Downbytheriver

I’ve been mulling this one over. I do go to open meetings but not as many as I’d like! Gating factors are: 1. Walking. I’m with the person above for the most part - my mobility is much reduced these days so any venue that requires a lot of walking is beyond my capabilities. I did the Radio A nationals at Gosport this year, walked a lot less than most which put me at a disadvantage and I suffered for a week afterwards - still a brilliant weekend! I can’t cope with Fleetwood though! To be clear, I am not criticising the venues in the slightest they are amongst the best in the world, but this is about why I don’t go! 2. Expense. Multiple day events are very difficult to justify- it’s not as if I’m going to win one! 3. Distance. I live in the bottom left hand corner of the Met and Southern region and there are few events in the area (especially not for my favourite classes). 4. Family commitments. I do have commitments and am very happy to have them - if they clash with events, so be it. Having said that, thank you to Gosport, Poole and Bournville for the events I have attended there this year (and hopefully Two Islands if the weather cheers up!) it’s been great fun and perfect examples of why we should go to events.

Best of luck with that. For a start off perpendicular at which end? Plus, it’s impractical to try to achieve it.

Port hand courses are the norm - I find it extraordinary that anyone would laugh at the suggestion. The reason is blindingly obvious but for the sake of clarity - with a port hand windward mark the boat rounding it must be on starboard and therefore has right of way. Starboard hand windward marks are a nightmare.

Don’t forget to include a stamped, self addressed envelope to get your new certificate back!

Thank you to everybody - I’m pretty sure I’ve got what I wanted from this (but I will try exponential too!).

I, as I suspect is the case for many others, have a radio set which has capabilities that go way beyond what I use (which is essentially channel 1 rudder and channel 3 winch! I have used a third channel (rotary) for jib sheet adjustment on a 6 metre and my A class has an adjustable clew outhaul on the main, also on a rotary - could this be on a switch?). I use end points in the Tx to set my rig up for fully in and fully out and recently I felt I was over steering my 6 metre so I reduced the end points for the rudder to 50% - this had a VERY positive affect on my general progress around the race course but it got quite hairy at starts and sometimes marks as my elegantly smooth and slow course changes weren’t always as sharp as I could have used and others expected! In an ideal world I would use one of the available switches to change from smooth to sharp mode - is this possible? Is this a valid option? What other clever things are people doing with throttle curves etc? Is there somewhere to learn what these functions would be good for? I should have said that my chosen radio is a cheap (but wonderful) Flysky fsi6 (which is set up for six different boats and I have three Txs along with countless receivers) so those questions apply to this setup. However, I am prepared to upgrade to something else if it gives me more of what I want and especially if it gives me a ratchet on the sheet (channel 3). somebody teach me more!

Looking forward to entering the Radio A nationals but it’s not available on the MYA website yet…

There’s an active Octavia sailing at Setley.

I use vinyl numbers. If you can’t find anything, let me know and I’ll sort it for you

Do you think a collision could be avoided if she cast her sails off and slowed down? It amazes me that this never occurs to anybody.

If you were on port I can’t imagine what you were hailing!

I have lots of access to the net but I like the yearbook because I find it much easier to see the events schedule that way. Obviously it goes out of date but I still appreciate it

That’s corrosion-x.co.uk sorry for the error

Corrosion.co.uk seems to have 500ml spray bottles in stock

No question at all that Ospreys rule!

I guess not

So, if the calendar takes this into consideration as stated above, can someone tell me how we are supposed to know which events are suitable for the less able of us? Are we supposed to know already? It seems to me there are various criteria to consider (fixed control position, short walking required, good underfoot, access etc) that would make a venue suitable or otherwise for differing abilities. It would be wonderful to have a list of clubs that run events and their suitability - could this be made up from say a questionnaire? Or do people not really care?

I have some flesh in this discussion too - I’m lucky in that my home club has a fixed control position. I’ve only sailed at Fleetwood once but it was one of the best days ever - full length of the pond with 6 metres. However I had to sit out the last two races as my legs were done - my mobility is now worse so sadly I won’t be going back there (worse yet that includes the 2023 nationals). Please also note that underfoot conditions can make a big difference too. I’m open to suggestion as to suitable venues where I can stay in one place (for preference in a chair). I’m certainly not saying that events shouldn’t be held where I can’t cope, just that I’d like to know in advance! I’ve managed ok at Broads, Two Islands, Dartmoor, Dovercourt and just about at Poole Park. it’s a great sport for the disabled in the right place!

3M make a sticker remover kit and also an adhesive remover. An alternative would be Rid A Gum - meant for removing chewing gum but very effective on sticky stuff! Google them.

We’re back on tonight - first two semi-final races - Luna Rosa vs American Magic. It’ll be interesting to see if Patriot 2 is sorted out... and a miracle if it is!

Additionally, there is a safety diver in the chase boat - in the case of INEOS he happens to be a mate of mine.

Couple of corrections - you don’t need to have Sky Sports to watch Sky Sports Mix - it’s part of the standard Sky package (channel 416) and the races are LIVE on YouTube, not just recorded.

I’d use the same point - going lower would close the slot and I can’t see any advantage to that as the wind strengthens. That’s how my Romanza is rigged anyway!

Looks like a great event to open a great programme for the season. Shame Fleetwood is such a long way for me! Well done everyone.

Well done Shaun, well deserved.