It’s now just a little over three weeks until the start of the 2013 Midland Circuit with Bartley Sailing Club hosting the opening event.
For 2013 we have some very generous sponsors onboard which means that there will be something up for grabs at both ends of the fleet come prize giving time in October. 
More details will follow on the prize front as the circuit opener draws closer. 

So on to Bartley, 120 acres of clean water gravity fed from the Elan valley in Wales awaits us, easily accessible from the Midlands Motorway Network with professional catering and a fully licensed bar onsite.
Bartley have a growing Merlin fleet who are keen to welcome us back following the success of last year’s event.

So please mark the date in your diary, 17th March and let’s get the 2013 Midland Circuit off to a cracking start. 
See also http://www.bartleysailingclub.com/

Its now less than three weeks to go to the start of the Midland Circuit.
If you have changed your boat have you remembered to get your certificate updated for this year?
Is your boat and towing vehicle ready for the new season?
If not check out the Midland Circuit sponsors between them they provide all the skills to not only look after your boat and all of its kit but we now have a sponsor who can look after your towing vehicle too.

Sorry forgot the link!

This weekend is your last chance to prepare and practice before the start of the 2013 Midland Circuit.
Bartley are a ready and waiting.

One week to go till the Bartley Midland Circuit opener.
It's now time to announce HD Sails as our headline sponsor.
Very generously Jim & Taxi have pledged a brand new Merlin Jib to the circuit. 
Remember you have to be in it to win it, so the more Midland Circuit events you attend the better your chance of taking home this fabulous prize.

All set for next week. £10 per boat entry, galley open 0900 for bacon butties. Who is coming?

Hi Mark, Unless it turns sub-arctic again we'll be there

I plan to be there in 3674.

Us too

us as well

Breaking News - new venue on Midland Circuit - Colorado River, Austin, Texas. Congrats to Midlands Co-ordinator for vision and imagination

Only 776 miles from Birmingham (Birmingham, Alabama!)

me to

Coming has well,

Thanks to Bartley sailing club for yesterdays event, especialy the race officer and his team who made the best of the poor wind conditions, 15 boats turned up to compete and the top 5 finishers are as follows.

Boat Name 	      Sail Number	    Helm	        Crew	                 Club	
Needlemakers	      3610	            Dickie Dee	        Chris Gould	         Midland	  1
Blood Sweat & Beers   3730	            Paul Hollis	        Lise Scott	         Blithfield	  2
Back To The Future    3583	            Colin Anderson	Sean Anderson	         Redditch	  3
Nice & Spicey	      3590	            Steve Ward	        Leigh Wilson	         Bartley	  4
Autumn Gold	      3674	            Mike Anslow	        Dan Barret	         Midland	  5

Banbury is the Next HD Sails Midland Circuit on 14th April.

Good effort by Bartley. Look forward to next year - hopefully more wind. Roll on Banbury. Thanks to all Midland Circuit sponsors, especially P&B for a smart new rudder bag (for 1st Old Boat 2012)

As Richard T points out this weekend is the Banbury ST it is also the 2nd of this years Midland Circuit events, results for the Midland Circuit will be extracted from the overall results.
See you Sunday.

After the excitement of Banbury the Midland Circuit pays a visit to Trent Valley this weekend.
We have been promised a new road surface in addition to Sunday lunch and a far more favourable forecast than last week, what else could you wish for.
First full set of results for the circuit will be produced after this event.

After three events these are the scores, remember 4 to qualify one of which needs to be a non silver tiller event.

Colin Anderson		Sean Anderson		1014
Matt Biggs		John Hackett		1017
Martin Smith		karen Beston		1024
Paul Hollis		Lise Scott		2005
Dickie Dee		Chris Gould		2006
Guy Browne		Tommi Cluley		2011
Mike Anslow		Dan Barret		2014
Mark Reddington		Colin Staite		2021
Ian Mckensie		Angela Mackenzie	2023
Chris Martin		Tom White		3002
David Mitchell		Ellie Davies		3004
Steve Ward		Leigh Wilson		3004
Chris Bownes		Claire Bownes		3006
Steve Watson		Andrew Prosser		3008
Andy Beardshaw		Paul Fuller		3009
Luke Tucker		Steve Tucker		3015
John Wood		Heather Wood		3010
Pete Browne				        3011
James Clarke				        3013
Mike Colles				        3014
Rob Sloane		Belinda		        3015

