In this Issue: Commodore’s Message p2 GET RACING 2015 p4 Interview with Tim Davison p7 11 Racing Rules You Need p10 plus Fleet reports: Fireballs, Lasers, Solos, Youth & Junior, Menagerie, Flying Fifteens. www.draycotewater.co.uk Spring 2015 DRAYCOTE YOUNGSTERS SAIL TO GLORY

Draycote sailors scooped five of the ten awards in this year’s Rugby Borough Council Excellence in Sport Awards for under-18s, held in March. The £100 prizes are awarded those who represent a particular sport at a national or international level. This may be as part of a national development squad, competing for their country or having achieved a national title. Asked about his World championship victory, Jack Lewis said, “I can just concentrate when I’m . I knew we had beaten the second place pair and I felt really happy and Lucas had the biggest grin on his face ever!” Jack and Lucas have started this season’s sailing where they left off last From left to right: Jack Lewis - RS Feva Junior European and World year, winning the first Volvo RS Feva Champion and RS Tera Pro National Champion; Ben McCann – RYA West and Grand Prix at Northampton Sailing North Zone Windsurf Champion (Bic Techno 7.8); Daniel Lewis – RS Feva Club in April. Jack’s brother Daniel came a National Junior Squad Member; Lucas Marshall – RS Feva junior European creditable 7th out of a field of more and World Champion (with Jack); Ethan Plank – National Champion than 60. Ben McCann, 14, claimed the Bic Techno 7.8 windsurfing at the RYA North Zone event at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club, one of nine Zone Championship events, with more than 1,000 windsurfers hitting the water across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. "I would love to continue racing and improving. I’m really pleased at being ranked 6th in the UKWA Cup events in my first season and would love to have the chance to compete in the European championships as I really n enjoyed the Worlds so much.” i w Ethan won the Miracle National e L

m

with his father Jeremy Davy and has l o c also come high in the national l a

rankings in the RS Tera and M

: o fleets over the past couple of years. t o h P Printed copies available Nine-year-old James Knight tries out the brand new RS Tera he won as a from the Clubhouse and Shop prize at this year’s Show for his creative “Cat’s Paw” sail design

See the online version on the website to follow links Commodore’s Message Water Manager to in an improved training phased to cause the surrounding the club house Club Manager offer on site to members. minimum disruption to members who flout the We enthusiastically possible to the peak sailing car parking regulations. The Committee is delighted welcome him to the Club times of Wednesdays and Members should be to announce that Dave and wish him well in his the weekends. aware that they will need to Rowe has been promoted time with us. However, it is inevitable bring their membership from Water Manager to We are advertising for that there will be disruption cards or fobs when visiting Club Manager. Dave has an Administrative Assistant to the shower and other the Club as these will be been an integral part of the to run the office, reporting facilities which will be required both to access the Club’s operations since he to Dave, but the focus of the communicated prior to it site and the clubhouse. New joined us and has been Club’s contact with happening via club notice design access control cards much of the reason for the members and the public will boards, MailChimp and on are available to purchase recovery of the Club’s move even more to the the website. for £3 and replacement fobs fortunes in the last two Waterside Reception where While we apologise for for £2. years – helping with Dave will continue to be any disruption that this may arresting the membership based. The office will act as cause, we are sure that the Bank Holiday decline and opening up new an administrative centre male members will agree Pursuit Races revenue streams. rather than a primary place that this is necessary and to With Sylvia Jacques for contact for members. be welcomed. We are in the time of year forthcoming retirement as The AGM (Wednesday that there are lots of Club Secretary (in 11 November) will be the Barrier at Visitor pursuit races on Bank November) we have taken opportunity for the Centre Holidays. this opportunity to review Committee, and all Support for these has the Club’s management members, to express our Members will be aware of declined and we are keen to structure and feel that Dave thanks to Sylvia, who will the on-off operation of the try to increase participation is the person who should be the longest serving barrier by the Visitor at the Club on bank head up the whole secretary in the Club’s 46 Centre. This has been holidays. operation. year history. caused by conflicting If anyone has any We have appointed a demands within Severn positive ideas and/or has Chief Instructor, who will Men’s Changing Trent. However, it is hoped the time and commitment manage the training effort, Rooms that this will be resolved to implement them then reporting to Dave. William and that, in due course, the speak to your fleet captain, Gifford starts at the Club at The Committee has recently barrier will be working Will Whittaker or a the end of April and will authorised the expenditure permanently. member of staff. become a familiar face to to renovate the men’s This will limit the I look forward to seeing Club members. William’s changing rooms which is public’s access to our car you on the water this presence will mean a much long overdue. parks. It will also provide summer, have fun and be reduced expenditure on Work will start in the the opportunity for us to safe. freelance trainers and result next few months and will be restrict access to the area – Phil Hunt Commodore

