Summary: Start of Season Newsletter
START OF SEASON NEWSLETTER JULY 2010
Dear Class Member
Our 79th Dinghy season has begun. We have already enjoyed our two start-of-season regattas the Europeans over 10th/11th July and the Olympics over 17th/18th July and some excellent evening races.
I include a report on our racing to date and a summary of sailing, social and administrative details regarding the forthcoming season.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE
This season is my fifth season as the Captain of the Class and the term of office being 5 years I will be handing over the helm in October. It has been both an honour and a great pleasure to be Captain. I have been well supported by the most excellent Committee 14 of whom have been on the Committee for my whole term of office.
Thank you so much to immediate past Captain Chris Simmonds and his predecessor Colin Simonds for their guidance and wise counsel, to Robert Holbrook for organising our sails and so much of our sailing, to William Ramsay who has been Honorary Treasurer over the last two years, to Nick Foden-Pattinson for running our winter drinks parties and dealing with insurance issues, to Elizabeth Windridge for her stylish organisation of so many of our social functions, to our most excellent quartet of 'youngish' guns, Henry Cecil, Simon Hunter, Philip French and Philippa Windridge who have organised regattas and parties galore and who played such a big role in the 75th Anniversary celebrations - they bring both humour and good grounding to our meetings, to Chris Puddick for his work with the Victory Fleet and with Pandemonium, to Chris Cotterell who was our measurer in my first year of office and who continues to run our children's beach sports, to Lucinda McArthur, who has been our excellent new Honorary Secretary for the last two years and who has designed and organised our website, to Oliver Trefgarne for the immense amount of work he has put in measuring the fleet, helping to improve the one design status of the Class and for being Honorary Secretary at the beginning of my term of office, to Richard Hill who has also been involved with the measuring and occupied the roles of both Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary and especially to Pippa Walker, the Vice - Captain who has assisted me in all areas and has been strong, true, efficient and dedicated.
The Committee have been great friends and supporters during my Captaincy and I would like to place on record my gratitude – they are a superb team and the Class benefits so much from their efforts.
THE COMMITTEES PROPOSAL FOR CAPTAIN & VICE-CAPTAIN
The Committee and I are proposing that Pippa Walker and Richard Hill be elected as Captain and Vice-Captain respectively at the AGM on Sunday 22nd August, and I have every confidence that, should they be elected they will provide strong, sensible and enthusiastic stewardship of the Dinghy Class for the foreseeable future. They are both extremely experienced sailors and have extensive Committee experience.
CAPTAIN'S THOUGHTS AND MESSAGE
Over our Olympic Regatta we were honoured by the attendance of Chrissy Backus who donated the Olympic medal that was won by her late husband Ronnie Backus. Chrissy flew in from Australia to watch us race our dinghies in the 'Olympic' regatta and to present the prizes. Her actions were a spectacular affirmation of her and her late husband's feelings for our exceptional Class.
In many ways, those feelings of Chrissy Backus epitomise all that is good about the Seaview Dinghy Class and I know are shared just as passionately by very many members of the Class. Chrissy's late husband Ronnie learned to sail in Seaview Dinghies and won the bronze medal that is now so proudly owned by the Dinghy Class at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 sailing an International Dragon. Ronnie always remembered his time in Seaview with fondness and the Seaview Dinghy Class inspired him to achieve great things.
As I said at the 'Olympic' regatta prize giving, we are friends who race competitively against each other and in my view the friendship and the sailing are inextricably interwoven. Friends all through the year and before the race, foes on the water, but with camaraderie, and friends again back on the shore in the bar and at the many parties that are the character of Seaview.
Many of our dinghies have been in the same family for a number of generations and there are friendships that span three and even four generations within the Seaview Dinghy Class. Then there are the recent members who join because they like what we are and what we stand for and they are so welcome because they add much to the Class with their inspiration and enthusiasm.
The Seaview Dinghy Class is a marvellous institution. It is the oldest local One Design Class in the world and in its 79th season we have already clocked up about 400 starters within the races we have run to date and based on recent years I expect that total to exceed 2,000 and maybe reach 2,500 starters before the end of this season. Enthusiasm for the Class is greater than ever and the younger members are prolific within our numbers.
