Hi all.  My crew was muttering about going to Banbury last weekend as we enjoyed the Midland SC meeting so much, however we had to return #1 son back to school so that wasn't on.  Fortunate really, as two "interesting" Midland events in a row might have dampened our travel enthusiasm :-)

We remained at Brightlingsea to race against the other Merlins in steady F4/5 on Saturday and F4 on Sunday.  Cracking breeze, nice waves and lots of sunshine.  We wished you were here!  If you wish you were here too then come next weekend.  Details are on the MR event list.

We promise we won't make any sailors prepare the food (read the Banbury report) and if you do fall out with your crew we will have an OK World Qualifiers going on at the same time.  Maybe you can do a deal with one or two of them and go sailing sans crew?!

Look forward to seeing you next weekend

David Charlton

I've had a query about accommodation. There is a campsite adjacent to the dinghy park and various B&B options.  Details can be found at

http://www.sailbrightlingsea.com/accommodation.asp

It would pay to check availability in advance as Brightlingsea can get booked up but probably not at this time of year.

Whats depth like in the sailing area and getting to and from? Fixed rudders feasible?

Ta

HW is 12.47 Sat and 13:25 Sun.  There should be plenty of water in and out of the creek to where we sail and plenty out there.  Launching should be OK.  Coming in on Saturday might require caution as there is a bank off the end of the slip which might be too shallow for a rudder when we come in.  If that is the case, and the plate touched, I guess it would be a case of hopping out wading across the gully between the bank and the slip.

If it were a club race in and out of the creek with the Cats, B14s and other asymmetrics at low tide it would be a different question!  According the the spectators on the beach this Sunday Gordon Ramsey was on the water as we tried a mass handicap start in the creek - just after low water - on a run - in a breeze.  Apparently this referred to some of the language?!

If anyone needs a bed for the night we have one spare double bed, will suit husband and wife but if you are the same sex and happy to share I won't tell anyone!!
Winds look good for the weekend, fixed rudders may be a problem, all of the Brightlingsea boats use lifting rudders but as Dave has said if you are fixed you just need to avoid the bank.
The evening meal is included in the entry fee so come to Brightlingsea and sample one of the friendliest sailing venue on the East Coast. Summer has just arrived but just leave a little more time if your journey takes you on the M25.
More detail can be found on www.sailbrightlingsea.com

Are Craig, the talk of “spare, bed, sex and lifting rudders” sounds to go to miss. Could I have the “included evening meal” as a take way as I only have a fixed rudder.
Regards AJ

It may be a lifting rudder after you have found the bank! 
Anyone needing Alloy spinnaker pole tube (32mm) or piston ends to suit let me know, parts are from Z Spars and the piston ends are very good.

And thick soled boots for hauling over the oyster bank when the tide's low - those shells are sharp!

There is always more than 3 foot depth in and out of the creek, even at low water - as long as you stick to the channel and leading marks. This is easy to do, as you will be gently sailing out to the start and Open Meeting course area. 
But, if you are planning on a later visit to Brightlingsea for Pyefleet week, when the starts and finishes will be in the creek, then it is either a lifting rudder or a removable transom that you need / that you will have by the end of the week.

Having said that, the B14's race from the club very regularly, and they all use deep dagger boards and seem to survive with only the odd full stop and nose dive.

So what happened??

Picture on Y & Y website looks very windy ......

Cracking weekends sailing, you all missed out!!

Saturday breezed up to a steady 20 knots, apparently gusting 28 according to the club.  Sunday was champagne conditions, sunshine, 12-15 knots, moderate chop and perfect reaches.

Results are up, report to follow shortly and fotoboat uploading all the images on to their site later this week.

Results are up  - where?

see link

A few pictures of the reach on Saturday, taken from a very rolling cruiser - so the quality is not as good as it could be.

Try here: http://cid-9cb8437dafd21555.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Brightlingsea%2009/BSea%2009%20Merlin%20and%20OK%20Open

Cracking pictures on www.fotoboat.com of the Brightlingsea Open.

Here's the link
http://fotoboat.thirdlight.com/viewdir.tlx?albumid=211992