Hello, 

  Myself and Christian represented the Merlin Rocket class at the endeavour trophy last weekend. As part of winning we got invited to a Pro Am regatta in the Brittish virgin islands, and a chance to race against the lights of Russel Coutts, Paul Cayard...the list of mega stars goes on. 
 Currently we can not afford the flights (700 pounds each). Does anyone have ideas on how the merlin fleet could help us get this money together soon. See you all at the felucca.

  Stu and Christian

Sell the clothing vouchers to the highest bidder ?

Hi Stuart try writing to Richard Branson he likes  his yachting,lives in the virgin islands and owns an airline! Free flights and ready made crew member? Worth a letter.

Anyone got Richard Bransons phone number?

Sir Richard Branson's Office,
Virgin Management Ltd,
120, Campden Hill Road,
London, W8 7AR.

or try his twitter

When I want to get some money I get a job and do some work. It's not so bad!

Hello,

Stuart & Christian haven't really done themselves justice with their prize so here is a bit more information on our Endeavour Champions prize! 

The Bitter End Yacht Club contacted me to notify me that they were awarding the Endeavour Champions the opportunity to complete against the 2010 US Champion of Champions (US equivilant of the Endeavour Trophy) and other World famous sailors including Dean Barker,  Paul Cayard, Zach Railey, Anna Tunicliffe, Ken Read and Peter Holmberg at the 2010 PRO AM Regatta which takes place from 30th - 6th November in the British Virgin Islands.


The way the regatta works:


The Pro Am has been running for over 23 years, in a format that would be almost impossible to replicate anywhere other than in the Caribbean.  Bringing together the world’s top sailors and yachting heroes, the event puts them all on a level footing with the ‘Pros’ racing against each other crewed by the guests at the resort, the ‘Ams’.  While anywhere else this might seem intimidating, the laid-back Caribbean atmosphere at the Bitter End ensures the Pros are totally relaxed, while still, of course, maintaining that rivalry to be on the winner’s podium at the end of the week. 
 
The format for the Pro Am involves a series of round the cans fleet races, plus a semi finals and finals featuring match racing in IC24s.  There’s also some lively and fun racing in Lasers and Hobies, and a short handicap race.  With a variety of inshore and offshore races, changes of crews and helms, the ‘Ams’ learn valuable tips on how to get the best starts, outwit your opponents in team racing, and pick the best course and wind shifts from the world’s top sailors.  


The prize includes entry to the regatta, accommodation and food, they just need to arrange their own flights and pay for their alcohol, one of them could be quite expensive! 

Stuart & Christian need help in funding their flights so  if anyone out there has any contacts in the travel world please can you contact Stuart or Christian. I am sure they will be good ambassadors for the class and any company which supports them getting to the regatta.

Hi Stuart.

my brother Ron Gurney - ex Merlin Crew (after sailing with me years ago) - is sailing in the Pro Am on one of the IC24's which are J24's with all the decks taken off and 750lbs of weight out - All the sails are the same and even the rig tension is fixed - I did the BVI Spring regatta in one a few years ago with Julian Smith - we gave the local experts a bit of a fright! - Simon Potts was on board the last couple of days - fantastic racing.

I am sure that Ron will help with transport from Totola to Virgin Gorda - Bitter End YC - He will be taking his power boat over You can try Branson for a flight maybe - who knows. He might turn up and watch the racing. Necker is just round the corner - good luck guys - Stuart

Hi, I am doing the Pro-am. I live in Tortola but am sure I can arrange a ride to "the Bitter End"

They run a regular ferry from Beef Island so that will not be a problem.

I don't know Richard Branson but he may be able to help.Try him.

My phone number here is 284 499 9898. Call me if you like?

Ron Gurney

Many of you guys spent thousands on your boats. I can't afford one but I'd be happy to put �20 into a pot to help send our champions to the BVI. If another 70 or so did the same they'd be on their way.

Count me in for £20 too

I would add £20 as well - What about an article in Yachts and yachting to get others outside the class to help send our British representative to the event?  Try calling Gail at Y&Y they may even help get a few comercial sponsors maybe.

It would be interesting to have an update as to if funding has been found.

Hi Guys,

Thanks alot for all your suggestions and thanks to those who have offered their money to support our trip. It would be great if we could take you up on that offer, it really will help. My email address is [email protected]

In terms of where we are upto.....We have had 3 people who have generously donated to help us get to the BVI's, but were still quite along way short of the amount we need. So if anyone still has any suggestions it would be great to hear from you....

