Dinghy fleets in Plymouth

   Brookesy
I don't think I said I didn't want other classes?
If you want to race in Plymouth, the only suitable start is the monthly Sunday Mayflower SC races during the summer, which are open to anyone, turn up pay £5.00 for 2 races back to back. There is also the POP regatta coming up, which I unfortunately can't make, cause it clashes with a B14 TT at Starcross, and the rest of the races are Mon - Wed evenings which I can't get to my boat in time due to work + traffic. 
Apart from that there is nothing suitable for a FD or anyone else in a fast dinghy, which is a huge shame as mentioned previously as the overall sailing conditions favour boats on the faster end of the spectrum.  
Can you broadreach your FD in a force 4-5 with the kite up for 5 to 10 minutes without running out of water at Roadford? On the GPS we're regularly hitting 9 -11 knts upwind and 19 to 21+ knts downwind. Only Plymouth Sound is large enough ( and empty enough ) to enable you to steadily achieve these speeds for minutes at a time.
The Plymouth dinghy scene, has been killed by the overenthusiastic pricing of boat parking and club membership fees.
RodB 

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RodB Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 01 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 75	Post Options Post Reply Quote RodB Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Dinghy fleets in Plymouth Posted: 24 Jun 08 at 1:56pm
	Brookesy I don't think I said I didn't want other classes? If you want to race in Plymouth, the only suitable start is the monthly Sunday Mayflower SC races during the summer, which are open to anyone, turn up pay £5.00 for 2 races back to back. There is also the POP regatta coming up, which I unfortunately can't make, cause it clashes with a B14 TT at Starcross, and the rest of the races are Mon - Wed evenings which I can't get to my boat in time due to work + traffic. Apart from that there is nothing suitable for a FD or anyone else in a fast dinghy, which is a huge shame as mentioned previously as the overall sailing conditions favour boats on the faster end of the spectrum. Can you broadreach your FD in a force 4-5 with the kite up for 5 to 10 minutes without running out of water at Roadford? On the GPS we're regularly hitting 9 -11 knts upwind and 19 to 21+ knts downwind. Only Plymouth Sound is large enough ( and empty enough ) to enable you to steadily achieve these speeds for minutes at a time. The Plymouth dinghy scene, has been killed by the overenthusiastic pricing of boat parking and club membership fees. RodB

brookesy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 04 Mar 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 48	Post Options Post Reply Quote brookesy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jun 08 at 2:48pm
	I agree with you wholeheartedly Rod boat parking and membership fees have been instumental in driving away dinghies. It just seemed an interesting concept to have a SW fast dinghy series but I suppose as you say POP etc may go some way towards that. Regarding your 10 minute broadreaches I would agree we do not have that much room at Roadford, but I think you underestimate our size all the same,at over 700 acres, Datchet is only a few acres larger, and we do manage to lay some decent courses, certainly our assymetric fleet which includes K6, I14, RS800, laser 5000 Vareo and Buzz seem to stretch themselves. I would happily sail from a Plymouth club as I have done in the past but the cost and hassle far outwieghs the advantages at this moment in time, So as I said I will keep my boat where it is and travell when the need takes me. .
	Finn GBR74