New Chief Instructor We would like to welcome and various other fun. I worked on big boats Will Gifford to the club in Volvo youth squad as flotilla engineer for his role of Chief Instructor. events. Setsail Holidays where I Please take the time to After many hours gained experience in flotilla introduce yourself to him. of volunteering at my maintenance but my heart Meanwhile, here are a few sailing club helping still was in instructing. words he has sent for with disabled After all this time I have Unshackled: Sailability and been searching for a full Saturday morning time position in sailing and “At twelve years old my junior sailing I then windsurfing and have father bought me a second realised that I wanted finally found Draycote hand and rigged it to become an which is an amazing inland for me on a cold January instructor. venue for sailing and morning and pushed me out blasting around on a reach Once qualified I then set windsurfing and has got onto a freezing cold gravel and feeling the spray on my off working overseas for such amazing facilities. pit in the Cotswold Water face. After a season of Warner, Sunsail and I feel very honoured to Park called Whitefriars playing with boats, I then Setsail. When the summer be offered the position at Sailing Club. From here, I discovered the love for came to an end I then went Draycote Water Sailing really enjoyed sailing with racing at club level; this to work for local friends Club and I am very much him in his and all then took me on to National skiing or back at my home looking forward to using the other juniors and level then World level, centre South Cerney my experience and meeting new friends. competing at GP14 Worlds, Outdoors. capabilities to help the club At first I just loved 505 Nationals, Worlds This was all very good grow.”

2 x Draycote Unshackled Spring 2015 Get Racing 2015 SEPARATE START SPURS ON NEW RACERS

Following the success of last year’s ‘Get Racing’ initiative, the 2015 programme had an early start on Sunday 8th March. The cold weather, with the promise of rain and certainty of cold water, did not deter a good number of last year’s participants arriving at the club keen to take part. On assessing the conditions, some opted to delay their return until the conditions were more favourable but 4 boats took to the water after a short briefing to advise the course and recap the start procedure. CSW Sport Program (part of Sport n i

England) has provided sponsorship to w e L cover the cost of hiring club boats and m l

assist with the running costs of the o c l coach boat and we welcomed Ciara a M

O’Brien from the CSW to show her the : o t initiative to introduce club racing to o h those new to the sport of all ages. New racers are being enouraged to take part in P On the following Wednesday some friendly racing on Wednesday evenings evening we held a shore based session in the warmth of the clubhouse and although three boats did make it to the were able to cover in more detail than start line but not much further. The Replacement is possible on a Sunday morning, three great plans to put the Wednesday Membership Cards key areas. night talk into practice and look at A number of members new to basic tactics were to no avail though and Fobs available racing, adults and juniors, came along the invitation remains open. and found out more about sailing round a course, starting and rules. Moving forwards The second Sunday session on 5 April saw completely contrasting Now the weather is improving and the conditions to the first. water temperature rises, we are Again there was a good turn out looking forward to more members Cards: £3 Fobs: £2 but unfortunately the wind didn't joining the group. bother so it was a bit of a non starter, The sessions will now run on the first Sunday in each month and there will be a separate start (number 7) for HIRE OUT ONE OF THE the Get Racing group, at the end of CLUB’S 35 BOATS FOR YOUR COMMITTEE the normal sequence for both Races 1 TESTING OUT OR JOINING Commodore and 2. IN CLUB RACING Phillip Hunt The format will be the same as last Vice-Commodore year with a briefing on the club patio Our range of boats for hire Jeremy Atkins to go through the start procedure, to members includes: Rear Commodore Sail course etc before going out to the Will Whittaker starting area with a coach boat on Lasers, Miracle, RS 200 hand for the start and throughout the Rear Commodore House , , , race, ending with a debrief back on 16, () 2000, Pico (vacant) the patio. Treasurer Sessions are open to all members, £10 single-hander, Rodger Webb adult or junior, wishing to get into £15 double-hander for the whole day President racing or take it up after a lay-off and Contact Dave in the shop or call on Harry Sayers would prefer to do so with like-minded 01788 814418 Committee Members members in a less intense environment Jan Hunt than the normal racing. Just turn up Keep in touch with what’s Ian Macwhinnie on the patio (rigged and ready) at going on at the club by 10am. Gill Pearson joining the Draycote Club boats are available for hire for Water members these sessions, at no charge. Members Facebook page at Edited and Produced by Ian Macwhinnie/Scriptographix interested and wanting more details https://www.facebook.com/groups/dra Printed copies by Claridges of Warwick should contact Dave Rowe in the shop. ycotewater/