Thanks again for your support.

Stuart and Christian

It is great to see individuals offering their financial support to Stuart and Christian, if we keep this up they will definitely reach their target.

The class association have also offered their support finacially by contributing a lump sum to their flights, in return Stuart and Christian will be offering training to the class at dates to be confirmed.

Please do not let this stop you contributing individually as it will be great to see our Merlin national champion's Stu and Christian racing against some of the best sailors in the world!

I will put in £20 - trouble is time is running out - the guys will need about £2000 by end of today to even have a chance of going - flights are really difficult to Tortola especially if its this late -

Yes I am on for another £20 too

Stuart Bithell's address is - 113, Weston Street, Weston, Portland, Dorset, DT5 2DG

Thanks Robert - he is sailing at Hollingworth this weekend too

Stu why don't u do a kiss and tell!! Sell your story about sharing a bed with me and swifty at weymouth when you were only 12!! That should raise a few quid!!!

Boris - give Stu 2 grand and I won't publish that pic.

How much is now needed to pay for the fares?

my brother tells me that Stuart and Christian arrive in Tortola on Thursday - so great news

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=154465

Wonder if the 470 class will contribute as well !!!

I doubt it, the 470 really only exists in Olympic Form, it would be nice however if their employer, the RYA Olympic lot did, they are after all professional sailors. Good blokes too no doubt.

I am doing the fishing canoe outrigger ProAm in Lagos shortly. Please send any donations to Merlin, 22 Ktanbyge Street, Lagos 1278, Nigeria and i will make sure everyone here knows your details.

I do hope that is a real address :-) A small but significant % of the internet world will be posting cheques even as I type!

Just heard back from Ron Gurney - he is co-odinating their trip from the Airport to Virgin Gorda - Bitter End YC - All looks good - lets hope they do the MR Association proud!

Does anyone know how are boys are getting on?

as a rather belated bit of useless info ... some guys from our club did the Fireball Worlds in the BVI (err, I think it was the BVI anyway) this year, and got an awesome deal with Virgin ... I think it was something like �300 return ... and �400 for a return trip for their Fireball in a container with a few other Fireballs.  I doubt Virgin will be so generous to every sailing event every time, but, it is certainly worth having a go.

Since it was at least in part MROA funds that sent them there it would seem good form to give us a "blog" on how they are getting on?

I expect Stu and Christian are enjoying themselves and, knowing them, they will deliver the very best they can - which is pretty good!
This must be something quite new for them though so I wondered if anyone has any inside info on the results, etc.

By the way, in this internet age of political correctness do I have to be polite to a symbol?

If we knew what the symbol was! Ha ho…
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/symbol
3. Psychology An object or image that an individual unconsciously uses to represent repressed thoughts, feelings, or impulses: a phallic
1.	mu''a'vo' mu' - A Klingon Word from the Word
So I used the Klingon word chIl, to be lost, and added the intensive suffix -qu'. .... Good grain is a symbol of a faithful life that can be used by God. ...

Could rudeness be construed as symbolism?

http://www.beyc.com/index.php/pro-am-regatta-week.html well that how our subs are being spent.

Just look at what those Americans are making our poor boys do - looks like theyll be made to partake of strong liquor as well as race up and down in those fancy boats tsk tsk - I hope someone sent some balaclavas out with them to keep the hot sun off their delicate skin. Bet they'll be glad to get back home.

Had a look at the Bitter End club's Pro Am web page and they seem to be having an elimination series for somew yanks prior to the big IC24 regatta which presumably our guys get a bye to. This started this morning.
http://www.beyc.com/index.php/pro-am-racing.html
Pro Am Racing  
Schedule Subject to Updates
Tuesday Morning
Fleet Racing (IC-24s)—Pro skipper, plus 3-4 guest crew to a boat. Windward-leeward courses.
All teams race. 
Tuesday Afternoon
Fleet Racing (IC-24s))—Pro skipper, plus 3-4 guest crew to a boat. Windward-leeward courses. 
All teams race. 
Thursday Morning
Fleet Tour Racing  (IC-24s)—Pro skipper, plus 3-4 guest crew to a boat. 
Courses take the fleet on scenic tours of North Sound. 
Find out which skippers and crew have the best local knowledge. All teams race.
Thursday Afternoon
Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Finals —See that event's schedule for more details. 
Friday Morning
Race Commitee's Choice Fleet Racing  (IC-24s)—Pro skipper, plus 3-4 guest crew to a boat. 
Race committee can choose either windward-leeward or tour racing courses. All teams race.  
Friday Afternoon
Match Racing (IC 24s)—As was the case in the last year and in many previous years, the week’s top two teams will square off in an exciting finals. 
The 3rd and 4th place teams will participate in a Petit Finals. 
The 5th  - 8th teams will sail a consolation round.(The English Carvery) 
Jealous now!!!!

