Messages

Any more information about the dinner at RHYC?  I understand it is on 14 Feb which is early enough that my valentine will not be acting as midwife to sheep this time.  How much and who do we book with?

Our Design 8 (now for sale) has 2 x 150lb stern bags held down by those covers sold by P&B (which have a useful transparent pocket for course cards).  This keeps them more secure than webbing straps with no tendency to bulge up when immersed.  Yes, with our 22 stone the top of the cb case is just submerged when static.  As soon as the boat is moving we move aft and a lot of the water goes out over the stern or through the flaps.  We then trim her so that the top of the transom is above water and as she gathers speed the flaps and bailers soon get rid of the rest.  We have the flaps held by "stretchy" elastic which we don't release, so they act like non-return valves.
Jerry G

Now on the for sale list.

Most small cars should be OK to pull a N12.  The trailer weight is unlikely to be above the legal towing limit stated in the handbook.  In ancient times I have towed a N12 or similar sized dinghy behind an A35 van and a Triumph Herald with no problem so modern vehicles should easily cope.  The only time I produced smoke like shown at the start of the link was towing with a Volvo 244 with leaky seals on the automatic gearbox!

N3365 for sale.  Will be on the for sale list when I am allowed to access it! My address and phone number are in the year book.
Jerry Garner

Jim, re repairs to trailing edge.  When i bought my Design 8 in 2000 the trailing edge of the laminated wooden c/b had a chunk out of it (probably caused by dropping the boom on it).  I used International epoxy repair kit with microfibres mixed in to make a stiff paste.  I think I clamped some thick plastic or plastic covered wood either side while it set (to avoid excessive sanding).  Its lasted 7 seasons OK.
Jerry N3365
 

Duncan
Having spent this afternoon at a course on agricultural nitrate pollution I can confirm that DEFRA (Department for the Elimination of Farming and Rural Activities) is currently amending the rules relating to Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in compliance with the EU nitrates directive.  Soon most of England will have increased regulation of nitrate fertiliser and manure use etc.  However, for some reason Scotland and Wales have very limited areas designated as NVZs, so hard luck!  Before blaming farmers for all nitrates consider the output from sewage effluent and industrial processing and be aware that airport runways are de-iced with urea (46% nitrogen) rather than salt, so where does that all end up!
Having got that off my chest.  Our shallow river estuary can get quite weedy by late summer and I have adapted a plastic stick with a V piece at the end (at right angles to the stick) which can be used to push lumps of weed off the rudder without the need to raise and lower the blade.  An easily raised blade with elastic to hold it down may be OK in low speed boats but tends to lead to a disconcerting loss of control when speed gets really exciting.  I use a non-stretch line to a clam cleat on the tiller (the sort that trips and releases if the rudder hits something really solid).  An alternative is the old style tubular jammer which usually allows some slip if you hit something hard.  I also clamp the rudder with a large wing nut when its down to avoid any play between tiller and blade.  Its a trade off really: easy raise and lower with wobbly rudder versus fixed rudder as weed collector and possible serious damage if grounded - or something in between.

I have drifted round Twickenham once and swore never again!  Waldringfield is the place to be this weekend.  Its you last chance.  If no viable N12 fleet this time the Twelves will almost certainly be dropped.

Who is going?  This event needs some N12 support or it will disappear.

For future consideration and to get away from the western fringes of the UK, has the committee considered Brightlingsea?  This year they hosted both the Fireball and Mirror Nationals.  From the reports on the Y&Y website both events seem to have been well run and enjoyable.  For the families, although Brightlingsea does not have much of a beach it does have a prom and paddling pool.  It is quite close to Clacton and there is even a naturist beach at St Osyth for those so inclined.  Our annual "holiday" is racing at Brightlingsea SCs "Pyefleet Week" and we can confirm they are a very friendly club with just about everything run by enthusiastic volunteers rather than professional staff ie good food and drink at reasonable prices.

When I bought her in about 1984 she had no name and all the "feline" names had been chosen for other Cheshire Cats.  However the most memorable and lasting thing about the cheshire cat was its grin - hence the name "Smiley".

My first Twelve, bought in 1976.  Stitch & tape construction.  Sold on in 1977.

Have some of you been listening to my musings on a customised "geriatric" twelve?  I had been thinking of increasing the hull depth on a standard design of hull to give scope for a thwart (essential for geriatric crew) sufficiently high above floor to help crew's knees.  Also helping geriatric helm stagger from side to side when tacking or gybing without tripping over the gunwhale when he gets there!  Extra windage from high freeboard does not seem to harm Gavin's boat.  Boom height would also have to increase at least as much as the extra sheerline height.  A plus point would be the raised sheerline would give scope for increased beam forward and aft without severe distortion of hull shape.  Downside is extra freeboard can make recovery from capsize more difficult.

Designers please note: if both helm and crew are geriatric then hull must be a weight carrier!