Spring 2015 Draycote Unshackled x 3 Menagerie Fleet FLEET ADDS VARIETY TO CLUB RACING

The variety of menagerie boats at Septuagenarian Colin Newman won Two years ago when aged about 10, Draycote is astonishing and let me the Easter Bank Holiday RNLI Jack Lewis won a club pursuit race. make it quite clear that all are Pursuit Race in an International Now you have me, still showing welcome. All ages and abilities are , showing the youngsters just promise as an up and coming sailor, catered for and please check out the how to sail a course in light wind aged 72!” club website and Facebook pages and conditions. In addition, we welcome the return you will see what I mean. There were over 40 boats of David Barker who has been away For racing enthusiasts there are participating with a very good from the club for a long while having four races on Sundays and one representation from a variety of suffered an injured shoulder falling off midweek evening race – with food and menagerie boats. his bicycle! drink apres sail. There are about six pursuit races a And finally, you can now see what When you look at the statistics for year, the next one being the John is happening in our fleet by visiting the attendance at races throughout last Siggers on Monday 4 May. new dedicated Facebook page – year, it is clear that we have large Afterwards, Colin said “My win simply search Draycote Water numbers participating which is very today, albeit in conditions that Menagerie Fleet. encouraging for the future. favoured the , – Malcolm Lewin Fleet Captain The Get Racing! helped a number shows that if you want a sport for life, 654 of menagerie sailors last year and its take up sailing. Age is unimportant. [email protected] success has resulted in it being repeated this year (see page 4) Likewise, the Cat Championship is being held for a second year and this time with eight races and five to count. At the time of writing the first race took place on 19 April with Sprint 15 sailor Ant Clay taking line honours. Thirsty work: Colin won the Easter Bank Holiday Pursuit Race

n This is a FX specifically designed for – and subsequently chosen for – i w

e the 2016 Olympics down there in Rio. L A beautiful boat with team members Polly Jarman (18), previously a top m l o

c sailor, and Bryony Bennett-Jones (19), 420 Ladies World Champion l a in 2013, hoping to compete in the 2020 Olympics. They are both originally M

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o from Bristol and agreed to team up together on their campaign last t o

h November. P They have decided to practise at Draycote, because they were impressed that our club is open for sailing throughout the year, and should fit into their At every race, timings are taken by busy schedule. There is a possibility that they will eventually join in the the OD and his team so we all know windward/ leeward racing on Sundays. Photo: Malcolm Lewin how well we are doing in a series of races. Last year there was a little delay in publishing these details, Friday Night is Barbecue Night though we have rectified this ‘glitch’ so all results should be online within and Social Sailing Night 2-3 days of a race having taken place. As always our thanks go to Chris After a long week at work why not relax with a Friday evening sail Gandy who works out all these results. to help refine your skills and meet other members. At a personal level, it was good to see the 2015 return to racing on 19 The new barbecue will be lit every Friday evening for social sailing: April of Tony and Julia Prior in their bring your own and get a drink from the bar. Challenger . Also congratulations to Colin Newman, New Chief Instructor Will Gifford will be on hand to help novices sailing an International Canoe, who get rigged and give on-the-water tips. You can also take the won the Easter Bank Holiday Pursuit opportunity to try out the range of Club boats. Race.

4 x Draycote Unshackled Spring 2015 Fireball Fleet THE BOATS IF NOT THE SAILORS GET BETTER

There have been Fireballs opinion was that they looked a bit at Draycote since 1969. scary. However, I did want a 2-person This was back in the days boat, and I badly wanted something when the clubhouse wasn’t that was well represented at the club. yet built and the lake was It seemed to me then, as now, that still being filled up for the first time, and racing are sociable so we’ve been a part of the club pretty sports, and that they are best done in much since the beginning. Of course, the company of as many like-minded a Fireball built in the last 25 years people as you can find. If it’s just you bears only a passing resemblance to sailing around by yourself, then there the 1969 item – the shape is basically are too many other things that will the same but everything else has stop you coming. changed drastically. So I bought myself a Fireball and The is now made of massively spent some time getting used to it and stiff and maintenance-free kevlar some greater time swimming around foam-sandwich, the wooden deck (if it. Perhaps the boats were less you have one) is sealed in epoxy and forgiving then than now, or possibly I 2-pack varnish that lasts for decades, was not as good as I thought I was. and the , sails and foils are the These days, it is much easier; there product of over 50 years of evolution. is a fleet boat that can be borrowed It’s a well sorted boat. for those first few outings and we have a network of helms and crews who can n i

