Where will it be on sunday, Chichester, hayling or elsewhere?? Sorry River Thames sailing doesn't count, although i'm sure it's lovely.

Salcombe on Saturday!!!!

We are all packed up and ready for a trip to Chichester this weekend. So I hope there are other Merlins coming.

Looking forward to it as it does make a good change from river sailing.

River Thames sailing does count, but if you're too scared that's fine..........

We'll be at Chichester on Sunday - always asssuming that the Shoreham Dinner doesn't take too much of a toll!

Several years since I last did the Snowflake - are the races back-to-back?

Hi Alastair

yes most weeks races are back to back

We had four Merlins out this Sunday at Hayling. Great racing over a classic long harbour course. Its an open event so all welcome, 11:00 start we would love to have some visitors.

Rod 3586

Looks like chichester then. i'll be there and clearly not at Tammie

We had 7 out at Parkstone last Sunday - always a 10:30 start.

Lively forecast!

So how many Merlins were out racing last weekend?
Parkstone 7
Blithfield 20
Brightlingsea 5
Hayling 4
Thamesis 15
Hampton ?

Hampton 10

And it was cracking sailing. Good fun had by all involved.

and chichester 3

Perhaps if we southerners could agree to sail at the same place in the winter we could get some decent winter practice going?? Sorry but I just can't see the 'fun' in sailing at hampton.

It's not fun at Hampton but Tamesis on the other hand - too hot for you though Willy Warren

Oi - go easy on the Hampton bashing Wazzler!

Hampton would have been 12 but myself and R. Page were on duty.

thought that create a reaction!!

Why not do Hayling until Xmas, and then move to the Snowflake after Xmas?  This provides more sailing as Hayling is every week, and also supports two clubs Chichester and HISC who are actually being supportive to the class?

I have done the snow flake for three years in a row, the courses at Hayling are larger, provide more of a challenge and I think more enjoyable due to the variety the club can provide. The faciliities, food, bar and beer are better at Hayling IMHO. We will however be supporting Chichester after Christmas when Hayling closes for winter along with number of other Merlins. So why not give Hayling a go and then onto Chichester? We do have some good merlin sailors(Not us!) with several very good sailors considering buying in order to sail at HISC. Visiting boats will only encourage further growth at Hayling, which the club are doing loads to encourage. Try something different?

Rod 3586

WW clearly has issues! But I do remember he once went to TC with his super wide ocean racer and beat all the banana boats....hmmmm.

Yes William, we hope to be at Chichester again this weekend, hopefully we will get closer to you rather than playing about holding up fireballs and RS400s. Not that you needed any help!

Learner, I think only the reserve banana boats were out but he's welcome to give it another try.......

wouldn't want to show you all up!

Come to Hayling, Willie!  Warm changing rooms, warm food and warm beer. Hmmmm...warm beer...

Sadly my crew was not well and so we did not make it down on Sunday. I went out in  our club solo and sustained a head injury instead!!
How was it? Did I miss much?

A Superb race at Hampton, a 40+ knot squall came through before we left the hard, hail stones and all, then some epic conditions. My Mk 9B planed like it hasn't done in years...Awesome river sailing at its best!

We got that one too at Cookham. Problem was we were half way through the first race and it capsized the entire fleet! It came from a some what different direction too, hence my head wound. Never argue with an ali boom coming at you with 40+ knots of wind behind it, it hurts!!

It was fun once I got the boat up again though!!!

Have a go at Parkstone this weekend.  The forecast looks like we will get a sail in and as we have lost three races so far this series we are having two races this weekend.  Start at 10.30 from the race platform.  Second race back to back.  Racing against Tricky, Jon G, Tom Stewart, Scroggies Snr and Jnr, may be Mike Calvert and Dan.  Oh and me, but if I go anything like last time I shan't cause any worry, apart from to the Samaritans!