VAGB NEWSLETTER 46 ega Association of Great Britain Mar 2009 Webpage - www.albinvega.co.uk Letter from The Chairman..... Chairman's otes We were so lucky with the weather for our IFR in early July, brilliant sunshine and just about enough wind. The journey back was another matter and some of our members had a distinctly lively trip back to their home bases. I myself enjoyed a good trip as far as the Crouch, being passed by six or seven Dutch Vegas motor sailing on their way toward London’s River. Off the Crouch the wind picked up from 4-5 to possibly 6-7 and from the SW right on the nose for the trip to the Medway, our home port. Leaving grandson Sam at the helm I crawled along the foredeck and took in my jib and also took down the main, we were pitching so much in the short seas and wind over tide conditions that I was soaked by the time the sails were stowed. The rest of the trip was made under our trusty Beta, tide with us, wind against, thank goodness for the sprayhood. As we entered the Medway and tied up in Queenborough for the night we came across the Dutch Vegas sheltering from the weather and awaiting their opportunity to get up to London. I understand that they had a successful cruise to London and a safe return to the Netherlands. I always admire the way they organise their voyages in company, we don't seem to be able to get together like that in the UK and always seem to want to go off in our individual directions. The rather loose structure of the VAGB seems to reflect our approach to sailing, minimal bureaucracy, maximum individuality seems to suit us down to the ground. However for our Class Association to function some organisation is needed. Just before our AGM our Secretary Julia Neesam announced that she would be unable to continue in that role, we appreciate the effort Julia made in what was a difficult year for her personally. I was very pleased that Kris Codd came forward at the AGM prepared to take on some of the Secretary's role and that Di Webb was prepared to work with her in a joint role for the immediate future. Future correspondence should be sent to [email protected]. We were also pleased that John Trim (Blue Bar) came forward to fill a vacancy on our committee and is prepared to be our representative on the committee that the Dutch Vega club Page 1 Vega Association of Great Britain Newsletter 46 Secretary Rob Kloosterman is chairing. This committee is examining what we can do to get the Vega accepted throughout Europe as a 'Classic' yacht and also whether it is possible to achieve a CE Certificate on an older boat. Both moves designed to maintain the value of our boats in the long term. I am continuing as Chairman and I am extremely pleased that Steve Birch is continuing as Treasurer. Our fees remain unaltered for yet another year, is this a record. Steve is publishing the accounts in the next Newsletter. I would like to remind all members that Steve prepares and circulates our newsletters and is always on the lookout for technical notes, logs of trips, anecdotes etc. to include, please help him out. The AGM at Fareham Sailing and Motorboat Club was very successful and we must thank Fareham for their hospitality and it was a good opportunity to meet old friends and make some new ones. After our IFR in July 2008, most of us seemed to have had a poor sailing season as far as weather is concerned, no noticeable summer weather and either too much wind or too little. Just recently we've had some beautiful sunny days with light winds and I begin to wonder whether we should leave our boats afloat in the winter and take them ashore in the summer for maintenance. Only kidding, too cold and the days too short for real enjoyment. I just hope 2009 is a better sailing season than last year and look forward to seeing some of you on the water this year Good sailing and good health Mike Freeman (V1768 “Jenavive”) Subs 2009 ow Due £12 per annum Payable to VAGB and send to: SteveBirch (VAGB), 3 Cockshot Road, Malvenr, Worcs WR14 2TT (or via PAYPAL to: [email protected]) Support your Association now....... Page 2 Vega Association of Great Britain Newsletter 46 International Friendship Regatta 2008 This year was the chance for the UK Vegas’ to host the International Friendship Regatta. Through the auspices of the The Royal Harwich Yacht Club based on the beautiful River Orwell on the East Coast, it will be another to remember for many who had attended previous regattas in other venues within Europe. The organisation was first class and we thank everyone involved who put in the massive amount of work to make this a great success. This is a personal report by Ray and Anne Steele, who were attending their first Vega International Friendship Regatta on board Miss Vega. (Or Miss Vega does the Lumpy Bumpy Stuff). We reckoned for a comfortable passage to Harwich to split the 225 miles into five legs calling at Brighton, Eastbourne, Dover, Ramsgate then Harwich. We set off from the Hamble on Monday 23 rd June and shortly picked up Martin Duffus in Thistledown, that is Martin’s acquisition since parting with his much loved Vega, Folie. This meant we should arrive at Harwich on Friday, with the registration on Monday 30 th June. Plenty of time and allowing the odd day’s rest if we felt like it. The first leg to Brighton was uneventful with light winds and a pleasant motor sail at the start, then 3 hours of great sailing, arriving at Brighton in time for afternoon tea, and a good sleep before the next leg. We planned our start time to gain advantage of the tides, on the next leg to Eastbourne. Winds were forecast to increase, and by 1200 had increased to S. 20kn. A fast passage with reaching conditions and locked in at Eastbourne at 1500. In the evening we were entertained by our friend Andy who has a Seatream 43 in Eastbourne Marina. We spent the evening in the yacht club bar (so no surprise there). Wednesday brought a change in conditions. We departed Eastbourne at 0800 on a dead run. With poled out genoa we averaged 5kn with tide against. The approach to Dungeness and beyond gave us some of the worst conditions we have sailed the Vega in. If this had been restricted to the wind that was now gusting 30kn we would have been fairly happy reefed down but coupled with the huge rollers it was becoming very uncomfortable. With regularity an extra high one would break as it approached and threaten to roll Miss Vega if we were anything but square on to the wave. Most of the time we got it right, then the approaching wave would lift Miss Vega’s stern and she would surf on the wave until it released us from its grip. We thought that after rounding Dungeness, conditions would improve but if anything they got worse. We were keeping in touch with Thistledown by text whenever it was convenient. Then the Autohelm gave up the fight and we were back to hand steering, which I must admit was safer as I could anticipate the waves better. It was then that we decided to call Martin rather than text and he reported that he had a problem and had lost steering. We stayed close from there on until we entered the tidal harbour in Dover. We had been experiencing problems with loss of control in reverse with the Combi (who hasn’t)?!!!!! So we had a glancing relationship with the harbour wall with the pulpit because the Combi decided to not check our forward motion – that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. Page 3 Vega Association of Great Britain Newsletter 46 After tying up we walked round to see Martin on Thistledown. In the horrible conditions an involuntary gibe had caused the mainsheet to catch on the steering binnacle and cleanly snapped it off at the base. Quick thinking Martin, after the initial shock, managed to disengage the linkage and connect the emergency tiller, and arrived safely Dover.We slept soundly that night. The days sailing proved to be tiring and extremely stressfull. We checked out the forecast and the decision of what to do next was easy. The forecast was for F7/8 until Sunday. So we were here for four nights whether we liked it or not. There was plenty to do. Our Autohelm had stripped a drive pulley so that needed examination or a new one. Martin’s damage was far more serious. A new binnacle was not available so we set to and repaired it with numerous steel plates. Martin’s emergency tiller was put to use for a second time when it was applied to Miss Vega’s distorted push pit. We made the best of it during our stay and visited Dover Castle and the Secret Wartime Tunnels and Dover Museum. Then we found the Painted Roman House to round off our local history education. The evenings were no problem and I think we must now be honorary members of the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club. On Thursday, the day after our arrival we were joined by Malcolm Ellis on Morwen and Stuart & Karen on Pampero of Down.