Last winter we sailed in the Sowflake series at Chichester and had a great time.I see that it starts 2 November this year. Last year the Merlin numbers were high at the start but dropped off as the season went on, despite (By my reckonoing) it being incredibly mild! As we are pondering where to sail this winter, are other Merlins planning to sail again this winter ? |
I will be there this year. |
but who with william ? |
As will Chris and I even if we both hate winter sailing, we need the practice, frikin hate inland sailing |
hi Alex I laid a challenge at wills feet the other day to see if he's man enough to take it up ?? |
I will be there as well. It was cracking last season. |
me too |
We are planning to come down for allot of it too. |
Wish I could be with you. Air temperature is irrelevant when there is the opportunity to sail, in my opinion. |
I agree , and the crew can only whinge once the spray starts to freeze on the decks. |
which is unlikely ever with salt water so no excuses!! |
Sorry Chris pull up a bollard, swing the lantern and I tell you a tale of North Atlantic crossings on the Grey funnel Line when salt water froze in 6 foot iceicles and the flight deck was a skating rink, you see salt water loved to freeze before global warming. |
It is a while since it was really cold at CYC. There was one January race the day after the Bloody Mary when it was b*£$ cold! The late Martin Warren had sailed his Merlin(COTOB)there with Sprat Brady crewing, and then came down to CYC the next day. In between, the water in the plate case had frozen solid, and on launching at CYC, they couldn't get the plate down at all. It was cold enough at Chi for the harbour water to have turned sludgy with ice just forming at the edges, even though it was a windy day. Sprat had to stand in the water holding the boat while Martin went up and back to the canteen with jugs of hot water to pour down the case. Sprat had one of those DIY wetsuits with the bum hanging out, and he only weighed about 7 stone (hence the nickname sprat), so standing in freezing water for 20 minutes did him no good at all. If I recall, they unfroze the plate, but defrosting Sprat was a longer matter and was not achieved before the race started. |
Does anyone have the start times, number of races etc. .. I can never find anything on the CYC website. |
Here you go Andy. http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/build_up/specific/snowflake200809_poster.pdf |
Thanks Team!! |
There is of course also the RYYC Autumn Trophy at Ranelagh the day after the dinner, a joined up idea add the AGM and you'd have a good Merlin Rocket Weekend. |
Anyone sailing a Merlin at Chichester this Sunday 28/12? |
Myself, Will Rainey and Ross in his new boat |
We are coming too. |
Snowboarding and crying over the exchange rate |