Summer 2008

It takes a while to put in place all the ingredients for a successful fleet (80 years?). Much scheming continues, but enthusiasm is steadily building, and twelve very smart boats are on the moorings and two drysailing.

Three more are building or fitting out including the third GRP boat. All the scheming only works of course because of the practical appeal of the boats — especially in our shoal waters, and because of the B.0.D.s unusually broad flexibility regarding crew weight, age and ability.

Racing is becoming closer and turnouts continue to rise with nine boats competing for an ordinary Sunday trophy recently. (Actually it was anything but ordinary — thanks again to Nick, Pam and Richard in the Committee RIB.)

We continue to be indebted to both the Sailing Club and. the Yacht Club for their race management (and pasties and teas respectively) and for allowing us our own focused programme and courses which make racing in the Class so much fun.

Handling the boats ashore is becoming easier, with centreplates installed underneath on trolleys, masts stepped and removed with “A” frames, and roll—on, roll—off road haulage on flat bed trailers. Jobs that can all be done with two people and some single handed.

This all attracts attention, particularly the racing turnout. We are now moving into the most active and interesting part of the season including Wivenhoe Regatta (free beer) and Pyefleet Week which are very popular (first race of Pyefleet Week - Sunday PM). And we are again hoping for a 100% turnout for the CYC Regatta on Sunday 14th September.

Please come and enjoy as much of the programme as you possibly can and watch the fleet go up another notch. (Reserve helms/crews available from the list)

Ladies Race (CYC, 2.30p.m. Sunday 7th September)
At least six entries are already in place and two trophies up for grabs! Please grab a lady if you have not already done so (or had one thrust upon you). Reefing/no spinnakers will be invoked by the race committee if conditions so dictate.

Class Rules
Thanks to the Committee and especially Dave Chivers these have again been revised up to date, and the new mast amendments, which as time goes on will make the boats yet more evenly matched, are in place. Rule booklets will soon be available for everyone, and the rules are also on the website. (The first of the new alloy masts is likely to be seen in C18 very soon — thanks to Craig Bond and Z Spar for their help.)

Weighing
It was agreed at the AGM that all boats will be weighed before Pyefleet Week. This will be carried out on our own new equipment on the evenings of Tuesday and Wednesday 5th and 6th August from 6 p.m. onwards with Tuesday 12th August as reserve. Please attend, outside CYC, on either of the first two occasions
if possible. Trolleys will be provided for those without, — bring your boat over and bail it completely dry. The minimum weight required (624 Kg) includes the boat as it sails (less “luggage”) but including anchor and either oars or paddles. If your boat is underweight you can add lead or allowed/required equipment while the boat is on the scales. Or the amount will be noted and you will need to add it before the first race of Pyefleet Week.
If your boat is overweight you can take some lead out.

Social Events
Many thanks to Tom and the CYC staff for the B.0.D. dinner in April. Close on sixty owners, ex owners, crews and friends enjoyed a very convivial affair with a succession of varied invitations to “take wine”. Indeed some elements of the more senior fraternite may have come rather close to being “spoken to”.

Previous to that, in February the Nostalgia/Photograph evening was a total and unqualified success with ninety in attendance and masses of films, photos, food and conversation. Thanks to the CYC, Torn, Nick, Richard, Lance and all the contributors for the nuts and bolts, — and most especially to Sally “the voice” for phoning round.

Watch out for Tom’s party during Pyefleet Week, the date of which will be announced in good time.

And if the weather is good on the Sunday at the end of Pyefleet Week bring a picnic and meet at the moorings around mid—day, — Second Beach or Mersea depending on the wind. All welcome B.O.D.s or not.

General Purposes Committee
Has completed a mass of work, most especially on the mast (many thanks to John Saker for all the computer calculations). Also overseeing expenditure and building the weighing equipment (principally eight “Salter 130 Kg bathroom scales). Attention may now be given to the provision of more fleet owned equipment especially another “A frame for mast stepping. If you require any issue to be considered or discussed do not hesitate to get in touch.

Technical
Rigging the kicking strap on a B.O.D. has always been a challenge.

The normal set—up, spanning from around 7” from the mast heel, to 31” along the boom, works — But the centreplate must be sufficiently lowered to be clear of the kicker while gybing, and the kicker tightens against the forward cockpit coaming when running. It can also be restrictive in the crews movement.

The strut from above, or “GNAV” would eliminate all this but requires special technical kit, and on a B.O.D. either a very strong mast or extra shrouds to support the upper point of attachment of the GNAV. The strut itself would seem to be within the B.O.D. rules(?) but extra shrouds are currently not, and they would also restrict movement onto the foredeck.

Looking at all this Alan and Malcolm came to the conclusion that before trying a GNAV, a very strong “above the deck” kicker would be worth a try. With a three step cascade on the sloping part (5mm wire/dyneema/dyneema) giving 8:1 led to a 4:1 along the centrecase giving a final pull of 52:1 this works well. Maybe too powerful in fact, since even taking the reduced vertical angle into account, 24:1 or 28:1 were calculated as sufficient.

So far, apart from proving that a 4mm shackle, attaching the wire block to the boom, is not strong enough in a force 6—7 all seems well. Two of the problems inherent with the standard kicker are eliminated altogether and the forward crew does have more room. Very strong attachments are needed to the mast and boom and a 500mm long sleeve, centred at the deck, has been fitted to the alloy mast on CII. This is also recommended on the new alloy masts irrespective of kicker arrangements.

Fitting an above deck kicker to a wooden mast may be possible but would need careful consideration, because the forward/sideways thrust of the boom is approaching double that of the more usual arrangement.

Tuning Guide
Copies of the B.0.D. Tuning Guide are still available, free at present, ring Malcolm (or available on the web site). (Error, mast slot measurement from aft face transom, bottom of page 6, should be 3645 not 2645, the minimum is 2640).

Suppliers
Boats, spars, sails, covers, trolleys and trailers are more easily available now than for some time.

Boats
* GRP contact John Mullins 01621 783520
* Restored wood — Malcolm has four Douglas Stone/James and Stone wooden boats in stock ready for “as new” restoration coming out (at longish intervals) at around £12,000 ex sails. (C4, C9, C23, C28). In addition an unofficial agency for C26, sailing but “ready to fit out” at £3,500, and C27, wonderfully restored but unfinished at £7,000 — or finished at £10,000 including existing new sails. Tel. Malcolm 01206 823223.

Sails/covers
* Mark Self at Advantage Sails, Shipyard estate, can supply new sails and covers and also carry out repairs. Tel. 07909 542138.

Trolleys/Trailers
*Barry Fountain, in the Shipyard Estate can supply the low “Park and Ride” pattern trolley and heavy duty road trailers (maybe also a flatbed low—loader) Tel 307788 or 07790 676999.
*Steve Hart, Business Centre, Wivenhoe, can supply a demountable steel version of Malcolm’s centreplate installing/scrubbing trolley. Tel 01206 822017.
*Z-Spars 01473 822130

Suppliers/Chandlers — please ring if you want a free listing.

Thanks again everyone.

Good Sailing - and bring your friends!

Malcolm Goodwin 01206 823223
Tom Sargeant 01206 302035 (Secretary/Treasurer)

WEBSITE for Pictures, news, results, Class Rules.

www.bseaonedesign.net

Thanks Lance — Ring Lance on 01206 307479