If anyone in the west london area is looking for a witer series we have 5 Merlins at Broadwater Sailing Club, Harefield Middx.3 NSM2s 1 NSM3, 1 other.have a look at our website www.broadwatersc.org.uk

The hottest competitive sailing in London this winter will be taking place at the Welsh Harp; two races every Sunday, at 10am and 12midday, with some 8/9 Merlins (6 odd Winders) plus 8 MRXs lining up on the startline- phew! Add 100 acres of freewater plus large clubhouse - can't beat it. Contact Col B for more details.

There were several more than 8/9 boats racing in the first Tamesis winter series races yesterday. Two morning races were followed by a beer in the comfortable bar and Clive's excellent cooked lunches.

It seems like the main difficulty is choosing where to go..... what an amazing choice of venues this winter.  It will be sail one race get one free, soon... The promotional qualities of Merlin sailors is to be complimented

16 Merlins for the class race at Tammy yesterday with a number of regulars missing.  Should be a busy winter on the Teddington reach.

We are pretty spoilt for choice

methinks wot a good idea it would be to set up a winter series at the various venues

wil raise the subject at the upcoming away day with the powers that be

suggestion for first prize getting up and having the pleasure of walking me in the dark at 6am on sunday morning

Diluted by choice perhaps as well, Megan has a good idea; not bad for a dog!

I thought the 'point' of winter series, is after a hectic summer of travelling around the country competeing for silver tillers and praising ones efforts of getting into the top 10, 15, 20, 25 or wherever your sights are set. You re-trench to a local club, not have to worry about trailing the boat around, rigging/derigging etc. and if you pick a suitably low key venue you might even win a prize.

The powers that be will consider the options.  However, comments from the floor via this thread are welcome.

I've always wondered, 'the powers that be ....', what exactly?

The powers that be deluded?

Actualy it is from the Bible:- Romans 13:1

I should have quoted as well as Chapter and verse!
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher       powers. 
For there is no power but of God: 
The powers that be are ordained of God."

Is that why most Committee members are elected unopposed?!

God only knows

While on a religious thread (and it being a little slow on the actual sailing front), apart from the ark, what possible references to watersports - oblique, humorous or otherwise can be found in the bible.........

turned into a pillar of salt.
clearly did not rinse after the Nationals.

Here Luke has written a stirring account of adventure on the high seas, incidental to his main purpose of showing how well Paul got along with his captors.

Sounds a bit like a modern day flotilla holiday in the Aegean.

I like this

"But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow was wedged in and could not be moved"

I'm sure the water-into-wine trick would have been popular at the annual dinner.

Acts  ch 27: vv 13 to 15 tells us that, had Paul and Luke been sailing a Merlin, they would have been able to make landfall on the windward shore which was Crete.  

Clearly, however, the windward performance of the ship they were on was woefully inadequate. When the 'North-Easter' kicked in, instead of Paul and Luke enjoying a tight spinnaker reach to the intended port of Phoenix, the ship could only manage a run or broad reach, away from land.

Consequently they had to spend 14 days on the boat with food running out, and missed out on the hot shower and beer in the bar at the Royal Phoenix Yacht Club, and a curry in the 'Minator Balti house' afterwards.

We can only speculate on the eventual course and impact of Paul's mission to the Gentiles, had the Merlin been around 1900 years earlier....

There is even mention of the Yoof Squad:

1 Corinthians 5:1

"I actually hear reports of sexual immorality among you, immorality such as even pagans do not tolerate"

Blasphemy - Merlin No 639 was called Topper (but in the old Testament they wouldn't have known)!!

And 2666 was Eve restless - was she upset at the serpent's visit?

From Acts Chapter 27 verse 10 it is clear that Bishop Skinner were assessing sailing as an insurance risk (also thanks to Alan F)

Excellent to see such a silly topic such as "winter sailing" brought back on track with the current comments....

Luke Chapter 5 Verse 7 comes a warning about overweight crewsand capsizing

They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink

Or the bartering system for other dinghy classes in Luke Chapter 11 verse 12 If he asks for an egg, he won't give him a scorpion, will he? 

And for the protest committee Luke  13:30  Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last."

Mark Chapter 4 Verse 39  Was Jesus the Salcombe week's first organiser?

 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Was Noah a Merlin sailor?

Gen.9 Verses 20 to 21     Noah was the first tiller and he drank of the wine, and became drunk, and lay uncovered in his tent.

Sounds like it, was that at Abersoch....?

blimey, have I got the Merlin website or the "Jesus loves you" site

Looking at that website on Acts 27, Paul must have been an Irishman - "If I were you I wouldn't start from here!!"

It is encouraging to see how many still read The Good Book, no doubt your prayers on the water on Sundays are more sincere than those you might utter in Chutch?