Derek Priestley

Gary Dickens, That would be amazing. In 1976 there was a tie for 1st place between David Andrews (Whirlwind winches) and Derek Stevenson resulting in a sail off for the trophy with everyone watching. A much better, more exciting way to settle a tie than today's countback!!

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/s/homes?dynamic_product_ids%5B%5D=1173826328498577944&omni_page_id=36021 New airbnb house on Fleetwood promenade half mile from lake. 47 the Esplenade. 5 bedrooms 3 bathrooms spectacular sea views from Gin & Tonic balcony Recently tested & approved by Gosport MYC classic & vintage marblehead sailors!!

FLEETWOOD MODEL YACHT CLUB A WEEK & THE CRABBERS Those who attended the Vane A Nationals at Fleetwood in 2024 will remember the problems caused by boats fouling crab lines and sailors struggling to attend to their boats on the bank due to families populating the bankside. In order to try to remove this problem, we at the club have consulted with council officials and obtained permission to “rope off” the lake as much as possible and erect notices to the effect that from Sat 25th July to Sun 2nd August the Model Yachting lake is closed and “crabbing is in the boating lake” There will be at least 20 of these A3 sized notices placed around the lake and at the entrance to the carpark, and on the walkway to the bridge. We hope that competitors will understand that we, the club, with the support of the council are doing everything we can to solve this problem. Thankyou for your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you all to our “9 days of A’s” vane & radio A regatta. Derek Priestley Fleetwood MYC

Gents, Nowhere in this discussion have you mentioned the common problem where, with WW & spreader, the incidents where 1 lucky boat gets away and the rest is just a pile up caused by port boats not giving way to stbd. I agree that a mark say 6 lengths to leeward will reduce the problem at the WW mark, but it still creates the same problem at the new mark. (Believe me I've tried it several times) Until the umpires start giving some Rule 2 DSC's to the port boat chancers, (if they can identify them) the problem will never go away.

Hi Nigel, welcome back to Fleetwood. the NOR is being prepared and will be posted soon. Then you can enter and have your spots!! Looking forward to seeing you. D

hi Jeff, You'll need it fixed for the big event in July!!

I already told Norman it's a KLUG, made in Germany in the 1970's They also made a Marblehead (Gibli) and a 10r but I can't remember the name. Nice to see that you' ve got it together.

Gents, A little "ranking" history. Back in 1986 Fleetwood were hosting the RM worlds, in May. The RM Nationals also held at Fleetwood at Easter was chosen as the qualifying event for MYA sailors, for the worlds. It worked O.K. and the top 10 ish got places in the Worlds in May. The worlds happened the French sailors were victorious & the rest is history.; But it was pointed out that a "one shot" qualification isn't enough, so the ranking system was designed by Mr Bantock with the idea of almost "forcing" the top sailors to compete against each other a number of times a year. Single race days scored 100 points & the nationals scored 200 points. GB devised a "simple equation" which anyone could do on a *** packet!! All was well for many years until it was pointed out that someone couldn't do the nationals due to family commitments, so unbeliveably the system was changed to accommodate them. But surely, if we're trying to find the best sailors we should make the ranking as tuff as possible? Olympic sailors don't get free rides!!

Hi Brad & graham, I've been pushing for some time the return to having double ranking points for the Nationals. Brad..you yourself said some years ago that it cannot be fair that someone who may win a day's ranking race of maybe 4 races (as I did once) shouldn't get the same reward as someone who is consistent over 3 days. Maybe the wrong formula has been used Maybe we need to go back to Mr Bantock's original instructions from 1987? Either way I believe that the 3 day Nationals should be worth more than 1 day.

I try to avoid using rules 30.3 & 4 if at all possible but if you're up against a time restraint i.e. no race will start after 18.00 and you have A fleet having multiple general recalls, sometimes you as RO have no other choice to get the race off. The problem sometimes is, if a boat misjudges their approach and is early they will bear away to avoid crossing the line at the risk of fouling another boat to leeward ruining their start also, but crucially avoiding dsq. So, rules 30.3 & 4 should be viewed as "last resort" as RO when you're confident that the line is correct and you've tried everything else.

