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An interesting concept Bill, do you consider that the IOM/Marblehead ranking model works for the wider membership of the MYA who are reluctant to travel or is it more attuned to the elite skippers who will travel anyway? If the requirement is to broaden the base of skippers sailing a particular class then I would suggest more local events they are likely to attend might be more successful. It seems to me that for a long time the racing structure of the MYA has tried to build from the top downwards which effectively gives no or very little encouragement for club skippers to progress to a higher level, perhaps this in part explains the number of skippers who become MYA members for just one or two seasons? Would not a number of district series with qualification to a National event not provide a better structure for class and skipper development?

Travel is an issue for what is becoming an ageing membership as well as 2 day events meaning hotel expenses etc for many.

We thought long and hard about that and as the vast majority who took part last year had motorhomes we opted for the weekend approach to make it a more meaningful event. What ever we did was not going to please everybody but we needed to do something. The PRACC series was always a Ranking style event so it seemed logical to to condense it in the way we have.

I should say that like the Ranking events they are one day affairs so there is no reason why you can’t do one day.

There is a deliberate mistake in the dates for Bournville and Askern please amend them to 26/27 June and 11/12 September.

It’s not often I’m right and I got it wrong again. Askern is 4/5 September

Hi Bill, admire your efforts to re energise the RA class but the real issue is 2021 seems just too early for being safe re covid. Stimulate Club sailing but maybe a questionnaire to ‘active’ clubs and those that sadly have suffered the demise of the class to fully understand the problem and develop a way forward for 2022

Club stimulation for all classes, the sport ,and I suspect many sports, is going to be important for 2021 but outside of one or two clubs there aren’t the numbers for the A class presently so I would agree with the make up of the PRACC for 21 to give those with an A the chance to sail. This doesn’t stop the clubs running their own events and district events. Just my thoughts.

Darin. That’s exactly what we have suggested to all the clubs that have A’s in their fleet. A lot is based on what we can do in the immediate future. We should know part of that later.

What has happened to all the A class boats that sailed in the PRACC series in the past. If skippers are not wanting to sail perhaps they could free up some boats for others to sail. Advertise them and stir up interest.

Graham we look forward to your return to radio sailing, Brst Mick

Thank you Mick Chamberlain. Lincoln is on my to do list.

The problem with A class boat, is the level of commitment needed compared to other classes. Even compared with my 6 metre boat, my old A class Dambuster is considerably bigger and much heavier (at 51lbs). They take some shifting and some sailing waters are easier to access than others. New boats are also a considerable investment for a boat with limited opportunities for competition , if this is your thing. With a RG65 for comparison.

Bill Green well done on avoiding any response to my points apart from saying they were considered, it seems to me that if the MYA wishes Radio sailing to be seriously considered as a sport then it needs to put in place a progressive structure where skippers can progress from Club to District to National and then presumably to International competitions. Why not require qualification to National Events from District Events? this at least would be a start.

Bill and team thanks for being proactive and laying out a road map. I plan to take part next year with the orange submarine 😉 only constructive criticism is that the clubs choosen should offer the most chance of restarting or signifcantly growing a class racing one stands out as unlikely. As for the mya policy maybe I am more happy for clashes infact I would schedule them so people choose there classes. Radio sailing is unlike dinghy sailing in that it is partially discipline not class based hence the MYA has a place. The A class is the rolls Royce of radio sailing the most elegant to sail and actually good value with only one rig and very long competitive lives let talk positively and sell it to more people.

For what it’s worth Two A boats have been freed from their garage and gone to two new keen skippers boosting the fleet at Gosport !

In terms of new boats , rather than "garage queens" like mine, it would be useful if there were a list of just what is available in the A world and who is supplying things.

Hi All I hear much about classes and racing which is absolutely and should encouraged, what about those members that enjoy sailing a class of boat but dont want to race, surely we should be building up those that just want a good venue to sail whatever boats, I've got a 2m a 1.5m and many others along with 2 x 1m..I do hear that in some clubs the DF65 have taken over and those with other classes are prevented from socially sailing if that is the case that is a shame, we have a Radio sailing group at Blithfield Sailing Club, great waters to sail and some good waves .but they only really sail DF65...We MUST WELCOME ALL sailors of all classes in our clubs, the young people at Blithfield are amazed at the larger yachts, open to ideas, from a committed non racing RC sailing enthusiast..😀👍

Nigel. What designs ??

