Waverney & Olton Broad & R.N.& S Yacht Club showed their usual hospitality last weekend however
it was noticeable there was an absence of sailors.  In fact on Sunday  we decided to can the racing
purely because the entry fee would not cover their fuel in the rescue boats and it was embarrassing
to ask them to sacrifice their day for 4 boats.  Come on lads and lasses we are the premier fleet of racing enthusiast in the country.  Let’s support these clubs or we will just loose them.

A very considerate decision, and I am sure the club, appreciated it.  It is a shame that more boats did not turn up, as when I was doing the circuit, this weekend of sailing was a not to be missed event.
The worrying thing is, if people do not turn up, then the event may end up being ditched!! Do you really want to loose a great weekends sailing??
Ask Jacko, Dan, Richard W etc what a great weekend it is....

Jon Thompson

I agree to a point with Steve, although i'm equally sure that things conspired against a big turnout to some degree with Bourne End week happening at the same time and a number of family issues going on.

I think there were 9 boats at Oulton broad, but there was a do on at Brightlingsea so that was two boats down for Sunday straight away. Strong winds and an unrelenting forecast put a few more off, an I certainly didn't fancy match racing round the North sea!!

Commendably the club were quite prepared to go.

It's a long way for everyone, but well worth it and i'm those that didn't go know they missed out. The fear, as is being alluded to, is that we'll lose the event. WOBYC seem keen to try again next year, and RN&S didn't say that they weren't so we need to show them that we are keen to go and support them. I don't think they expect 30 boats, but i should think they need double figures to make it worth their while.

I understand that it is a good weekend, but have never been there myself. We were at Bourne End this weekend as were 14 other Merlins and so have a good excuse for not coming, however I am not sure we would have come anyway. With fuel prices the way they are, a nights accomodation and two entry fees, I am not sure we could have justified the expense with so many other events closer to home. Sadly we cannot do them all.

We are obviously very grateful to all the clubs that support our class and put on these events, but I have to question why we are going to Venues that do not have a class of Merlins themselves? When you look at the turn outs at most open meetings a large percentage of the fleet are home boats. 

Take Brightlingsea for example. Without the home fleet there would have been 8 boats and I know two of those were at Bourne End this weekend.

It is not that I disagree with what steve is saying, but maybe the open meetings are better off at clubs with a fleet? They support us so should we not support them?

I've done it once - definitely an experience & in theory would go again BUT Norfolk is so very far from everywhere else, it seems much further than Cornwall though I know it isn't.  It was a very hospitable and enjoyable event, though when I went over the August Bank holiday a few years back the experience of Lowestoft on a Saturday night was in itself an education...

The sailing is much better than Bourne End I have to say!

It is not a new dilemma, but not ont to be too ashamed of, you were very thoughtful, though I am sure the club would have put a race on for only one boat! As a former Merlin Rocket sailor who cut his teeth racing on the Broads and won his first Silver Tiller Race at sea there in 1962, I prosthelatised for Lowestoft and Oulton Broad throughout the 60’s. I do not recall ever breaking 30 for the All-rounder weekend though we got close in 1968. It has simply never been that popular to head East, to where the sun first rises on mainland Great Britain and the sewers met the sea. It is a shame - a great venue for sailing with the option to move inland if it blows too hard at sea. – We never a lost weekend, sailing wise anyway.
It is as someone said a long way from anywhere 150 miles from Surbiton (I had to pick somewhere!) but not the 230 miles that Salcombe is. Both venues are about equidistant from the North East one involving the M6 then the lower M5 and A38 the other A14 neither exactly the road of choice!
So it is not distance,per se, those that know Lowestoft and Oulton will know both are very much sailing venues with little or nothing within club grounds except drink, and fruit machines, to entertain the young or WAGS. There is plenty to do for all, but a short trip away. Whereas Salcombe has I understand a beach that is safe, sandy and doubles as a play and bucket and spade area, as well as the boat park for most.
I have only once been to Salcombe to sail and that in 1965, it is therefore not really credible for me to make a comparison, except to say most Merlin Rocket sailors are very social animals and the environs of Salcombe probably lend themselves to a more variable social life than Lowestoft and Oulton Broad, they are simply very different.
I would hate to hear that they had been “dropped” though they have been in the past, and come back. 
Of course venue clashes are not new, before I started sailing Merlin Rockets I remember reading at school in Yachts and Yachting of a venue clash between Cookham and Bolton involving two candidates for that years Silver Tiller and the gamesmanship surrounding who went where!

