Messages

Chris,
Since I'mcoming from Scotland, I will be at the show both days and available to fill gaps in the manning of the stand on Sat. or Sun.   I can also help with dismantling.
John
 

Hi Sam,
Sorry  I can't contribute images, but how about having copies of video / DVD for sale on the N12 Dinghy Show stand?   I would like to see video sequences of 2009 Burton Week if they exist.   I couldn't see much of the action from the beach at Thorpe Bay.
John
  

Note Hedley's sailing gear.   I think this was some years before wet suits.   (I didn't get mine till about 1967.)   Waterproof jacket over 3 sweaters and string vest, with waterproof trousers.   Wellies were "de rigeur", but shorter ones were more more fashionable than Hedley's in this photo.   Boats gained a bit of weight from spray freezing on the decks, but this was not critical in the days of metal cenreplates.     

All that Kingspan should keep you warm in this sub-zero weather, but it might affect your boat handling and aerodynamics.

Slainte Duncan,
Castle Loch is frozen solid.   So the January 1st event wil be purely social.   Fortunately the first floor of the clubhouse was not affected by the November floods, unlike the ground floor which was flooded to a depth of over a metre.   The water level rose by 2.5 metres above normal, and the flood extended half way to Lockerbie.   We now have to dry out the structure and do extensive remedial works before the season starts.   I'm sure it will be ok in good time for the Twelves Open Meeting on 17 & !8 April.   Hope to see you and many others there.
John

    

Duncan,
If your'e lucky, it might pale down to the shade of N3475.   No bar on the Foolish, but bottles fit very snuggly under the side decks: (top tip from Tom).   I shan't be risking my Bruichladich if I sail on New Year's Day; which is almost  relevant to the Calendar thread.
Enjoy Hogmanay.
John Hugo   

Don't forget Sue Pelling who has won the Money Cup for lady helms at least four times, and was competing again in Burton Week 2009.
John Hugo, N3475
  

! enjoyed crewing for Robin in "Reflection"during the winter months of 1965, (or was it 1956?), while his son Howard was away at school.   It was great experience.   What a pity I didn't pick more of Robin's skill.  
I should hate to see this boat vandalised.
John

The featured National Twelve is N3475, "Un Poco Loco", sailed by Chris Martin & Katharine Lovering in Burton Week.   It's my boat so I had to vote for it, not just because it's a great picture.   I hope it will be on an N 12 calendar.
John Hugo  N3475
          

Thanks Nemo.   Brilliant sun here in Dumfrieshire, but can't quite see the IOW.   Perhaps Graham and Zoe and others, able to sail DCB will have interesting comments.

See interesting article on Jo and DCB in this months Y & Y.   The inovative trim tabs and rudder foils have attracted much comment, but Andy Rice points notes that "everything is further back" in the hull and rig.   Jo apparently cut extra unmeasured area into the jib roach, but I gathered from Jo that the measured jib area was 1.8 sq m or less.   Can anyone confirm this?        

I've voted for Jo too.

For the record, "Bounder" was built by Neville Green, and sailed at Tynemouth.   Neville said the hull shape was closely related to Jo Richard's Bouncer design.   From my recollection, she seemed to carry weight pretty well and was quicker in light weather than one might have expected.   I hope she finds a good home.
John Hugo,  N3475
  

Weight in DCB seems mid-range.   Winged rudder, trim-tab centreboard and sheeting have all been worthy of comment, but I thnk it is also noteworthy that, as Jo said, "everything is further back".   The jib tack is at least 100mm further aft than the usual stem head fitting, the mast step is about 200mm aft of the normal position.   I gather the jib area is between 1.6 and 1.8 m sq.   All this must shift the centre of effort of the sail plan well aft, and no doubt means the centreboard / centre of lateral resistance is also further back.   I am unaware of much variation from the concensus on these points during the last two decades.   Will anyone else try something similar, or is it all down to Jo's (and Sophie's) brilliant sailing?  
PS   I wish I had taken measurements of DCB at Thorpe Bay.
John Hugo (N3475 aka N8455)
         

Gerry's advice is wise.   There are pros and cons for double bottoms. They do add stiffness to the hull, and they empty the boat of water in seconds,but the downside includes less legroom for the crew, and floating much higher in the water when capsized, which results in a tendancy to blow away quicker than a man overboard can swim, and to turn turtle.   It is also more difficult to climb onto the centreboard, especially if you are old and feeble like me.    The more competent twelve sailors can minimise these problems, and they generally favour double bottoms.
There are many affordable single bottom boats which are very suitable for inland sailing, but which have a problem when righted after a capsise when the top of the centreboard case and the dished transom are at water level.   (The buoyancy bags are not low enough).    It can take a long time to empty on a narrow river without room for a good reach, and when the wind has dropped after the gust that caught you out.
I am considering modifiying an old four planker which needs redecking: fitting a double floor from transom to thwart, and a dished buoyancy tank from bow to a bulkhead between the shrouds.    This should add stifness and allow the boat to float lower when capsised and higher when righted, and leave more leg- room for the crew.   I would expect it to be sailed dry quite quickly.   I am unsure whether this would be in class, and if it would fit the redefinition of AC.                              
There is no need to use carbon.   Plywood construction as used by Dare, or foam epoxy with glass sheathing are both feasible.
 N3475 (DB)