This is I think the 60th year of the class, but is it actually the 60th Championship?
No matter. Any excuse for a wing ding.
It would be good time perhaps to put together an ireverent collection of the tales of yor, a couple have appeared in this forum, of such things as Peter Clayton's march past into the sea at Torquay, The storming of the Imperial Hotel, The Climbing of the Palm Trees at Weymouth, Good and classic races at sea, The saga of the illegal Adur boats, The destruction of the wind shelter at Bognor, inumerable eforts with Dog Fish caught by Ned and reused by Barry Dunning, and so on, perhaps along the lines of Keith Shackleton's admirable "Shakewell at Sea", which is actually a republishing of stories in Y&Y on the cusp of the 60's and 50's. Before its too late before we lose our sense of fun and before we lose our memories! So many. I can think of a few code names for boats, places and people.E-mail me if you think it's worth pursuing I'll do it anyway, but contributions would be welcome, proceeds from the book which I shall publish privately will go 331/3rd: 331/3rd: 331/3rd to the RNLI, MROA and MNDA, several Rocketeers have had or have relations who have been struck by Motor Neurone Disease. So send in your efforts please.

What a great idea,

Advance Orders? yes please .I'am recent to the class but 30yrs+ in dinghies would love to read I'll speak with Dennis Ellis & Brian S-C to get there reminices, Barry

I may be only a whippersnapper, but the tales of old I have read on the forum make me chuckle no end. I notice Dan Alsop has a good stock of stories up his sleeve too.

Alex, where are you - can the yoof fight back with better stories than the oldies?

First champs in 1946 so yes this is the 60th one.

Encouraging response if tales however bluntly put could be sent to me by e-mail, I can get them sub edited and illustrated. I'm looking at 150 page book A4 Size! I've got lots already, including Destruction of The wind Shelter, The telegram, The sinking, The Pilchard sandwich, The Dog Fish, The tea party, the M1.More would be gratefully received.
HGT

See also...

I was speechmaster and chairman in 1996 when the event was held at Upper Thames Sailing Club. I think it was Jim Lowdwn who videoed the whole thing. Jack Holt, Ian Proctor and about 30 other champions werer there. I introduced them on the balcony reading from a poorly written script. I had just finished Bourne End Week and the Quuens cup supper was on the night before. Having had about 3 hours sleep in the previous 4 days it was all a bit of a haze, but it went off well. I have the video, and it badly needs some audio adding, as we only get the usual strange comments from bystanders. Has anyone got any experience in this - we need to gets lots of knowledgable people to add as much info as possible as this is a really valuable bit of history for the class

Think you mean 1986?

1996 i should think!

Gurn was Chairman in 1986 during the 40th anniversay celebarations. The 50 th was also at Upper Thames where there was a roll call of all the CHampions (Sea and Inland)we could locate - another hazy day I seem to recall!!

Its all very bewildering sahib 60th Chanmpionships 59th year?

Use the fence analogy, there is always one more vertical post than horizontal pole. Hence 59 years and 60 champs. Actually Kate was built in 1945 but fisrt champs was in 1946, at HISC as it happens.

Which is why it's so important.To make it special!

Since Jack Holt died in 1995 and Ian Proctor in 1992 it would seem that either The Gurn is suffering from "old age bewilderment" or 1986 is the year in question.

Well come on then where are the stories? Tempus fugit publication or at least galley proof date approaches.

I was at the 50th birthday party in 1986 and the 60th in 1996, both were at Upper Thames S C. Apart from the numerous old friends who turned up my main memories of those parties are that it was a wonderful sunny day in 1986 and p-----g with rain in 1996. I don't think the canny M/R crowd would have stood for long in that downpour, not even to listen to Gurn! Anyway the Year Book says he was Chairman in 1985/86.

Let's have another party in 2006 please.

Harold, by the telegram do you mean the one from R to B? If not I can give you that one.

Yes I do "Weathers loveley in Bolton glad you're not here!"
Wish you were here!

The Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller Series is a highly competitive competition run over the whole at differing venues from Oban on the West Coast of Scotland to Lowestoft, Whitstable and Falmouth.
Inevitably there are clashes, and in the year in question the clash was Bolton in the North with Cookham Reach in the South.
Both were Inland events. (In those far off days there were only sea and inlans events.)
Our two heroes were head to head and both needing an elusive Inland win to cement victory.
They were friends as well as rivals.
They agreed that the gentlemanly thing to do was to fight it out fair and square at Cookham Reach.
They sailed in the practice races on Saturday and went home Robin to central London Brian to Chipstead in Surrey.
On the Sunday the day dawned bright and Brian was happy, lots of wind and whistling as he rigged his boat with such concentration that he noticed nothing at all.
Until that is: a telegram delivery boy tapped him on the shoulder, “You Saffery-Cooper?” “yes” “telegram sign here”  he did with the curious slightly worried anticipation we all felt on such occasions before telegrams were abandoned.
He need not have worried, Great Uncle George was not dead, and had not left him all his money.
It merely said “having a lovely time in Bolton wish you were here- Love Robin!”
Both won and therefore the Silver Tiller went to the wire some two weeks later at Rye Harbour.
However there is some justice, when two months later Robin appeared in the magistrates court in Litchfield for speeding (exceeding a 30 mph limit with a two wheeled trailer), he attempted to defend himself by saying the police had not followed him nor had they attempted to stop him.
“What do you have to say to that constable?” asked the magistrate, well your worship my machine (a high power motorcycle) was doing the maximum it could and the accused was still drawing away. Robin changed his plea to guilty paid the heavy fine with ease and reflected on what might have been.
He also ordered a roof rack for his Aston Martin to carry the boat on and thus avoid this occurring again.
Oh yes who won? 
Well they both had punctures on the way to Rye Harbour and the series was won by someone else!
Both subsequently did win the much sought after Silver Tiller.
This is the one you mean?