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TUM. oe Beginners start ose tug Yes, this Radio 6 Metre does carry its vane gear as well. A scaled down remember our sailing number – instead of having a sticky label to remind us; we had to listen for our pairing to be called – instead of reading ahead off a magnetic board; and we had to be introduced to our opponents if we didn’t already know them- instead of reading off the same magnetic board. As it was pointed out to those of us who have never had a go at a vane race, this is something that vane sailors have been doing for years with no ill effects! The ‘music’ was produced and emanated from an elderly cassette player, some of you may know the type; it came on the market at about the same time that Philips introduced the cassette tape and has some remarkably simple controls that seem to flummox many who are more used to the whiz-bang world of push-buttons. Its only drawback was that the volume was more suited to the cosy version of Dennis Lippett’s ‘A’ boat, this yacht being raced by Graham Reeve weighs in at over 30lbs and is quick, despite its old fashioned appearance. RADIO YACHTING YACHTS The season winds up, the new one beckons and we look forward to another year of model yachting – some take off to do battle for the first World Championship of the new year – reports MIKE KEIVIP surroundings of a club house than the great outdoors so starts had to be fairly intimate thing if one was to hear the countdown. Never the less it kept going all day long Looking forward to the 1996 season. Will this be the 6 Metre profile to playing the same three minute message over chase tn the coming and over again, and no doubt it will do so year. This Sylph ts again in the future. carbon; mine is wood, The low volume of the countdown was not the only thing that made starting a cosy would that it were ready to race! On the Match Racing circuit the six metre season went out on a high, of sorts. We had all been looking forward to prowling the edges of the Bournville lake in the dampness and gloom typical of a November weekend. Instead we had to endure sunshine, abrasive footpaths and even wind although there were those present that suspected that the course-layers had done their best to simulate the normal Bournville conditions. The reason the masochist’s disappointment? Bournville lake had been drained, in the interests of maintenance, and round seven of the Marine Modelling Match Race Series had moved across Birmingham to Witton lakes. Home of the ‘other’ club based in this Midlands city, Witton lake is one of the Radio Yachting World’s best kept secrets. Placed just a stone’s throw or two from the M6, north of the infamous spaghetti junction, this lake has been refurbished and sees the Birmingham Model Yacht Club equipped with an excellent venue for both Freesailing and Radio events. The only proviso on this statement is that launching the modern deep finned Marbleheads and Ten Raters might be a problem because of the council’s insistence on not dredging the edges to a depth of more than around 400mm (is it my imagination, or have I heard of some forthcoming EEC directive on this matter?). Virtually all around the edge of the lake there is a firm, clean path backed up by a grassy bank: the exception being 62 adjacent to the culvert which joins this lake to its slightly larger ‘other half’. Even here, apart from the actual ‘hole’, the water’s edge is accessible so vane or freesailing is absolutely possible. The lake has its complement of nearby trees and bushes – but what city centre lake doesn’t? However they affair. The admirably sized start line had been laid well within site of the bank; indeed a determined effort by an ingenious but not too adventurous human chain could have probably reached the nearest buoy without getting their feet, or anything else wet. There was room for a six metre to take up station outside the ‘H’ at what turned out to be the starboard end of the start line but it would not have to be an over long design if it were to be able to circle around in readiness. On the other hand the port end, though endowed with most of the lake had to directions. I found it nice to return to Witton beware boats in previous races going past in either direction on their way to or from the windward mark. Despite the closeness of the starboard end to the bank there were still several skippers who failed to get their yachts into position at that station during the required period prior to a start. Although all were beinga little lenient with the several Race Officering the RA Nationals there. newcomers were expected to pay their are not what they used to be and there would appear to be access to a reasonable, if a little interesting, wind from most after a few years since I had the pleasure of newcomers to the series the not-so- penalty of a 360° turn after the start. 