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YouTube Video of 2011 Burton week R1 at http://bit.ly/rb0Dld

The boat came with new Mac.

I find Linux revives older harware, well, most older hardware (innuendo), and comes in various distros that can result in indecision.

Hot gossip and great news Sophie.

The emphasis for those at the event should be involvement and fun and not on chores and admin so I'm not griping in any way, but I have been checking the micro-site for results. I only mention it because I am aware of an interest group, small in number, that has been looking: Me!

Have fun, all.
I can't be there but I'll be thinking about ya.

The boy Ben will be there in the sharp end of 3473 'Max Factor'. There's no need to nanny him but could you be kind and courtoeus - let him pass if you don't mind - it will lift his confidence and Jon's ego.

Naomi has reported that the campsite accepts cash only in payment.... a little bit old fashioned!

Someone once pointed out to me that the Church operates largely as a 'cash business'. He was being sincere and objective - his wife is, amongst other things, a non-stipendary minister ..!

In God we trust; all others .. .. ..
It might simplify annual returns.

Angus,
is there a Tummel Week planned for 2012 and if so which week? How well received would the idea of tagging an orkney gathering in the week following. Us sassanachs could consider a two week break taking in both venues.

orkney,
if interest in some kind of gathering in orkney does develop what would be the views of the club and its officials as to availability of facities and/or having some kind of format in the way of social and some kind of (one imagines) handicap racing?
Ness Point has some airy pitches for would be campers but info on site is sketchy. What are facilities like?


Has anybody any idea of the return fare on ferry for family saloon and trailer? (Ball-park for summer 2012.)

A job well done, Martin. Did you place her for sale after all that effort?
Snafu, btw, being an abbreviation for 'Situation Normal All Messed Up', did you know? Snafu and Sticky Fingers have been adopted as names for pop/rock bands.

Chadders Hi!

It's a work in progress, Howard. We applied final topcoat to underside some 10 days ago. We've left it to dry and firm up up a bit and expect to flip it over today. From the odour inside the canvas shelter (tent) there are still plenty of VOCs being released.

The last refit had evidently been done with great care by the Simpsons (Iain, I think) but showed signs of aging. After investigation of localised crazing or hairline cracks we concluded these were in no way structural and attributed them to wear and tear and the hard, perhaps brittle, nature of the two-pack finish. We elected to use the old finish as a base, sanded down to a level hovering between undercoat and primer, then followed Internationals guidance on building up the single pack finish culminiationg in Toplac 'Bondi Blue'.
Interior is pretty good save for localised wear in the finish around thwart and c/b case. But I think we are inclined to take the decks back to the wood and procede from there. Brian has repaired wear and tear to foils and they could do with investment in effort to restore a sound finish. I hope to get her to a standard where we won't have to do much else for several seasons. If I fashioned a stumpy c/b for local waters that would help.

I doub't we'll do any club sailing this season but all things considered we might trail to the Inlands at Leigh & Lowton. Hopefully, circumstance and planning will permit greater involvement in the 'scene' in 2012. We're contemplating Hayling Isaland. A planning meeting involving 'senior management' is in order, and soon.
I think our Ben will be present for Ripon and Yeadon.

If a plan is hatching for an impromptu gathering of 12s come August 2012 in a northern and beatiful setting count us in.
Looks beautiful. How many hours of daylight in August? 21/22?

Are the licensing hours as extended as the hours of daylight in summer?
Is there good camping (for tents) and is it far enough north to escape those midges with serious attitude that I recall from the western coast off skye and in proximity to Ardamurchan Point?
Is the water plentiful and the 'water of life' even more so?
Hell, if it is that good I could leave the 12 at home .. .. the crossing would be cheaper .. ... and the funds available for local transactiona and casual expenditure all the greater.

