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CentreBoard

August 2004

The Newsletter of Spinnaker Club, Ringwood

www.spinnakerclub.co.uk

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Editor’s comments

Athens, Lake Garda, Ullswater, Tenby, Marazion, Largs, Salcombe, Cowes, Plymouth, Tenby, Weymouth…
No wonder there are gaps in the dinghy park at the moment, everyone is away sailing! 2004 is a big year for Spinnaker sailors participating at major venues ranging from the Olympics, through to a raft of Worlds, Europeans, Nationals, Opens and Regatta weeks.
This issue of CentreBoard touches on many Spinnaker successes and experiences at home and abroad. Inevitably the time of going to press means that some news will already be out of date. No doubt the autumn issue will catch up with more comprehensive coverage.
The sheer diversity of dinghy classes cited in this issue shows how Spinnaker Club is moving forward. For instance Picos or Fevas have rarely featured in these columns in the past. Gaby Burns, Spinnaker’s rising rock star, excelled at the Club’s first Pico Open, while Stephen Broom has flown the flag with great merit racing the Club’s more ‘traditional’ classes, Solos and N12’s.
The competition in this issue is intended as a thought-provoking, instructive exercise for all sailors, whether or not racers. Though this one is an experiment, perhaps it may lead to similar ideas, perhaps suggested by readers. Please have a go.
Hints about the Spinnaker Dinner Dance abound in this issue! Diary-watchers note: the date is now Friday, 19 November, and not Saturday, 20 November as previously mentioned. This is set to be a superb evening, do book early!

Laura's Olympic campaign

As we go to press Laura Baldwin continues to prepare for Athens.
Laura has generous sponsorship from among others Jeep UK, in the form of financial help and loan of a Grand Cherokee to keep the team mobile.
Laura, who is a member of Spinnaker Club where she sailed Toppers, Solos and Laser Radials, is now sailing a Europe and ranked 24th in the World as we go to press.
All of us at Spinnaker Club wish you the very best of luck in Athens. We’ll be thinking of you and keeping our fingers crossed that you get the results you deserve. Paul Irons

Summer results

Full sets of results are on the Club notice board, but, briefly, the first Summer Class racing series had the following results:

Lasers

67024                Sam Downing
123680              Peter May
75372                Richard Kitchener
132350              Graham Wallis
170451              Jo Newall-Smith
91502                Phil Brown

Solos

4171                   Ian Campbell
4504                   Dick Meredith
45121                Colin Broom
3832                   Rick Taylor
3692                   Hywel Morris

Handicap

Firefly 3784       Tom Clay
Firefly 3779       Greg Ansell
N12 3068          Stephen Broom
N12 3000          Felix Newall-Smith

There were 79 entries across all classes.

Paul’s Top Tips

Tell-tales + Burgees: something I keep noticing, simply by virtue of the fact that they’re absent on far too many boats

Two quick and easy things to sort out which will make a real and immediate difference to your performance.

Jib: Attach 2 tell-tales 12-15 cm in from the luff and about 75 cm + 125 cm up from the foot.

Mainsail: Attach 2 tell-tales 15 cm in from the luff and about 50 cm + 150 cm up from the foot.

Either use wool (black, blue or red) stitched through and knotted either side, or buy pre-made stick on ones.

Tell-tales are absolutely vital for trimming your sails correctly. Once you’ve attached them, ask advice at the Club from anyone on how to use them if you’re unsure.

Buy a burgee. Without one it is extremely difficult to judge accurately where the wind is coming from, even if you are already using tell-tales. On a lake like Spinnaker where the wind is constantly doing the strangest things they’re a ‘must have’.

Paul Irons