6 metre Owners Association chairman Bill The two local clubs were showing that the Green had decided to give his current yacht, ‘Midlands’ is indeed the ‘home’ of the six ‘Nemesis’, an airing at this, the final metre with a number of yachts new to the MMMRS round. When he saw the ever series in particular and class racing in increasing numbers parking their vehicles general appearing. A couple of familiar among the trees at the car park end of the yachts were present but in new hands: lake he changed his mind. Whether it was notably ‘Excalibur’ the blue Renaissance, sheer panic at the thought of having to face which used to be successfully campaigned all that lot or pity on the poor race officer by the late and much missed Roger Neeve, whoever it was originally to be – we shall appearing in the hands of its new owner, never know. Unfortunately, even Bill’s Denis Brett. Since his entry to the class considerable past experience in the role was early in the season Denis has had his hands not going to be able to guide all through the on no fewer than three relatively famous matches that would have been needed to sixes; all of them with a history of being complete the day for seventeen entries. Only successful. ‘Excalibur’ took wins at this an earlier start, a longer day, more meeting out of the eight matches raced: it consistent wind and a dual course would was nice to see the yacht back in use again, have managed it: and Bill’s was blessed with just as long as we don’t see its back end too none of these ingredients. For some often! inexplicable reason the usual 6mOA. ‘Race Another yacht appearing in new hands Pack’ had not found its way to the lakeside was the delightful Bill Sykes designed so we all had to ‘rough it’: we had to MODEL BOATS FEBRUARY 96 ‘Caprice’ which has collected the Midland District Championship as part of its history and gave a number of us a shock earlier in the season when Bill brought it along to the Cotswolds club. In the hands of its new owner, Mike Plowman, it notched up wins. With all the ‘newcomers’ to the circuit the total entry shot up to seventeen which meant a goodly total number of points awaiting the winner. I had a particular personal interest in this for, with this sized entry, it was a definite possibility that I would be toppled from the lead in the overall competition. Going into the event my nearest challenger was Two Islands clubmate John Daines, a mere four points behind, but who would drop a nine point score after this meeting, assuming he performed as he usually does. Meanwhile I would drop a ten, again assuming I scored “more than that number, thus John would not need to do too much better than I to overtake for the trophy. Sitting in fourth place was my old rival Mike Wareham who would simply add whatever he scored at this meeting to the thirty four he currently had. My task was to come out of this meeting with a score equivalent to fourth place or better, assuming that both Mike and John beat me. Preferably I would like to emerge from Witton with a place better than both and the early stages of my first match with Chris Harris sailing ‘Night Vision’ – now officially back in the hands of its original owner Martin Mickleburgh – suggested that I might not be going to have an easy day. Chris and I started with what might be described as a scrappy start which saw Chris lead me into the second leg after an inauspicious initial windward leg. As usual I attacked at every opportunity but that blue Renaissance was still in front as we started back up the main beat. During the inevitable tacking duel that we engaged in the yachts were getting closer – it was working! We passed by the start and finish line with me tacking onto port try and break free of the cover: as expected Chris once again covered but was either slow in the tack or lost sight of the yacht in the low morning sun. I saw a chance and tacked on starboard to home in on the part of ‘Night Vision’ that would normally be occupied by the helmsman, had there been one on board – got him! As expected the ensuing penalty turn, even * though quickly executed, gave me enough space to get away for the second run and the short close fetch to the finish. I had to work hard for that one! There are times when a little aggression pays, just as long as the attendant collision, to prove the point, is ‘minor’ and results in no damage – to either As the delightfully pleasant day progressed it became obvious that there was no way that the full schedule would be completed, the first time for a couple of years that we have faced such an occurrence. Bill took the bold decision to bring racing to an end on completion of round eight which would leave eight skippers in the position of only having competed in seven rounds, they having been the ‘byes’ brought about by an uneven number of entries. A separate schedule was drawn up where they would sail one match to ‘sail off the byes’. A little bit of juggling was required because some of them had already met one another: never the less four matches were arranged and sailed to a conclusion. In one of these Lisa met Charles Chambers, a pair of glass Renaissance’s to do battle. The start was almost a copy of my own match with Charles when he went off the line to leeward and not quite astern of his competitor. With almost an apology ‘Clementine’s’ bow tapped the leeward side of ‘White Heat’s’ rear quarter, leaving Lisa with a penalty turn to complete for being windward yacht and not leaving enough room, Charles then went on his way with an apologetic grin. That’s becoming a habit, Charles – the fourth time I can recall it happening – we all have our little plots to scupper the opposition. I shall have to remember it next season. I might not be able to climb back into the lead next time! As the sailing-off came to an end Bill called Mike Wareham and me together to order a sail off to determine first place for the day because we were both now sitting on a 100% record and had not met so our tie could not be split. Actually this eventuality is not covered in either the Match racing Rules or the regulations governing the Match Racing Series so at previous matches such a situation has been met by the tied parties taking equal points towards the overall result. So it had to be for all the other ties in this