Catsails

Hi all, After attending the AGM and jumble sale, I came away feeling quite disappointed. The MYA make a huge effort to organise this every year, and the traders dutifully turn up with their goodies to show and sell. There were some amazing bargains on offer from brand new boats to RMG winches at half price. Yet the members that did turn up were only interested in parting with a pound or two here and there. Personally this has cost us two days out of our production facility, and £200 in accommodation and fuel. I know others went to huge effort to bring their boats and rigs to the event with nothing to show for it. Another disappointment was observing members turning up, having a Quick Look round, then sitting down to eat the free lunch, and leaving while the jumble sale was still in full swing, not bothering to stay for the AGM. I personally didn’t eat as by the time I had finished and packed up, most of the food had gone. I always like to support the MYA AGM, and another observation was that most of the members in attendance were the regulars that you see every year. This brings me to these questions: Do we need a jumble sale or trade show at the AGM if it’s attended by pretty much the same members each year ? Should the AGM and jumble sale be in an area where some of the bargains to be had might be more appreciated . Should it be in a more central location, like it used to be. Your thoughts please. Nigel Brown.

Tim at Soch sails maybe able to help. He has the material in sheet form with glue already applied.

You might have more luck contacting them via their Face Book page.

I have an Oliver Lee trapper. Would that count ?

I don't normally join in on these discussions, but feel the need to this time. I find it quite odd that IRSA would take an interest in the RG65 class. I object to their use of bullying tactics to make changes the class and its rules without being asked to by the Various Rg65 class associations themselves. Compared to most classes under the IRSA umbrella, I see it as a relatively cheap class to sail. One of the attractions is being able to experiment with many different rigs and keels or bulb weights,and at very little cost. Having taken part in three national championships and a European championship, I see no evidence of anyone spending hundreds of pounds on a tungsten bulb, or hundreds of pounds on anything come to that. If IRSA needs to bring down the costs in classes, then why have the changes in the Marblehead class recently. Just to be competitive at national level, my Marblehead A rig cost well over £300 pounds, and that is with myself making the sails. I find it quite refreshing to go along to an RG65 event, produce your self certified documents and view all the different hull designs and rig types, then discuss the thinking behind them with the various owners and designers. Why should we care what the boat is made of, or how deep the keel is or what type of rig to use. Carbon fibre is a relatively cheap material these days, so why not push the envelope, and see who can build the lightest boat, that's what this class is about. So IRSA, hands off this class, you don't understand what its all about. If there is a vote coming up then I urge all RG65 owners to vote against IRSAs proposals. Sorry to rant. Nigel Brown. oh, and I don't think many RG65 owner cares about a world championship. If they did, then they can call it something else !