Sailing Today		The RS400 associations  e-Newsletter  Issue 3   Issue 2  Issue 1
Contents...
The committee The 2008 circuit Winters at Leigh and Lowton The northern circuit Views from the fleet 2007 results		Introduction to Exe Top tips for picking a crew RS400 at the endeavour Sail 4 cancer Top tips for Garda
Hello! Welcome to the first e-newsletter for the RS400 fleet for 2008. I’m hoping to do this quarterly, with your support for the content and Duncan Ellis for getting it online. I’m now communications rep for the fleet, so you should be hearing a lot from me this year – appealing to my love of talking to everyone and my efforts with the group on facebook! Anything you want to add just drop me an email (see below) or find me in the bar after the racing – I crew 1275 and will be making every effort to get to most of the events. Thank you to all the contributors and also to the photographers who’ve provided the shots – more of their work can be found at www.chunkypics.co.uk, www.sailboatdeliveries.com, www.fotoboat.com. Also thanks for the shots from Brian Starr, Richard Murphy and Chris Gowers (and there are a few of mine in there too).		©Richard Murphy
Introducing the committee...
RS400 Fleet Rep	RS400 Assistant Rep	RS400 National Rep	RS400 Communications Rep
Tom Halhead tomhalhead@hotmail.com 07811 375916	Paul Hilliar paulhilliar@hotmail.com 07968 526251	Howard Farbrother hfarbrother@yahoo.co.uk 07951 602299	Anna Ludgate aeludgate@btinternet.com 07990 515353
Club championships Rep	Class association administrator	RS400 Scottish Rep
		Niall Campbell Morrison naill.campbellmorrison@harleyhaddow.com
Pete Bennett pabennett1@btinternet.com 07712 182791	Heather Chipperfield heatherc@rs-association.com 01590 610273
The 2008 Circuit... Heather has already been in touch about this years circuit events, but so that you have all the latest locations and dates here’s the list again. 8/9 March - Winter Championships, Leigh & Lowton SC 5/6 April - Queen Mary SC, Circuit 19/20 April - Northampton SC, Circuit & coaching 3-5 May - Anniversary Regatta, Hayling Island SC 17/18 May - Parkstone YC, Circuit 31 May/1 June - Sprint Champs, Rutland SC 21/22 June - Highcliffe SC, Circuit 12/13 July - Arun YC, Circuit 28 Jul - 1 Aug - Riva del Garda, Eurocup 16/17 August - Lee-on-Solent SC, Circuit 24-28 Aug - National Championship, Exe SC 13/14 September - Weston SC, Circuit 20/21 Sep - Club Championships Final, Northampton SC 4/5 Oct - Inland Championships, Grafham WSC 10-12 Oct - Irish Nationals, Eurocup, Wexford Harbour SC More detailed information can be found on the RS website that covers directions, accommodation and start times. www.sailingaccommodation.co.uk is a good place to start for accommodation.
Prizes are available for gold and silver fleet at each event, and circuit prizes for the full year will be awarded at the inlands. At the nationals the fleet is split into bronze, silver and gold based on day 1 results (and committee knowledge if you do something silly like miss the first race of the event due to tuning practice with a buddy…!!). Again prizes here for each fleet, and for juniors, ladies and buddy teams. Watch this space for news of the shore-games and challenges at the nationals which are competed in by the buddy teams. Howard will tell us more about the nationals closer to the time. See below for information from UGS about the venue, do book accommodation soon, Exmouth is a busy seaside town and when I booked our accommodation there was plenty to choose from, but you’ll be competing with standard beach type tourists!!		©RS Association archives
An invitation to the winter championships from the Leigh and Lowton commodore Paul Allen
The 2008 RS400 tour kicks off at Leigh & Lowton SC (just possibly still the biggest 400 club in the world!) for the Gul Winter Championship, and the first event of the virginal RS400 Northern Circuit. Racing will be standard stuff - 3 races per day starting at 11:30 am on Saturday and 10 am on Sunday.