event for none of the procedures laid down would split any of them. Never-the-less I am sure everyone wanted to see us do battle – it is usually billed as the ‘grudge’ match. We circled and played around before the start but, unusually this time, neither managed to extract a penalty. When the start signal went Mike set off in earnest while I seemed to have found one of my own personal little holes of zero wind. By the time I got going ‘Black Adder’ was away and round the first mark consequently I was now playing ‘catch-up’. By trying the reaching rather, than running, course advocated recently by Roger Stollery, I was able to make better use of what wind was left on the lake and closed up about half of the deficit. As we took off up the beat Mike was determined to cover whatever I did, however at about halfway he set of on a track leading out into the middle on his way to the windward mark. When Charles had done that in our match he had sailed into less wind than I had closer to our bank and I had been able to overtake him on the way into the mark: was this to be a chance? Unfortunately no, although it did allow me to take a bit more out of Mike before we got to the mark to turn for the offwind leg again. This time Mike was going to follow the same reaching track as I had done the first time around, so my advantage was reduced. I am still not sure but I think, in hindsight, that I should have been even more extreme in the reach and may even have succeeded in Looking forward to 1996. Will this be the year when the Radio 36 Restricted begins its come-back? If they were all as pretty as this Pronto by the late, great designer, Oliver Lee, and the water shortage continues, we would all want one! yacht; they are both expensive to repair, the joy of their owner and have to survive the day! There were eight Renaissances taking part in this meeting, I think I met all but one of them. Lisa McKerchar from Bournville suffered a broken mast the first time we met when she visited Milton Keynes: since then she has fitted a carbon spar and had some personal tuition from the master – GB himself at the Scottish Nationals. All that effort and practice was revealed in this meeting when she gave everybody she met a thoroughly good race and took a number of her matches. The glass hulled ‘White Heat’ proved to be the downfall of one or two who, I suspect, were not expecting it! John Daines, sailing his deep lilac coloured carbon ‘Vie’ claimed to be suffering the effects of a party the night before. His unexpected defeats proved that either he was right or that he generated one of these oft experienced self-fulfilling prophesies – John’s challenge for the trophy evaporated in the previous evening’s revelry. This stuff is getting serious – but it’s only a game, I hear you cry: just wait until you get your hands on a transmitter under those circumstances. MODEL BOATS FEBRUARY 96 63 getting the overlap at the last mark. As it was there was only inches between the two yachts as they rounded in the light airs and I could not squeeze up enough to gain the advantage in the couple of tacks to the finish – nice one Mike. While we all packed away Bill tidied up the scores to try out work out who had done what in the series but this proved to be more difficult than he expected so the only place that could be announced was that of the winner – I am extremely proud to say: it was me! I had hung on, by a margin of three points eventually, to retain the lovely crystal bowl that started it all. Next year we will be competing in a series for a new trophy run under the auspices of the 6 metre Owners Association and sponsored by… well, we do not know if and who yet – watch this space! itch pre-arranged exchanges take place. Now and then, and this year was one of the ‘now’ occasions, there is a cult publication to get hold of – see later. Eventually the start time draws near and the small groups settle into their seats in readiness for the meeting to formally commence. The Association Chairman, Chris Dicks, takes up residence behind the front desk, flanked on the one hand by the Secretary to Council, Henry Farley, and on the other by vice-Chairman, Derek Priestley. Missing this year, for personal reasons, is the Association Treasurer David Rose and the equally hard working supplies officer David Hackwood: both usually take up residence in ‘the stalls’ with the rest of us. The meeting is kicked off by hearing the list of persons who have tendered their apologies for not attending, Race Series – Top Ten _ Club Yacht Two Islands Red Dwarf _Black Adder Cotswold Two Islands ___ Vie Cotswold —_ Rival Guildford Cotswold Two Islands Phoenix No Name Clementine Gipping Valley J-Sann 6 Bournville Bournville One of the targets of the 1985 change of the 6 Metre class rule was the shelf shaped stern on the Sigma. This particular yacht is ‘grandfathered’ and shows that this hull feature was, and is, effective. Now it is being raced by Mike Plowman. Aquarius Caprice Model Yachting Association Annual General Meeting 54 51 44.5 Renaissance Petrel 42 34.5 Revival Renaissance Tern Caprice minutes are way things are being done or the accepted if there are no significant errors raised (who can seriously remember small detail at this range, unless they made a note at the really complain if decisions are taken which affect the way you and your clubmates have to operate over the coming months! Either the membership is extremely happy with the enjoyable affair. Your club secretaries will have had the official details of what happened long before you read this so what I write is a personal