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Good starting point bottom of measurement band to bumper join 1475mm, waterline should be spot on at the stern and cm or so out at the bow.

At Etherow we have probably 25 unmeasured IOMs , members cannot see the relevance of the current system. We have no measurers currently in Greater Manchester and people are not prepared to travel due to cost and time issues. All our boats use sails from well known suppliers . As to becoming a measurer, most of our members would not be able to crawl around the floor measuring a dinghy sail those that could are working and/or have family commitments. In the 40 plus years that I have been involved with our sport I have always had my boats measured I built a new IOM recently its not measured I can't see when it will be. Are similar requirements in place elsewhere, Europe, Australia ,USA?

The measurement comment is very interesting in that the need to attend an RYA sail measurement course at a cost of £150 approx will mean that there will be an increasing number of boats which have a number but are not measured. In my own club we have I would estimate 20 or more IOMs that are in this situation and most of these owners will not consider racing at other venues or joining the MYA despite persuasion simply because its a pain to get boats measured and they see the MYA as putting barriers in their way. I have been told that the requirements for measurers vary depending on which part of the world an owner happens to live, if this is correct should we register boats in other countries? I am currently finishing a new IOM but am not looking forward to travelling a considerable distance to get it measured, We have received a plea from our secretary to vote at the AGM. I value the commitment of our representatives but on this issue we have been miss led and the apathy of the membership would appear to support my feelings, I/we perhaps should have put a motion to the AGM that the MYA funds the cost of the RYA course?

Simply to far for me to walk now never mind run I hear that people are walking miles up and down the bank. Would love to race but unless the control areas become restricted to say a metre or 2 per competing boat in each heat then I would be at a disadvantage. Not that I was any good when I could walk, but I did enjoy competing!

Is there any published information for the Viper designed by Mark Dicks I shall be getting a boat completed to deck level so will need to add rigs and electrics ballast weight etc. No access to plans would like to know where the waterline is to help set up the mast rake etc, plus any useful info. Cheers Steve

At Etherow we have loads of older boats, Derek's early Widget No 267, several DC95s, Widgets, Gadgets, plus newer designs , Lintels, Vipers etc. A great friendly bunch of people despite our water not being blessed with a lot of wind! We sail Tuesdays and Thursdays and get 10 to 16 boats . My advice is to get something that is reliable, complete and similar to what is sailed, or if you find something else do some research and ask for advice.

I have never had a completely dry boat but I always remove a patch, unscrew and remove the pot lid and the drain plug then I have a fan from a computer which I put over the largest opening, couple up to a NICAD and leave it until it dies. A cheap and effective way of drying the boat out/

I like many others used to enjoy attending events in my own district (North) and the Midlands, Unfortunately I am now excluded due to the amount of walking required. As an example some fellow club members attended a recent event, they walked 11 miles during the day and didn't go back for the second day. In my case I am unable to walk any great distance and am unable to walk fast enough for long enough to keep up with the fleet due to the length of unrestricted access allowed on the bank to the skippers. I am saddened that I am excluded because of my disability. Why is there not a limit on the size of the area open to competing skippers for example 2 metres for each of the skippers in a fleet. Could the MYA and affiliated clubs be in contravention of the Disability, Discrimination legislation?

This is a very interesting discussion I was a measurer for many years however I believe we are missing an opportunity. In my own club (Etherow) we do not have a measurer we have over 100 members 20+ sail yachts, mostly IOMs, Fiestas and an increasing number of DF65s. We struggle to get 6 members to join the MYA. To get a boat measured we would have to go usually to Birkenhead, Fleetwood or into Yorkshire, I have a couple of IOMs which have registered numbers but will never be measured due to distance etc and we have other IOMs that will never be measured officially (I wonder how many numbers are issued but no measurement certificate is ever submitted) I understand that there are numbers of unmeasured boats at Bury and Platt Fields clubs also. For IOMs we all buy sails from recognised English sail makers and sail hulls that have been made to recognised designs. We have no tank to check draft but we assume the draft from the plans and set up the boat on its design waterline, from that we can measure the total draft against the rules, we also use digital scales to check weight. The sails and rigging are easy to measure. My point being that there is no need to have special check weights, or to go on RYA courses for IOMs we only have one current member who attends district events but there is no encouragement for our members to take a wider part in district events, the MYA offers nothing to these people. We don't have any one prepared to become an official measurer and attend the RYA course. Why can we not have a simplified system for club sailors who may occasionally attend district or open events with the proviso that a full official measurement must be undertaken to attend Nationals etc. Does a 36 require an RYA course certificated measurer when the sail area isn't measured ? Steve Toulson

Hello I sail at Etherow and we have approx 20 IOMs in the club, we have been using the 61 grm winches for some time now without any problems,. We found that if you get the HITEC drum and drill the centre out then the small drum supplied fits straight into it, we just fasten them together with a couple of screws and file the underneath flat, this then improves the speed considerably and is bigger that the Kingmax alloy drum, We don't often get high winds but we have had no failures and they're coping well with LIFE batteries controlled through Flysky 6 channel TX and RX. Last Tuesday we had 16 IOMs sailing and I would think 12 were using the Kingmax winch and we sailed all day with no battery problems. We have also used the lower turn winches without any problem three of us have just bought the 68 grm winch as there have been supply problems in the past.

Excellent job Richard and thanks for the information please publish more as you progress. Steve

Good work the photos are very helpful. I'm about to start planking an Ellipsis and am a bit concerned about the process, I understand the planking but not sure about what epoxy to use etc etc. Please update as you move forward.

Hi Paul Unfortunately I haven't had time to start I am also costing out the project and considering the options of importing hull and deck moldings etc from Australia which may be easier and not much more expensive or just spend what I expect it to cost on a second hand boat. I have also arranged to meet up with a man who has experience of planking racing yachts rather than galleons/historic boats etc to discuss the best way to plan out the planks so I am still moving forward if slowly. I currently sail a Lintle twice a week which is competitive on my club water so enjoy my sailing with a great group of skippers. Will post updated as I move forward

Thanks that's really helpful, good luck with the transplant!

Excellent service from Barry now all I need is to find out how to plank! If this is a success I will certainly contact local timber yards. Thanks again. Steve