Mag. Aut. 2009 V8
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The Official Magazine of the U.K. Sprint 15 Association www.sprint15.com autumn 2009 A NEW NATIONALS CHAMPION AFTER 11YEARS SPORT NATIONALS & TOP TIPS - TEACH IN REPORTS THE FULL REPORT FROM PENTEWAN SUMMER TT ACTION & REGULAR FEATURES Editorial Cover Design & Magazine Logo by George Love : Carsington SC Cartoons by Phil Breeze of Calshot Cover Photos by Pauline Love of Carsington SC In August, I took part in the Nationals at one of the Class’s spiritual homes, Pentewan Sands SC in Cornwall. “So what?”, I hear you say, “So did lots of others!” And you’d be right. But that is the principle reason why, yet again, the Class posted the highest national attendance of any catamaran class in the U.K. - bar none! For me, though, it was, Sport Nationals excepted, my first time. And what a time I (and Mrs. Editor) had. It was nothing short of superb. A real showcase event for our sport, our Class and our Association. It was truly memorable. Great racing, great event management and a social side which had huge appeal across a wide age range. Sprint 15 sailing at its best. I did, however, come away with something of a new respect for regular una-riggers. All that hiking upwind for mile upon seemingly endless mile in F4-5 and heavy chop came a bit keen for the preferred Sportster in me. Talking of which, the Sport Nationals at that other spiritual home which is Instow were, once again, a resounding success for all the same reasons as Pentewan. The Instow attendance gave us third spot in catamaran National’s attendances. Only the Dart 18’s split our postings by taking second spot. And in each case, our attendance number was only down by one from last year. (By the way, if you are that one, could you please try and come along next year to both events - and bring a clubmate!) So we’re in good shape. Membership is healthy and has grown slightly over the last twelve months. It has been particularly exciting to note the number of youngsters taking part in the various competitions around the country in the summer TT series and Nationals. And doing very well, too! This is what we need to secure the future. There is a lot of time and effort being put in at many of our clubs around the country by some very dedicated people to attract new sailors to the Class. To them, we should all be grateful. If you’re reading this mag. for the first time may I bid you, “WELCOME ABOARD!”, on behalf of all the members and we hope you’ll stay with us for many years to come. As ever, my unending thanks goes to all who have taken the time to contribute to this issue. As you will read on pages 34 & 35, some things don’t change too much. My hunger for scurrilous tittle-tattle is as strong as all my predecessors - so don’t be backwards in coming forwards with it! You know it makes sense! In the meantime, whether you sail for competition or purely pleasure and company - enjoy! I hope we’ll meet up on the water soon. George Love : 1825 : ‘Fly-by-Wire’ George Love 49, Bridle Lane, Lower Hartshay, Nr. Ripley, Class Logo Design by Paul Smith Derbyshire DE5 3RQ Magazine text proofing by Carol Smith NewNewNewSSprintprintSprint Contents Page All contributions to George Love : Editor Cover Photo : Race Start at 2009 Nationals 1 Text in ‘Word’ & Photos in ‘Jpeg’, please Editorial and Contents 2 Who to complain to: Your Chairman Writes 3 Chairman Nick Dewhirst Marconi TT 4 01227 282625 [email protected] Seasalter TT 5 News and Announcements 6 Secretary Keith Bartlett Undercover Investigation 7 01243 778087 [email protected] Open Dinghy Club TT 8 Southern Rep. Erling Holmberg Halifax Pond Dwellers 9 01983 865012 [email protected] 2009 Sport Nationals 10-13 Knives, Ropes and Salt Cellars 14 Events Secretary Erling Holmberg E-mail from Aus. 15 01983 865012 [email protected] Shanklin Master Class Teach-In 16-17 2009 Nationals 18-24 Technical Rep. & Publicity Bob Carter 01438 354367 [email protected] Cornish Cruisers 25 2009 Go-Kart Grand Prix 26 Treasurer Gordon Goldstone Kyle Stoneham - 2009 Champion Special Profile 27 01784 248634 [email protected] “Freddie Bites Back” 28-29 [email protected] Martin Searle Just for Fun 30-31 AGM Report 32 Magazine Editor George Love Tips from Phipps 33 01773 747731 [email protected] Still Motoring 34-35 Northern Rep. Ray Gall More Tips from Phipps 36-37 01332 671016 [email protected] Roland Goes Sailing 38 The Tracks of a Tramp 39 Web Page - www.sprint15.com Visit the webmaster Martin Searle - it’s worth the trip Events Calendar: Winter 2009 40 www.sprint15.com autumn 2009 page 2 Your Chairman writes.... Sixty! I thought it might revive my his lady