observation on a not-too- matters come to a meeting going to handle the fact that a number of the of whom are experienced in a number of other towns and cities around the UK. Access by train is reasonable, including the services of the part of the country; which is probably why unfortunate group was What happens at an MYA AGM? I am sure there are a lot of model yachting fans out ‘there’, including many club secretaries, who really have no idea – ‘cos they have never been. To start with, small clusters of friends gather round to swap the latest chat and gossip about yacht related things. Odd bits of paper and bits of boats change hands as publication of ‘Playboat’ circulating the meeting was far from dull; even if there was a certain amount of ‘old ground’ being covered again. ‘Playboat’, sub-titled as ‘Entertainment for Model Sailormen’ claims to be in its 21st year of (off and on) publication, with more of them being off than on. This magazine(?) provides an ‘in’ review of the previous year’s happening on the UK Model Yachting front; all done in such a way as to make seeking out the true target of the jokes and short pieces somewhat obscure at times. The witticisms more discussive mode as some more serious constitutionally bound to step down at the end of each year, have not been re-nominated. encourage more to attend? the free-sailing world and not unknown in the 6 metre world suggested that there was an element of ‘cross-dressing’ going on with radio 6 metre skippers having a go at vane sailing with the same class. At least that’s what I think he meant! With these suggestions coming out and the latest meeting moves into a Association officials, all it seems the organisation tried taking the AGM ‘on the road’ to some other major centres, with no more success at attracting large numbers. Following this year’s meeting someone suggested that Council should look once more at spreading out to ‘the provinces’; what do think, would it could just about double the entry to events like the A week. Even further into the meeting another delegate, well known in time?). Matters arising are considered and the Finding your way into the area behind the Royal Albert Hall on a Saturday morning is not so difficult; even with a car. Parking is pretty easy as well, althougha little on the pricey side but no more so than I have the AGM is held in London. Some years ago sailing! I believe that he meant that persuading more non-vane sailing skippers to act as mates to existing vane skippers considered briefly; head: like, how is the underground system, from just about any 27.5 25 during a discussion on what the council might do to try and encourage support for vane or free-sailing events, another delegate suggested that mating might have a lot to do with getting more skippers previous year’s unpleasant way to spend a few hours in the interests of our hobby. 32.5 suggested that he anticipated it in a similar way to anticipating a sexual encounter! Whatever turns you on skipper!! Later, this covers a range attend a meeting such as this you cannot If you or your club representatives don’t 43 Force-6/Dann- 6 30 Where Were You! To all the members of MYA affiliated clubs, except about forty who either attended or tendered apologies for absence – Total Score Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance from officers, through club representatives, to individuals who have taken the trouble to notify Henry. Having been circulated, the organisation should be re-named Model Yawning Apathy. Remember, what I write here – unless clearly billed as otherwise – is entirely my own opinion. Seriously, in its own way the 1995 AGM was quite an 64 Design undercurrent in the meeting this year which started when one delegate, on being asked how he saw such meetings, Included in this the existing chairman which could have left the meeting in a bit of a predicament. What was not clear was whether this had been a deliberate ploy by the organisation to oust the chairman and the others not nominated or a further example of the apathy afoot. As no alternatives had been nominated one can only assume it was the latter. Among those in this situation were several, including Chris, who do not think it is right that they should be out and about around the clubs canvassing for support and/or nomination. Perhaps next year will see a little more action on this front. There seemed to be a somewhat fruity tease the brain and poke a bit of sideways fun at the Model Yachting establishment on many occasions but are rarely cruel. The way these editions are snapped up during the meeting suggests that the publication does indeed have a cult status within the UK Model Yachting fraternity – I certainly treasure mine from years gone by. There’s another thing you missed by not attending. Voting on pre-published motions is by card with each club representative holding a card carrying the year’s declared MODEL BOATS FEBRUARY 96 Two brothers and their boats. Florentine (74 is sailed by Charles Chambers: while the Tern (87) here sailed by brother Paddy has become the second boat to another Renaissance called Nimrod. Charles is the cool looking guy with the natty head-gear and a calm appearance as he comes up beneath you to give that little tap that means a penalty. Paddy The League The trophies were presented at the AGM and my predictions of last issue came to fruition. What I could not predict was the margin of success, particularly in the individual Radio League. Anthony Corbett clung on to the lead by a whisker over one point! Keith Skipper took second place ahead of Martin