Myself and the wife started sailing last year and have recently bought an older Merlin (Nsm4) with a Carbon rig, which is a really nice boat.
The question is this: 
Would the wife and I benefit from the Rutland Race Training weekend this year, or should we leave it until next year????????????
We are also going to Salcombe to watch and soak up the whole experience, with a view of entering in 2008!

Yes, in my opinion, you will benefit, very much. Rutland is attended by a whole mixture of abilities and boats. In my experience (the last 3 years) there are sufficient championship level helpers that the lesser experienced people can get a lot of one-on-one attention, I recall the first year my daughter at the age of 15 sailing off to the other side of the lake having probably an hour or so, in pretty windy conditions, one-to-one coaching with Mike Calvet.

You will learn more about your boat in the weekend with experts advising you than a year of trying it out yourself, also you will meet and make friends, who you will meet again and again at events like Salcombe.

Do it!

I have been going on and off since 1992.  Think how bad I would be if I hadn't!!

you will learn lots. :-)

I have just bought  a Winder C-Tales 3586 and was intending to attend the Rutland training. As an assocaition member, do I need to pre book for the event, or is it just turn up?

I think the answer is yes go this year and you do need to book.
The details and booking form are going to be in the next magazine - out soon!
They probably going to be on this site too!!

Kev,

Go Go GO!  You will love Rutland weekend, your boat certainly loves it!  You'll learn loads and have a great time.  It was the highlight of our calendar.  Hope you're enjoying the Whale - now go get some 'tales!

Jon

Great. I now need to convince the wife that this the way forward!
Jon. the Whale is going well at Blackpool and Fleetwood YC. Just got in from a second place with Mike in todays portion of the current frost Bite series. Well Chuffed mate and freezng fog at one stage!!!!!!!! bring it on!

Another and very important dimension to Rutland training was the fact that my girlfriend got to know lots of really nice people all getting to grips with Merlins and sailing. 

This meant that: 
-  The learning was fun and she didn't feel like a fish out of water.
-  She wanted to go sailing more (she hadn't even sailed before). 
-  She loved going to open meetings so she could race against her new pals. 

We then had a really good season and she's now a good little yotter and probably getting ready to ditch her slow helm!

Kev, email me if you want and I'll let you know the B&B that we stayed in last year which was really nice.  There is at least one to avoid!

Jon, can you email the details of the B and B to at the address shown?

Kev - YHM.