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Work party Abbey Meads 1st July 2020

Charles Wand Tetley and I went to the lake to check on the things that are vulnerable to vandals etc. In particular Charles’s photo of the southern landing stage 4 foot out of water taken some weeks ago looked potentially dangerous. Our objective was to make it safe or rather safer, as well as to find the missing western landing stage. The other objective was work to make the clubhouse easier to use and remove rubbish etc.

Whilst Charles was rowing around the lake anticlockwise and finding the missing landing stage only 50 metres north of its usual location, I was removing projecting screws and timber bits etc that were dangerous and setting the southern landing stage free on its chain. As shown in the gallery, the corners have been irreparably damaged by the vandals racking the posts and before we can use them again, new corner reinforcement/post sleeves will be required. As the decking and main beams are in relatively good shape, the solution might be for me to mould such corner pieces in polyester, carbon, Kevlar etc and sketch is shown in the gallery. I have also followed up Martin’s idea of using a removable lightweight landing stage with the same principle of connecting to the post. This is also shown in the gallery.

Charles found 2 out of 3 of the posts and 3 buoys without their mooring lines or weights. In the meantime I installed a pulley system in the top right-hand corner of the clubhouse to pull the dinghy up to the corner to make it easier to fit in through the door. I now have 2 buoys at home which were full of water. I have emptied these and will fill them with expanding foam to make them bullet-proof. 

After lunch we had a bit of a sail with Charles’ DF 95 and my BF 72 in a typical Abbey Meads wind putting boats under pressure at times, but with swirling holes on occasion. I’m delighted to say that my dumbing down design for the BOTTLE boat with a smaller rig and less sail has worked ok in this wind and the boats looked good together on the water and had a very similar scale and performance. The boats were launched from the beach without a problem as they only have something like a 350 mm draft, although you needed to be wet foot. 

We then made up mooring lines with weights and counterweights and Charles relaid them. Putting the ‘gear’ away was very easy using a pulley system to raise it into position with the ‘puller’ 2 metre distanced from the other person feeding it through the door. 

Whilst we normally complain about the vandals, a spray paint artist has decorated the front of our clubhouse and although drawing attraction to our clubhouse has certainly improved the look of it. 

Finally, for the immediate future can really only sail these small boats until we can rebuild or renew the landing stages, which is likely to be an autumn job.

Dear Members,

It is with great sadness that I have to announce that Fred Shepherd died last weekend. Many of you would have heard his name mentioned, but not actually met him. He was Guildford’s most successful Marblehead sailor in the late 60s and early 70s and a great character. I have tried to catch that in this obituary and included photos of all the boats that he designed and built. Over the last 15 years he has concentrated on turning wood on his lathe as he could do this relatively easily after a cycle accident limited his hand skills. He turned out some lovely trophies, which are illustrated. His trophy plinths make the most meagre little bits of silverware, turn into really nice trophies.

I hope that you are all doing okay in this lockdown period and staying safe.

Cheers, Roger

Fred Shepherd 1931-2020

After a short spell in hospital, Fred died on March 28 from natural causes aged 88. He was a quite remarkable man, a colourful character, a very skilful craftsman, a fiercely competitive sportsman and also a model yacht designer. He was determined to do his very best at everything he tried.

The attached obituary mentions his activities in model yachting from a national standpoint, but for the Guildford Model Yacht Club he was a key member when he joined in 1964, before I was a member. I was introduced to him when I was still at school and much of his work described here took place whilst I was still at university. You may think that the GMYC current membership is too low, but there was a 5 year period when there was very little or no activity with membership dropping off to just a handful. 

However, the club did not fold up, but the remaining members were waiting in hope of something to generate some new enthusiasm. This arrived in 1964 when Ray Blick joined the club. He was an Olympic K2 canoe finalist in both sprint and 10000m in the 1956 Melbourne games. He toured the local clubs and bought any old tore out Marblehead for new members like Fred to refurbish. Being good at it Fred refurbished several! Ray was a master GRP moulder, having moulded many canoes and he made beautiful hull and deck shells for just £25.

Not only was Fred determined to learn the sailing side, but in 1968 he became the club secretary and helped to drive the club through difficult times including new Marblehead rules, which were being framed in 1970. The most significant of these was to remove the 1 inch radius garboard, which was supposed to prevent fin and bulb keels, but which clearly didn’t and this rule change was definitely a benefit to the class removing an unnecessary complication.