Fireballs Summer take you out for a go and explain how w e L

it all works. Second-hand boats can

Sailing Schedule m still be had for very reasonable money. l o c l

17 May It is entirely possible to go from the a M

Firebowl personal handicap event RYA level 2 course straight into a : o t

27/28 June Fireball, and whilst you will do a bit of o

The Fireball is usually h Race training swimming, the time spent upright will P 6th September be very rewarding. sailed by two people Marriott Bucket event All of which brings us back to the 27 September & 11 October present day, when Helen Salisbury is Fleet championships our new fleet captain. All through the 24th October summer we have the Earlybird and Open meeting Winship Sunday race series, with Gold and Silver fleet categories and a My own history with the club is a head-start for those who need it. little shorter and less inspiring – I Now, 20 years on, I’m still enjoying didn’t turn up until 1975 and unlike the boat and the close competition I the Fireball, I have not evolved so get racing it every Sunday. If you’d much as decayed in the intervening like to try it yourself, please get in years. When I packed up windsurfing touch. and started looking for a boat, I didn’t – Mike Deane Fireball 14778 really want a Fireball. My considered [email protected]. e p o H d i v a D

: o t o h P The Fireball Fleet can expect a firm hand on the tiller from new Fleet Captain Helen Sailisbury

Spring 2015 Draycote Unshackled x 5 Youth & Junior Fleet READY TO GO FOR THE SUMMER SEASON

The 2015 season has successfully kicked off with our first Intermediate and race training sessions (Friday

evenings) and our intermediate and n i w

beginner sessions (Saturday morning). e L All sessions were well attended despite m l

a strong northerly breeze and the kids o c l had a great time blowing away the a M

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cobwebs. e g

This year we will have three Y&J a p

s groups running, we’ll be keeping i h t

coaching groups smaller to make sure s o t

we can deliver quality training, the o h

groups will cover: P l Beginners / Introduction to sailing Alright, who wants to go out and get wet? l Intermediate an experienced sailor in each boat. l Race Coaching. The intermediate group is focused We hope that the three groups will on having fun and improving your be great fun and give our young sailing. The session is more focused sailors a natural progression towards than the Beginners group and is for getting the most out of their sailing anyone looking to consolidate and and, if they want to, joining in with improve their sailing skills, following the club racing on Wednesday the RYA scheme in their own or club evenings and Sundays. boats. The beginner group is all about Finally, our race coaching group is being out on the water, getting used to our advanced group, and is for anyone improve their boat speed, boat the environment and having lots of ready to start racing and looking to handling and tactics in racing fun; this session will normally involve scenarios. It's the ideal proving ground for our hot-shots getting ready to take part in the club’s racing activities. For each of the groups we really, really could do with extra help from parents and carers in the roles of coaches, assistants and helpers. We're looking for: l Keen sailors for on the water training and support l On the shore helpers l Dinghy Instructors l Qualified Race Coaches. If you do think you can spare some time, then please let Dave Rowe and me know. Cold weather doesn’t seem to put off the youngsters Without your help we won't be able to run these great groups for your kids and currently I would say we don't have enough helpers that have made themselves known to us. And finally don't forget the bar will be open every Friday and the 'bring-your-own' BBQ will be lit! Based on previous years this is an awesome opportunity for kids and parents/carers alike to have some fun, chill out as the sun sets on our wonderful reservoir and enjoy your gourmet burgers & sausages in great company! It’s a great way to start your weekend! See you and your kids on A pair of Oppies have been regular the water soon! starters on the Wednesday evening start line – Ant Clay Fleet Captain

6 x Draycote Unshackled Spring 2015 Interview with Tim Davison A MAN WHO COULD WRITE A BOOK ABOUT IT