Elaine Marsh is organising a trip to the infamous curry mile in Rusholm. Further details will be provided on entry. Please note local B&Bs are not recommended. If you want to stay near the club the local Innkeepers Lodge (Warrington) offers clean and simple travel lodge style accommodation with continental breakfast included. www.inkeeperslodge.co.uk. If you plan to join us for a curry please consider staying in Manchester at anyone of the hotels or Travel Lodges. If you require any further details please contact Paul Allen 07929136108 rs4001155@hotmail.com ©Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club archives		©Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club archives
Introducing… the All-New Northern Circuit
Elaine Marsh and Paul Allen are putting together a northern circuit for 2008 - southern travellers are expected - 1275 and 1251 are already booked in. This circuit is hoped to bring more boats on the water on a regular basis as some of the venues will be closer to people that either don't travel or don't like doing the A34/M40/M6 drag too often (having just driven back from Menai after new year... it's a long old trek to Southampton and one that’s nicer to do on a clear and un-tired head!!) Anyhow - we're definitely at Bala for an Easter regatta. It’s hoped that there will be an additional eurocup event at Red Wharf Bay (Anglesey) during the summer, as well as dates to be confirmed for open meetings at Notts County and Bassenthwaite Lake. Elaine, Paul and Heather will keep everyone posted as soon as dates are confirmed!
Elaine Marsh	Paul Allen
		©Tom Gruitt/Fotoboat Taken at the 2007 Winters at BCYC
elaine@wintonflooring.co.uk	rs4001155@hotmail.com
Views from the fleet
Emma Clarke and Mark Duckworth When we tell people we sail a 400, the typical response is to look us up and down, frown and comment “Surely you’re too light? Wouldn’t you be better suited to sailing a 200?” If we had any common sense, maybe we would, but 400s go faster, look cool downwind and deliver on the adrenalin requirement! We joined the fleet in April last year and cut our teeth club racing at Burghfield. Buoyed by successfully managing to get round a course (mostly) upright and not always coming last (in light winds), we decided to try our hand on the circuit. Our first event was on my home turf at Hayling and despite the forecast, the wind gods had heeded our fervent prayers and provided a manageable force 3 with a hint of sunshine thrown in. It was a great first day and our first taste of 400 start lines.		©Brian Starr and Lee on Solent Sailing Club
We started out rather tentatively but by the millionth recall we were getting braver about standing our ground and not being intimidated. Racing in a fleet of 35 odd was a wake up call compared to the fleets of 6-10 we were used to at Burghfield, particularly at marks involving kite hoists or drops but we were pleased to find that you could still have some close racing even if you weren’t at the front of the fleet. We were reasonably pleased by our performance for a first day but we must have done something to upset the wind gods. Sunday was very, very breezy and rather wet. The conversation on shore was mainly how likely we were to make it back intact if they were to go out on the water so we instantly felt at home!. Fuelled by dogged determination and a hint of naivety we joined the brave/foolish and ventured out of Chichester harbour mouth to the race course. We successfully made it as far as the committee boat but then in a rare moment of sanity (and the discovery of a crack in the boom) had to concede that we were out of our depth in a very choppy force 6. It was disappointing not to have a second day of racing, but by then we had resolutely decided that events were great fun both on and off the water. We made it to a couple more circuit events over the summer (juggling calendars with 600s and SB3s) had a great time both on and off the water and decided that this was reason enough to go to the nationals. By this point we were confident of being able to do ourselves justice in light winds but had realized that as soon as it was above a force 4, we really struggled to hold our ground upwind. Unfortunately it was very windy all week! Luckily for us, there was a lot more to the nationals than just racing. As newcomers to the fleet we were really grateful for the evening seminars (particularly the heavy weather sailing one and gate starts!) where the guys at the front of the fleet shared their experience and top tips. Clearly performance on the water is the crux of a national champs but by having gold, silver and bronze fleets, everyone had a good competition and close racing regardless of their position. Even better, the team competition combined results on the water with off the water challenges. Teams consisted of a boat from each fleet with overall combined positions counting towards the competition. to be continued...
