2023 MYA Nationals- Keighley

[Darin Ballington]

Some of the fleet may know that the 2023 MYA Marblehead Nationals are planned for Keighley in Sept 2023.

As somone who is assisting in compiling the MYA calendar for 2023 I have been asked a question. 

The MYA Nationals are always open to overseas friends and competitors and we welcome their attendance, and as many will know there is also a Euro Nations Cup that is sailed throughout the summer in a number of locations in Europe. 

At a recent Euro Nations Cup there was interest from a number of skippers in attending our Nationals and it was asked if we would include this as a UK round of the Euro Nations.

From this simple question it raises a few further questions but:

1. Would the UK fleet be happy to include the MYA Nationals as a round of the Euro Cup?

2. If the answer is yes, would the UK skippers be happy that this is a 3 day event, with the MYA Nationals being the 1st 2 days, Sat/Sun and then the 3rd (Mon) being a continuation for those wishing to complete the Euro Nations event.

Thoughts please?

 

[Brad Gibson]

Q1. Yes

Q2. No.
European skippers have supported our Nationals in previous years and are always welcome to do so within a format that suits our skippers. Our priorities should be in maximising every effort to get GBR skippers on the water for our events and not diluted in the hope of attracting one or two travelling skippers or cheapening our pinnacle event. Asking skippers to take another day from work to cater to a minority, instead of using a bank holiday is not best suited. By all means, the Euro GP group should be most welcome to count our event within their series.

Brad

[Phil Holliday]

I am in favour of this but am not sure what Brad is saying above. He seems in favour of continental skippers coming and in favour of it counting for the European Nations Cup but against them staying for an extra days racing amongst themselves.

just to be clear, the proposal is that our M Nationals take place over a Saturday and Sunday as usual, the extra day (Monday) will only count towards the ENC with no obligation on any UK skippers to take part unless they wish to be involved in the ENC series. The club are happy to accommodate this and we would have an extra 4 to 8 participants in our Nationals as a result (educated guess), extra income for the club, additional quality skippers in the racing. 
surely this will improve an event that after the “high” of a World Championship earlier in the year could otherwise be rather flat.

[Brad Gibson]

51 minutes ago, Phil Holliday said:

I am in favour of this but am not sure what Brad is saying above. He seems in favour of continental skippers coming and in favour of it counting for the European Nations Cup but against them staying for an extra days racing amongst themselves.

just to be clear, the proposal is that our M Nationals take place over a Saturday and Sunday as usual, the extra day (Monday) will only count towards the ENC with no obligation on any UK skippers to take part unless they wish to be involved in the ENC series. The club are happy to accommodate this and we would have an extra 4 to 8 participants in our Nationals as a result (educated guess), extra income for the club, additional quality skippers in the racing. 
surely this will improve an event that after the “high” of a World Championship earlier in the year could otherwise be rather flat.

If those that organise a Euro Cup are interested in promoting it as a genuine event in GBR, surely they would be looking at holding it when GBR skippers are likely to compete in it. Otherwise a diminished final entry or the winners being the best of who was left on day 3 is kind of sad. 

The GBR Nationals is a stand alone event, the pinnacle of any class each year. Why should it in any way leave itself as a possible second fiddle or a bit part of another event? All for the sake of a possible few extra entries?

My vote is of course YES to any visitor that wants to join in and compete in the GBR Nationals. By all means YES for organisers of the Euro series to use the results of the GBR Championship for their event. But a big NO to using our event because they feel our dates, that suit our skippers are not suitable to them. As I said previous, European skippers have supported our Nationals in the past with little issue. 

If the Euro cup wants to be recognised as meaningful, they should be looking to respect our skippers, our championship and hold their event entirely within ours that allows the biggest possible entry. 

Brad

[Darin Ballington]

Hi,

I have had a message from one of the EuroCup organisers and they are happy to sit in a two day event, and would be happy as well with a 3 day event.

So, if the UK fleet prefers to keep as two day event that counts towards the Euro Cup then thats ok.

Any more comments from those in the fleet?

 

 

[Solent]

Some thoughts,

Not sure if Brad has ever attended a Euro Nations Event.  Having been at several (albeit as a spectator accompanying my husband),  I can say that these events are usually over 3 days with sailing starting late morning on the first day and finishing early afternoon on the 3rd day to accommodate scrutineers and those who travel very long distances to attend. (Some are Fri. - Sun)  A lot of continental open events are organised in this way.  A UK style 2 day event starting relatively early on first day and finishing relatively late on second day should provide enough races for a Euro Nations event but could provide difficulties for scrutineers on the first day and would still require at least 3 nights accommodation for those travelling a long way (Even UK Skippers).  Euro Nations are usually also very social events with evening gatherings on the 2 nights.  Many of these events are also the Nationals for that Class in the country concerned  over all or some of those days. 

So either option could work. If it is over 3 days there is no obligation for UK skippers to compete in the Euro Nations and stay the extra day.  Though it would be nice if some of them did.  Probably only those who would consider travelling to other events in the Euro Nations Calendar.  It in no way dilutes the standing of the UK event.  It might even make some UK skippers consider travelling or incorporating a European event in a holiday to that country. see https://enc.marbleheadclass.org/2022.

[Brad Gibson]

Some interesting points Janice
You are correct in suggesting I have not been to a Euro Nations event. As those in charge of it expressly suggested it was a Euro based event from its forming origins and had little to no interest in us here hosting an event, it has never been on my radar. Now some 5-6 odd years on and an event here can boost their numbers and add some credence. That’s great!

I always found it odd though that the same organising skippers travelled to our Nationals on multiple occasions held over 2 days with little fuss. Some barely lasted the full 2 days before heading home.