Draycote Water member Tim Davison What have been your sailing founded Fernhurst Books in 1979, highlights? The most memorable having written a book called The Laser moment was in the Laser – I went Book. Many more watersports books round the windward mark first in the followed – including the Sail to Win European championships and 270 series featuring top sailors like Rodney Lasers followed me round, and it was Pattison, Lawrie Smith, Ed Baird, just a wonderful feeling. I finished John Merricks, Ian Walker and Ian third overall but in that race, fifth, so four got by! The second one was Pinnell. Tim sold the company in 2006 buying a new Arcona in and and it was run as Wiley Nautical until sailing it home over six weeks; it was 2013 when a group of sailors, just a wonderful trip in a wonderful including Tim and fellow club member boat. I’d never had a new boat before and Solo sailor Jeremy Atkins, bought and it was just marvellous. back the list of titles to publish once You live in Oxford; why sail a Solo again as Fernhurst Books. at Draycote? I was getting a bit old for the Laser and a bit stale; the Solo When did you learn to sail? My dad Tim Davison is a very nice boat, well behaved and and I learnt on the River Thames by quite fast. Jeremy Atkins at Draycote hiring a Fleetwind - completely of Russia, and they were deliciously is a friend of mine and that’s why I inappropriate for beginners because happy and did a lot of sailing in this came; it’s worth it because the Solo it’s a very tippy boat - and we spent boat Racundra. They cruised up the fleet is strong and the top six or seven the first year swimming really. We river Aa in Latvia and this is the book are really good, and we have fun. kind of taught ourselves and about it. I kind of feel it brought Jeremy also runs the Imperial Poona eventually stayed upright. He bought a things full circle. Yacht Club, which has only 24 for the family and then me a Tell us about your yacht sailing. I members including the Duke of British . I just loved it. I’ve got a raced for the first 40 years Edinburgh, King Constantine of again now… it’s only and started cruising about 15 years Greece and myself! 11ft long so it tacks quickly and is ago mainly because we were Tell us about your first book. I was really tactical, and in a blow it makes publishing books about it. I reckoned I in the National Laser Squad and the a lot of fuss which is good fun! ought to find out about it and bought What inspired you? In those days a boat. Again it was pretty haphazard the Arthur Ransome books were and I think we used up our nine lives popular reading for kids and I pretty quickly! I think crossing the devoured them. We literally learnt to channel in fog is extremely dangerous sail from that book … ‘Roger weaved and we got away with it without his way up the field against the wind radar; we actually smelt a ship going and then spread his arms out and ran by but luckily didn’t hit it. back down’, and that’s exactly what And we had an engine seize up in we did in that Fleetwind. After I the Med which was tricky because founded Fernhurst Books, one of the there was no wind. A little bit of wind last things I did was publish an Arthur came up and I managed to sail into Ransome book – a previously Hyeres marina – somehow we came in unpublished manuscript called the entrance, pulled the sail down and Racundra’s Third Cruise, an account drifted, and would you believe it, this of his honeymoon cruise; he married gap opened up; we steered into it and Trotsky’s secretary, smuggled her out just stopped alongside, it was Laser was a relatively new boat and unbelievable. The crew said ‘that was people thought it was very difficult to Titles from Fernhurst Books include really good seamanship, Tim’ but it sail, which it is. The class association enduring bestsellers such as Tim's was a complete fluke, we could have was going to put out a pamphlet on first book, The Laser Book, Bryan rammed any boat in the marina! The how to sail the Laser; I was a Willis' Rules In Practice and David French then quoted double to put in a publishing director with a science Houghton's Wind Strategy, alongside new engine, so we hired a lorry, put books company and suggested making more recent additions from Sir Ben the boat on it and took it back to it a book. I wrote the book in three weeks and we shot the photos in Ainslie (Laser Campaign Manual), England, and re-engined it there. February at Queen Mary SC in Jon Emmett (Be Your Own Sailing I’ve also sailed and raced across London. We published 4,500 copies in Coach, Be Your Own Tactics Coach), the Atlantic … lying in my bunk with my ear against the hull, hearing the 1979 and the next day we had sold Andy Rice (Asymmetric Sailing), out and we reprinted, and I thought Mark Chisnell (Sail Smart), Dave water and thinking it’s four and a half miles deep and 1,500 miles to land this is really fun. Cockerill (The Topper Book) and How did Fernhurst Books develop? Peter Aitken (The Mirror Book). either way. I hope they’ve laid up this hull properly because it’s a long way We were living in Fernhurst Road in Visit: www.fernhurstbooks.com home. Fulham. I did a few more sailing continued on next page ...

