2020 Dinghy Show

Well I thought it was very much as usual. Nothing exciting. Lots of plastic things diluting the classes yet more and making newbies think you have to spend a fortune to go sailing. The absence of a lot of class associations was noticeable - money is better spent elsewhere. Dougal's interesting history of sailing and Mike Mac's rig talk were enjoyable - Mike changed it this year by breaking the RS200 mid talk! Bought new kit at decent prices after trying on several pairs of boots at different suppliers stalls (can't do that online). Best part was catching up with several friends we haven't seen since last summer's events.

Edited by patj - 01 Mar 20 at 8:36am

London may not be central but at least it is a rail hub. 

Originally posted by Do Different London may not be central but at least it is a rail hub.  Farnborough?

It's perfect! Reduced travelling from our offices for the RYA.

Oh! You mean for visitors, well.............

As a pond sailor from the midlands this is not a good move and I can see me bothering to go next year . 

Well I've done Ally Pally 3 times. First by train in a day. Was a long trip. We didn't buy much gear - had to carry it home. Second by car connected to buying a boat. Can't remember what gear we bought. There was a hotel stay.

Third this weekend. Could have been a day trip if ECML wasn't planned closed. But we made a weekend of it and we to a show last night before a return train journey that took twice as long as Friday night.. what "thee wee man" wanted and what I wanted were very different things. He wanted to go on simulators and trapeze and pull up spinny on cadets etc. I wanted to look at gear. Try stuff on. If I'd had a chance I'd have gone back today. I wonder if there are Sunday afternoon bargains to save taking stock back.

I suspect people travelling by train don't want to carry big stuff.

Franbrough is further by train for me (time).. not sure if I can split it to stay somewhere on Friday night. Or what else is nearby as extra activities.

*If* it meant the classes that have stopped attending (e.g. for cost) can now attend that may be no bad thing. Mirror class not there (although there was a mirror on a stand). *If* the model yacht pond was a tad bigger. *If* the (missing) chandlers felt it didn't cost so much to bring stock in etc... It may be a better venue. I certainly would not fancy having to tow my boat to AllyPally to display...

If there was outside space - might you get a 'classified' adds section? Am I dreaming? Maybe even a 'jumble' chucked in too?

Not sure what more can be done in terms of activities...