Let us all continue to value and safeguard the fine principles of camaraderie, friendship and Corinthian spirit of which Ronnie Backus was so fond of and inspired by.
You 'individually' make a big difference - race in good heart and race often.
I hope to see more dinghies on the start line this season than ever before. At 1730 on a summer's afternoon, if you are in Seaview, make sure you or one of your family race your dinghy rather than leave her on the mooring. The more we all race, the more we will all enjoy our racing and the more races you do, the more treasured memories you will have.
THE FORTHCOMING SEASON
SAILING
July Evening Races
Evening races will be run from the Club line until the end of July apart from at weekends when we will have Committee boat starts. All July races will commence at 1730 and there will only be one fleet until Friday 30th July. On Saturday 31st July Victory Fleet races will commence. The amber Fleet will start at 1800 and the Victory Fleet at 1805 on 31st July as it Cowes Week.
August Evening Races
Generally, evening races will commence at 1730 with the Victory Fleet starting at 1735. The exceptions are during Cowes Week (Saturday 31st July-Saturday 7th August inclusive) the Amber Fleet will start at 1800 and the Victory Fleet at 1805. During the SVYC Regatta (Sunday 15th and Monday 16th August) the Amber Fleet will start at 1700 and the Victory Fleet at 1705. On the night of Dinghy Dance (Saturday 21st August) and on the bank holiday Monday (30th August) the Amber Fleet will start at 1600 and the Victory Fleet at 1605.
September Evening Races
After the bank holiday weekend until the 'Worlds' we will race from the Club line at 1730. There will be one start only. These dates are Monday 30th August until Friday 10th September subject to a minimum of three starters.
Victory Fleet
We will commence Victory Fleet races from this Saturday 31st July. All Class members can race in the Victory Fleet – which fleet you race in is your decision. The purpose of the fleet is for the less experienced racing helm to build experience and confidence. Each competitor can only win any individual Victory Fleet Cup twice. Victory Fleet cups are on Saturdays and during the Club regatta. If you have been racing in the Amber Fleet during the preceding week you may race in the Victory fleet but you will be ineligible for the cup. Victory Fleet races will be run on all days from the 31st July onwards subject to a minimum of four entrants. Should there be less entrants, we will amalgamate the Victory Fleet with the Amber Fleet that day. There will be no Victory Fleet on the night of the Heavy Weather Cup. If you are thinking of joining the Dinghy Class but find the big fleets and highly competitive start off putting, the Victory Fleet is the perfect way to start racing.
Cadet Races
Cadet races commenced at 1600 on Sunday 25th July. 16 Cadets attended a happy start of season barbecue and four of them went out to race. Well done to Ben Smith for winning, Max Ramsay 2nd, Jerome Mockett 3rd and Hugo Mills 4th. It was a very close race where at the end of the first lap the above order was the same, but in reverse! The whole fleet were never more than 10 lengths apart at any mark and it was exciting to watch.
There are 16 treasured Cadet cups to race for during this season. Some of these cups go back 50 years and the names on them make fascinating reading – all the cups tell their own story and all are a role of honour of fine helmsman and women who have gone on to achieve great things in their sailing career and in the Dinghy Class. The Cadets nowadays have many other options to race, Pico's, Lazers, 470s to name but a few, but none of these classes offer the history, the heritage and the class that the Seaview Dinghy Class provides. I look forward to seeing a small number of very special young people continue the fine tradition of the Dinghy Class. If only a dozen race this year, we have a future guaranteed and should it be more, so much the better. SVOD cadet races are a fine tradition and a great way to spend your time at 1600 hours.
Alterations to the Points Cups
Average Points cups.
Last year we experimented with a low points system but in the end it produced a similar result to the high points system and the Committee did not feel that it addressed the problem of varying fleet sizes that we were trying to create a fairer points system for.
