This was another successful workshop with 20 attendees from 6 clubs in the M&S District. We were pleased to welcome two lady members. Although Hugh was unable to bring along his beautifully restored 1930s 6 m, there was plenty of detail in re-rigging older boats that were brought to demonstrate improvements that can be made in adjusting ‘rigging’, from a simple method of making an adjustable Dyneema mast ring to close the gap between mast and sail, to basic adjustments of mast shape to enhance downwind performance.

Always the formal talk by Roger Stollery generates questions and after the coffee break he explained the reasons why in strong winds, rigs often perform better when moved further aft or with the mast in the same place, but with smaller jibs. As well as the rigging adjustments for going downwind, the alternative suggested for the conventionally Marblehead was to change the geometry to a swing rig, against which this boat usually competes. As there is already a swing rig mast position to change would not be difficult.

Another question about where the mast should be placed on an 8 metre that that has 3 different mast positions was answered by imagining the mast right at the bow or right at the stern and the effect that this has on the balance of the boat with the downforce the sail either immersing the bow and making the boat luff or the reverse. In the end it comes down to doing trials with the mast in the the existing forward and aft positions and testing which makes the boat go better.

What is good about these workshops is not necessarily the formal talk but the informal exchange of ideas and questions that has the meeting buzzing. Indeed sometimes Roger felt embarrassed to restart the talk when there was already lively debate in the Victoria Hall.

The next workshop is on Friday 20th of February

Sunday 8th February 2014

Guildford Model Yacht Club extends a very warm welcome to you for the first 2015 Footy open event.

Come and enjoy racing your Footy at Abbey Meads Lake, Chertsey and help us to create some fun in a friendly, but competitive atmosphere.

We are able set North/South courses from the West bank. Recently we have been having difficulty with vehicles on the muddy track to the control area. If this Western control area is to be used then parking is restricted to the tarmac close to the entrance gates. Probably rubber boots will be essential for walking along the track to the control area.   We apologise that there are no toilet facilities, but there are lots of bushes! If the weather is wet, there will be shelter etc in our gazebo. On on the South bank from where we control the racing for East/West courses parking directly off the road is available close to the Control Area; however here to the ground may be muddy.

Hugh McAdoo will be the PRO and racing will be conducted using the RRS 2013-2016 modified by the MYA Standard Sailing Instructions. The current 2009 Footy Class Rules will apply. We would ask you to limit the size of your biggest rigs to comply with the ‘Experimental Footy rig Template‘. The relevant notices are as follows:

REGISTRATION and measurement check 08.40 to 09.30 hours.

BRIEFING – this will start at approximately 09.40 hours.
RACING TIMES – the first race will start soon after the briefing at approximately 10.00 hours – no race will start after 15.00 hours and any race in progress at 15.30 hours will be abandoned.

Please make sure that your correct sail numbers are clearly displayed on your mainsails: just the last two digits of your boat’s registration number. When you bring your boat for registration, please make sure that it will fit in the ‘Footy measurement box’, as required by class rules.

As well as Fred’ Big Toephy and prizes for the winners and junior winners, there will be the first of the ‘novICE’ trophies for novice competitors that have not finished in the top 3 in the Footy open events in the last 2 years. The 2014 Traveller’s Trophy will also be presented.

The entry fee will be £3.00, to be paid on the day. Entries and any queries should go to Roger Stollery and may be either phoned through on 01483 421 801 or e-mailed to stollery17@sky.com before midnight on Thursday 29^th January 2015 The information required is your name, MYA number ,club, sail number, radio frequencies if not 2.4ghz. Please pass this notice onto those you know who might like to participate. If they have no Footy, we have some that may be borrowed; please ring Roger ASAP to avoid disappointment.          

ABBEY MEADS LAKE is easy to find, so long as you follow these instructions and not any others. Follow the local brown signs to THORPE PARK and go to the roundabout at their entrance. From here travel south on the A320 towards Chertsey and Abbey Meads Lake is behind the hedge on your left. After a few hundred yards turn left off the road when you see a sign, RADIO SAILING, together with signs to the 3 Valleys Water’s Chertsey Treatment Works. If the gate is locked, unlock the brass number padlock marked GMYC with 1617 or ring the mobile number on the ‘GMYC welcome notice’ on the gate. Please replace the padlock as you found it.      We look forward to seeing you

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