The minute book not only includes the Annual General Meetings, but also monthly meetings of the committee usually in one of the committee member’s houses initially, but later at the lakeside at Elstead Moat, so the secretary’s job was quite extensive with lots of handwritten minutes.

After that effort he resigned as the secretary and handed over to me, where I note in the minute book, the organisation of events was similar to our current setup liaising with other clubs for our events and even sailing several of our trophies at Hove Lagoon to boost the numbers sailing.

I will really miss Fred as we have had such a long history together. 

2020-03-30 Fred Shepherd with photos – 3

Raymond Blick (born 27 May 1930) is a British sprint canoer who competed in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he earned his best finish of eighth in the K-2 10000 m event at Melbourne in 1956.

Report by Roger Stollery

Link to Photo’s

A marvellous day’s racing, as part of the GAMES series for Marbleheads, saw 12 highly competitive races completed with 17 entries from 8 clubs sailing in ‘A’ rig light winds on Guildford MYC’s Abbey Meads Lake. 

Unfortunately the coronavirus had affected the contacts of 3 of the competitors, who pulled out at the last minute.

The forecast SW wind direction didn’t materialise, which caused a bit of delay while the race team reorganised the course and the control area on the west bank, where the wind was blowing in an ideal direction parallel to that control area. RO Roger Stollery set a 900 metre long windward leeward course, which consisted of 3 beats and 2 offwind legs.

In Race 1, Martin Crysell sailing UP 117 got the best start and streaked away from the rest of the fleet, only to be overtaken on the final beat by Peter Stollery sailing his UP 39. David Adam sailing his GRUNGE 36 got the best start in Race 2, but he too was overtaken by Peter. Colin Goodman sailing his GRUNGE 61 got the best start in Race 3 and despite being challenged by David went on to win. This was the first of his first hat-trick of wins, which was broken in Race 6 by Martin and Peter. Throughout the morning there was some very close racing between two World Champion skippers, Peter and Colin, which was a delight to see with the boats always being very close with the lead changing all the way round the course.

After the lunch break there was more really good close racing not just at the front, but also further down the fleet. At the end of Race 8, one very close finish between Martin and Peter Dunne, resulted in 5th and 4th places respectively and with a great beaming smile Peter said “that was as good as a win!” Way out in front of the fleet Colin and Peter continued their fascinating match racing battle with Colin gaining another hat-trick of wins. The cantankerous wind moved to the forecast south-westerly, which left the wind blowing over the right shoulder and creating more crosswinds and shadow next to the bank.

Perhaps local knowledge helped Peter to win Races 10 and 11 in these conditions and close the gap on Colin. However, this was not enough and with Colin winning the last race, the bronze Mermaid had found a new home.

At the prize giving Colin thanked the Guildford team for running another good event, whilst Peter mentioned that the Mermaid is the longest running radio sailing trophy for Marbleheads in its 42nd year and thanked his dad and the Guildford team for running today’s event, as well as at least 30 others! 

We were lucky to get this really good event completed, as it now looks as if the GAMES events and the whole sport of radio sailing, will be seriously disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Results:

1st Colin Goodman Chelmsford GRUNGE 14

2nd Peter Stollery Guildford UP 16

3rd David Adam 3 Rivers GRUNGE 31

4th Martin Crysell Guildford UP 32

5th John Howell 3 Rivers VICKERS V1M  48

6th David Coode Guildford PIRANHA 66

7th Peter Dunne Woking STARKERS 69

8th Richard Baldey Frensham Pond WHISPER 73

9th Peter Jackson Abington Park UP 76

10th David Wilkinson Whitefriars SC ROAR EDGE 104

11th Garry Stephenson Whitefriars SC STARKERS 108

12th Charles Wand-tetley Guildford UPROAR 144

Click Here for Mermaid & GAMES 4 NOR

Report by Richard Lord

Click Here for Photo Gallery

13 boats entered for this prestigious event at 3 Rivers Radio Yachting Club, Bury Lake, Rickmansworth and were greeted by bright sunshine and a moderate 14 – 18 mph SW wind with occasional and brief stronger squalls, forecast as twice this. Regrettably 2 competitors broke their boats and took early baths, leaving 11 to compete over 16 races.

The SW wind direction gave a good long windward course with a spreader mark and a gate at the leeward marks, which gave some really good racing over two laps. Much discussion was undertaken amongst the sailors as to which rig to use, and several rig changes throughout the day by a number of them – and they still did not really know who got it right at the end of the day! These stronger winds resulted in several boat failures and by the last race, only 7 were sailing. The busiest persons of the day were those in the safety boat with, in excess of, 5 boats rescued.