Spring 2015 Draycote Unshackled x 7 Solo Fleet A GOOD TIME TO THINK OF GOING SOLO

The first significant event of the year for the Solo fleet was the culmination of the winter series. This takes place over the 30 Sunday races between November and the end of the winter season in March. Once again, it was tight at the top, with the winner remaining undecided until the last weekend: In an exact reversal of last year’s top 2 positions, Nigel Davies took the series by one n

point from Chris Brown, with Nigel i w Pybus coming in 3rd. e L

The Plate Trophy for the winter m l o c

series (to qualify, you must NOT win a l a

race in the series) went to Jeremy M

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Atkins, with Andrew Smith 2nd and t o

Mike Partington 3rd. h Close racing is a feature of the fleet P At the beginning of April, we held the Solo Spring Championships, arduous role of Race Officer, ably So, if you fancy some good, close instead of our more usual End of assisted by Bob Cragg and members of single-handed fleet racing, perhaps the Season Championships in October. the Solo fleet. Solo could be the boat for you? A total of 62 boats competed over a Over the summer, we have 4 race The Club now has a Solo available 4 race series, with Andy Davis from series to compete in: Sunday Race 1, for hire if you fancy a go and, as I Blithfield taking a convincing win. Sunday race 2, Sunday Race 3 and write, Dave Rowe in the Club Highest placed Draycote Boat was Wednesday evening. Chandlery has a couple of decent Solos Richard Pye in 5th. There will also be a handicap event for sale, so there has never been a A big thanks to John Rhode for where we race each other on personal better time to join the fleet! once again offering to take on the handicaps. – Jonathan Hughes Fleet Captain

books as a hobby and then I was made sell most of the things they got away is Ellen MacArthur. I regret not redundant with six months’ salary, a bought, including Fernhurst publishing her first book. Although I did company car and a typewriter, so I Books, I thought that was a talk to her about it, I couldn’t really see thought I’d give Fernhurst Books six shame because it’s a very good what to do with her, because at that stage months. I still have the money because list, so four friends, one of she hadn’t done anything. I don’t think she the books just took off. I loved being a whom is Jeremy, and me, even had a boat, she basically needed lots of publisher, and a nautical publisher between us bought it back. money. was perfect for me! Jeremy runs it and I’m on Also, I was a ‘how to’ publisher whereas Unlike our competitors we shot all the sidelines. It’s fun to pass on Ellen wanted to write more about herself the photographs of the author, in any knowledge I’ve got, and it’s and how she tackles things. action, in his boat, and then at the end fun because I don’t have to Anyway, that was a big mistake on my of each shot we’d drive over and ask make a living out of it and it’s part. gave her a lot of money and what the caption should be. By doing sailing. So for various reasons eventually she wrote the book … when they this our books became very good. I I’m delighted. got it, it was a bestseller. But hey, you can’t met so many good sailors and learnt If you could sign any author, win them all. so much. I really enjoyed working with who would it be? The one that – Interview by Paula Irish people like Ed Baird, Ben Ainslie, Rodney Pattison. Why did you sell and then buy back Fernhurst Books? I kind of think there’s only about 150 topics and I’d really done my best with each one, and the whole game changed; it’s all electronic now and I’m not a great computer fan so it was kind of slipping away. Plus Waterstones had bought all the bookshops pretty much so they have a monopoly and Amazon have a monopoly of the web and discounts. Then someone offered me a lot of money for it, which was John Wiley. When they decided to re-trench and Tim with Jeremy Atkins on the day they bought back Fernhurst Books

8 x Draycote Unshackled Spring 2015 Laser Fleet WARM BAR BECKONS COMMITTED RACERS

We have reached the time of year when those who hibernate come back to the club and try to remember which ropes to pull and sticks to push, and this spring they have come back with a vengeance!! Wednesday Evenings continues to

be the biggest night for the Laser Fleet n i w

and we have, at the time of writing, e L had three rounds of the Wednesday m l o

evening series and the numbers are c l ever growing. In the 3rd Round there a M

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were 24 Lasers on the start line which e g gave exciting racing to everyone from a p

s Novice to Pros. i h t

Each week we have seen a different s o t top three which only goes to show how o h close it is and no matter where you are P in the Fleet you will be sailing with others in the identical boat to you, Magic! that is the benefit of a “one class series”. The winter saw some relatively mild temperatures and we seem to have alternated between very windy and no wind at all. This resulted in a very close championships as everyone has their different strengths and weaknesses. In the end William Whittaker won with 12 points, followed by Marcellus with 23points, Rob Still with 27 and Andy Whitehead with 35. If you can handle the cold then this is a really enjoyable time of year to race. Those who raced through the winter were able to reward themselves with a cheeky beer before heading home for lunch. We are now seeing a very strong showing for the Sunday Morning So that’s how it’s done: Steve Irish makes it look easy races. With the introduction of the “warm up” short course race at 10:15 we now have the benefit of two races, a beer and still home for lunch and we welcome anyone to join us. This summer we’re planning on continuing Andy’s informal “Laser Race Practice” on Saturday afternoons where anyone with a Laser is welcome to put some hours in on the water perfecting their boat handling and ultimately speed. We also have the annual coaching day organised for the Fleet for 23 May, please contact me if you want more details on it. We will be ending the season with the Laser Open on 26 September so please all put the date in your diaries either to come and race or help with welcoming visitors and ensuring we host another successful open. Chris Gandy and Tom Vian sail their on a windy day in April. – Marcellus Pryor Fleet Captain

