S.O.I.A. Anglia Group newsletter - February 2005

Hi Chaps,

What a cold, wet and windy month it has been. At least we’ve been able to get some sailing vicariously this month, courtesy of Ellen MacArthur, even if it’s not quite the sort that we are familiar with. Sailing never goes right away though, what with writing up last summer’s logs, and the Sunday Paperman knocking on the door because he has a newly acquired Eventide on Hickling Broad. He and Brian disappeared under the covers of our wrapped up 26ft Eventide down the garden. Incidently I’ve got some hens now and I think they’ve been eyeing up that boat as a possible de luxe hen-house. They certainly like scratching about underneath it.

Did you notice the suggestion in the January ‘Silhouette Owner’ that last year’s winner of the International Paints Trophy race, sailed at Rutland Water, should host this year’s event? We certainly discussed the possibilities, but couldn’t come up with a comparable venue, so if we were to host it in future years ( assuming we were to win it again of course!) it would have to take a different format. Here are some of the thoughts of our Anglian sages:

From Mike Atkins:

‘I also think that Rutland is a good venue (on the basis of all of one day's experience) and it would be a pity to loose it as a regular event. In many ways it would make more sense to designate Rutland as the national rally if what people want is a few round-the-cans races and some socialising. Extending it to a long weekend may be a good option. If there were no races then I don't see that it would survive as a venue. 

As I have said before, I think that it would be good to spread the SOIA "official" races around the country instead of just having races at Rutland and Plymouth. I see no reason why we couldn't incorporate some races into one or more of the existing Anglia meetings.

I can't think of a venue that would be as good for a big onshore contingent as Rutland, but there is lots of scope for longer races.’

From Bob Legg:

‘I agree with most of Mike's comments. I believe that the people who turn up to the rallies want two things, some good sailing and good company. It's as simple as that and anything else is of secondary importance including the racing.  

That old saying that one boat is a cruise and two or more is a race is also true and normally that is about as organised as it needs to be. Anyone who seriously wants to race wouldn't buy a Silhouette and I think most of us are not looking for a lengthy endurance test just a cracking sail, a bit of fun and a pint or two with our mates somewhere different at the end of the day. I don't fancy every night at the same Marina and evenings of social functions pretending to be a proper yotti.

Rutland once a year is a possible exception, if not taken too seriously, because it is a good get together and somehow attracts those who don't want to get on the water on a regular basis. They have great facilities which lend themselves to racing but it would otherwise be dead boring. (Marian enjoyed the racing in a confined space, the company and all the meals at the club! ) It would be a shame to lose it.

If we had to organise a race perhaps it should be a point to point on the Broads where you have to moor up and have a drink at each of say four specified pubs. The faster boats could drink more. That might appeal to the East Midlanders and any spectators could do it by car.’

THE LAST MEETING….

…was well attended, and we were upstairs because of a very noisy disco downstairs! I prefer the upstairs meetings though – I think it’s because we fill the room instead of just being in one corner. Derick Wilding brought along a couple of friends, George and Joan, who have a Jaguar 22 at Woodbridge, so we were able to discuss the possibilities of taking the Silhouettes up to join them on our spring cruise. Bill and Bett were back from their ‘big boat’ cruise visiting the Canaries, Madeira and Morocco; Agadir was freezing apparently, and Bingo wasn’t quite their scene, but I think they sort of enjoyed themselves. But then how do you beat cruising the Blackwater and anchoring off Osea Island in Lincoln Aries? Incidently I did start making a list of what we talked about, but it says: ‘4x Adnams shandy, 2x apple mango, tonic water, peanuts x 3’. What an abstemious lot we are!

The best thing about getting in the subs is the cards and letters that come with them. Here are some snippets: From Gavin Monk:

‘At the moment we are replacing the steel chassis strengthening the keels of our Silhouette ‘Sam’, a job I’ve been putting off for years, but advice from London boat show gave me confidence to start. Just waiting for warmer weather before glassing the new frame in.’

From Bob Dyer:

‘Thanks for your log of your summer cruise which I enjoyed passage by passage on my road atlas. I envy you getting to the western Scottish waters. It really takes me back because the last time I saw that stretch of water, bar the Isle of Bute in the way, Sunderland flying boats were taxi-ing across the water. This was off Largs. It was the summer the war ended and the scene still glows in the mind’s eye.

Incidentally it was someone on the Clyde who had the temerity to try to improve the Mirror Offshore by changing to gaff-rigged. His account of reaching across Rothesay bay in what he claims the Glascow Met. Office later told him was a F6 gusting F7, was enough to convince the most doubting Thomas of the sturdiness of the converted design. And he had more sail than I’ve installed on my version.’

Sailing Dates

Anglia Group Spring cruise – 29th April to 2nd May. Current plan is to launch at Levington on the Orwell and cruise up the Deben to Woodbridge.

Morbihan Cruise - provisionally 27th May to 7th June or thereabouts. Contact Tony Eden

Rutland International Paints Rally – now 11th – 12th June, East Midlands Group.

Brightlingsea Weekend – 9th to 10th July. Some people cruising whole of preceding week.

Plymouth Rally Cruise – Monday 15th & Tuesday 16th August.

Plymouth National Rally – Wednesday 17th – Friday 19th August.

Broads Cruise – Probably third weekend in September.

Boat Jumbles

Sunday 3rd April, Norfolk Boat Jumble, Royal Norfolk Showground, Norwich.

Saturday 21st May, Suffolk Boat Jumble, Foxall Stadium, Ipswich.

Next Meeting: Saturday 12th March, Orwell Yacht Club, Wherstead Rd, Ipswich, 8pm.

Enclosed – Further adventures of Avocet in the Western Isles. Click here.

    Happy Daydreams and Best Wishes

    Elizabeth Letzer, February – whoops – March 05