F16 open at Datchet

David,

Are all the datchet boats coming to Grafham? If we can get a fleet of 8, we will get seperate prizes!

I think all the boats will not come. The newest one will only be 2 weeks old! Probably 3 or 4 boats but that is a guess. Unfortunately elder statesman doesn't carry rank anymore!

I'm up for Grafham, I'll have to put the correct sail numbers on so I don't get mixed up with Wayne though!

Excellent.

I could really do with Numbers, I'll start a new thread.....

Hey with my past track record even if we both have the same numbers then you still wouldn't win, finishing a race at the moment is proving difficult. <img src=

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I think that Paul and I would be up for a Datchet event after Grafham.....

If it was early November would we still be OK to leave the boats at Datchet between times?

Early november would be fine with me. Bring it on!

John, there should be no problem in leaving a couple of Stealth for a couple of weeks at Datchet, there is plenty of space left on the lot.

Sounds good - either date works for me.

I'll also be doing Grafham.

Paul

Has to be the first weekend in November. Datchet has another event on for the Oct. weekend.

So the first weekend in Novemebr it is. You can leave boats at Datchet after Grafham.

The last time I left a boat and trailer at Datchet for a couple of weeks I was charged £25 (temp membership).

Bargain! I will see if I can get the charges put up...........

I'm definately planning to be at Grafham. Also I would be interested in Datchet

When will the first start will be Saturday? 10? 11? What about Sunday? How many races? Who's the race officer?

Arrangements for Datchet weekend 1/2 Novemeber.........

Arrive from 9 am. Rig boats and review rigging / set up techniques. Launch asap and compare boat speeds. Compare one on one with the variables to test boat speeds.

12.30 come in for lunch followed by tuituion form John Pearce. This will include stratgy and tactics for a race plus any other boat specifics you might like to ask.

1400 Practice the ideas given by John. Probably lots of short races, practice starts and forced tactics.

When it gets dark come in for a cup of tea.

SUNDAY.
On the water for 1030 for racing.

Accommodation available for those needing it.

See you there

David

Tea

- do you expect MarkP to be there?

Riiiight, I'll come in for a cup of

tea

for sure <img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" />. MarkP will not be there, he told us so at Grafham. That's good news as this will mean there will be more

tea

for everyone...

Just to let you guys know that Paul and I won't be at Datchet with either of the Stealths. <img src="<>/frown.gif" alt="frown" title="frown" height="15" width="15" />

Sorry all, finances (lack thereof) dictate that we give it a miss....

Shame you guys can't make it - the weather forecast is looking good, if a little chilly. I think my drysuit is going to be making an appearance this weekend.

Paul

Well as no one else has followed up I thought perhaps we should report on the weekends events.

Eight boats turned up on the Saturday to a pretty dark and overcast sky and wind strengths above those predicted. So much so that the offer of a sail before lunch was pretty much talked about rather than acted upon. Lunch duely served and then John P on his way back from a day sightseeing with his family in London gave an excellent 1 1/2 hour lecture and follow up discussion on race tactics ( which most of us admit is not our strongest suite). Thanks John for your excellent talk and for offering your time freely as you always do.

Drysuites on and then onto the water for some short races with the intent to pair off on each windward leg to practice the briefing points John had raised earlier. Sadly the wind was well into the early 20's at this point and any hope of race training was finally lost when the rescue boat which was acting as the start, had to attend a number of capsizes which ultimately ended up with an 18ft Skiff tearing its main sail at the umpteenth capsize.

Being entrepid souls racing continued of course (or as in my case survival with attempts to go around the course)until one by one we returned to the shore to pack up for the day apart from Paul and Anne and Jeff who were quiet dissapointed that there was nobody left to play with. Now having looked at the clubs weather station and finding gusts up to 35knots I guess we could be excused for being whimps.

Sunday came with very little wind but never the less still 7 boats and one Tornado on the water, 2 races in lowish winds, a surprise winner, a protest from another fleet at our behavour, but in general a good time was had by all. Thanks Dave and Nigel for organising it all and putting up accomadation etc.

Many thanks to Dave and Erika for the great hospitality at the weekend. Also to Dave for organising the training and races. It was great to race against other F16s boat on boat. Quite an exiting day on Sunday after the racing also. Best fun I've had for a while. Looking forward to next years TT events.

As a totally unconnected thing to sailing but came up in our round table discussions, there is indeedee a little Gremlin which eats and destroys diesel fuels.

For the unbelievers at the table I quote the following.
Kathon FP 1.5 microbicide from Rohm and Haas is a patented, high performance antimicrobial agent, developed specifically to combat problems of microbial contamination and spoilage in hydrocarbon fuels.

Talking to an aircraft engineer friend, the little buggers can block up filters and the like in bad contaminations. Evidentally they live in the water contamination, feeding on the diesel. <img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" />