Hi Everyone,
 
Entries for the Selden Nationals at Whitstable are now trickling in.  As I've already mentioned, it is much easier for the organisers if the entries come in early.  Please help us out if you can.
 
For anyone undecided, please read Alex's preview here.....
 
Nationals Preview 
 
And see the list of current entries here.....
 
Entries so far 
 
The booking form for the 70th Nationals Dinner and Dance is here.....
 
D&D Booking Form 
 
And the Entry Form is here.....
 
Nationals Entry Form 
 
Come on folks.....
 
I've put everything in one place for you.....
 
Lets make it a fantastic Nationals to complement the hard work that's going on behind the scenes to organise it: early thanks to John Cooper, Phil Emery, Ian and Angela McKenzie and Jon Silk.
 
Don't forget : half price entries for anyone 25 and under and boats 3571 and older.
 
Fran
 
 
 

 Hi All,
 
70th Champs Dinner Dance - see the Booking Form as per Fran's post.
 
Great evening but only 100 tickets!
 
Please get your bookings to me at [email protected] as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
 
 Payment details as per the form.
 
 I will send email confirmation when monies received.
 
Oops, only 98 tickets left already.
 
Cheers
Ian

 Great welcome at Whitstable last weekend.
Over 20 Nationals entries so far.
 Discount entry ends 30th June.
Old Boats/Young Helms - don't miss your chance to enter at a fantastic saving.
Short of accommodation - See John Cooper's post.
Dinner Dance tickets in short supply. Form on the web. Get them to me as soon as possible.
Lots more info coming in the next mag. Full on social programme for sailors and families.
See you all at Salcombe
Ian

 70th Selden Champs - Dinner Dance - Only 90 tickets left
 
First 10 tickets already gone.
 
To avoid disappointment - Get your bookings in as soon as possible
 
Details above and on the Champs page.
 
See the latest magazine for the full social programme
 

70th Selden Champs - only 11 days to claim your discounted entry
Don't miss the deadline 

Only 9 days left to get your discounted entry

Only 6 days left to get your discounted entry

 Entry list updated - still a few notable names not down that I think I know are coming.....
 
Entries so far. 
 
Looking forward to it!
 
Fran
 

Sent you few more today

Woof woof

 5 - 6 more from WYC missing off the list  
 
Time to prompt them John/Phil  

 Hi Folks
 
 20 Dinner Dance tickets gone.
 
Keep the bookings coming
 
Cheers
Ian
 

Only 4 days left for discounted Nationals Entry. Don't miss your chance for great savings.
Entries coming in quickly now - we are into the 40s.

Who says old boats can't do the Nationals?
Latest entry list includes 2 x NSM2, 1 x Gnome, 1 x NSM4.
Come on all you other mature boats. What a fantastic bargain if you enter by 1 Jul - £87.50.
Come and join the fun

  Last 56 hours.
Selden 70th Nationals
Get your entry in by 1 July to claim your discounted rate - half price for old boats/helm under 25.
£170 everybody else.
What a bargain.
 

Entries rolling in nicely

You can still email your entry and send a transfer


Woof woof

 Cheap entry closes tonight.  54 boats have taken full advantage which is a great start with just under 8 weeks to go.
 
This could be a bumper year.
 
70th Nationals - 70 Boats??  Tidy.
 
Fran

Yippee

60 now

Keep em coming


Grrrrr

 And I know of at least 4 more expected to enter, so nearly into the mid 60s.
 
Come on join the fun
 
Selden 70th Champs Dinner Dance - 33 ticket sold already
 
Only 67 tickets left. Don't miss your chance.
Booking form on Champs website.
We will be in Salcombe from tomorrow so:
Please email me at [email protected] or speak to Angela. She will have booking forms with her.

 Selden 70th Champs Dinner Dance
 
 50 tickets sold, 50 left. Don't miss out.
 
Booking Form on Champs website.
 
Guest speaker to be announced

 Selden 70th Champs - Scrutineering
 
Hi Folks,
 for the old hands you will be pleased to know that the normal, Nationals scrutineering system will be in place for Whitstable, supervised by the inestimable Dirty Hands, Chris Martin and Sophie Mackley. Many thanks to them for their time.
It is not onerous but will need some preparation.
 
For the new faces who have not experienced the routine a "Scrutineering the Easy Way" guide will be posted shortly on the Champs website.
 