Spring 2015 Draycote Unshackled x 9 The Rules of Racing THE ELEVEN RULES YOU NEED TO KNOW

Most people who race at Draycote would probably agree that rules are important: they help ensure safe and fair racing. However, the rules themselves can seem a bit daunting. The full rules cover some 190 pages, and then you could also read the RYA and ISAF case books, which give rule interpretations, and are a further 379 pages combined! For most of us, racing is a leisure activity, and we don’t want to fill this time being a part-time lawyer! But it really isn’t as bad as this. n i

Much of the rule book, and cases, are w e L about things we would never be m l

involved in, like team racing, model o c l

yacht racing, how events should be run a M

and conducted, etc. : o t

There are actually just nine pages o h that you need to be familiar with and No happy outcome here! P that will cover the vast majority of anything that you will experience at cause damage or injury same tack (i.e. you have become right Draycote. These consist of: Acquiring right of way (rule 15) of way boat under rule 11), you are l Definitions (pages 7-9) When you acquire right of way, you not allowed to sail above your proper l Part 2: When Boats Meet (rules initially need to give the keep clear course to the next mark (i.e. you are 10-24, pages 12-17) boat room to keep clear. (Unless you not allowed to luff above your proper You can have a look at these at the have acquired right of way because of course). (Proper course is the course sailing.org website. the other boat’s actions). you would take in the absence of any There is no substitute for actually Changing course (rule 16) other boats.) reading these rules and you are A right of way boat which changes recommended to do so. However, here course has to give the give way boat Section C: At Marks and I will take you through the 11 rules room to keep clear. Obstructions you really need to know from Part 2 On same tack: Proper course (rule (and relevant definitions). 17) While Sections A & B are fairly Part 2 is divided into 4 sections, If you come from clear astern and straightforward, things get a bit more but sections A to C cover most of what gain an overlap within 2 (of your) hull complicated in Section C, and it is you need to know, so we will limit lengths to leeward of a boat on the best to remind ourselves of the ourselves to these. Situation Keep clear Right of way Comment Section A: Right of Way On Boats can be on any point of opposite sailing, but, if on opposite Section A tells you, in all Port tack Starboard tack tacks tacks, port must keep clear of circumstances, which is the keep clear (rule 10) starboard and which is the right of way boat. There are 4 rules covering this (see On same Boats can be on any point of tack sailing, but when overlapped table). Windward Leeward overlapped on the same tack, windward Section B: (rule 11) has to keep clear of leeward General Limitations This means you can’t hit a boat in front of you. But it There are 4 limitations on the right of On same only applies when not tack, not overlapped – as soon as you way boat which you need to be aware Clear astern Clear ahead of: overlapped become overlapped rule 11 Avoiding contact (rule 14) (rule 12) applies. There is no such You have to avoid contact with racing rule as ‘overtaking boat another boat if reasonably possible. keep clear’ However, a right of way boat / one When tacking, after you pass entitled to room (see later): head to wind until you are on While l Need not act until it is clear the your close-hauled course, you tacking Boat tacking other boat is not keeping clear / have to keep clear. If 2 are (rule 13) giving room tacking, the boat to port, or l Is exonerated if contact does not astern, is the keep clear boat

10 x Draycote Unshackled Spring 2015 relevant definitions first: Mark-room: This is room to: l Leave a mark on the required side l Sail to the mark l Round the mark. It is not room to tack or to sail wide before the mark. (The concept of rounding in a ‘seamanlike manner’ went out about the time Noah rounded Mount Ararat!) n Zone: The area round a mark i w e within 3 hull lengths of the boat L

m nearer to it. You are in the zone when l o c any part of the hull is in the zone. l a M

(Note both these refer to the hull: that : e does not include appendages such as g a p

the bowsprit or rudder). s i h t

Overlap: When any part of your hull s o or equipment is in front of a line at t o h

right angles to the aftermost point of P the other boat’s hull or equipment. (So Rule infringement? this time, it isn’t just the hull: it includes the appendages, as long as they are in their normal position). An overlap also exists between two boats when a boat between them overlaps both.

