We have a full entry of 92 boats for the Marchand Petit Merlin Rocket Week 2007 with a waiting list! I will publish a list of those on the waiting list on the SYC website; I am trying to get the Harbour to allow extra boats, so watch this space and keep sending in your entries, cheques won't be cashed until your entries are official!!!

On behalf of SYC can I thank all you guys for wanting to come back yet again - we really do appreciate seeing you every year!

Well done John.
It is a credit to the class that this becomes such a significant UK every year.
If only we could break that magic three figure number and really impress the Y&Y class activity table.  How about 4 volunteers in each race to start behind the rest?  I am sure I could spare a minute or two!

Pursuit race style, with the older boats being allowed a head start, using approximately the class approved handicap scheme.
1 - attract more old boats to the event
2 - give the hot shots something interesting to do once they have brokn away from the pack, i.e. get round the older boats

Also make an interesting decision point for some of the river sailors who have both a 'silver tiller' boat and a home 'river boat'.

It aint broke don't fix it,

Remember what happened last time!!!

....at the risk of sounding cheeky is that the Perkis boat maintenance philosophy ?!

or even Perkins!

Alan,

It was suggested a couple of years ago that we have a seperate start for the older boats - this was met with a resounding deathly silence! Seems they all enjoy the idea of being involved in 46 boat starts and believe that a well sailed oldie will give newer boats a bloody nose on occasion!

As Hywel says if it ain't broke don't fix it (is this why he's bought a new boat?)

John

I wouldn't say no to a five minute head start....

Not wanting to sound too pragmatic, a couple of years ago the Salcombe Harbour Master agreed, and I hasten to add after continued badgering from the MR class, to an increase in numbers attending MR week to a max of I think 110, although irrespective of the class and numbers there is a maximum number of boats the HM will allow on the start line at any one time (John Murrell will be able to clarify). Anyway to counter this the flight system was changed, net result, less challenging/close racing, spectating awful and from what I gather the whole revamp was a disaster and the wheels feel off the format of more boats attending very quickly, hence reverting back, after only one year, to a max of 92 boats.

I'm afraid it is like all things in life - first come , first served. There's always next year!

2008 that is!!!

There is a subtle difference between separate races and separate starts, I might be inclined to use WAPB 3394/aka the pink boat if I had a head start.

Alan,

When we were in the Salcombe 8 flight experiment, I suggested having, in the second half of the week, the Silver fleet start first and let Gold sail through them, which might a) add spice to the Gold fleet, b) allow people at the back of the fleet to see how it's done, c) make the race duration more equal d)keep the fleets together more,- also better for spectators.

There was zero enthusiasm for the idea, particularly from the more gifted. Concern about accidents might be justified, but I rather think they were more worried about us 'getting in the way' and upsetting their close racing. However, unlike the Nationals, Salcombe was spoken of as a partly fun, family event accessible to boats/skippers of all ages/abilities. We tried it 3 times and found this to be rather less so than claimed,- and hence stopped coming. The final straw was when the Silver fleet was fobbed off with shortened courses, though there was plenty of wind; I think the committee just wanted to pack up & go home. One year, a buddy system was proposed; another potentially unifying idea that sank without trace.

There was the Gold and Silver fleet system in:
 2001 (112 entries),
 2002 (results not up) and
 2003 (101 entries)
 and reverted back to the old system in:
 2004 (88 entries).
With the 92 limit back:
 2005 (96 entries),
 2006 (98 entries),
 2007 (92+ entries).

Brian,
2002 106 entries although only 102 actually got a wet bottom!

And as to Rod, least said soonest mended. Wendy hasn't forgotten.

that sounds great, but how does one find an entry list for those that have got an entry?

.

John,

What did I do to Wendy?

I didn't mean to criticize the hard-working race committee, nor express sour grapes over our own abysmal performance the last time we came, but it is true that Silver were given some shorter courses to sail, which seemed unfair since we paid the same entry fee, and my suggestion at the time was only meant to help in partly redressing the inevitable arrival time differences. 

I agree it is now irrelevant in the original 4 flight structure.

Alex,
How come you are on the waiting list as a crew with no helm or boat ?

Some of us are multi boat owners, I intend to race mornings and afternoons.....

Another successful Salcombe week coming up!

The last Salcombe Results thread ended when Rach W, DavidG and GGGGGGGGG agreed that trialling jib numbers at Salcombe would be a good idea.  Actually, 'ended' is a euphemism.  Stopped dead in the water would be a more accurate description, but then GGGGGGGG had suggested that those taking part were all too frightened to try.

Is it going to happen?  Was that a foiling Wayfarer I just saw passing the clubhouse window?  Nurse, fetch me my medicine.

Practical experience of Jib numbering would useful.

constructive comment welcome 
thanks
steve

used as standard in the Mirrors and works well - you can see the offenders jib long before the number on the mainsail appear. Easy to put on and take off  - must be worth a go

Agree 100% with Scotty - I know how effective the system is - Jeremy and I were OCS three times at the Mirror Nationals a couple of years ago - cost us a top ten finish!

Numbers are 4" size, mounted vertically at mid height on the jib luff.

There is no hiding!!!!

GGGGGG

Especially if you have to count a DSQ or OCS! Better still no discards at all.

Call me old fashioned but I think we should numbers on spinnakers too.

Don't think that kite numbering will help with start line disputes.

I haven't seen too many offenders with their kites up - except if they're very over.

Should be used for all ST and Grand-Slam events.

What about sponsors logos.... they're very distinguishable.... a nice one on the bottom third of the jib would look great! 

We could put one on the spinnaker as well...

But; if all the logos are the same?

I'm just bringing up the old argument about recognising people in photos etc... I think it's a valid point if a little off subject.

Wansn't disagreeing about Spinnaker no's I agree they should be there for many reasons but logos are the same so it may placate a sponsor but wouldn't help identification of the malpracticer.

agm last year delined use of spinnaker numbers.
boats should be recognisable by boat hull colour.  what about spinnaker colours. 

more experinece of jib numbers?
Is it reasonanble for all STs?

At the champs at haying they used a video camera and the black flag use seemed very fair, and very few people i heard of got away with it.

My only gripe at the Tenby champs was being BFD along with several other boats at the pin end of the line, despite being unable to see ANY part of the commitee boat for other Merlins who were clearly over and got away with it. We may have been over, but if so it so were about 20 others!

I don't think that Jib numbers would be any help in that situation, except with the additional use of the video which by itself would probably suffice.

As for use at ST meetings, i don't think it's necessary really.

Would prefer to see numbers on spinnakers...

The Larks just got rid of spinaker numbers from our rules. So many second sails were out there with the wrong number on it was more hastle than it was worth.

If visibility is the key why not insist on clearly contrasting permanent numbers on the very foremost part of the hull - runnuing vertically even? Then anyone nosing out would be identifiable ????

Surely the best way to stop people being over the line at Salcombe would be to ask either the old lifeboat or the South Sands Ferry to patrol up and down the windward side of the line in the five mins before the start, anyone getting hit would be out ( and for the rest of the week too!)

Also would drum up work for boatsheds in Essex, Devon and OOp North!