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For all those who attended the Dinghy Show we were taking a survey to find out which direction the sailing public wanted the boat’s design to go in. The results in favour so far are:

This survey is not yet over. If you were unable to come to the show to have your say then please feel free to answer the questions using the survey form here. We are still getting some great input from sailors and interested parties. Mark Jardine showed me how windsurfers used to use a daggerboard that swivelled under the boat – (like a centreboard) for balance or when it hit the bottom. Interestingly, it also negates the need for the slot gasket – as the board always fills the case. I wonder if it will be 100% positive for those who preferred the centreboard or daggerboard? More on that to follow.

Two and a half hours from the scheduled start time and one race completed.  It was not a great start for the Stokes Bay Laser Qualifier.  Many were loosing the will to live as we bounced around on the water, listening to our sails flap off £5 notes, waiting for a start.  With three fleets – (one standard and two radial) and a tidal stream that was taking the sailors over the start line it was always going to be a difficult day on the water.  Thank goodness I was wearing a Shin Tech Long John;  Nick Thompson reminded me that it was the warmest hiking garment he had so I put one on as I knew we were going to get cold.  I also wore a PolyPro Top and legs, Hot Top, Aquafleece®, Semi Dry Top, Neck Gaiter, Beanie, Wet Socks and Hike Boots.    With 15 – 25 knots and 8 degrees air temp and 5.5 degrees water temp I was toasty while sailing, but sitting around for up to 70 mins for a start was pretty uncomfortable.  Perhaps the Laser Class should consider a trapezoid course with a beat finish, using a rib to take finishers;  this might reduce the numbers of NYF that have to be resolved at the end of day.  On that point I heard one really good idea – why not film the finish?  A digital camera is not expensive.   The separate windward finish will allow the RO to concentrate on getting the races off.  I am also sure that the volunteers would also have liked to be wrapped up in the bar with a hot toddy earlier rather than waiting for the whole race sequence with recalls – three times over.

Perhaps the sailors know what to expect with our RO.  Perhaps they are now complacent?  One start with i flag – general recall is the standard practice.  One start with the black flag – and a couple of numbers, perhaps those who were behaving in the first start are now desperate not to get rolled off the start line this time – opps.

I think the days of the triangle sausage and one boat to start and finish all three fleets are over – or the sailors might vote with their feet.

I have been shown current flow diagrams that sailors use to show strength and direction.  They are generally confusing, especially for me.  However, I have developed a set of rules for sailing and coaching on the South Coast that have stood me in good stead for 20 years.  They are simple – and require the sailor to use his observance at the same time to look for the changes that will influence the decision making.

Understanding the current flow at a South Coast Venue such as Stokes Bay is a key part in understanding tidal flow and tide at Hayling Island, the venue for the Laser Masters and Laser World Championships – more to follow on this blog in the future….

Back to Stokes Bay:

You can work it out on the water in a snip if you remember the following thought process

1.   Current fills the South Coast from the West – so current flows generally Easterly as the water comes up the beach.

2.  The flow starts to go out to the west – 2 hours before high water on the beach.

3.  In fact – this early ebb on the water can happen up to an hour earlier in the shallow water of the bay than in the deep water in the channel.

How you interpret this information is another story.  I have written an article  for Yachts and yachting about tidal sailing which I should drag out of the bookcase and put it in this blog – or perhaps on our hints and tips page.

We have nearly recovered from the Dinghy Show. The stores are back together, the staff are a little tired but satisfied at a job well done. The RYA Volvo Dinghy Show (yes I had to say the whole phrase to the camera on Saturday) is just the most awesome show for dinghy fanatics in the World. I am sure we should recruit more sailors from abroad.

Our stand was in a new position, near the middle of the Main Hall. The RPX was tucked around the back of the stand with a Graduate and a Rooster 8.1 on Saturday – we moved the Graduate into the front space on Sunday as the crowds were going to reduce slightly. There was always a steady stream of interested sailors wanting to discuss RPX. The biggest contention from some was the price. They could not believe we could make the boat for that amount. Those that viewed from a distance might not have seen that we are still in the prototype phase but those who choose to listen to me rattling on for 10 minutes at a time were openly encouraging. Some have said that it was a mistake to take the boat to the show as it is clearly just a block of Polystyrene at the moment, but my assessment was that those who came to see it were keen to talk and went away with a clearer picture of our objectives and how we are going to achieve them. 

I was away from the stand leading the Posture Coaching Session which was interesting as many sailors suffered from Hiking Problems. Many of them had not found our article on
hiking styles and related hiking pain.

As the show closed we had our obligatory pre breakdown pizza delivery as we watched the breakdown with interest. Lots of busy enthusiastic sailors doing what they do best, moving boats and equipment. I still can’t see why this show is not on the World Stage. I don’t think there is a better show for Dinghy Sailing in the World.