video looks fantastic !! .. .. except .. .. (no reflection on the video itself) I get a succession of 'stills'.
I run Firefox off the back of Ubuntu Linux 10.4 and can strrem BBC iplayer or YouTube content with no apparent problems - but some video, like vimeo, refuses to run properly.
Despite eschewing Windows XP for Linux and having a generally productive relationship with Linux for 18 months or more I'm not really that 'geeky'. I read 'Linux Format' (a mag'), 'techie' books, and sometimes find content in the Linux forums that answers questions in terms I can understand, but I haven't quite 'got my head around' the full breadth of issues surrounding 'plugins' and 'codecs' as they apply to a Linux convert.
There are some clever people number amongst 'twelvies', I know - though I ain't one of them. Before I immerse myself in geeky Linux forums and the propects of incomprehensible (incomprehensible to me that is!) run in Terminal command line jiggery-pokery is there a fellow 'twelvie' who can lend off the cuff direction?

It was an excellent event on a glorious day albeit one where the wind initially proved very fickle. Ben thoroughly enjoyed sailing with you Howard and he sends a big thank you to you for provinding the opportunity. A big thank you also to Brian who kindly taxied Ben on the outward journey to Burwain.
The measure of Bens renewed enthusiasm is that from the moment we closed the car doors to trip back home he has done nowt but nag me about getting back on the water. (Hehe, being the manipulative father I am I sense an opportunity to utilise his enthusiams to good effect as child-labour put to work to do the tedious work of preparation, stripping and sanding. ... ... ... Hehehe!)
Ben had so much fun touslling with the winning vintage helm, Paul Trurner, and being in a close placed second vintage boat captained by seasoned sea dog Chadders that he is inclined to offer his services as crew to the N12 fraternity. This has our general approval but with one caveat; if you engage him please do not perform too creditably as he'll never be satisfied with being tail-end-charlies when 'Why Can't You ...?' is eventually refloated. (Angus, that caveat may rule you 'in' rather than 'out'. )
Thanks to all involved, Patrick, Burwain, and all the folks who made the day.

I haven't seen them racing coaches, not even on Top Gear, though I believe hot competition between Megabus and National Express chasing each others' tails on the motorways of the UK led to legislation that made speed limiters mandatory for PCV vehicles (coaches). Has James May promoted interest in sailing - or tarnshed its reputation?

But there was a stunt on TV where two coaches side by side used close quarter tactics to drive up a strip and tip a bottle of champagne attatched to one coach in to a glass attached close to the mirror of another. It was apparently a demonstration of driving ability and skill but I would not recommend trying to replicate the stunt on public roads. Plod could see it differently! Could have been a feature on Top Gear - can't be certain.
The wagons I drive are now volutarily limited to 50 to make fuel savings. Even Eddie Stabart was limited to 56.

Ben has been hired as a crew for the event which gives us specific reason to trip out for the day - so we'll see you there, guys - and gals.

Query 10:30 briefing, 11:00 fisrt race?

I have to work into the small hours of Sunday. I can cut my beauty sleep short in case ofr need, but I was wondering if there are any kind N12 members who live in North Cheshire who may be planning to attend and for whom a small deviation via Bramhall is a small concession to be able to offer to taxi Ben for the outward journey to Burwain? That would be very helpful and conducive to my being more sociable when we get there!

In straightened times, Angus, I gotta be honest, liquidity is an issue. I recall Burwain has a cosy bar and I am sure the club would consider it a waste not to utilise it. I can run to a pint or two, Angus, and I promise to stand you the same if you trip from the tundra 'up north'!

Ah Burwain! Foggy memories of Bradford Barrels!
'Why Can't You?' has been in dry dock since return from Thorpe Bay 2009. Change to working arrangements and involvement in other interests have cramped time either for sailing or to undertake the much needed refit. Membership of home club is currently down-graded to 'social'. We're missing the scene an the circuit, all the same.
We hope you have a good turn-out Patrick. We shan't make the entry list - but if the weather and the trip take our fancy we might have a drive out to that attractive region and say hello.
Good cheer.
Chadders, give us a ring nearer the time if you would like to borrow our Ben.

Commisserations Simon, that's a tough break!
Linda, Ben and myself are hoping the swelling and pain are being replaced by the process of heeling.
'12' sailors do suffer for the 'art'.
Sorry too that the DB is to be offered for sale.
Get well soon.