Roberts by a whole two point two points. If we could have gathered all three of membership for that club. On some issues the decision is clear cut, one or two this year were actually quite close when the postal votes were taken into account. Each motion is debated, or perhaps it would be better to say discussed, before being put to the vote. This year the main discussion revolved around a motion to make all disqualification scores at race meetings non-discardible. At the moment, under EORS and most other racing systems in general use, one DSQ in every two may be included in discardible scores. There is strong feeling in some parts of the MYA that this situation should be changed and some pretty powerful arguments would put forward supporting both sides. When the vote came the scrutineers actually had to earn their corn (that’s probably all they got!) for the vote was actually quite close although the motion was defeated. Both sides seemed to agree that there did seem to be some unfairness in the way that a disqualification scores the same number of points as a gear failure, Did Not Start, or Retirement. Even here however there was one strong case put forward that such a failure is just as much in a skippers hands as is achieving a disqualification. Whilst I can see some merit in this point of view I suspect that majority would not necessarily agree; unless, of course, one runs out of 225 mA. battery power during a 30 minute plus heat! The point was made to the meeting that Race Centrol matters are not really the sort of thing that should be brought to the AGM: instead such matters should be channelled through the Racing Secretary for Council Discussion and subsequent trial. The suggestion that National Championships should have their entries artificially capped or limited received an these at one of the last _ R10R race meetings we could have seen a real. meaningful, shoot- out. Overall there were just two or three fewer skippers who entered league qualifying events during the 1995 season. What I find particularly telling in a competition whose main aim is to encourage club members to go and visit other clubs is that the winning club also had the largest number of members with contributing scores. The second placed club had one fewer contributing skipper: both had a very high proportion of their total declared membership taking part. Had Woodspring managed to persuade another skipper to go racing once or twice they might have overtaken Guildford to re- establish their place at the top, a place that seemed all their own some four or more Championship Results Top Ten Radio Clubs ; : 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th et 10th Solent = Leicestershire Gipping Valley viduals 1st — suppression, avoidance and handling – got 7th 8th 9th competition has had just an exciting time, background. Since he The Vane or Free-sailing League albeit with smaller numbers. Much time was spent at the AGM discussing what might be done to encourage more vane sailing but there were some 73 skippers who gained points in that competition. Fleetwood came out on top this time barely eleven points ahead of Bournville who had mounted a last minute challenge. Bournville have really got to be the stars Robert Brown Chris Harris Mike Hounsell Wareham in got a new set of Nigel Gilson’s sails, Paddy has been even more competitive. of this year’s competition for they have joined an elite group of clubs who have ‘made it’ in both the radio and the vane sides of the sport in the same year. The individual competition had been dominated by one skipper until his sad and untimely death earlier in the year following a tragic motor cycle accident. Even so Peter Maskell posthumously took ninth place and the AGM agreed that a fitting tribute to our past chairman would be to perpetuate and encourage the vane sailing culture of model yachting and to achieve the 2000 by 2000 membership target that Peter coined. The eventual winner Graham Wyeth ‘ran away’ with the trophy, relatively speaking, to conclude with a score of just over 244 points, some fifty eight points clear of that man Martin Roberts who came surprisingly close to doing ‘the double’ and winning both competitions. 1995 MYA Free Sailing League Championship Results 1st 2nd 3rd Club Fleetwood Bournville Gosport 5th Clapham 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th Birkenhead Leeds & Bradford Newcastle Danson Guildford Birmingham Above: Looking forward to 1996. Fleetwood will host the first European One Metre Championship. Will the race officer be as attractive to so many as World Champs race officer Mme Bernadette Delbart? Will the weather be as good as well? Top Ten Free Sailing Clubs Score 1,143.8 1,134.4 447.3 429 234 179.5 178.5 176 153 Tic? Top Ten Free Sailing Individuals 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 2nd 3rd 4th 5th very little air-time. Indeed it barely got a mention, unless I went to sleep! Birkenhead Bournville Fleetwood- on his match with Mike 4th Top Ten Radio Indi even more emphatic rejection, for a number of reasons. Surprisingly the ‘cause of the moment’ – protests; their Guildford Woodspring Chelmsford Chambers concentrates years ago. Watch out for them in 1996, 7th 8th= 8th= 10th Skipper Graham Wyeth Martin Roberts Peter Whiteside George Clark Ken Roberts Bill Green Derek Priestley Dave Latham Peter Maskell Peter Hopkins Score 244.3 186.5 186.3 _ 176 158.5 150.8 138.8 Baise) 133 132.7 1996 beckons and we look forward to another hot competition, watch out for the news – right here! Happy sailing to you all. MODEL BOATS FEBRUARY 96 65