This year Colin Simonds and I have tailored a more subtle points system that was initially devised by the rules 'guru'Bryan Willis. In essence there will be two bonus points for beating a helm who came in the top 10 in the August points last year and 1 bonus point for beating a helm who came between 11th and 20th. This system will apply to August only, the old system will apply to July and September. 50% of total races sailed will count. Highest average points after discards will win.
The Committee will review the effectiveness of this new system at the end of the season, but we have high hopes of it being a more accurate reflection of achievement than the previous system as Bryan Willis has used it successfully under similar circumstances.
A summary of the new points scoring system for august will be put up on the SVOD notice board. Points will continue to be displayed on our board and updated regularly. My thanks to Franki Simonds for taking on this task – it is not easy!
Ladies August Points Cup
Robert Holbrook has donated a new trophy to be called The Crown Slip Challenge Cup to be awarded to the first lady in the August points. My thanks to Robert.
Champion Helm's Cup
This will be adapted so that the winner of any August race will receive 5 points, 2nd place 4 points, 3rd place 3 points, 4th place 2 points and 5th place 1 point. Previously only the top three scored points. It is so difficult to get in the top 5 that the Committee felt the range should be extended. It will probably make no difference to the overall winner but it will mean that more of the Class feature on the leader board.
Rules
Richard Hill has prepared an excellent summary of the key rules that all helms definitely should know and abide by. These will be printed and laminated and put in all boats before the beginning of August. Please read them and abide by them. The racing is greatly improved by rules adherence. If you do have a collision with another dinghy or a mark or another helm has to take avoiding action when you are in the wrong, please do a 360 at the first available opportunity and remember that while you are doing it you have no rights over other boats even if you are on starboard so sail slightly off the racecourse to do it.
Taking a 360 will cost you no more than 5 lengths and that may well not even represent a single place. It may represent a few places, but you will complete the race with a clear conscience and without being criticised later by fellow competitors. The Committee policy this year is that if 2 boats are seen to collide without one of them taking a penalty, both will be disqualified.
Weights of dinghies
The Committee have decided to enforce the minimum weight limit this year. Boats known to be light or that have had recent strip downs, will be weighed after Cowes Week when they have had time to take up and if they are under 160kg Michael Warren will add lead to bring the boat weight up to 160kg. The weights will be screwed under the thwarts and evenly spread throughout.
To the Committee's knowledge there are only about 10 boats that are light and for the most part, they are 5 kilos or less under weight. We have taken the view up until now that this does not make enough difference to warrant the remedial work but in the interests of being seen to be fair we are now addressing this issue. The work and the lead will be paid for by the Class as it is not the fault of the owners of the light boats that their boats are light. Until such time as these boats are weighed and have weight added they will remain in Class under a temporary revision to the rules.
Extendable Tiller Extensions
The Committee has agreed that subject to a successful test sail we will allow extendable twist out tiller extensions up to a maximum of 500mm. This was brought up at last year's AGM and the Committee feel it is fairer to allow this as helms clearly vary in height and weight. If you wish to buy an extendable twist / pull out tiller extension, please speak to me for details of the ones that the Committee have approved.
Pandemonium
As I have publicised widely, the Class now own a beautifully restored Seaview Dinghy. Previously the property of Mike and Josephine Smith, Pandemonium is now on the moorings in top racing order and available for use by all members of the Club, subject to adequate sailing experience.
Please speak to Chris Puddick or Philippa Windridge should you wish to use the boat, if they are not available please speak to me or Pippa Walker. The charter fee is extremely minimal.
Launching
Dinghies may be launched and brought in at any time during or up until 30th July. As from Saturday 31st July to qualify for full points dinghies must have been afloat for three days (72 hours). Thereafter dinghies may only be brought in for scrubbing and for maintenance. Being on shore for maintenance reasons must be with the permission of myself or Pippa Walker the Vice-Captain. Dinghies that are raced without having been afloat for 72 hours will have 10% of the fleet size per race added to their points. Please put an asterix next to your entry if your dinghy has not been afloat for 3 days at the time of racing.
The Worlds
Our traditional end of season regatta takes place over 11th & 12th September when we intend to finish the season with a series of 6 races over a variety of courses. There will be a dinner in the Club for competitors, Class supporters and Committee members on the Saturday night. Please enter through Michele and the Club office and I hope for a strong turn-out.
