MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : Nationals 2011 - early notice

Hi All,

Following on from the excellent event organised by Andy & Caroline Hay at Penzance this year, we are already getting queries about next year at Hayling Island, so it seems sensible to post early to get the dates in your diaries.

Nationals week will be the 21st to 26th August, full details to be confirmed as to format etc in the next magazine. The full organising team will also be advised then, but with an active and growing fleet at the club now, expect fireworks!!

Some of you may also be aware of Federation Week, which next year happens to take place the week prior to the nationals (15th-19th). This week is the regatta week for the Chichester Harbour Federation; it is run from HISC on behalf of all the harbour clubs, and is an absolute blast. It is an Open event, so anyone is ok to join in, and at c£40 for the week is about as good a value as you can get. This year there were 12 Merlins for the week, so if anyone considered coming down to pin that event ahead of the Nationals for some boat handling practice and relaxation you would be very welcome, and we may be able to organise our own start. There are five races (one per day, all in the harbour) with three to count for the series.

Further details will be published in the forthcoming mag, along with the champs details, but if you are booking accommodation, think about making it a fortnight and spending some of the first week with the family, and gently breaking yourself into the champs!!!

More to follow over the coming weeks, but if you have any queries, please feel free to call me or Jude.

Happy yotting!

GGGGGGGG


Posted: 30/08/2010 20:24:46
By: Measurement Man
Graham, I like to plan well in advance: and have looked on the Internet for accommodation at Hayling Island for the dates mentioned. However, this was without much success. Can you point me to suitable website(s)?


Posted: 01/09/2010 08:22:30
By: Keith Callaghan
Does this mean that you will be bringing your kit built boat?

I think that Steve & Ruth enjoyed Wicked at Penzance, aside from Ruth knocking her back out, and she was v. happy to have forgotten her Tacktick as they won a new one at the end of the week!

Working to get BAU to Hayling - looking forward to being just a competitor ....


Posted: 01/09/2010 09:46:37
By: Andy Hay
Probably not the kit boat, Andy. But I hope to be crewing in 'Wicked', with young Laurie Smart as driver. At this stage it's still just an aspiration, but if there is a trophy for the first green non-Holt boat,  sailed by builder and designer, who have a combined age of 128 or more, then we're up for it!
Yes, it was unfortunate about Ruth - just as she was getting to grips with the thing. Steve took a young lady off the beach on Wednesday, and had yet another crew on Thursday and Friday. He was first non-Holt boat, but the wooden boat prize went to Dan Alsop, of course.
I hope you really enjoy the 2011 Nationals, after your months of organisational effort this year. Are you on for a BAU vs Wicked wager?


Posted: 01/09/2010 10:43:37
By: Keith Callaghan
BAU will suffer from a lack of professionalism on board, I mean, come on, Wicked will have the designer & builder ....

I don't recall giving out a trophy for the first green wood boat, but you could always follow the example of Team Starcross and bring your own trophy!

Dan won the old boats prize, distinctly different to a prize for wooden boats. There were at least 2 GRP Winders that qualified for the over 10 year old trophy. Dan & Jennie sailed incredibly well to finish in the low teens.

The Champs organisation is a year long project, which I have now got off my back almost completely. Time to get back to playing with Project A-35 and some Rule changes that I have suggested .... oh yes, and spend some time with my growing family. ;-)


Posted: 01/09/2010 12:40:30
By: Andy Hay
Interested that Steve took a young lady off the beach to crew for him. This has never worked for me!


Posted: 01/09/2010 14:47:09
By: Douglas
Here is a quote from the Crews Union bit of Alex's report.

Finally, a chap to remain un-named took a new girly crew under his wing and protected her from silly drinking games and nasty boys in fleet – winner.

No names obviously.


Posted: 01/09/2010 15:32:22
By: Andrew M
That had nothing at all to do with Steve (who was not at the Crew's Union, as far as I was aware). Steve's crew search (in a rather desperate manner, it has to be said) as the fleet was launching at the time, was more gentlemanly, and involved most of the fleet!


Posted: 01/09/2010 16:04:32
By: Andy Hay
Hi Keith,

Delighted to hear that you will be joining us; here are some starters for ten....

http://www.haylingproperty.co.uk/holiday/index.htm

http://www.hayling.co.uk/directory/accommodation-camping-11.php

http://www.hisc.co.uk/accom2.htm

The Hayling.co.uk website has some of each type of accommodation advertised so a hunt around from this as a starting point would be sound.

The club sometimes has addresses of members properties that may be available so an e-mail to the club might also yield results.

We will assemble a more comprehensive list over the next few of weeks,

Any further queries feel free to ring,

ATB

GGGGG


Posted: 01/09/2010 18:45:57
By: Measurement Man
Thanks Graham. I'll check them out.
Yesterday I emailed Ian Holt and told him that yet again his designs had taken virtually every prize and trophy at the Nationals. He is working in Australia now, and was unaware of the results.


Posted: 01/09/2010 21:35:23
By: Keith Callaghan
Hayling Accom, HISC are currently hosting Laser Worlds as preparation on the water side for next year, although bar staff may need some breaking in. Due to numbers attending this event the Club has created an accomodation list, if it is appropriate I will get it posted somewhere today.


Posted: 02/09/2010 09:52:50
By: johno3710
Johno, that would be perfect. Can you post a link to the accommodation list here on this MR Forum topic?


Posted: 02/09/2010 10:46:27
By: Keith Callaghan
Suggest you get our illustrious web master to change / update the Nationals page on this site, there is a link to "accommodation" there. Save losing the link, or people not following this forum thread missing out.

You can always get Mags to link to the event web site once that's up and running if you are going to do something different to this year.


Posted: 02/09/2010 12:40:17
By: Andy Hay
I think Mr Winder might be a bit miffed to hear Ian Holt is being credited with his designs winning, as the boats Dave builds are not strictly Holt designs.  Alot of his own innovations and design tweaks have gone into them. So I personally think stating Holt designs won is very misleading!


Posted: 02/09/2010 15:49:35
By: James 3431
How about Holt derivatives?


Posted: 02/09/2010 17:32:04
By: :)
With a careful bit of argument, you might be able to say that all Merlins are Holt derivatives - Jack Holt??


Posted: 03/09/2010 08:51:17
By: ChrisJ
James, if Fred Bloggs took one of my designs and tweaked it by 1mm, then called it a Bloggs Mk1, I would be very miffed. Especially if Bloggs did not pay me any royalties on 'his' design.
However, I accept that Jon Turner had input into the original Canterbury Tales, as built, so I will go as far as to say "I stand corrected - I should have said Holt/Turner". That would not include Gangsta Paradise, however.


Posted: 03/09/2010 09:06:30
By: Keith Callaghan
I agree with your sentiments Chris. Jack Holt is the father of the Class in many ways.
Here is the link to the Hayling Island SC accommodation page.

http://www.hisc.co.uk/accom2.htm

Posted: 03/09/2010 09:28:05
By: Keith Callaghan
Above HISC was for Laser Worlds - these are not regular house lets - will try and get the appropiate list to day, should H allow me down to club when office open


Posted: 03/09/2010 09:48:29
By: johno3710
I have the HISC list, it is not what I expected, however if you e mail me I will send it over. Not sure you can put an attachement in here.


Posted: 04/09/2010 07:47:50
By: johno3710

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