Not long to go now..............................

Two points while I think about them, firstly there are still 2 boats on the waiting list, both who desperately want to sail. If you are not able sail, can you let me know so that I can pass on the good news to Messes Bramley and Cox respectively!!!!!!!!!

Secondly as you will have seen from the SI's (posted on the SYC website!) we will be using jib numbers this year to identify start line offenders! These numbers will be issued at registeration on Saturday evening and GGGGG has very kindly offered to assist in ensuring the correct placing, soooo not only bring your certificate along but your jib would be a good idea too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (to make it less painful, don't forget the Doom and Pimms from 21.00 onwards until all the freebies are gone!)

And finally a big thanks to Dave and Rachel of DYNAMIC SAILS for sponsoring the jib numbers!

See you on Saturday

For those poor souls who are missing out this year (possibly including the unfortunate pair of apples you mention) have you got dates for 2008 yet John?  The calender would suggest racing starting on Sunday 13th July would be the magic date - if correct I will start hatching my plans.

Andrew

I am fairly certain that Richard Mourant (3233) isn't able to make it if he is still on the list.

This also means that Joe Woods is available to crew for someone.

Jib numbers - I don't think having 100 jibs in the club house is very practical - presumably these are not too difficult to affix over on Mill Bay?

A more careful look at the website gives a start date of 6th July subject to confirmation.

Some teachers even in private schools won't have finished work that week.

Putting jib numbers on in Mill Bay will be the difficult option!  Doing it at the club is alot easier - but it is up to you...

I would suggest that you write your sail number onto  your jib just so that you keep track of it - there will be a few around.

ALSO.... In previous years I have spent most of Saturday evening measuring sails....

It is going to be much more difficult this year with the jib number activity.

PLEASE PLAN AHEAD...  If you just turn up with new sails expecting them to be measured you may end up disappointed.  Following which, sailing with unmeasured sails because the measurer was on holiday too is not an option!!

If you want new sails measured, please ensure that you call ahead to book the service!

See you there..

GGGGGGGG

I have a new jib - as yet untried - but measured.
I will only use it if conditions are suitable and I like it!
So are the numbers interchangable, if not can we have spares please.

6th July next year....Bugger!

Careful what and where you're arranging young Porkins!

Any chance of numbers being avaiable on Saturday morning (with fixing instructions)?

No its just the 6th July seems a tad early for what is meant to be a family 'sailing' holiday....Is there no chance of the week or two after?

Its all down to tides! 

W/c 6th  H/W midday 
W/c 13th L/W midday

And realistically with 100 boats we can't go any later into July and expect co-operation from the Harbour Authority!!!!

Also traditionally the week is the 2nd in July...........

....succinct to the point 

second week in July it is then - can I enter now please??!!

i think there will be a number of people wanting 2 sets of jib numbers

Just to say that the reason for asking the question about if this is the confirmed week for next year being that w/c Monday 6th July is in fact the 1st week in July as the one before starts on Monday 30th June.  My wife is a teacher in a private school.  They break up on Friday 10th.  I'm sure Hywel jnr is in the same metaphorical boat.  Point taken about tides, but if high tide is in the middle of the day at one end of the week, surely it is 5 hours later at the other?  Not wishing to stir, but I would love to come next year and make it a family holiday.  I accept you cannot please all of the people all of the time and fully appreciate the problems of trying to run anything involving humans.

Andrew

However please bear in mind that the dates on our website are provisional, we are listening to you and I have spoken to GGG about it.

Having attended the week for a number of years in a bucket and spade capacity, we are grounded as Daniel doesn't break up from school until the 19th July.
Through very gritted teeth, I hope you all have a fabulous time with plenty of sunshine and lots of wind. Please can you let us poor "stay at homes" have lots of news and results as the week unfolds.
Many thanks,

Chris

Will all web cams be working, including the one over the line please?

Does anyone know how to get the info of what flight myself and my brother are in. We are trying to get into the same flight as this will be one of the last chances I will get a chance to beat the deserter for a very long time. If we are not in the same group would anyone like to change flight. It's not just the competitivbe streak in me, it's just we have young kids with us and it will be far easier if we are sailing in the same flight(and I want to kick ass) They'll be a few beers in it for someone.

Another vote for slightly later if poss. Like Chris we are grounded this year due to late school finishes and will in fact be in Salcombe the week after (fat lot of good that is....)

We cant really pull them out early because the last week of the school year is packed with end of term performances, sports days, awards ceremonies etc.

Is there a web cam ? On this site or Salcombeyc's? Cant see much work being done if there is !

I mean of course, pull the children out of school early - just reread my message after posting with the innuendo scan on full.....

Web cams (when they are working) are on Virtual Salcombe web site.

Link to Virtual Salcombe.  Always quite amusing tuning in to the High Street cam just after closing time! Sad aren't I?

Darn it - doesnt work behind the firewall......

Roving Cam, and Fore Street Cam are up and running, the others don't seem to be. Is it me? (if 2 cams works I would think not, but who knows with these modern PCs)

I can only get Fore Street cam at the moment. What is Roving cam? Starter's Box cam hasn't  worked for ages. So much for rocket science.!

Found Roving cam thanks. Sorry for being silly!

anyone got a link to find out results?

probably posted already but cant seem to find it..

Rob

it's salcombeyc.org.uk/content/racing-results/^merlin-rocket^marchand_petit_merlin_rocket_week_2007/

What does BFD stand for in the results table?

Brain Fuddled?!

