AT THE MEETING on the ninth of March we discovered a talent for vocal harmony when we sang a stunning rendition of Happy Birthday down the 'phone to Bryan Simpson. Not sure how old he is, but by the way he behaves I would say under 35, and by the way he looks, over 35. (Sorry Bryan, couldn't resist...) The birthday boy was absent because of a wrenched shoulder. Hope it is getting better, not least because he is buying us all a drink at the next meeting!

E-Mails from He-males:

If you have still got that silver trophy to spare may I suggest a little exercise which might be fun and educational, a man overboard recovery competition.

Equipment: A dummy made from an army kitbag or similar weighted to say 5 stone sewn into an old life jacket with a metal ring like a safety harness to lift it out with. Also a stopwatch and whistle for someone to act as judge.

Proceedure: Dummy to be dropped into a clear stretch of water. The first competitor will sail single handed past the dummy directly down wind under normal sail for the prevailing conditions with outboard in the raised position. ( single handed because MOB on a Silhouette allways leaves one person or none aboard. The crew will have to stay below until it is his turn.)

When the dummy is clear astern the judge starts the watch. The yacht must not alter course or sails until after five seconds when the judge blows his whistle.( 5 seconds being aproximate time to react to someone having fallen overboard.) When the whistle blows, the competitor can tack or gybe round and return to the dummy by whatever route they wish under sail or motor. He/she must return and get the dummy aboard as quickly as possible using block and tackle or any equipment they may devise but it must first be attached to the ring on the dummy. Lifting by brute force alone is not allowed, as nobody could lift an unconcious crew from the water, and allowing brute force would disadvantage the weaker sex and some of the lads might winge about this.

When the bag is inboard the helmsman shouts and the clock is stopped. The dummy is then pushed back into the water for the next boat to have a go.

These trials could take place at several rallies during the year, Rutland, Broads etc. and the shortest time recorded wins the trophy for that year. Anyone can win as it is a test of boat handling and ingenuity and boat speed doesn`t matter. It could be a giggle too especialy if anyone comes in a Westerly or an Eventide.

The idea is to encourage people to think and prepare for this emergency and develop best methods or equipment to suit themselves, and then exchange ideas. A block and tackle attached to the mast support would work but using main sheet, boom or topping lift migh be too much for a Silhouette mast.

In the future perhaps we could arrange a CPR demonstration by St Johns at a rally and increase the weight to make it more realistic. If we can`t find a suitable dummy perhaps Brian might volunteer? To be thrown overboard that is, not given kiss of life; YUK!

Regards, Bob Upndown.

[Brian might not float very well now he has a lump of steel in his hip - Ed].

Hi Elizabeth,

I will have a go at looking after the web pages if you still need a volunteer. At the very least I will post your newsletters if you send them to me. I don't mind trying to add other stuff too.

On another note, I was interested to read what Arnold said about "TheShadow in the Sands". I wonder if anyone has ever come up with a good description of "the aftermath of sex" that is more appropriate to Silhouette sailors? Perhaps you can organise a competition? Another way to put it is that all that duchess and warps stuff is a bit "greater yachtie". What we need is a "lesser yachtie" version. At a guess this might involve bitter, chips, backache, leaking decks and baggywrinkle. Mike.(Atkins)

[What have you started, Arnold? Ed.]

If you are interested in joining the Holland trip, ring Bob Legg on ( 01394 283150. He and Roger Titshall are heading this trip, taking the ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, then driving about 50 miles to launch at Naarden, to cruise on the Ijsselmeer and Markemeer.

For a very few people the subscriptions are now heavily overdue @ £7.00, payable to me please. The plank has been set up just below the old sewer outfall pipe at Maldon. This will be the last newsletter for defaulters as no-one who walks the plank will be around to read it anyway.

THE NEXT MEETING will be on April 13th at the Orwell Yacht Club, Wherstead Road, Ipswich, at 8.00 pm. Wisdom and wisecracks - do come along.

Best Fishes

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