crew retired so he can’t hike out like George, Kevin or chances of coming home from the swapped her for a younger bloke our new champ, Kyle, unless we Nationals with something, but I to do the energetic stuff up front, dedicated our lives to physical reckoned without the rest of the which includes playing the fitness like Steve, but something fleet. There were 24 competitors mainsheet upwind. Now he is out else often seems to take priority, (23 men and 1 woman) over 50 – again in a decent blow, but he no even if it is not always my wife’s to- that’s 40% of all entrants. Of that longer trapezes. do list. 24, 15 were also eligible for the When seeing people a decade At the class dinner I proposed two Over Sixty Cup. That’s a whole 25% older than me at the same activity I toasts - to competition and trolley- of all entrants! have learned not to think silly old dollies – but I should have That raises a very interesting point. git but congratulations, you are still proposed a third – to ageism. Now Do we have something special for at it while others have given up. that I join you, I can feel how hard it the older man or woman? Is this a At sixty, I am still willing but not is to keep going, when others give unique selling proposition for the able to get out on the wire as up. Sprint 15? quickly as I should. Nor will I trust Add to this the mis-placed shame This thought was prompted by myself to race round the Isle of one can so easily feel at no longer observing that over the years, I Wight any more. However, I didn’t living up to a reputation that one have steadily done worse and find anyone with whom I could previously earned, so my especial worse as I grew older. Long gone discuss bus passes or pensions respects to my predecessor Jim, are the days when I got my best this year at the Three Piers, Forts who came out of retirement to give result – fourth! That was quarter of Race or for my cameo appearance it his best shot and to multiple- a century ago and the competition at the F18 Worlds. It, therefore, champ, John, who thoroughly was less. To be precise it was at seems that this really is something enjoyed himself after lowering his our nadir when there were just four special about the Sprint 15 within expectations. entries. the catamaran world. Now isn’t that what is so special If I were an optimist I could One part of the reason is the boat about our class. We reward some convince myself that I have got itself and that is because Ian deservedly for their results but better as I have never since been Fraser and Kim Stevens got appreciate others for their efforts. last. However I am a realist. I am something right by accident. They This is the spirit that breeds great not as good as I once was, so why designed a no hassle under- sportsmen and sportswomen. do I continue and why do others powered catamaran for those My rant would not be complete even older continue? growing out of their first childhood, without adding that it is a very Is this something special about our but did not anticipate it would great pleasure to see that ethos fleet or is it a more general issue prove popular for the very same also in our youth. There were no about catamaran racing generally? reasons with those growing into less than four ‘Dads versus Lads’ As I also race other bigger cats, I their second childhood. Indeed, Ian grudge matches at Pentewen. One can put this into perspective. will be the first to admit that and half of the British Tornado team at There are older men racing big personally put us to shame on the Quingdao started out on a Dart 15 cats, but mainly only at club level. water in the previous Pentewen and this year’s British Tornado At my club, Whitstable, we have Nationals. Champion first practised his some 50-60 cats, including The other part of the reason is the victory speech at our Nationals this Britain’s largest fleet of Tornados. people who race it, despite the year. One of them is raced by a seventy handicap of age. We are year old retired builder. This year handicapped in the sense that we A bit more for the ‘statos’ amongst you - P.S. 13 out of the first 30 at the Nationals were over 50 years old—that’s 43% By popular request here is a translation of my last 3 out of the top ten (that’s 30%) were contribution in the Spring 2009 edition of ‘Newsprint’ over sixty Epsilon = Sprint 15, Dart 18, Hobie 16, Hurricane 5.9 A 60 year old was third - Alpha = Olympic Class ( Keith Newnham) Pet Show = ISAF Regatta So, Nick, all is not lost! Boars = Mens’ Keelboat In the ‘Dads’ v ‘Lads’ grudge matches - Sows = Womens’ Match Racing all the ‘Dads’ won! Government = IOC Well done ‘Dads,- ....next year ‘Lads’ Ed.