Ken's old boat is a Sword. And probably one of the best ever built. Beat Walshy by one point to win Nationals at Castle Semple.☺

Getting the boats out on the water regularly at club events, starting with one or two enthusiastic skippers soon encourages other club members to have a go and numbers begin to grow.

On the point of getting them out, does anyone have a simple plan or design for a DIY "truck" for moving the heavy classic type boats from car to shore singlehanded? Needs to have some degree of cross country ( ie car park to shore)ability. I have been looking at the folding garden type trucks that are for sale but most of the wheels look more suitable for patio than river bank use. Currently one of the main reasons my big beast stays in the garage. Currently looking at this, which is quite bulky but best found so far www.amazon.co.uk/Timber-Ridge-Folding-Collapsible-Utility/dp/B084TYVZPT/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_t...

Bill Green many many congrats to you for getting 70 plus comments to your post! If only all these people will come sailing their ⛵

Easy Composites do a black polishing compound for carbon fibre. It doesn’t leave those horrible white specks that ordinary car polishes leave.

Sand, wipe and varnish with 2 pack. Epoxy goes yellow in UV, and hence the varnish protects it.

Easy Composites product ordered - thanks 🙂

If you fit on stern you cannot use a bung as boat will be too long. I prefer on fore deck close to bow.

Most boats seem to have them on the back and use tape over the hole . But it drains better in the front top fore deck

I havent needed a bung my chienz dosnt take on water I prefer it that way water is bad for electronics especially if its salt water find and fix your leaks its pretty easy

If you put it in the bow it allows you to hold the boat nose down easily to drain it. If it takes in water don’t forget to leave a patch off when you store it to let it “air” and dry completely between sailing days.

High up in corner of transom. Easy to drain. Less chance of patch being dislodged. Even if it is, less likelihood of water incursion.

Chris agree totally with Darin’s comment fit it in the bow if you can, my V9 takes in lots of water and needs draining often. A patch after every race in ‘big’ events which is a real pain as needs the transom drying etc. Bung and too long at club racing (doesn’t make it faster) ! apologies if this encourages breaking the class rules.

A good boat shouldn't take in much water and it's better to stop it coming in first, but if so I would say in the transom, as there is rarely any postitive water pressure here. Mine is bottom centre (cos I sailed dinghys I guess 😂) but top corner as John Owens says is fine. As above noted, after sailing keep the boat in the warm for a day or so with a patch off and the electrics will last much longer. Smearing vaseline occasionally on any connectors/contacts helps too.

I guess we are commenting on the wrong thing - why tolerate a leaky boat? “Prevention is better than a cure.” The top priority is to find the source of the water influx and prevent it from happening. 1) Prepare some soapy water and dab some around external points which could be sources of influx 2) With hatches and deck patches on, GENTLY pressurise hull with air. 3) Look for bubbles to appear in the soapy solution. This is a leak. Systematically check the rest of the boat - deck eyes, shroud attachments, rudder, etc. 4) Rinse boat and dry thoroughly. 5) Seal all leak paths that you identified. NB I was taught this by several friends and I am not the inventor of the technique 🤣 Good luck!👍

In the bow, on the deck. Apart from anything else, the water automatically runs to the point and, just as important, you can safely hold the (slightly blunter) leading edge of the fin to empty. I know two people who have cut their fingers whilst holding the sharp trailing edge when draining through a transom hole!

PREVENTION is better than constant need to drain a boat.✅🤣🤣

The Deed is not yet done, but being a Balsa Hull there is all sorts of strengthening around the stern that would need cutting through! So agree with John T on the basis of logic as much as your collective experience that an incision in the Bow to be the most likely! The patient is on the Operating Table and is on the List for late a.m tomorrow!

The bungs do fall out, especially after getting caught up with another boat or just because they can whilst you are launching etc. If it's windy a missing bung in the bow can ruin a race. It does not affect the boat (if it falls out) if you put it on the deck, but hard up against the transom corner. Easy to drain any water out if you need to.

I should point out that one of the key reasons for the fitting a drain hole and bung initially is to have an access point for pumping air in to seek out where the water may be ingressing !

on the 1m .org web site theh have all the rules...

Hi Brian if it helps fin on my IOM is 34.1cm to bottom oh the null

Hi Stuart. It was the bulb i was interested in. Length diameter. Then i suppose the C of G which will be down to The boat hull type shape etc Hope you well, looking forwards to Winscar opening Cheers. Bri

Maximum 1 meter

iomclass.org/doc-files/Technical/IOM%20CR%202018/IOM%20CR%202018%20Final.pdf