Dinghy Show

   I chatted to many, many people on stands where I only had a passing interest, and found them all happy to talk about their boats and sailing in general, the RS stand included. I missed the Devoti stand because of time constraints with spending time manning to Lightning stand, but I'm sure they would have been happy to chat too, especially at a quiet time of day, from my experience of those I've met before.

I hope the Lightning stand was equally welcoming.

On the broader issue of what the show is actually for, I confess, I don't have a clue. Seems a lot of effort to go to just so I can bump into old friends and have a good old gossip!

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Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Dinghy Show Posted: 01 Mar 15 at 9:38pm
	I chatted to many, many people on stands where I only had a passing interest, and found them all happy to talk about their boats and sailing in general, the RS stand included. I missed the Devoti stand because of time constraints with spending time manning to Lightning stand, but I'm sure they would have been happy to chat too, especially at a quiet time of day, from my experience of those I've met before. I hope the Lightning stand was equally welcoming. On the broader issue of what the show is actually for, I confess, I don't have a clue. Seems a lot of effort to go to just so I can bump into old friends and have a good old gossip!
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Null Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 May 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 745	Post Options Post Reply Quote Null Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 15 at 9:37pm
	David, that's a bit unfair. From a zero perspective, we had class association members manning the stand on both days. I was there Saturday we had about 4 class members on the stand at anyone time, with Dan Holman around to field questions and Rodney on the Devoti stand. I was talking to someone virtually all day. The stand was frankly rediculously busy. In fact I have never worked on a stand at the show like it! So saying couldn't be bothered is frankly wrong! I was up at 5 am to get to the show, I didn't walk around I worked as did the other volunteers. I can't comment on the rs commercial stand, but we were like I say a class if volunteers and I know how hard everyone worked.

davidyacht Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1345	Post Options Post Reply Quote davidyacht Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 15 at 8:57pm
	Went to the Dinghy Show on Saturday, had a pleasant enough time and met a few old friends and picked up my copy of Real Magic, a serious labour of love by Dougal. However I struggle to determine what the current format of the show is trying to achieve? Generally the traditional (independent) class stands are manned by the regular class enthusiasts, nothing wrong with this, and it most of the visitors appear to be equally partisan class aficionados. The OEM classes were displaying their ranges on "me too" products, which hardly warranted more than a cursory glance, because there is not much point looking at a strict one design if you have seen it once before. Strangely the two classes that I could be seen to be in the target market for, the Aero and the D-zero made no effort to engage with me or my mate... But there you go. Anyway my real problem with the show was how difficult it must be for somebody looking to take up the sport of dinghy racing to engage with what is going on ... Everyone seems to be so wrapped up in there own little bit at the top of the pyramid, that they are completely missing the base. By the way, my votes for the most affable and engaging people on stands go to the Hornets and the National 18s, they seemed to be keen to talk to those outside of their class, not sure if I will ever sail either, but they raised their profile in my eyes. I will start a new thread on where I see the RYA in all of this...
	Happily living in the past

Jack Sparrow Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 08 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2965	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jack Sparrow Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 15 at 9:26am
	Making space for the new composite hulls!...
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x1testpilot Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Posting king Joined: 11 Feb 11 Location: Ealing Online Status: Offline Posts: 175	Post Options Post Reply Quote x1testpilot Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 15 at 11:14pm
	by x1martin, on Flickr 50 shades of grey? Pull the grey string!!!
	I like to take pictures of sailing, but I'd rather be sailing! LCSC.org.uk Xdinghies.com/ X0 & X1

craiggo Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 01 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1810	Post Options Post Reply Quote craiggo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 15 at 11:12pm
	I tend to go for a few years then have a break for a few. Definitely looking forward to tomorrow and my stint on the Grad stand. Edited by craiggo - 28 Feb 15 at 11:13pm

sargesail Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 14 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1459	Post Options Post Reply Quote sargesail Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 15 at 10:43pm
	I took a 25 year break until last year - and it still felt samey. Loads of boats in a big hall or two. The same people - some of them wearing exactly the same clothes (OK I made that bit up). Plus a few younger ones. And it was great, just great. Going tomorrow.

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 15 at 9:59pm
	I think you can only go to the show for so many years before it does indeed get samey. I've taken a break for a few years but might go tomorrow. Edited by JimC - 28 Feb 15 at 10:00pm

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 15 at 8:49pm
	Overall I thought the show was a bit 'samey' as the last few years, but still enjoyable. I did like the Whisper cat - looked very cool and amazing 38kg for both hulls and beams! I don't know whether Moth type foils is the way to go for cats, but it did look space age. Traffic on the north circular was okay and food at the show was reasonably priced too. There's never enough time to chat to everyone. My 7 yo liked the Cherub, the 9yo the purple 300, and Mrs Peaky chose the quite enormous N20, which makes a Tornado seem small.

getafix Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 28 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2143	Post Options Post Reply Quote getafix Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 15 at 6:16pm
	So, any good this year?