Probably of most importance, for those who have recently acquired a Merlin, you must have a valid Merlin Rocket Measurement Certificate in your name. These can be obtained from the RYA but can take a couple of weeks to come through. The Measurement Certificate must be in the name of the new owner. The certificate in the name of the previous owner is not valid.
 
Next in line; the owner of the boat must be a Member of the MROA.
 
If the "Owner" is not helming the boat, the "Helmsman" must also be at least an Associate Member of the MROA.
 
 All entrants must belong to the RYA or an RYA affiliated sailing club.
 
 Your Certificate and MROA Membership will be checked by Angela at Registration.
 
 Not long now.

 Nationals Scrutineering
 
Ian has produced a document in consultation with Chris Martin and Dirty Hands to help people through the scrutineering process if it is their first Merlin Nationals.  Also a useful checklist for everyone, that all is in order and you know what to expect on the day.
 
It's here.....
 
70th National championships Dinner 
 
We are also now able to confirm that Spud Rowsell, winner of the Nationals a couple of times in the 70s and builder of possibly hundreds of merlins, will be the guest speaker at the 70th Nationals Championships Dinner.  Definitely time to buy those tickets.  I'm having the beef.
 
Higher up this thread are the links to all the documents and forms you need to enter and buy dinner tickets if you havent already.
 
63 entries and counting.  Maybe 70 for the 70th?
 
Fran

Terrific, entries up to 64 and still a few more we are expecting to join us. Julian and Tim, great to see you will be with us at Whitstable and I bet it's not just to defend your karaoke title?
By my reckoning, we now have 2 x NSM2, 1 x NSM4, 2 x Gnomes, 1 x Let It Ride, 1 x Joyrider and 1 x Thin Ice.
Any more older boat fans we can tempt to joins us for August in the Sun?
 
 
 
 
 

 Selden 70th Nationals Dinner Dance
 
Tickets going fast.
 
Last 30 places up for grabs.
 
Email your booking soon to avoid disappointment

 Selden 70th Nationals Dinner Dance
 
Busy weekend.
 
20 tickets left. Get your bookings in soon.
 
Last places will be allocated in order of payment received.
 
We will run a reserve list but you will understand that we cannot guarantee reserves a place.
 
See you at the best ever 70th Nationals

 Selden 70th Nationals - Request for Volunteers
 
 
Hi All,
 
Scrutineering this year will be conducted under the watchful eyes of Dirty Hands, Chris Martin, Sophie Mackley and Tim Fells. Registration will be run by Angela and myself.
 
 
Please can I ask for volunteers to assist the scrutineers and at registration on the Saturday.
 
We should take no more than a couple of your hours and it will assist us greatly. The more the merrier.
 
Please can willing helpers contact me on [email protected] stating preferred task and time available.
 
Many, many thanks
 
Ian
 

Confirmed entries now up to 66. At least 2 more definites plus 3 possibles. Can we make it past 70 at the 70th? The tension mounts. Also, now 3 NSM2s. Classic entries up to total of 11.
Meanwhile, 92 dinner dance tickets sold. Last 8 up for grabs. Don't miss out.
Supporting prizes from; Selden, Allen, P&B, Rooster, North Sails and Richard Whitworth plus lots more. See you there 

67 entered and still a couple of the usual suspects missing :)

Really sad news that David Proctor, master boatbuilder and long time Whitstable Merlin sailor has had to drop out. Broke his foot yesterday at work and is off games for 6 - 8 weeks. 

 Selden 70th Nationals
 Great news, projected final entry numbers now passing 70. Right now, I'm printing 75 copies of the Welcome letter!
All Dinner Dance tickets sold.
 
Please can I have some more volunteers to assist with Scrutineering and Registration on Saturday.
 
Watch out for the first Whitstable Nationals text update - coming to you soon (if you gave us your mobile on your entry form)
 
 See you all in Whitstable
Ian 

 Dinner Dance Tickets
 All tickets now sold.
Any further requests will be placed on a "Reserve List" in order of date received.
 
Cheers
Ian 

Hi All, could still do with some additional support for the scrutineers and registration. Not onerous and will only take an hour of your time on Saturday if we share the load. Please email [email protected]

Thank heavens we have a Volvo! The boats full of sails, rudders and sailing gear. The car is full of champagne, prize glassware, sponsored prizes and I just managed to squeeze in a tux and Angela's posh frock.
So here we go Merlin Nationals
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's August in the Sun.

It's Whitstable eeeeee!