Steve and Gill,

I am sorry to read your email and that we were not there. The reason was that we had decided early in the year and arranged to go Bourne End - which was brilliant - and but for the clash would have been with you. The Oulton/Lowestoft weekend is always one of the high points in the calendar with great hospitality, memorable racing and over the years (my first time at Oulton was early seventies)it has provided some great memories - like surfing onto the beach with no rudder, sailing flat out down a reach in the lead trying to work out the next mark from a fast disintegrating piece of paper with Chris Powell telling me what a crew's job is and more recently losing the race in the last 100 yards to Pat and Jilly having been a mile ahead - never mind the brilliant nip and tuck racing at Oulton, I am looking at two pictures on the wall of sailing there as I type this. But enough reminiscing, how do we make sure our hosts are not let down? First, I think it always worked when it was over the August Bank holiday - a run of late Nationals made that difficult. Can we get it back there next year, or at least with no clash. Secondly, if we can persuade our friends to run it again then we need to get commitment to turn up - maybe those with whom we have both enjoyed such top racing over the years could confirm in principle (without prejudice, E&OE etc etc) that we will see them there?

I feel that I should add, I no longer have any links with either club, just good friendships.  So my comments, were on a personall basis.  I do expect, that there may be discussions at Comittee Meetings, about the turnout......

So come on guy's and girl's, be there next year.  If you have never done this double event before, then you've never lived.....

I am amazed at comments that Oulton Broad, and RNSYC have no Merlin fleets, why go there!! Just check the history, Oulton Broad was one of the early Merlin fleets, and if people do not turn up then Merlins, in this area will not recover.   Persoally, I would rather crew a Merlin than a RS whatever!!!

So can you all put the Oulton/RNSYC event in you plan for next year (Have you seen the Newcombe Cup - It's HUGE, but you can not take it home with you!! It's too valuable!!!!

I Hope to join in the fun next year, when, team Smokey Bear, are both fit and able.  And, let's hope we beat some modern boats......

Jon Thompson

I have only sailed this event once, 2 years ago I think, and the turnout was 9 or 10 boats, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and the clubs put on a fantastic event. However I agree with the comments that it is difficult when this event clashes with others. Also as numbers have recently been low, that in itself probably puts people off attending. This could be overcome by having to pre-enter (even just send an email to the club confirming intention to enter?) in the week before arrival as very few people are just going to "rock up" to the East Coast on a whim on the morning of the event. That way the clubs can make a decision a day or so beforehand and no one can be disappointed if the meeting gets caned and they have driven all the way there.

I have only sailed this event once, 2 years ago I think, and the turnout was 9 or 10 boats, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and the clubs put on a fantastic event. However I agree with the comments that it is difficult when this event clashes with others. Also as numbers have recently been low, that in itself probably puts people off attending. This could be overcome by having to pre-enter (even just send an email to the club confirming intention to enter?) in the week before arrival as very few people are just going to "rock up" to the East Coast on a whim on the morning of the event. That way the clubs can make a decision a day or so beforehand and no one can be disappointed if the meeting gets caned and they have driven all the way there.

Jon, the comment about not having a Merlin fleet was incorrect was it? I am sorry but I have not been there. I am sure it may well have had a big fleet once, but that does not help the turn outs now does it?

It find it incredible that there is so many people singing the praises of this event, yet nobody turned up. If it is so great, why are turn outs so low? It seems to me that all the comments are from people remenising about 30/40 years ago and that is no use to me not being born at that point! I want to hear that last year there was 30 boats on the line and a fantastic weekend!

Having a clash in the calender does not help as it is going to divide the fleet, that said there was only 3 people at Bourne End that have done more than a couple of Silver Tillers this year and so it would not have made that much of a difference. I would suggest the half term bank holiday had more to do with it.

Jez, if we only sailed at clubs with a Merlin fleet, we wouldn't be sailing at Hamble, Chi, Rutland, Pitsford, Lyme, Draycote etc etc. I think the Norfolk weekend suffered this year because of the timetabling.Next year if it was not in half term and not at the same time as another Merlin event I would suggest turnouts would be better. We had an excelllent weekend, which was very well organised, (and well worth the drive).

^^  He's right!!  ^^

And all those clubs have less reason to offer us sailing, hence why it's important to support them. I think this weekend was a blip, but we can't afford to be complscent about these venues.