Hi everyone, we have been here a good few days now, but only raced a couple. The first race was a two part off shore race which we won with a 2,1. It was a fantastic start for us, and we turned a few heads given the fact we are racing the worlds most successful sailors. ( Russell coutts, Paul cayard, Peter houlmberg, ken reed) turns out winning the merlin rocket nationals stands you in good stead against Americas cup winners. Yesterday was fleet racing in ic24, again in the 7 boat fleet we posted some good results, all in the top 4 with a bullet in the last race. In the afternoons four races we again showed our consistency we have been showing all year. However two race wins turned out to be two ocs. As Peter houlmberg said "this is not Olympic sailing bith, you have to start behind the line". Today is a lay day, which we feel has been hard earnt.........NOT. More updates coming later in the week. Stu and Christian

Re Stuart and Christian's blog.
Glad that it confirms the high standard of the Merlin fleet!

Not to mention the tendancy to be on the wrong side of the line!! Well done guys, keep it up.

Good to get the detail from the horses mouth so to speak.
Have emailed the club for the ful results as they do not post them on the website!!!!
If successful will post later today.
The website mentions that if the boys were nto OCS, they'd be leading.

Hello again, we had four races this morning and unfortunately for us, they were our last races of the week. We have to miss the finals match racing tomorrow because i need to be in Perth for a 470 training camp. The racing this morning went well again, we posted a 1,3,1,4. And luckily this time we started behind the line. I will let you know soon our overall result when we left the regatta. All in all I am super chuffed with our performance this week. Thank youmerlin rocket class for your support. Stu and Christian

PROUD??

Hi Folks

Found the news feed on Scuttlebutt USA.

Follow the link to see how the boys got on.
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10730 

BFN

Dows MR Assoc get a refund with the crews leaving to go to Perth or are we paying for that as well.

On reflection no matter which side of the sycophancy one stands no one comes out of this well we can only hope and trust the gift was as a result of a committee meeting and duly minuted.

A worthwhile cause one thinks subject to how much was input by the MROA. Sure we do not need to worry

As a Merlin class ass member and competitor at the Champs let me say how well Stu and Christian did at the Endeavour, he bought the reputation of this class up a notch.
I know his ticket for Australia was bought long before he knew he would be going to the Pro Am, he only had time to get back to UK turn around and go to Aus.
Personally I am pleased the class ass supported them, Stu has sailed Merlins on and off over a number of years, I think the class association did the right thing. I would be happy to hear that the RYA had also supported him to this event, I hope they did, as a lot of Merlin members also support the RYA.
I would be very happy for the class ass to support : if he wins the Endeavour for the Merlin class.

i agree, its fantastic to see the merlin class having such a great sailor as an ambassador. Well done to the association for getting behind the lads.

Well said John 3652. 

There will be a big turn out at Rutland this year now.

(+ it's worth it to see just how miserable he's made uncle Richard by pounding him all year!)

I believe Stu and Christian did agree to do run some training in return for the support for the MROA. 
Great to see them doing so well against such top competitors!

Dalby you beat me to it by 2 mins...

+ heard a rumbling that Dennis Connor has enlisted for Rutland Training now Stu is dishing out the tips.

I would tidy this up, but it would seem thatb this is unecessary!

Assuming that it is any of Mr or Mrs ;'s business I can say that the whole committee was consulted about this and there were no objections. Should Mr or Mrs ; be a member it would be rather better if they would voice their concerns in the appropriate way, ie by emailing or writing to the chair or secretery rather than by trying to drag the committee through the mud on a public forum. This helps nobody, least of all the credibility of Mr or Mrs ;.

Thanks to everyone else for their support on this.

SHOULD WE BE A CLASS THAT SUPPORTS YOUNG SAILORS TO FURTHER THEIR DEVELOPMENT? SURELY A NO BRAINER. WELL DONE COMMITEE

Had I been on the Committee, I would also have fully backed this support.

