Hi

As a new member to the associations i would like to make a small suggestion.

Living in the lovely part of the Country that is Derbyshire i see that the closest sea Silver tiller event is Lymington. 

Brightlingsea 233 miles 
Exe sc 228 miles
Hayling Island 224 miles
Whistable 224 miles
Shoreham 236 miles
Lymington 221 miles 
 
All these destinations are over 4 hours away for a northern boat to get too, which to me it makes it pretty much impossible for me to compete in the silver tiller. I would struggle to qualify and it would cost me a small fortune in fuel and accommodation costs to do so. Would it be possible to have a northern Sea event or allow us the option of having to use the results from two open water events instead?? I.E Rutland, Blithfield or Carsington? (I know Carsington is not a silver tiller event but its a good open water and it has a merlin fleet there)

Just a thought i am sure there are many other Merlin sailors up North that feel and may have said the same already

Paul

not certain where you are in Derbyshire, but Brightlingsea to Derby is only 176 miles according to the AA which is significantly nearer than you're suggesting, are you coming for the Open Meeting this weekend, First Start at 13:00 on Saturday, entry fee includes Saturday Evening Meal, campsite is within crawling distance of the club.

Paul, this is certainly a valid point you've raised. Sadly your committee doesn't get it right all of the time and we (I) must put my hand up on this one. Fortunately we've picked up on this already and will be looking to clubs such as Blackpool & Fleetwood and Pwlheli to host Sea events next year. Pippa Taylor our new super keen Northern rep is also currently working on putting the Northern Circuit back together with details to follow in the Summer Magazine.

BSC i live in Sunny Buxton and i googled the milage and didn't make it up honest. 

Paul

You can get it down to 219m if you go via the A1120 (Stansted et al) which makes us the closest!

I guess there has to be some penalty for living in such a pretty part of the country though. :-)  Still I can see your point.

Everyone is talking as though Buxton is in the North. If you Google the distance to Southampton (just about due south of Buxton) and similarly Google the distance to Coldstream on the Scottish Borders (just about due north of Buxton) you will find that Buxton is actually slightly closer to Southampton! It is very much in the Midlands. And let us not forget there is another whole country north of that Scottish border!

spare athought for the hollingworth mob,I bet they would give their eye teeth for a journey of only four hours!!!!!

Yes, they could be in Edinburgh in 4 hours!!!!!!!

Abersoch used to be the nearest we could get from Midlands/Northish and (from the ones I went to 20 yrs ago) in early June it was always sunny with moderate breezes.  Sorry might be getting old/ wearing rose tinted glasses but is anyone keen to revive it?

Abersoch wasn't supported and therefore the last time we went was about 5 years ago. Blackpool & Fleetwood or Pwllheli would be worthy successors as would the Lowestoft event which i don't thinkm will be a pemanent absence.

But if we don't support the events we will lose them! It costs a lot in time resources as well as money and to put on a sea event for 15 boats just isn't viable.

Are there no Scottish events this year either??

Haven't been in Merlins for a while, but the long weekend at Oulton Broad followed by Lowestoft used to be excellent.

The committee is very aware that this year, the northern STs are a little sparse.
I am currently in the process of reviving a Northern Circuit to be started this year as almost a 'taster' with 2010 being its more full launch.  
It has been promised by our Chairman that we will have Blackpool & Fleetwood and Pwllheli back as silver tiller events next year.
Details to follow...