Why the proposed change?
From the way it is proposed it could be construed as being on both sides of the spinnaker as well!

More cost, why?

So make sure your views are heard at the AGM when it is discussed and voted on (again).  That's what the AGM is for, it's perfectly legitimate to have the discussion & we will see if the majority of the class have changed their views.

Presumably a rule proposed by the Association for Reducing Spinnaker Errors (ARSE)

Just more work for everyone sureley?

Means that I can't just go and buy a kite and use it.
Means that multi-boat families can't just swap and change.
Means people can't do a quick "try before buy"

My secondhand spinnaker comes complete with the previous number permanent felt-tipped onto it.  Do I just cut it out?

Bill - wholly remove it or holey remove it?

Most classes and regattas do permit (subject to its being reported to, agreed to by, and publicly posted) discression in the sail number displayed. Call me middle aged but when I started sailing we didn't have to have sail nos on Spinnaker then we did - most classes do I think it looks right but like the man with the wooden leg its a matter of oppinion.

I cant make the AGM this year - do we have postal votes?

Mag's couldn't we vote on the forum some how?

I'm happy to be guided by those that can attend the AGM and vote there - I can't and that's life.

It does seem like this is a good place to debate it though.  Opinions are always more resonant with a real name next to them.

Not sure what to say, except I can make the AGM and I will be voting against.

Nice one Alan!

When I was Commodore of Dovestone Sailing club I always used to go on about the very high barriers to entry in the sport of sailing.

Barriers to entry include, learning how to sail, learning how to rig, buying a boat, learning how it works, getting some half decent equipment to sail with (only very rich newcomers will enter the sport with a brand new Merlin), Getting on the start line, keeping out of the way of expert racers, not coming last (always demoralising - even for a beginner), learning the terminology, figuring out all the associations to join and the paperwork you need, learning how to trail a boat safely, boat maintenance etc etc.

A certain degree of competance, if not expertise, is required in all of these - and this is a tall order for anybody with no previous experience.

Any motion that increases the barriers to entry without very good reason should not be supported.

I just don't see the point of going through the grief of putting sail numbers on spinakers,aren't we fine without them?Yes we are.

Other classes spent their last AGM removing numbers requirements from spinnakers!!

Has the original question been answered? This thread started with 'why the proposed change?' Could we have an answer to this question.

Don't know why, but personally i would prefere not to put numbers on mine. Given that standard numbers are black, and my spinny is black, could i just say they are there anyway?

I would suspect that the change was proposed to make race committee's life easy. At the inlands at Bala in one race, the committee boat sudenly realised they couldn't see the boats number on a running finish, so swapped sides of the line at the last minute, the impact was half the fleet rounded the finish mark one way and the other the other way. The race committee was protested and I think the result was dropped.

I don't think that is a strong enough reason, personally. Rather race committee should be wary when setting running finishes.

Jeepers, it was only a few years back the vote as passed to take the bloody things off to avoid confusion by race committee as some chose to sail with different numbers than shown on he main. Anyway I think a number enblazoned all ove your nice spinny will look pretty naff.

are posted proxy votes allowed at the AGM on this issue ?

Of course if you really, really want the number on your spinnaker compulsory or not you can put what you like on it!

It's not very often that you get a running finish in merlins anyway, certainly a running finish at an event like the inlands is pretty stupid and that particular race committee mad a rod for their own backs.

At Salcombe i don't supopose there is much choice, but since the boats are still passing sideways on so all it needs is to sheet the mainsail in a bit so they can see the number.

I'm not at salcombe but if i was my vote would be no.

I think that possibly I spend as much time finishing boats on the run as anyone and to be honest it makes no difference what so ever if a boat has a number on the kite or not! On a personal basis I am against having numbers on spinnakers..........

EdD seems to me to have a point.
I have just been looking in the year book at the constitution and there seems to be no provision for a proxy vote. Maybe this is something we should look at changing? Having the AGM in remote places, Salcombe or Champs, is good to try to get more people attending but for those with strong views who are not that event it is harsh.

I see Mags made much the same point.
I can tell you that the committee are influenced by comments on this forum - it is a unique way of judging (or influencing) opinion - as long as you put your real name to the comments!
On this occasion we have a proposal, all legal and above board - so the decision will be made at the AGM. Although it seems to me that a change in any measurment/construction rule needs at least 75% vote in favour - so a change seems unlikely.

I vote against numbers.

Could the proposers answer the question? 'why the proposed change?'

I suspect because it is currently working so well without numbers on spinnakers there is now the need to bugger it up!

Same happened to Salcombe Week a few years back. For several decades the 4 flight system worked unfeasibly well. New system was introduced and the whole thing turned to rat sh.te. Guess what? for the last 2 years we have gone back to the good old 4 flight system. Why? Because it WORKS!!!

Anyway I don't know why we are getting all het up. It won't get the vote.

Dear Merlin Committee,
I would also like to register my belief that we shouldn't have numbers on spinnakers. I hope to get get to the AGM (subject to Daniel James and Katie Annabel actually eating, bathing and going to sleep on time) but would like to have my tuppence worth if possible on the subject.
On a flippant note, as a visitor to Salcombe to watch the runners and riders,it would be wonderful if spinnaker "colours" should be registered with the Salcombe Yacht Club so that instead of ten dozen white spinnakers all in white being raised round the windward mark, I could figure out who's actually leading . I think we should introduce a rule that says that the top thirty sailors in the fleet (based on the previous year's Silver Tiller Results) should register at the beginning of the year their preferred spinnaker colour or colour combination (say GGG lilac and white etc (!), with the previous National Champion or winner of Salcombe being required to have a pure white spinnaker.
Okay, I jest but would be fun though!!


Chris

Perhaps similar to the Tour De France .... a yellow spinnaker for the leader and red polka dots for the runners up.....nice thought though!

plus brown underpants for the really windy days

Owners colours eh? If Peter o'sullivan and his succesors can work it for a horse race I've no doubt a Race Officer could!
Or as well as how about an idea from The Star Class where Champions and former champions have a Gold Star instead of a Black one? A Gold Merlin Cap?

I am not a number, I am a free man.

Vote no!

Defo A Massive No to Numbers

I'm agin numbers on Spinnies.

I have two numbers on my spinnaker - 1728 for the boat and then a 1965 with a signature in the corner!!!!  So you see my sails are bang up to date.

Garry, have you got that the right way round?!!!!!!!!!

It's right enough!!  1728 is Ocean Wildcat built in 1964 sails measured 1965!!  I have a spinnaker for 111 but no way at the moment to fly it.

I would like to add that I would vote against this proposal if I were at the AGM - hopefully next year I will certainly be there !. Have a great time

ed

In reference to the "fairly obvious" point, weren't all former class Chamions given Gold Merlin's hats at the last Nationals?  It might not be easy to see on the run, but it should make it easy to spot the good 'uns at the start line...

I think all past champs winners should be awarded a solid gold trophy, which they have to display on the bow...

Mags, I go for that; especially after the 'practice' start!!!

Who is Ex-pat.

Is that Pat but now Pauline perhaps?

Is the existing Pat aware of the Ex-pat

numbers are over-rated - Vote "No"

I was Ex-pat because I have to content myself with admiring Pat from a distance...  (And I'm only called Pauline on special weekends!)

And for the record, say No to numbers on spinnies!