Racing was exciting and unpredictable in the main. Initially, Peter Stollery looked to be the hot favourite, winning the first 3 races, but he peaked too early and in Race 5 the mast of his C1, which was the most favoured rig, failed completely. Colin Goodman seemed to struggle a little with a second and two thirds: the latter thirds later becoming his discards, as he won most of the remaining races. David Adam sailed consistently with his brand new GRUNGE with mostly seconds and thirds, with Peter Stollery generally a place behind.

After 16 races with 3 discards (and time for the start of the Carabao Cup Final) the result was a convincing win for Colin Goodman (15 points). Second was David Adam (36 points) and third was Peter Stollery (37 points). At the prize giving, the winners gave thanks to Peter Popham and his team for a most enjoyable and well run competition.

Overall results:

1^st Colin Goodman Chelmsford GRUNGE 15

2^nd David Adam 3 Rivers GRUNGE 36

3^rd Peter Stollery Guildford UP 37

4^th Roger Stollery Guildford UP 49

5^th Martin Crysell Guildford PRIME NUMBER 63

6^th Vinnie Zammit Norwich NIOUTRAM 69

7^th Dick Grainge 3 Rivers STARKERS 76

8^th John Male 3 Rivers STARKERS 107

9^th John Howell 3 Rivers QUARK 115

10^th Peter Dunne Woking STARKERS 131

11^th Phil Elford 3 Rivers UPROAR 143

12^th Alf Reynolds Chelmsford ROCKET 153

13^th John Horsefield 3 Rivers FRA 169

See Gallery for Photos: 

Report 2020-02-15 by Roger

There were only 4 of us, but we had an absolutely fabulous days sailing in south south-westerly winds that were forecast from 25 to 48 mph. When winds are so often light you dream about such days! We sailed 12 races and seeing our Marbleheads going so fast was a real delight.

In reality the winds on the water were probably 12 to 24 mph and needed C2 rigs to be comfortable in the gusts. Peter Dunne only had a C1 rig and struggled occasionally and had to be rescued a couple of times and didn’t sail the last 5 races as this might have endangered his rig. Instead, he kindly acted as starter and scorer.

As the severe storm ‘Dennis’ produced these winds it is likely that you don’t need anything smaller than C2 at Abbey Meads, although Martin did try C3 at the end of racing at about 1 o’clock as some of the gusts were getting really strong and heavy rain became uncomfortable.

Roger’s UP dominated the racing by being exceptionally quick to windward, as well as downwind with its offset swing rig, in a similar performance that Peter demonstrated with his UPFRONT in C2 at Fleetwood last year. Roger didn’t have it all his own way as Martin won 3 of the races with his PRIME NUMBER and one of them in his C3 rig. Long distance club traveller, Peter Jackson, improved his UP performance as the day went on and got close to the leaders, after having good races with Peter.

After having many disastrous events in 2019 with C2 rig failing, Roger was delighted that the redesign passed this test without a problem.

Photos in Gallery

10 entries from 5 clubs sailed 15 races on a blustery day at Abbey Meads lake, Chertsey. Race Officer Martin Crysell set a simple windward leeward course for the WSW wind and operated from the southern control area. There were some very strong gusts and initially these Footys were in their smallest, but one rigs.

The conditions favoured Peter Shepherd’s FAT BOY design and although pressed by Peter Jackson’s IBEX and Roger Stollery’s ICE at times, he won the first 5 races. This run of wins would have continued except that he lost Race 6 to Roger. During the afternoon the wind became much lighter with big calm patches in the centre of the course and bigger rigs came out of the sail bags. This made a big difference to young Oliver and Nathan Stollery, who won Races 13 and 14 respectively. Not to be outdone, Peter Shepherd in a frustrating dying breeze won the last race after a battle with David Wilkinson’s single sailed wooden BREITHORN.

The prizewinners thanked Guildford Model Yacht Club’s Race Team, RO Martin and scorer Peter Dunne, for running another good Footy event at the start of the 2020 Footy racing series.

Results:

1st Peter Shepherd Abington Park FAT BOY 14

2nd Roger Stollery Guildford ICE 32

3rd Peter Jackson Abington Park IBEX 40

4th David Wilkinson Whitefriars SC BREITHORN 53

5th Oliver Stollery Guildford ICE 61

6th Nathan Stollery Guildford ICE 71

7th Sid Sims Birmingham ICE 80

8th Keith Parrott Frensham Pond ICE 85

9th Mark Mortimore Guildford ICE 119

10th Tony Butler Birmingham ICE 120

Photos in Gallery Here

Guildford formed nearly half of the entry of 12 from 5 clubs to race in light variable winds blowing diagonally across the lake towards the control area. Gaps in the trees on the opposite bank of the lake bent the wind and kept competitors on their toes to take advantage of the sometimes big changes. 