Hi Folks
I have been monitoring the turnouts, for a number of what you would call key fleets this and last year. The pattern seems to be that a lot of people are dropping say 10 - 15% of there travelling to TT events and focusing more on those special and close to hand venues. However, this may not always be the case in the future, and I think it is important that a fleet like the Merlin keeps a foothold in all regions. This event is a great. I'll never forget when Dan the man and Chrisie introduced Jane and I over tea and cake, between races, to this old lady who turned out to Dan's mum. She was sitting right at the waters edge watching our two boats dueling on the water for the lead in at least 2 of the races. We had a fantastic weekend of close racing as a fleet and finished in off with fish and chips with Jacko on Sunday, before the trip back to Whitstable. Though the economics in some people's minds, find that it may not be viable, I think it is important that a class, makes the effort to say, right the core will include this one and make an exhibition of what can be achieved and rock up and have some good racing. Once the fleet is lost t a region of the country, it will become harder to re-establish, and then will will slowly receed to the hard core areas, which would be a shame. Anyway enough of my ranting and onto slavaging my steak and kidney pie and veg.
Bye for now
Barnsie

Jez, you are correct in saying that WOBYC and RN&SYC do not hold Merlin Class racing, but WOBYC still have Merlins, they just have to sail in mixed centreboards....

WOBYC used to have a big Merlin fleet, and interest is always shown, when the MR circus hits town.  As Barnsie nearly said, the only way to get fleet starts back on the club program, is to promote the class!!  

So I would encourage everybody, to join in next year, for, possibly, the most intersting weekends sailing on the circuit!!! (After Salcombe etc!!!)

There must be a reason, that normally, people will travel from all parts of the country, to compete..  I just hope that this year was just a blip in the statistics.  (David & Myself planned to be there, but as posted on another thread, we have both had different medical issues, that exclude us from dinghy sailing!  But next year, watch out for the Smokers as we pass you!! (I wish!!)

Jon

Jon,

Just picking up on your final para, I suspect one reason people are not travelling from all parts of the country right now is due to the extortionate fuel prices being forced on the motorist! This I am sure, for the majority, makes quite a difference as to which venues are attended.

I think the point I was trying to make has been missunderstood, and that would be down to me not putting it down correctly.

What I am meaning is that if the clubs who do not hold a Merlin Class, even if they have one or two, they cannot expect to receive a large turn out and should be prepared to run an open for potentially very few boats. 

We, as a class, should have a little more foresight to organise a meeting at a club with no fleet of their own at a time when there is no clash of meetings. That would give us the best chance of a big turn out.

Further to this, a weekend with two opens that are a distance away for most people would be better served in a month when there is little other opens on, such as August, that way the extra cost can be spread over the month not the week!

I have no problem going to a club that does not CURRENTLY have a fleet, but it does go a long way to explain the poorer turn outs of recent years.

I think the point I was trying to make has been missunderstood, and that would be down to me not putting it down correctly.

What I am meaning is that if the clubs who do not hold a Merlin Class, even if they have one or two, they cannot expect to receive a large turn out and should be prepared to run an open for potentially very few boats. 

We, as a class, should have a little more foresight to organise a meeting at a club with no fleet of their own at a time when there is no clash of meetings. That would give us the best chance of a big turn out.

Further to this, a weekend with two opens that are a distance away for most people would be better served in a month when there is little other opens on, such as August, that way the extra cost can be spread over the month not the week!

I have no problem going to a club that does not CURRENTLY have a fleet, but it does go a long way to explain the poorer turn outs of recent years.

I'm sure the fuel prices are a factor, indeed i was worried at the start of the year, but in the grand scale of things it doesn't actually add all that much to the cost of doing an open. Maybe £5 on a tank full? I haven't worked it out, but it hasn't made the differance I thought it would.

Timing of fixtures is also a factor, but in many cases this is dictated by the clubs to a large degree. This season there is a bit of a bump in the list (Right about now!!) and that too could be a factor with four two day events in pretty quick succession. Remember though that the WOBYC/RN&S weekend was two for the price of one, as is Hayling. Planning the fixture list is a pretty thankless task though, it's impossible to please everyone.

If an event has the potential to be a low turn out, why not combine with another class for a joint event. One club, one course, one set of officials and rescue boats, two starts 5 mins apart and two happy classes with a combined "good" total turnout.

Pat, I see your point, but must disagree!  If you share an event, you halve the publicity, and basically say to the world, "We are a small class, and can not muster enough boats to have a dedicated open", now, I'm sure you will agree that is not the case with the MR class, but, the yachting press may see it different!!

Jon

Jon, The Merlins are sharing Hayling with the Solos on the weekend of 18/19th June (or so the fixture lists would have us believe). I don't think anybody would suggest that either party is sharing a venue due to dwindling numbers.