Black Flaged aka over the line at the start aka disqualified!

I won't have a copy until after the week, so you'll have to watch the SYC website:

I can't wait for the race report - what on earth happened in the Blue/Black race?  Five black flags - all Blue fleet and five DNF, four of them Black.  Kamikaze or what?

I'm getting the odd mini race report from those enjoying themselves in sunny Devon.  Yesterday was sunny and windy, with a top end of a force four at certain points, certainly in the afternoon race.  There was also some swimming from those who don't normally swim, so my guess is that there was a fair bit of that going on further down the fleet.  I'll keep you posted with what I hear!

Just arrived home from a hectic couple of days. Dave Winder won todays morning race BUT yesterday afternoon saw some of the most ferocious lumps of wind attacking the fleet. In the final 500 yards to Blackstone on the first lap the wind (NW) arrived from all over the place (including vertically!!) with boats simply being blown in on top of themselves as the wind appeared from zero to Force 5 from the wrong side. There were capsized baost everywhere - probaly about a dozen off Mill Bay. Dave Winder was 3 sail reaching and leading when the dollop of breeze flew in from the wrong side and splotted them - Pat and Jilly were lying a comfortable 3rd when they were nailed by the gust from the wrong side. A serioulsy testing race - glad I was in a RIB!!
Roger Gilbert was in splendid form and has 2 wins - may be more by now!

hmmm that would be why I chose the nationals over salcombe!

For all of us sitting at home watching and dreaming (and in my case watching Jon Andrew's doing rather well in one of our boats 'Chambulls' - a sixth today), because we can get enough holidays !

Think ahead to the Inlands. Just 2 days, at the weekend, on a perfect elevated resovior, the Queen Mary.

The entry list is now open, so please start making your arrangements.

For those that didn't notice, the Saturday Night Party will be at Cookham S.C. because we can arrange camping there, as well as local B&B's etc. Pat Blake will be providing more info on that once he his back from Salcombe.

I already have a few prize sponsorship commitments, including Fuller's beer (why not!) and hope to attract some of the Vintage/Classic fleet to the evenet, the more that sign up in advance the more prizes I can obtain.

I sneaked off work this afternoon to go and watch - beautiful conditions down there today.  Roger Gilbert, Dave Winder, Mike Calvert and Roger Gilbert had an excellent close tussle for the top three places, Dave Fowler had a superb first beat and Ross J provided an entertaining pirouette (heart breakingly) close to the finish line.  Overall, Tricky Dicky leading and Dan Alsop also having a great week in second. Sadly back to work tomorrow, roll on the Nationals!!!!

Won with a day to spare (unless my maths is really rubbish), by a newcomer!  Good for the class to attact a new helm like that, very impressive that he can cope with Salcombe so early in is Merlin career.

Of course it would have nothing to do with his National Championship winning, Salcombe Week winning 9.f stone racing ferret crew?!  Well done both.

I think it also must have been that fast boat I sold him! Well done to Roger & Matt ..

Ooooh, that's gonna smart for some people...

Peter Scott may have put his finger on the button. 
A point for discussion could be:
Is the Merlin Rocket Class a Racing Dinghy Class that drinks or a Drinking Club that sails Racing Dinghies?

Tonight it will be a Racing Dinghy Class that can't drink as the bar was dried out last night......................

A Club With No Beer

Oh it’s lonesome away from your kindred and all,
In Salcombe tonight where the wild yotties call,
But there’s nothing so lonely so dull and so drear,
Than to stand in the bar of the club with no beer!

Now the Commodore’s anxious for the session to come;
There’s a faraway look on his face as ponder how come?
Old Al’s gone all cranky and his crews acting queer,
What a terrible place is a club with no beer! 

The helmsman walks up with his dry dusty throat,
He goes to the bar, pulls his wad from his coat,
But the grin on his face turns to a sneer,
The bars man says suddenly; “The Club’s got no beer!”

Then in comes a traveller, all covered in flies,
He throws down his wad, wipes the sweat from his eyes,
But when he is told he says, “What’s this I hear”?
“I’ve driven from London to a club with no beer”!

There’s a dog on the veranda, for her master she waits,
But the man is inside drinking warm wine with his mates,
She hurries for cover, Megan cringes with fear,
It’s no place for a dog round a club with no beer!

Old Robert, the builder, the first time in his life,
Will go home cold sober to his darling wife,
He’ll walk in the kitchen; she says: “You’re early Bob Dear”, 
He’ll break down and tell her that the club’s got no beer.

This photo amuses me...

Pat its not my boat is it?

Looks like Unfinished Business to me (or at least the rig of it)

Roger Gilbert are the first names of Roger Bannister he was quite quick too!

Dave Lee's report reveals the secret. There are two Roger Gilberts competing for the top 3 places and obviously they are colluding. Maybe twins or clones.

Ex-Cadets who like me watched Roger Gilbert and Matt Mee dominate Salcombe Week might be interested to know that at the 1991 'Cadet Week' Frank Rowsell was first and Roger Gilbert was 2nd. The ex-Cadets are still doing it.

Oops, got distracted whilst typing.  Or maybe it was the beer.....

Just a personal note from me to say how much I enjoyed the racing, the fun and the camaderie of all of you this year. It was nice too to be able to have the tide in the pm to give some different courses, to please competitor and ashore alike. Also special thanks to Bob Baker for being the good sport he was at the prizegiving and joining in with the occasion. Merlin Week is very special and long may it continue.