Countdown to the best Dinghy Show in the World…..  We have just finished building the show stand – from flooring, structure, shelving, lighting, computers, three cash tills with bar code scanning and three boats on the stand; the RPX (Rooster Project X), Graduate and Rooster 8.1.  The fourth boat we brought is the Streaker which is on the Class Association stand.  Lots to see and discuss on our stand.  Just to make life a little more hectic I am also doing a short coaching session in the Coaching Area at 12:45.

Before you visit the stand, you might want to take advantage of a £10 voucher when you subscribe to the Dinghy Magazine, redeemable at Rooster over the weekend against clothing or sails.  Every little helps!

If you are coming – look out for the Rooster Stand – we in the Main Hall in the middle- ish – perhaps more towards the rose window than the organ end – but you can’t miss us – its the biggest stand.   If you are not coming, have a great sail.

1.    With Rooster’s RPX prototype will be on the Rooster Sailing stand and still much in the air with its final presentation, come and speak to Steve Cockerill and put your gripe to him about dinghy designs.   With 12 months more development work planned for this new class, Steve is keen to get your feedback on the boat’s concepts, pricing and positioning in the dinghy market.  Enter the questionnaire at the show and get a chance to win £100 of Rooster Clothing in the process.  Also for the geek’s out there you can also see a new Sea Sure Joint on the Rudder stock of the RPX – which has been developed by Sea Sure to reduce the mass of the tiler joint and make it safer so you don’t need tape to hold the extension on.  It certainly looks sleeker.
2.    The Battle of the Classes Winning Graduate is on the Rooster Stand showing that old classes can be revived and give youngsters a taste of competitive sailing.   Take a look at Phil Morrison’s makeover of the class. I still can’t forget the fun I had sailing at that event.  I am longing to get back in a two man boat and pass of some knowledge  :-)
3.    There are now over 450  Rooster 8.1 rigs sold around the world.  It is sailed largely used by club sailors looking for a little more power on light wind days.  Its National Championships in 2009 attracted 34 sailors and is set for another exciting event this Autumn.  Current planning is to race the event at London Corinthian on the weekend of the 20th, 21st of November 2010.   What a spectacle, 40  8.1 rigs sailing around central London.  It could be a scream!
4.    The Rooster Streaker on the Streaker Stand (sadly there was not enough room on the Rooster Stand this year)  has now one of  53 made in the last 18 months.  This is a lightweight club racer that is drawing a wide appeal from Men and Ladies of all sizes.  Don’t miss out on the Classes Competition which could win you some Rooster Clothing and much more.  While you are at the stand – ask if you can actually pick one up.  You will be shocked!  Jack Holt designed it when he did not have the energy to pull a Solo out of the water.  Its lightness is the appeal to me.  Whatever you do is transmitted to the boat with instant results.

The Rooster Sail Loft have got some incredible prices and deals at the RYA Dinghy Show and more developments to report:

1.    10% off Rooster sails ordered at the show including numbers fitted, battens, bags and free shipping*.  Do you need any more incentive?
2.,    Both the Rooster Streaker (streaker stand)  and Rooster Graduate (Graduate Stand)  will be on show with National Championship winning sails.
3.    Recent Rooster Sailloft developments will also be on show: we have a new Solo sail on the Rooster developed gust responsive Superspars M9/Rooster Trilaminate all Mylar Rig which will be on show on the Solo stand during the weekend.  Stuart Jones’ Contender will also be displaying a Rooster sail which he has helped develop for the 2010 season – again with some very recent tweaks for the coming season.

* Free shipping to UK mainland except Highlands and Islands.

1.    A  Trapeze Harness – Take a look at Rooster’s recently developed Trapeze Harness – its a revolutionary design in comfort – come and try it on.
2.    More ‘In the Pink’ Range – Now with Pink Semi Dry Tops, Aqualfeeces®, Beanie Hats and Neck Gaiters – we are ready for those who want to be in the Pink.
3.    Do you want HOT HANDS?  We can show you the recent development in gloves – With our new product Hot Hands and Arctic Gloves.  Both utilise our hot top fabric which make a huge difference in warmth retention – I can definitely confirm that after wearing one liner at the weekend in 5 degrees and 20 knots.  Hot Hands are a glove liner so you can add them to grip gloves of your choice  – perhaps even our new super thin grip gloves might be the answer; and our Arctic Gloves are a combination of hot hands and Aquafleece® gloves in one.  You never need to have cold or clutsey hands again.  They are so new – we hope to have  a sample size range to show you at the show.  Main stock arrives by the end of March.

We knew that the Thermaflex was a great garment for keeping you cool out of the water – and even better for keeping you warm in it, but now we have proof.  Under recent tests a team of Navy Seals ran 6 miles in Mediterranean Conditions and then went straight into the water for a series of diving drills.  The Thermaflex came up tops for coolness above the water and warmth in it.
This garment has been well received by many sailors on foreign trips away; I used it on its own in Australia, South Korea and with a wind protection layer such as an Aquafleece on typical summer days in the UK.  But its also loved for its ability to be great in cold conditions too, by just adding a Poly Pro thermal under it to keep the cooling Lycra inner layer away from the skin – then you can use the thermal insulating properties of the super-stretch fabric to keep you warm.