Pairs Racing
We intend to run an afternoon of family pairs racing on a date in August to be advised. This is not in the programme and is a new event. The winner will receive the Edwards Knock-out Bell that was previously used as a match racing knock-out trophy. Pairs racing is great fun and highly tactical. The pair with the boat who comes last, loses. Regardless of where their other boat finishes – even if it wins. So it is all about covering and dastardly tactics. Entries will be limited to 8 pairs and each pair must constitute 2 members of the same family of different generations unless both members are under 26. There will be an entry sheet at the signing in point.
SOCIAL
Victory Fleet start of season drinks party
The Victory Fleet are invited to a start of season drinks party at Chris Puddick's house on Friday 30th July after racing.
Amber Cup Drinks party
This will take place at Bluett Cottage, Bluett Avenue, Saturday 14th August after The Amber Cup, dress will be casual with a touch of nautical and there will be music and a barbecue. Tickets are priced at £16 if applied for by Thursday 12th August. Thereafter, tickets will be £20. Cadet members of the Class who have raced at least three times as either a helm or crew by the date of the party will be welcome free of charge. The party is limited to Class members and their families. Please apply for tickets through the Club office and these may be paid for through your Club card.
Amber cup party application form
Dinghy Dance
The 52nd annual Dinghy Dance will take place at the Yacht Club on Saturday 21st August and will be run for the third year by Harry Edwards and James Ramsay. The theme they have chosen for this yearÕs dance is 'Out of Africa' which should give us all plenty of scope. Dinner and dancing tickets are available at £55 each and dancing only tickets at £25. Prices remain unchanged from last year. The minimum age is 16 and tickets can be purchased through the Club Office and can be paid for on your club card.
ADMINISTRATION
Annual General Meeting
The AGM will take place in the Yacht Club on Sunday 22nd August at 1000 not as published in the programme at 1100. It would be good to see a good turn-out there for my last AGM as Captain!
Rowing
We have agreed with the Club that we will not be taken out to our Dinghies by the Club launch service and we will revert to our traditional commuting method of rowing out in pram dinghies. I am sorry that this service is no longer available but it was impractical for the Club to take so many of us to our moorings all at the same time. Helms over 70 or who cannot row for medical reasons will continue to be taken out by the launch service. ID will not be required.
Helpers on deck
Martin Harrison will continue to run our racing from the Committee boat. Hilary Triscott has been a staunch supporter of the Dinghy Class for more years than it would be polite to mention and has finished us on deck for as long as I can remember, however she has decided to retire from finishing the evening dinghy race and recording the finishers. It is easy to take things like this for granted but Hilary's quiet contribution has been steadfast, accurate and outstanding. We would like to find a successor or two this summer so if you have time to spare during the evening race and would be prepared to man the guns and record the order of finish please do talk to me or Pippa. We would be grateful for all offers and there is no obligation to serve for 40 years!
REPORT ON THE SEASON TO DATE
The Europeans: 10th/11th July
37 experienced helms came together to launch the new season with a vigorous weekend of demanding racing. The weather was hot and unpredictable, fickle and alluring – one moment you were powering to victory and the next your hopes and dreams were dashed. It was as much a game of mental strength as of sailing skill and the greatest victor of all was our race officer, Martin Harrison, who mastered our fickle mistress and ran a magnificent series of five races set over true courses in spite of a schizophrenic wind pattern.
The languid passionate lady of the wind got up gradually and at her own pace on Saturday morning and 37 helms waited patiently for her to be in the mood to play – and play she did for the whole of the rest of the weekend which was as exciting as frustrating with unrewarded effort and undeserved delights. We lost our first race to our moody mistress but she rewarded us most fully with a marvellous medium air pre-lunch race under a blazing sun.
As a novel change we lunched in some style on the pavement outside The Old Fort and we all enjoyed Peter Hall's great barbequing skills and a few light refreshments. Suitably fortified we set sail again and enjoyed a great afternoon's racing and two more tortuously difficult, fluky, light air races.