Nick Simmons We started the season with the Winters at a very chilly Bristol Corinthian. As newcomers to the fleet everyone welcomed us with open arms both on the water and in the bar. The most memorable events from the year for us were the windy Queen Mary event, the Ball and the Nationals. After managing to drive away from Queen Mary with the boat still in one piece we felt we were ready to take on the carnage of the RS Ball in Gosport. The Socials and racing in Poole Bay were the highlight of the season. After a rusty start to the week we managed to sneak a 12th on one of the windy days and came away with big smiles all around. After a great year we decided to swap our slightly flamboyant bright pink boat for one which hopefully won’t draw quite so much attention next year!		©Brian Starr and Lee on Solent Sailing Club
A round up of this years results
Final results – 2007 nationals, Parkstone YC 1. Paul Hilliar and Stu Jagger 2. Neal and Paul Freeman 3. Tom Halhead and Christian Thompson 4. Dave Jones and Mark Hogan 5. Nick Lowe and Elaine Marsh 6. Paul and Mike Allen 7. Jon Gorringe and Roger O’Gorman 8. Dave Exley and Chris Bassett 9. Chris Hogan and June Riley 10. Phil Jackson and Gerard Barron		©Brian Starr and Lee on Solent Sailing Club
2007 circuit results 1st – gold Paul Hilliar and Stu Jagger 2nd – gold Tom Halhead and Christian Humphrey 3rd – gold Paul Allen and Mike Allen 4th – gold Dave Jones and Mark Hogan 5th – gold Nick Lowe and Elaine Marsh 6th – gold Chris Hogan and many crews 1st – silver Howard Farbrother and Louise Hosken 2nd – silver James George and Matt Forbes 3rd – silver Fiona Bolt and Iain Lewis 4th – silver John Cooper and Becci Wigely 5th – silver Sam Parker and Anna Ludgate 6th – silver Neil Peacock and many crews		©Brian Starr and Lee on Solent Sailing Club
2007 Eurocup results 1st Ian Robson and Sandy Johnson 2nd Bill and Lynda Handley 3rd Leighton King and Richard Brown 4th Giles and Heather Chipperfield 5th = Howard Farbrother and Louise Hosken 5th = Jono Shelley and Chris Blackburn		© RS Association archives
2007 club championships results 1st Richard Gray and Nathan Pinch 2nd Pete and Alicia Bennett 3rd John Wayling and Peter Warnes 4th Jim Lowden and Louise Hosken 5th Rob and Liz Jones 6th Fiona Bolt and Iain Lewis Top club – Queen Mary Sailing Club		©Anthony York@chunkypics
Introduction to the nationals venue for 2008 – Exe Sailing Club, Exmouth
Sailing time to race area 25-50 mins depending on wind strength and direction Exe is the home of the 400, designed by Phil Morrison (your PRO) in Exmouth, plug made 300 yards from club; all test sailing undertaken in estuary. Club has fantastic bar with excellent balcony overlooking the estuary, ideal for evening Pimms as the sun goes down. Club organises very cheap camping at the rugby club ground, half a mile from club. Ladies of club lay on the best cakes in the country when you come ashore! The 200's loved the club so much they have booked to go back in 2011		©Anna Ludgate
Downside is that the clubs car park is the dinghy park so there is no parking at club. The club is surrounded by private roads with severe parking restrictions with a private company that clamps anything that does not move, ask Roger Gilbert. So you either need parking where you stay or buy week ticket for rugby club – but apparently not expensive. Plenty of self catering accommodation within easy walk of clubhouse, go through www.sweetcombe-ch.co.uk  for the ones that are literally a stones throw (team Wales and me have done so watch out). Town centre includes a very good curry house, Chinese restaurant with eat all you can buffet and two night clubs, one very dodgy ideal for final night! Best place for breakfast - the quay cafe just over harbour bridge, 7 mins walk from club £4.50 the full works. Best pub - The Beach. Worst - The dear leap, avoid like the plaque unless you like laughing at chavs. Purple Marine have already committed to a similar sail deal to last year!