Any suggestion that GBR skippers that have jobs, are in school, have children in school or other family commitments that restricts their time away are having to stay 3 nights away for a 2 day race is just nonsense. It is one night or possibly 2 nights worst case.

Which brings me to a larger point. At a time where numbers and helpers are thin on the ground due to a number of reasons, not least the rise in cost of living, associated travel and any expenses that go with weekends away, why would adding extra days on to any events in this country (on a non holiday weekend) be seen as something good for any class as a whole. In this instance you would likely loose more skipper from the Monday racing than any travellers gained by adding the event in the first place. And for what? Hardly an event result that makes that series meaningful. As for any social aspects, well I’m not sure I’ve been to a  GBR event where I been to bed before closing time and I’m certain I wasn’t the only one in the house, so to speak. Those that regularly attend GBR events are well aware of the social aspects.

I am in no way against this Euro Cup. But given the current climate could I suggest getting back to basics and putting GBR skippers first by holding events they are able to attend be the priority. Fleet numbers will be no concern if events are timed well and not saddled against other crossover classes like the calendar of this year. Promote the events with enthusiasm to create a fear of missing out like they used to be and there is no problem. How these basics have been forgotten amongst the nonsense and plain excuses in recent times is mind blowing.

Or we can be less inclusive, tell the likes of Rob Vice and Peter Stollery that they will have to take their competing kids home for school and miss the final day of a rare chance of sailing an International event. Is that what an event we are inviting to our shores should be about, or are we after events solely for retirees or those out of work? If that is the case then maybe a Veterans Nationals would be better to tag the Euro Cup with?

To answer Darin. 2 days please and if the Euro Cup was to prove successful, then why not factor in their own stand alone event for 2024 which would be in a non World Championship year if that’s what worked for all skippers.

Brad

 

[Mike Ewart]

not a M skipper but seeing the posts Brad is making sense 

[RobVice_GBR41]

I’m somewhat torn on this one, as a skipper who has enjoyed a drive over to some enc events and had a great time eating French cheese, drinking Italian wine and racing against good friends.  I cherish the idea of doing so again. 
However, for me, the draw to any event is not the cheese or the wine, or even the wind or the boats, but the friends.  This is also why I get excited about any upcoming event, so the comments about increasing the entry are key to me. 
I wonder just how many would stay for the extra day, and potentially leaving just those folks who are striving to win the ENC. 

Personally,  I could be swayed to race another day and all the associated costs and hassle of do so, if most folks were also racing on day 3. But if most were non-committal then I suspect I’d also not join on day3 as this series isn’t on my ‘campaign list’ for 2023. My fear would be that our friends from the continent would come and race for 2 good days then be left playing  with a somewhat depleted entry for day 3..

So in answer to the questions: “Yes” of course like everyone so far has already said, we welcome all skippers from any flag to join our Nationals and they have added  to the UK National event in past years.  
To question 2, a “hesitant yes depending on the majority of the fleet”. But my preference is to adopt enc in spirit not just deed as I believe it is worthy of the effort. I know our calendar is crowded but I’d rather have a dedicated British event in a location most suited for European travel (be that by plane or ferry) and make it meet all of the best qualities of these enc events with a focus on food, friends and fun times and some racing added in for good measure. 
Some will recall that I discussed this challenge a couple of times during my tenure as class captain, but couldn’t get it off the ground for various reasons.  So I stay true to that spirit, if were going to do it, let’s do it to the best of our ability and make it an event not to be missed..

PS eating French cheese and sipping Italian wine, racing Marbleheads in St Moritz are some of my favourite pastimes !

[Nigel Winkley]

The M Nationals are not to far away now and I am looking at my travel arrangements.

Has anyone got any tips on places to sleep?

Thanks

Nigel
GER 03

[Darin Ballington]

Nigel, the Oakwood Hall Hotel is not far from the lake and great value via booking.com

[Nigel Winkley]

Thanks Darin!

[Guzzilazz]

5 hours ago, Darin Ballington said:

Nigel, the Oakwood Hall Hotel is not far from the lake and great value via booking.com

As a caution to the use of booking.com, they were hacked within the last 12 months, and I was subject to a phishing attack on Friday from a booking.com email address.  I booked a hotel for one night in October a few weeks ago and the email asked me to validate my card... Fortunately my security software stopped my doing anything, and a conversation with my bank led them to cancel my card and send me a new one.

[Nigel Winkley]

Thanks Larry

I tend to avoid booking.com and other portals where possible and book directly as you most often get the same rates but better amenities.

[Austin]

Never had an issue with Booking.com, one nice feature is being able to cancel accomodation close to the event time just in case you change your mind or cant go.

[RobVice_GBR41]

Alas I’m not going to be there this year, but will be watching from afar so please do keep posting videos/photos /scoresheets. 

[Nigel Winkley]

Come on everyone, there are more Marblehead skippers in the UK. Only 16 entries for a nationals is somewhat subpar and Keighley is such a great venue for sailing the "grand prix" class of radio sailing.

Cheers
Nigel
 

[John Taylor]

Good luck to Damian Ackroyd who has hurriedly put together a 3D printed prototype Marblehead. 

JT

[Derek Priestley]

We went & we did 24 races and it was a great weekend.

Thanks to all at Weecher Radio sailing club.

 

special thanks to Phil holiday for the loan of an F6 marblehead allowing me to take part.

 

On to the  Radio A class at Gosport in 2 weeks!!

 

[Nigel Winkley]

Yes, it was a great weekend of Marblehead sailing at it's best. While it was a crazy long trip for two days of sailing it was worth every minute of it. 

Thanks to all the helping hands that made this regatta happen and congratulations to Craig on becoming 2023 Champion for the Marblehead class.

I'll be looking out for the 2024 NoR.