In the evening we came together in the traditional fashion for our start of season drinks party as the guests of the Hunter family where we were entertained al fresco and most generously. A very happy party attended by nearly all of the competitors, their shore based support teams and Michael and Nick Warren.
A big thank you to Philippa Windridge, Emily French & Simon Hunter's girlfriend Jo for the delicious food and to Simon Hunter and Phil French who ran the bar in a most experienced fashion!
Sunday dawned with even hotter weather causing plenty of red faces for those who forgot their sun cream. We circled and milled whilst Martin Harrison fought to make sense of the mixed messages flitting and flirting off the Duver.
Eventually he was able to set a start line and a beat but in our enthusiasm we had got back into our collective stride and generated our first general recall of 2010. Jim Mitchell, who was ably assisting Martin Harrison with Philip and Emily French, hoisted the menacing black flag which on this occasion whipped us into line behind the line and we had a clean start.
Head barman Simon Hunter led the first race until very near the end to fall over the final few tacks to the wily Raymond Simonds who mastered the undecided wind mistress better than any of us, finishing the series with a masterly three bullets and two 2nds. Most of us would have been delighted to count a 2nd in our score, let alone be able to discard one. Congratulations to Raymond for winning the regatta and for sailing such a consistent series.
Congratulations also and a big thanks to Simon Hunter, Henry Cecil, Philippa Windridge and Philip French for running a great first weekend's racing and socialising.
I was delighted to award glasses to the top 10 and to the 1st lady helm as below:
1st Raymond Simonds
2nd Ed Simonds
3rd Simon Hunter
4th Robert Holbrook
5th Gavin Simonds
6th David Russell-Jones
7th Archie Graham-Palmer
8th Piers Thomas
9th William Edwards
10th Richard Hill
12th and 1st lady Pippa Walker
Mid Week Evening Racing
The season has continued with gentle mid week racing with exclusive fleets of up to five SVOD's coming to the start line. Well done to Nick and Sue Wakefield, Emily Prest, Ian Davis, Piers Thomas, Freddie Edwards, Richard Neill, Archie Graham Palmer, David Russell-Jones and Guy Lawrence for igniting the weekday evening races.
The 'Olympic' Regatta – 17th & 18th July
Twenty seven Seaview Dinghy helms entered our 'Olympic' regatta which was sailed over 4 races on Saturday and 2 races on Sunday. It was a fabulous weekend's sailing which was greatly enjoyed by all contestants. Once again Martin Harrison was virtually faultless and is to be congratulated on an exemplary performance.
We enjoyed medium airs on Saturday morning and both races were won convincingly by Simon Hunter with the top 7 or 8 boats finishing extremely closely and often overlapped. In the afternoon the wind strengthened and Simon claimed another bullet with William Garnett winning the fourth race. We all came together for a very good barbeque in the Yacht Club at lunch time and in the evening about 20 Dinghy Class members joined the same number of Mermaid sailors for the Classic Classes dinner which was a fun evening that ended with dancing to a three piece band.
Sunday morning was again fairly windy and Simon Broxham dominated the day with two excellent wins. In a close fought weekend of racing the results were as below
1st – Simon Hunter
2nd – William Garnett
3rd – Richard Hill
4th - Simon Broxham
5th – William Edwards
6th – Richard and Michael Neill (shared boat)
7th - Andrew Neill
8th – David Russell-Jones
9th – Richard Ambler
10th – Archie Graham-Palmer
1st Lady – Philippa Windridge
I was delighted that Chrissy Backus who donated her late husband's Olympic medal last year for this event was our guest of honour. Chrissy is Andrew, Mike and Richard Neill's aunt and had flown in especially for the event from Perth, Western Australia. Chrissy watched most of the racing form the Neill's rib and took a great interest in the whole event. She attended the dinner and awarded the prizes most elegantly and was delighted with the engraved dinghy glass that I presented to her on behalf of the class – thank you Chrissy.
* * * *
The season has started well and there is much to look forward to both on and off the water. I wish you all a most enjoyable Seaview Dinghy season and summer in Seaview.
With my best wishes,
William Edwards
Captain