Paul Hilliar – ten things to look for in a crew The most important things: 1) Ability to hand out good natured abuse to other crews 2) Ability to get served quickly at the bar 3) Skilled at feeding grumpy helm continually until no longer grumpy 4) The ability to count the number of laps you have sailed, combined with the ability to remember the number of laps that was written on the side of the committe boat 5) Ability to organise the chaos left by the helms (lack of) preparations into something sane and sensible
And on a more serious note: 1) Find someone who has the same goals as you. This is by far the most important thing to look for. If you don't have this then you are in for a really difficult helm&crew relationship 2) Being really keen is so way better than being good to start with. If you are good but not keen then you will never improve. If you are keen and ambitious then you will keep getting better. 3) Between the two of you, you should be capable of being between 22.5 and 26 stone, if you want to be competitive in all conditions (this is roughly the weight range of at least the last 8 nationals winners). 4) Sailing with someone who lives locally to you makes a zillion things easier. There are so many times when it is handy to be passing your sailing partner's door. 5) I have seen several partnerships falter or fail because helms turned to crewing. If your crew is also a helm, make sure that he/she really is happy to crew (and have less direct control over the destiny of the boat) ©Chris Gowers		©Elaine Marsh/Fotoboat
RS400 sailors at the Endeavour 2007 The fleet was very well represented at the Endeavour this year with fleet sailors winning the event as well as featuring in a number of positions. Congratulations to you all! Results: Steve Tylecote – 1st helm – RS400 crew Toby Lewis – 1st crew – RS400 supercrew Nick Craig – 3rd helm – RS400 helm Roger Gilbert – 2nd helm – RS400 helm James Stewart – 2nd crew – RS400 supercrew Elaine Marsh – 4th crew – top female RS400 crew Mark Hogan – 5th crew – RS400 crew Paul Hilliar – 11th helm – RS400 helm Stu Jagger – 11th crew – RS400 crew If I’ve missed anyone else – then apologies! A short word from Toby on the Endeavour: “it was a honor to win crewing with Steve, a race I've always wanted to take part in and the fact that Nick and Roger have won it so much in the past and have come from the RS400's goes to show that its bred some good sailors”. Toby also said that now he’s in the 200 fleet sailing with James Stewart, he loves both the fleets and looks forward to the shared events! He’s hoping the nationals dates don’t clash in 2009 (working in a school and having a 7 week summer holiday each year…) – can show all us crews how to hike properly!		©Yachts and Yachting archives
Sail 4 cancer - an introduction Sail 4 Cancer is a charity that helps people living with cancer, offering respite in the form of sailing opportunities both here in the UK and abroad. Sail 4 Cancer understands that it is not only the patient who struggles with cancer. Watching loved ones undergo aggressive treatment with distressing side affects, whilst remaining strong and positive can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Sail 4 Cancer offers respite for ALL those affected by the disease. During 2007 Sail 4 Cancer was able to offer over 1,000 sailing days during the year and our plans for 2008 are to expand the UK sailing programme and be able to offer over 1,250 sailing days, helping over 700 individuals. Sail 4 Cancer is working on a new and exciting sailing programme to help more individuals than ever before, giving them the chance to take on new challenges to rebuild their confidence and future. To do this we NEED YOUR HELP! from fundraising and spreading the word. So get involved in Tea by the Sea our fundraising challenges or if you would just like to give up some time to help us organise our fundraising events then please get in contact. ehuddert@sail4cancer.org Thank you for all your support. Emma Huddert Sailing and Events Manager		©Sail 4 Cancer archives
"We have just returned from a wonderful family holiday on the Greek island of Lemnos. This holiday was made possible by the generosity of Sail 4 Cancer and we want to thank you all most sincerely for enabling our family to have such a memorable time together. Our daughter Caroline has been regarded as terminally ill since September 2005. Since then our entire focus has been on looking for a way forward and to support and help her with the magnificent fight she has put up. Our Neilson’s holiday gave us all much needed respite and relaxation. It was wonderful to watch Caroline take part in windsurfing, snorkeling, swimming, tennis, cycling and fitness classes – it was like seeing the Caroline of old. We all feel revived and ready, once again, to carry on with the fight. Thank you so much for giving us this very special opportunity and many precious memories. With best wishes to you all at Sail 4 Cancer. Long may your wonderful work continue." John and Evelyn.
Top tips for Garda
1. Do leave the UK with multimap and multimap only (Mr Cooper and Ms Wigley) – when you get to Fussen, multimap will know exactly what to do 2. Do sleep in a lorry car park in your car between two refrigerated lorries (Mr Parker and Ms Ludgate) 3. Do look for fantastic hotel deals with the english-italian language barrier (Mr and Mrs Chipperfield) 4. Do try and catch a motorcyclist between the van and the stacker on a motorway (Mr Davies) 5. Do come out just for the social – and then get forced to sail (Mr Callaghan) 6. Do drive in circles around Germany looking for the hotel you have booked rather than making a beeline for Italy (Mr Farbrother and Ms Hosken) and then find it full of freaky teddy bears 7. Do sleep outside the Loch Ness Pub (Mr Herriot) and outside the Oca bar (Mr Parker) ©Anna Ludgate		©Ian Jubb of Sailboat Deliveries
On a more sensible note, there are many routes and choices of accommodation. Booking early pays and watch out for the guaranteed route planning chat on yahoo groups and for stackers that still have space, or contact Pippa and Jubby and Sailboat Deliveries. Racing is in the afternoon when the ora blows so it’s all very civilised. 2 races a day and this year we’ve been promised to separate courses as well as help with launching.
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