During the briefing Race Officer, David Allinson presented Oliver with the 2019 GAMES prize for junior and also the second ‘Best Improver ’.

We sailed 15 races with the Guildford team winning 9 with Colin Goodman winning 5 and Dave Andrews 1. Roger started well with a win had some fine duels with Colin Goodman. Martin Crysell also won Race 6.  Peter S was initially looking after Oliver, who was struggling to get the best out of his UPROAR. There was a really good lunch of chili provided by Chipstead radio sailors, which was very welcome in the cold conditions.

The afternoon racing was dominated by Peter with 5 wins, whilst Oliver was getting some guidance from Rob Vice and family. Racing in the last race was difficult as the wind gradually faded away.

The club also laid on tea and cakes at the end of the event, which again was very welcome. The prizewinners thanked the Chipstead radio sailors for putting on a really excellent event.

Results:

1^st Colin Goodman, Chelmsford, GRUNGE 29

2^nd Roger Stollery, Guildford, UP 32

3^rd Dave Andrews, LMYC/MYSA, GRUNGE 47

4^th Peter Stollery, Guildford, UP 53 

5^th David Adam, Three Rivers, QUARK 55

6^th Martin Crysell, Guildford, PRIME NUMBER 58

7^th Peter Crisp, Chipstead, STARKERS CUBED 81

8^th William Grant, Chipstead, PARADOX 84

9^th Oliver Stollery, Guildford, UPROAR 109

10^th Graham Hetem, Datchet, QUARK 125

11^th Peter Dunne, Guildford, STARKERS 125

12^th Alf Reynolds, Chelmsford, ROCKET 144 

Cobweb Results

See Gallery for Photos

There was a good turnout for the first race of the season and there was a varying and at times very fresh breeze from the south south-west. We welcomed Peter Jackson, who has been to our club events a couple of times last year and now has joined us.

Before we put our boats in the water we had a big problem as the launching platform on the west bank was adrift as ‘the tide’ had come up about a metre with the recent rain. 

Our cunning plan to prevent the vandals doing this by chaining the platform to the strings of the steps backfired as all of the fixings were underwater! 

However with sterling efforts by all 7 competitors, the platform was brought back to the bottom of the steps hauled to the top, had a new post fitted and was then relaunched with some difficulty, but also a lot of hilarity. Marks for the windward leeward course were set and after a minute’s silence to remember Dennis Moss, who died on the previous weekend, the racing started in A or B rig.

Les Thorn started the season well with a win from Martin Crysell, who was in fine form and he took the next 4 races. During this time the wind had increased and either B or C rigs were the order of the day. There were some technical problems with Peter Jackson having to drop out. He very kindly started us and kept the score as well as making sure there was no time lost between races! Peter Dunne’s mast on his STARKERS collapsed at the bottom of his B rig, as a result of the massive slamming gusts. Mark Mortimore also struggled when sailing his UPROAR just an A rig. However he took some good photographs of the afternoon’s racing, which are now on the gallery.

During the break for lunch we had a committee meeting and had some interesting discussions about gazebos, market stalls and tents. We confirmed that we shall be adopting the DF 95 class for the Wednesday morning events in the summer. There was also discussion about the possibility of an additional shipping container to accommodate our dinghy and trolley and a majority agreement to contact Thorpe Park to ask for permission. Also in view of the tree cutting monies spent last year and the potential for replacing the gazebo etc, Martin had drafted a letter to go to the M&S district for some financial help from the MYA’s district fund.

After lunch, there was plenty of fast sailing off the wind when you were able to get into the right gust stream. On the beat you needed to get on the right side of the shifts and also miss the holes in the wind, which was now blowing a little bit more over the right shoulder. There were plenty of very close finishes throughout the fleet and several between Roger and Martin, with Roger taking most wins. As well as Peter’s B rig disaster he also had great success in winning the last race much to everyone’s delight.

On merit Martin was the winner with a 15 points sailing his PRIME NUMBER followed by Roger with 21 sailing his UP and Les sailing Hugh McAdoo’s old PARADOX 26. More important are the handicap results with a win for Les Thorn with Martin 2^nd and Peter Dunne 3^rd.