Some of you may remember, 2 years ago, in a fit of boredom I encoded the GPS positions of every sailing club in the UK that has ever sniffed a Melin Rocket. I put it up on my web site as a downloadable file and also created map links to the clubs. A few of you found that useful. I also started to review the clubs I have visited with 'dog friendly' comments.

Anyway, the weather and boredom has caused me to re-construct my web site, and I have re-listed the 81 club, but this time I have added the ability to add 'ratings' and 'reviews', and as I know many of you like to remain annoymous - I am allowing annoymous reviews, especially for mr . and .. etc.

Please visit the club entries through the link below, by the way the order of listing is by 'number of hits' so the most popular is first - you can play the game of trying to get you club to the front :-0

Also - if you are responsible for promoting your club, there are facilities that you can add to the listing - your burgee/logo - pictures - promotional text - please contact me via e-mail so I can explain how that can be done, it is very easy for you to do, but I can do it for you if that is easier.

Also, as I had to search for all 81 clubs web sites, I must say I am impressed, more than 60% have got high quality sites.
Only 2 have very low quality sites.
Only 1 has domain but no site live.

And Cookham - you might want to check your site out, it seems your hosting company (LYCOS) went stopped its hosting business on 28th Feb.

A public service. Thank you.

I presume that was Jon - giving Banbury 5 stars - quick off mark - write some review comments then :-) (p.s. does the google map work OK, it isn't possible for me to be really sure from inside my firewall?)

Hi Alan,

Yes it does work - got my route to work every day spot on!!!!

Hi Alan,

Could you add Burghfield SC?

We've got my MR  (3387) + Xylonite + couple of others there already ...

Thanks,

Colin

Alan, have you been looking at the Y&Y club pages by any chance?!!

Burghfield added. 


If you or some one with the authority to do so sends me the images of the burgee I can upload it. (Although I doubt anyone would mind, I don't want to infringe anyones' copyright by taking the image from Burghfields website without permission)

Hey Mags, that is a little bit unfair pitching your market leading magazine site against my little effort, which in fact is primarily personal research into open source components layered onto my original GPS POI efforts. 

(All said in a friendly voice)

Anyway, a couple of pointers 
-	Y&Y doesn�t provide (any obvious way) to get directions to the club
-	Y&Y locations are not always accurate � e.g. Banbury sailing is 0.5 miles away from your pointers � every single location on my list has been researched, having visited over 40 myself, the rest having carefully identified on the satellite images, and in the case of Wormit Boating Club � having input from a member. As the locations were for GPS, it no good turning up near a club at the SatNav telling you �you have reached your destination� and there is no club in site and a selection of driveways and narrow lanes � not funny, I have done it myself, for instance set your SatNav to �Starcross� and you end up in a village with no sign of a sailing club and none of the locals know where it is.
-	Y&Y don�t have a downloadable GPS POI file, I do (although it isn�t up on this site), Y&Y could have one if they ask nicely ;-)

Also I had created a link to Y&Y, ready for you to add your logos to :-)
and people can review Y&Y for you!

You are correct Alan. For example the Y&Y site shows the location of Shoreham SC up Mill Hill road near where my parents live. I know 2 Merlins often reside up there in the garage, but definitely not the location of the club ;-))

Mags perhaps Alan's useful site could be added to this one with a permanent link?

Hi 

Could you Add Comb's sailing club as we know have a building fleet of two Merlin Rockets

Paul

What a good idea, unbiased genuine reviews, I've added it to my favourites!

Can you add SWSC(Scammonden Water Sailing Club) had two up till last month.

Combs and Scammonden add, please check the location - I think I got them right.

Also, if you get permission from an officer of the club to use your burgees as logos then I can upload those too.

add=added :-)

I have just added the old 'Dogs view on clubs, from the old web site to the reviews, don't be too shocked if your club is only rating 1 or 2  - you'll just have to rate it on other merits like the sailing and the average 'stars' will go up

Alan! I certainly wasnt trying to put forward Y&Y as a competitor to you, or to have the shortcomings of either website pointed out. Rather, I was just mentioning it, as it was uncanny you had decidede to do many of the exact same things we had done recently!

as said - tongue in cheek - I don't expect to compete with Y&Y - but great minds think alike !!

Tudor Sailing Club, Portsmouth, PO3 5LY, has 1988 and 3112, neither very competitive.

Indeed, the Cookham Reach SC website is currently unavailable due to LYCOS discontinuing webhosting services. We are in the process of moving the site to a new webhost - but this may take a while. Apologies for any inconvenience; normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!
The 2009 CRSC Merlin weekend including Silver Tiller is scheduled for 16/17th May.

Tudor S.C added. Another very good club website.

.

Chipstead Sailing Club (nr. Sevenoaks) has MR2349

see www.chipsteadsc.org.uk

and  yes, Alan, I did join MROA at the show today.

Cheers

Chipstead, I know it well. I think, did I crew Nat in the Heron at an open there? I certainly bought a green graduate (SuperGrad) from Chipstead.   It is added.

By the way - everyone - you can add your own links, to clubs or other categories.

Congrats on joining the MROA.

Bough Beech SC near Sevenoaks, Kent, currently has 5 Merlins, from 36 to 3585!

........and looking forward to the vintage / cvrda meet on 27th June!

Bough Beech - all these Merlin Clubs!
Added.

Ready for ratings and reviews!!!

p.s. I corrected the location, your web site would have you in the middle of the water - not so good for people relying in their SatNavs :-)

I know this data could, in theory be dervived from the MROA year book - but as an idea - why not post a simple review against each club with the number of Merlins at that club. 

Would take you 5 seconds each to do, and no need to register with my site or anything.