100 years of the BIG Yachting Monthly Cup.. After Bill Daniels won the original YM cup outright, the magazine very kindly presented a second one in 1926 (100 years ago) We're hoping to celebrate this important anniversary at Fleetwood on the Wednesday of vane A week (25th to 31st Juy). So please come & help us with this important celebration in the history of the A class, the foundation of all International Model Yacht racing. At least 5 radiosailing World Champions will be taking part. Charter boats may be available.

That brings back memories!! Good luck with the "pimping project" See you at Datchet D

Bring it next week. It well worth a look. D

Great article publicising our sport by Mark Jardine in Yachts & Yachting this morning.

That would be a great boat for someone to take part in this years 50th anniversary RM National at Fleetwood.

Update. Without switching on the TX, I wiggled and woggled the JOG button and it stopped sticking! So, I switched on and I was able to scroll through the functions and get to the "Link" section I pressed on that & the beeps came on. I pluged in the RX and a green light came on!! Fantastic! I plugged the Rx into my boat and all working!! Many thanks everyone for your suggestions. I've tried it again this morning and it still works. D

Anyone know how to fix a sticking "JOG" button (thats the one on the bottom right which scrolls through the menu) on a T 6 K transmitter?? Thanks in advance Derek P.

Slightly off topic but connected, is why are measurers paid?? Most people in our sport kindly give their time and sometimes pieces of equipment to help the overall good of the many. These include, People who look after clubs, chairs, secs, treas, race officers, mark layers, rescue boat operatives, grass cutters boathouse painters, the list is endless and we haven't even mentioned MYA personel! So, if all these people are giving up their time to help............why should measurers be paid??

you can also make your own by rolling sheet lead

Nice one John, we're all looking forward to seeing you in March.

It's all about how you treat the boats. Treat them with respect and they will give you long & good service " I do see fearful looks from others when someone lobs a df into the lake from a metre away," if you do this or similar yes they do crack. I'm still racing the 95 i got in 2014.

50 MARBLEHEADS FOR FLEETWOOD’S 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. RM National Championship Sept Fri 25th 1300 to Sun 27th 1400 Pre Notice Of Race It’s 50 years this year since Fleetwood MYC first hosted the MYA Radio Marblehead Championship. So, we’re planning a BIG celebration of Marbleheads and we would like to get 50 boats, one for each year, taking part, to truly celebrate 50 years of Radio Marbleheads To encourage this we’re planning races within a race, offering prizes for several groups of designs within the Marblehead class. The design dates are approximate as are the examples of designs. E&OE. ! Early vintage, designed up to 1976 (Aquaplane, Teacher’s Pet, Klug Ghibli, Electra, Genie, Overture, Seahorse Mk 1&2, Squiblet, Ashanti, various vane f/S designs. i.e. Bloodaxe) we have a Klug & Mk 2 Seahorse being refurbished to offer for loan for the event. Later vintage, designed up to 1980 (Mk 3 Seahorse, Trapper, Osprey, Pickaxe, Maverick, Sea Urchin, 247,etc) We have a Mk 3 seahorse for loan. Early Classic designed up to 1986 (Anja, Boogie, Bee, Cedar Club, Rajah, Heartbeat, Sea Scamp, No Secret, Deception, Kisutch, Magik etc.) We have a Sea Scamp to offer for loan. Later classic designed up to 1992 (Aixtra ,Berlingo, Crazy Tube, Hush Hush, Enigma, Havoc, Kiwi Concept, Skalpel, Whisper, Paradox, SWAG, Roar Edge, Remix etc.) Early Modern designed up to 2000 ( Astra, Rock, Crazy Tube, Cumulus, Slick, Rad, Strad, Starkers, etc) Modern designed up to 2026, (Starkers 3 Quark, Grunge, Indie, F 3,4,5,6 series, Freak Wave, Dreadnought, Prime Number, Astrix, Pixel, etc)

Thats great news Chris. Sending our best wishes for successful surgery and recovery and look forward to seeing you running down the lake. From all at Fleetwood.😀

We need to change the topic title to ( days of A's THIS year save the date !!

Hi Mark and all A class sailors ALL A class sailors are welcome. NOR will be published around April and entries will then be OPEN!! to use a Strictly parlance!! Meantime book your accommodation so as not to miss out. there's not too much choice in the town of Fleetwood but plenty within a 5 mile radius. We look forward to welcoming you & your Sword. Best wishes Derek Priestley.