Two weeks this Sunday sees the Midland Circuit visit Earlswood, I understand its the 50th running of this event.
Some of you have been asking about current points etc so after four events please see below, after four events three teams have qualified, Earlswood could see this increase to six. If you can help fill in the gaps for the crews names please let me know.																
Position       Boat Name 	   Sail Number	  Helm	                Crew	        Club	        Net
1	       Pokin The Turtle	   3743	          Matt Biggs	  John Hackett	        Blithfield	18
2	       Back To The Future  3583	          Colin Anderson  Sean Anderson	        Redditch	21
3	       Fat Boy Slim	   3567	          Martin Smith	  karen Beston	        Blithfield	34
4	       Needlemakers	   3610	          Dickie Dee	  Chris Gould	        Midland	        1009
5	       Prolouge	           3581	          Mark Reddington Colin Staite	        Bartley	        1026
6	       Light Fantastic	   3555	          Ian Mckensie	  Angela Mackenzie	Blithfield	1032
7	       Carbon Foot Print   3716	          Steve Leney	  Gil Leney	        Blithfieled	2004
8	       Blood Sweat & Beers 3730	          Paul Hollis	  Lise Scott	        Blithfield	2005
9	       Dark 'n' Stormy	   3619	          Guy Browne	  Tommi Cluley	        Trent Valley	2011
10	       Nice & Spicey	   3590	          Steve Ward	  Leigh Wilson	        Bartley	        2011
11	       Autumn Gold	   3674	          Mike Anslow	  Dan Barret	        Midland	        2014
12	       Livestrong	   3704	          John Wood	  Heather Wood	        Earlswood	2019
13	       Mylo Xyloto	   3744	          Chris Martin	  Tom White	        Blithfield	3002
14	       Miss Aigletinger	   3718	          David Mitchell  Ellie Davies	        South Staffs	3004
15	       Kyzer sozer	   3684	          Andy Davis	  Tom Pygall	        Blithfield	3004
16	       Misguyded Missile   3568	          Chris Bownes	  Claire Bownes	        Bartley	        3006
17	       Shaka Zulu	   3680	          Steve Watson	  Andrew Prosser	Midland	        3008
18	       Manana	           3612	          Andy Beardshaw  Paul Fuller	        Redditch	3009
19	       Zero Gravity        3629	          Pete Browne		                Trent Valley	3011
20	       Dingbat	           3509	          James Clarke		                Trent Valley	3013
21	       Sir Topaz	   3530	          Mike Colles		                Midland	        3014
22	       Sledgehammer	   3146	          Luke Tucker	   Steve Tucker	        Blithfield	3015
23	       Fat Pig	           3430	          Rob Sloane	   Belinda	        Trent Valley	3015
																	

Sorry the previous post came out difficult to read I have sent the results to Ross so just waiting for them to get uploaded.

Next weekend the Midland Circuit rolls into Earlswood 
Three races, there will be lunch all to be followed by prize giving and afternoon tea.
I understand its the 50th time this event has been run, remember this is on of the non silver tiller events needed to qualify for the Midland Circuit.

The HD Sails Midland Circuit results have been updated after Earlswood.
A week on Saturday it's Barnt Green, please put this in your diary we were made very welcome last year and it was an exciting sail.
See you there.

Barnt Green is the venue for this weekends HD Sails Midland Circuit event.
It was a new venue last year that gave some exciting sailing in intresting conditions.
The duty crew are all arranged and the club is looking foreward to hosting its second Merlin Open.
This is one of none Silver Tiller you need to qualify.

Midland Circuit results have been sent to the webmaster for uploading following yesterday’s event at Blithfield.
6 boats have qualified with a further 6 needing just one more result to qualify, 33 boats have sailed one or more race so far this season and could all still qualify by attending the meetings at Carsington, Chelmarsh and Midland SC all the details are on the fixtures list.
Next up is Carsington on the 29th September.

Hello
The Midland Circuit still has two events to go and whilst we know the winner the rest of the podium is still up for grabs.
This weekend we are off too Chelmarsh.
Last year it was very cold and very gusty, this year maybe different.
There are still loads of you who can qualify and there will be a warm welcome after the raceing in a very comfortable bar.
I promisr the courses will be easier to follow than the club is to find, do you cross the river at Bridgnorth or Bewdley? well its your choice! a bit like do we go straight down the run or reach to the leward mark?
See you Saturday.

P.S. Crossing the river at Bridgnorth is the simplest way to the club (inmo)