A Facebook poll to see who wants to go to the Nationals has been started. I you want to be added and like me won't do Facebook try a get someone to add your name if you can..
Ivan 1454

17 June RSWC posted that they hope to be able to host events as restrictions are eased - 2 metre social distancing is difficult


July  4 English Covid guidelines reduce social distancing to 1 metre plus - thus making mixed Andromeda            (RO boat) and rib crewing possible

            Single-handers on open water with dinghy park precautions  doesn't breach guidelines

            UK Gov has always acknowledged that exercise is beneficial to


nb RYA are continually adapting their guidance

           

Briefings in September can be done in groups of less than 30 in the area adjacent to the clubhouse


Briefings and site specific Covid info could be shared via Youtube perhaps


Compromise measures may include not racing in the Bay when winds exceed 17 knots


Allocate a designated buddy to assist with launching/recovering & trolleys - fortunately Rock has easy launching and plenty of beach head space

I believe the RYA are to review their guidance tomorrow so we should see what that says. Rock are keen to hold it so all looking positive to me !!
Ivan 1454

RYA guidelines say max groups of 30. The way I see it outside sport is allowed and it's within the rules to use your own judgement and on that basis if Rock are happy to run it then it should go ahead or we find try another venue that would like the income and prestige of holding a Phantom nationals. Football is now on with no crowd but there must be around 100 people at least to put matches on. Same goes for horse racing. And mass protests and street parties are also allowed so a 50 or 60 single hander a couple of miles out at sea is not going to break any rules I know of. Also before anyone brings it up rescue is allowed RNLI do it so do RAC and AA. We could even put a max wind strength rule to show a bit of compromise in the circumstances F4 max maybe...
I think unless it a yes to nationals going ahead we should give it until the end of July cos by then we will know if all the idiots not behaving have caused a big second wave and we have another lockdown and no choice anyway.
Cheers all
Ivan 1454

For the Nationals to go ahead at Rock would be a nice present please...
Young Ivan
1454

setting current guidelines to one side for a mo.
I was encouraged to note just now that both RSWC and B14 websites presently have the combined euros\nats event still scheduled for early September.
but if Covid does prevent Rock then Phantoms won't have an open sea nationals for at least two years 😥

We were hoping to start club racing 4th July but now not looking likely.
I am sure were all hoping Boris will ease things a bit more then you see images like Bournemouth beach and news of the Leicester patch. Not good

Current government guidelines state you cannot organise events of more then 6 people - this would include the race committee in an event - as such regardless of any social bubbles currently its grey area but a no go and would still be regardless of when we took entries

Based on today's news its looking even less likely by the day but is forever changing, but there has to be a cut off

Happy birthday Ivan 'The Belgian' Walsh

60 years OLD today 🎂 !!!

Thanks Ivan. I stuck my hand up when a foreign event came up at the nationals, and would consider anything that there are decent numbers at and lasts long enough to be worth the journey. Medemblik is definitely an easier proposition than Garda - for those of us who have a long day's travel to get to a point we can leave these islands from. For anyone else without facebook, the Medemblik date is 2-6 June 2021.

In other news, if the committee are looking for late season events that are a fair distance to travel, East Lothian YC are considering dates in September and October in the hope we can rearrange our 2020 regatta. Only six needed for a fleet start, and though it is a shared course the ROs are getting slicker at keeping the fleets apart using long trapezoids with loops in them.

I suspect it will be too close to the nationals for most (if either event actually happens), but it would be nice to show the Scottish solo traveller fleet what they are missing up close. It is a fine bit of water/family holiday destination, just with a bit of a lack of van parking/camping right near the club (loads of vans at the other end of the prom in most years)...

I don't think any of the proposed 2 day events on the Northern circuit for this year are still a possibility, but hard to tell as they only use facebook. It's a shame for me but most of the regular Northern sailors prefer one day events, it seems.

All of which is a roundabout way of saying I'm keen to do some sailing somewhere with lots of phantoms, so put me on the list in brackets, for now.

Jon

Thanks Chris. Sounds like there could be another schism in the fleet to me. Mine currently has three of the forged shackles bolted to the mast foot fitting, to spread the load. P&B put them there when replacing my chewed up old mast foot deck fitting, as that was what the Northampton folk were doing at the time. It does mean that two of the three purchases are further forward (and so closer to the outhaul).

My current thoughts were either new floating blocks with a dyneema attachment (so it can be extended), or just adding in soft shackles to move all of the existing kit aft a bit, given I can tie my own.

The other thing is about whether it is better to have the kicker pulling the boom towards the deck or the mast I guess? I'm sure I've read something about this, but can't remember the pros and cons. I'm also still trying to break your old superspars carbon treetrunk, in case anyone wants to enlighten me and that makes a difference.

Hope you are getting out on the water.

Jon