mike D
N3533

Please note for anyone who was planning to go ... an email from Mike Storey:  'Sorry to say that the info I was given about the IBRSC event on 26^th was wrong â€" it’s not an open event this year and the format has changed too. I’ve only just found this out today. I don’t think we can have the 12s turning up as was the original idea. Sorry for the late notice.'

Mike D
N3533

Found this in the attic recently - taken at Hickling Broad in around 1978, I think.  The previous year, sailing with Neil Crosby, we finished in the top 20 in the Three Rivers Race after about 18 hours continuous sailing (and not many 12s have done that, I guess).  The following year, determined to do better, we had another go but had to retire after about four hours when we got to Hickling because of gear failure.  This photo was taken as we came ashore.
 
Mike D
N3533

For the first time in many years, Anne and I are sending apologies for missing this event - we're doing a week's sailing in Greece, starting next Sunday.  Hope it's a good day for everyone and please could someone gather the results together and email me - for the Thames Series, thanks.

MikeD
N3533

This is the launch day - Anne and I rounding Gorey Roads buoy to port.  This is the kind of mark that you don't want to touch with a new boat!
Mike D

If you ask Mike Cooke, he'll make you a nice one in carbon - don't know how much though...

Mike D
N3533

So, it was an excellent week - testing saliing and we saw pretty much the whole estuary, including twice out to Starehole and one glorious long reach all the way up to Balcombe near Kingsbridge on the last day.  Jonno and Sophie were terrific and the rest of us had very close racing.  And of course, big thanks to John Murrell and everyone at SYC for looking after us so brilliantly.

Mike Day
N3533

Salcombe Week starts on Sunday - impressive 21 entries.  Results here:
http://www.salcombeyc.org.uk/content/racing-results/%5Eregatta-2010%5ENational_Twelve/
Mike D
N3533

Ranelgh's summer open - the next meeting in the Thames Area Series - is on Sunday 11th July.  The start time is advertised as 1300 on Ranelagh's website.  The usual format is just one long race for the wonderful historic Silver National Trophy.  Ranelagh always provides a challenging and entertaining sail on the Tideway above Putney Bridge with warm hospitality from the club. 
[face=Comic Sans MS]Anne and I are taking Rock Lobster - hope to see as many boats there as possible.[/face]
[face=Comic Sans MS]Mike D[/face]
[face=Comic Sans MS]N3533[/face]

At that weight, you'll be at the top end of what works in a Twelve.  Main drawback is that you'll generally accelerate a little slower and in marginal planing, the boat won't pick up as fast.  However, there are plenty of people who've been reasonably competitive with that sort of weight. Read the design guide on this site for guidance on which shapes carry weight better.  An obvious place to start would be a Final Chapter.

Mike D
N3533

Ian and all at Spinnaker ...

Anne and I got as far as Winchester this morning but then heard via mobile about a family illness so we had to turn round and go back to London.  Hope you have a good day.  Please could you let me have the results for the Thames Area sometime, thanks.

Mike D
N3533

It's good that another old 12 is getting restored.  Your problem is that even in the 1960s, there was no such thing as a standard layout.  It would depend on which Proctor shape you have, who built it and how many times it has been refitted since then.  The screw holes in the boat will give you some sort of guide and to a large extent, you can suit yourself anyway and put things where you think they'll work.  Or ... get yourself along to your nearest Twelve club that has boats of that vintage and look at them, or better still take your boat and fittings along when one or two experienced vintage sailors are around, and they'll help you work it all out.  You'll find people only too pleased to help.
 
Mike D
N3533