So that’s the definitions, what are the rules? Mark-room (rule 18) Mark room (as defined above) should be given: l By an outside boat to an inside boat if they are overlapped when the first reaches the zone l By a boat clear astern if it is clear astern when the first reaches the zone. However, this rule does not apply: l At a starting mark (but it does apply when the start line has become a gate, or a finishing line) l When boats are on opposite tacks on the beat (but it still applies if they are on the same tack on a beat) l If a boat tacks in the zone onto the same tack as a boat fetching the “Does anyone know the rules here?” mark. There are some other elements to to either side incidents that happen on the race this rule: l When overlapped, the outside boat course and the rules that might apply, l If you get an overlap from clear gives the inside boat room even if you do not want to go for a astern, or tacking to windward, and l A boat clear astern which becomes formal advisory or protest hearing. the outside boat is unable to give overlapped is not entitled to room if – Jeremy Atkins mark room, she is not required to there was not room when the l If you tacked in the zone onto the overlap was established. Italian Meseta Coffee same tack as a boat fetching the When sailing close-hauled and a mark (when you are not entitled to boat needs room to tack at an IN THE BAR mark room as above), you have to obstruction, she may hail a boat on the Americano give the other boat mark room if it same tack for room to tack. The hailed Latte gets an inside overlap. boat must respond: Cappuccino Obstructions (rules 19 & 20) l Either by tacking as soon as Espresso When passing an obstruction possible De-caffeinated (which is defined as an object that you l Or saying “you tack”, giving them Hot Chocolate could not pass without changing room to tack and avoiding them. plus course substantially, if sailing directly That’s the 11 rules you really need Complimentary Chocolate square towards it and 1 hull length from it): to know and the relevant definitions. £1.50 l The right of way boat may leave it I am always happy to talk through

Spring 2015 Draycote Unshackled x 11 n i w e L

m l o c l a M

: o t o h P Dive! Dive! Dive! Wet and windy for Peter Slater and crew, Tim Case. Flying Fifteen Fleet TRY OUT A CLASSIC KEELBOAT FOR SIZE

Well it’s been business pretty much as fibre. Please contact me if you would It was bought very cheaply from usual in the Flying Fifteen Fleet, like to take it out and need a hand the club by Maurice Holmes who has although turn outs have been quite with rigging or whatever. repaired the hole and completely erratic so far this year. The pictures below show what can refinished the boat in green and One of the best tools we have to be done with an abandoned boat given white. promote the fleet is the club Flying sufficient time and effort. Maurice is now looking for a newer Fifteen ‘Carbon Copy’ which is Lotus B Sail number 1477 was set of sails and we look forward to available for anyone who fancies a sail built in 1971 and was parked at the seeing him on the water. in a classic keelboat made of carbon club for years after being holed. – Peter Slater Fleet Captain … And in the water

Before ... After ... New Boats to Expand Training Provision It is now three years rotomoulded boat very similar to the since training was taken in size but, being plastic, SUMMER COMES TO back inhouse and in this has the benefits of being a time has proved itself a low-maintenance, great-looking boat DRAYCOTE SHOP great asset to the club and so far reports back are positive and a successful way of attracting from instructors and students. We are pleased to say the shop is new members. We are pleased to say We have been given two Hartley still growing and stock levels that we are now looking at 12s to demo and we are very becoming better each year, we improvements, growth and offering impressed. This is a boat designed for have some great new footwear more support to the membership. training and has some fantastic from Gill which is worth a look and Draycote is lucky to have a great features that really do make it a very as the winter is coming to an end fleet of training boats but some of good teaching boat – bigger than a some great deals on Dry suits. these are now feeling tired and need Pico providing more comfort for Reef flipflops are now in as well replacing. adults, vertical battens for easy as a great selection of sunglasses. The Wayfarers Worlds have been reefing, sealed mast to help prevent We have added a selection of at the club for 15 years and it is inversion, centreboard for easy launch Selden blocks to the hardware amazing they are still going. Looking and landing, to name a few, so we range and continue with rope from at replacements is difficult with so hope to be adding these to the fleet Marlow and Kingfisher so we hope many new boats on the market these with support from Sport England. we can provide you with all you days but, in doing our research, we So with new equipment and new need for the sailing season. have highlighted a couple of boats staff joining the team we are looking For shop and training enquiries, that we see as replacements and are forward to a good 2015 packed with contact Dave Rowe 01788 814418 currently putting through their paces. courses and groups attending [email protected] The Laser Bahia is a large Draycote.

12 x Draycote Unshackled Spring 2015