Icon Class Association

Last call for the Icon CA 'Try-an-Icon' day at Burghfield SC tomorrow - SATURDAY 29th March.

We have set the air temperature up a few notches to a 'comfortable' setting and ordered a nice breeze that should be great for those who want to explore a bit of the Icon potential like planeing upwind and "'is it really that fast" ... but not so much it should prove more than enjoyable.  Even a bit of sunshine will be supplied FOC.

The club will be fully open with childrens play area and a decent indoor viewing area and canteen facilities on tap.  We are getting going from late morning - and will have at least 4 boats available to try. 

Mike and Charlotte Bell of the CA who will be there are organising things (returning  from 'some snow somewhere' in Europe in the early hours they say) so if you want more details in the meantime contact me via Cirrus - or simply turn-up) 

Yes ... Greame of course you are invited as well ! 

Mike L.  


Edited by blaze720 - 28 Mar 14 at 10:44am

Greame

Never mind .. we'll just have to come along to your local 'do' in a few weeks/months time with a couple of boats.  If that does not work due to other CA driven  demos we can lend you an Icon  or two anyway if they are not committed elsewhere ...

We'll talk soon enough anyway I'm sure .... But you will be missing an interesting day tomorrow.

Mike L. 

Originally posted by jeffers Looks like I might be trying an Icon tomorrow...any tips?

Pointy end goes first.

There wasn't a lot of wind when we tried it (would have liked to get there today) but I can't think of any tricks that are any less basic than the above. A very simple boat, that felt just right.

I guess getting the jib stick sorted, but 5 minutes of playing should see that right, though I'm sure racing the boat sees a lot more subtlety to it.

Those who made it today got a real taste of what Icon really is about.  It was pretty breezy for much of the day and frankly for this sort of day we would have preferred less .... but it was an awful lot of fun and the visitors there and a few local 'Icon virgins' had a ball.   Despite the very obvious speed of the boats and gusty nature of the wind not one of them capsized even once ...  errrm even if a few of you did push the boundaries here - yes we were watching !

The worst incident ?  A lost halyard up a mast ... so well done to all of you !   We are making a couple of the boats available tommorow as well .. so if any of you out there still want to try Icon this weekend .. but in a much more suitable moderate 10mph or so forecast for Sunday either just turn up at Burghfield SC and/or contract Mike or Charlotte Bell of the CA if you want to chat details with someone.  We will still be providing sun and warmth FOC of course.   They will be made available from around mid-day on a first come basis but we will endevour to get all interested into the boats for a decent period of time.

Tom Gruitt was there today and as well as sailing  Icon took quite a number of photos from both rescue boat and the shore ... we are yet to see them but they should be good and will post a couple here if he is happy for that.

Mike L.


Edited by blaze720 - 29 Mar 14 at 6:10pm

Had a stunning first test sail of the Icon today at Burghfield in a gusty 15kts, with high gusts of around 20kts. Struggled at times with my somewhat diminutive wife crewing, but off-wind performance in particular was breathtaking. This boat most definitely has to be sailed to be believed, and to fully appreciate the all-round capabilities.

Thanks to everyone who helped with the day, particularly Mike L, Mike and Charlotte Bell and Simon Beddows, not to mention Tom Gruitt the photographer.