Messages

I think I have been really lucky with the purchase. I just happened to spot Catatonic on the for sale list when I first visited this website.

Youtube footage from the next Twickenham Open? I suppose I could get the crew to shoot some on board video!

I have bought Catatonic from Matt Stiles and will be sailing her at Twickenham. She is my first National 12.

Prior to going to Desborough, Catatonic was at Twickenham Yacht Club for about 3 years.

Well my boat hunt didn't take long. I bought N3143 Catatonic from Matt Stiles today. She is a very pretty Tigress.

Inspired by watching the 12s at the Twickenham Open I took a look at this website and saw that a boat had just been put up for sale in Kingston. Matt kindly agreed to bring the boat over to Twickenham for me to test sail.

Matt took me out and familiarised me with the various bits of string (loads more than on my old Enterprise). I then went out for a sail on my own in very light winds.This morning I sailed my Enterprise in a race for the last time (sob) before Matt arrived with Catatonic. I t was interesting comparing the sailing experience in the 2 boats. The 12 is much more comfortable than the Ent (no bench seats to bash your shins on) and seems to glide along even when there is virtually no breeze.

I discovered yesterday that Catatonic was based at Twickenham up until a few years ago. I just hope she remembers how to go fast on the Twickenham 'racetrack'.

I have one or two minor things to fix but basically I am the proud owner of a lovely National 12.

Thought you guys would  be encouraged to hear of an Enterprise sailor who is planning to convert to the National 12 class. I have been sailing Enterprises for 4 years now so hopefully I am ready to handle a more lively class.

I am hoping to buy a N12 (A/C) in the near future. I have been studying the excellent N12 Technique guide, but despite this I suspect that my first attempt at helming a 12 will be 'interesting'.

Once I get a boat there will be 4 active N12s in the Twickenham fleet so I should get some reasonable class racing.

I am expecting a few more swims than usual. I will be 'learning the ropes' during the Winter series so it's a good job I have a dry suit!

My current crew is very excited about switching into 12s. We have a combined weight of around 23 stone (and a combined age of 93) so I suspect that we may be a bit on the slow side!

N2789 Sandpiper is in regular use at Twickenham Yacht Club.

You can see the boat in action in the Twickenham 2007 Open meeting videos that I posted on Youtube. Access the videos from the Twickenham 2007 post on the discussion board or the write up of the meeting.

2700 is in regular use at Twickenham Yacht Club.

You can view her in action on the Twickenham Open 2007 videos that I posted on Youtube (see Twickenham Open 2007 post) on discussion board.