I vote for a committee to do that for me

What happened to class sailors giving back (for free) to their classes?  It's the people like Mike, Dan, Jennie, Pat and Jilly (amongst others) who should be thanked for their efforts promoting Merlin sailing.  
  It's a shame it wasn't stated earlier that they weren't going to do the full week. Maybe investing in a full page poster/advert in the latest Y&Y Classes guide would have been a better investment?
  What promotion can the class get from the PRO AM regatta now?

Have to agree with Olly.  It was a shame we were not told they would be leaving the event early - would still have supported them and the committee though a great one off opportunity for them and no doubt the class made new friends.  If you ask Mark Jardine at Y & Y nicely im sure he will publish a piece on it.

How much did the association contribute ( in addition to the personal donations pledged above)?

Why do the most innocent of topics turn out to be so complicated?

The Association's role is to promote the class - the rules actually say "further the interests". So if the support provided by the Association helps to promote the class in the same way, for example, that the stand at Ally Pally does, or Pat's excellent magazines do, then that is good and proper - and the Committee's responsibility is to get good value from the money spent.

If however, the Association's support is seen as personal sponsorship of someone who has done outstandingly well and we, as a class, are very proud of, then however good the cause, that is not what the Association's money is for and would set a very dangerous precedent.

I hope the Committee provided their support because they saw it as a great way to promote the class. But what that means is that they/we need to absolutely maximise the benefit we get from this support - remembering, as Olly says, that we do not as a principle reimburse members for the time they contribute to the class. 

I hope that helps!

Folks

I have managed to get a full set of results from John Glynn at Bitter End Yacht Club. Please see his comments below. Pat has the detailed PDF and results will be extracted for use later.

Bye for now

Barnsie

I've been following the Merlin Rocket blog about Stu and Christian's Pro Am foray. I think it's important to note that had Stu been able to stay thru the last day, he would have qualified for the Match Racing Semifinals, knocking Paul Cayard out of the top 4. It's also important to note that in the two races Stu was OCS, he won. Had he even been just above mid-fleet in each heat, he would have topped the fleet racing and been the top seed in the Match racing (ahead of Coutts, Read, and Holmberg -- not to mention Cayard). They did the Merlin Rocket class proud. And represented the Endeavour Trophy admirably. And for what it's worth, the American Championship of Champions winner decided at the last minute not to come, causing embarrassment. I've attached the Fleet Racing results (Pat has the results and you'll have to wait and see later).

John A. Glynn
V.P. North American Sales
Bitter End Yacht Club International, LLC

Hello everyone,

So there has been a fair amount of chat on here regarding the contribution the class made to Stuart and Christian for the PRO AM regatta and the reasoning behind that, I think this is where I can step in and provide reasoning.

As Will has kindly highlighted, the role of the Association is to promote the class not to fund personal sponsorship to someone who has performed outstandingly. I can clarify that the money was presented to Stuart and Christian as a means that we as a class can use this to promote the high calibre of sailors which are involved within our class.

How it all came about.

Stuart approached me following their win at the Endeavour (a regatta they paid for themselves with the entry and insurance alone coming to £125.00) to inform me of the prize they had won to see if there was anything the class could do to help support them getting to the BVI’s. 

Time was very tight the Endeavour finished on the 3rd October and the PRO AM began on 30th October, a discussion was started amongst committee members and there was a unanimous decision that we would contribute towards Stuart and Christian flights, by no means did we pay for them.

In return Stuart will be providing training to the class, we will be receiving PR in the press and class association members have made further suggestions which have been well received so thank you to those who have contacted me personally.

I am proud to be chairman of the current Endeavour Championship Winning Class, where our sailors have gone on to race against (and beat) some of the best sailors in the world.

I am more than happy to discuss this with anyone who feels an injustice has been done; my email and contact information is all on the committee section.

Thank you to all of you who have been supportive of the committee 
Lou

The anonymous Mr or Mrs ; strikes again.

please continue to post, i'll be able to find out who you are soon :)

Errr.... Point of Info please. Does anyone know why "Stu and Chris" are not in the RYA 470  squad for the Perth event?

I see Stuart is sailing with Luke Patience in the 470. Not sure what Chris is doing in Perth!

It seems they don't need to be in any squad. Top yachting!

Results of open http://rutlandsc.co.uk/results/2011/010511_Merlin%20Rocket%20Silver%20Tiller.htm but where is Stu Bithell and Christian ? was it not said they where going to offer training in return for sponership for the Pro AM Regatta ???

Stuart was probably recovering from sailing with Luke Patience at Hyeres up until last Saturday. They were first Brit and came 4th in the 470's. Well done boys! Dont know what Christian was doing.