Grafham Cat open will be the 18th and 19th Oct 2008.
NOR and SI's etc should be up on the Grafham site soon.
IF we can get 8+ boats we can get our own prizes, I think the following are planning to come
Probable:
1, Simon 553 2, John Alani 538 3, Paul Alani 527 4, Paul Warren 801 5, Jeff 545 6, John Terry 556 7, Pepin 515
Maybe:
1, Mark P 555 2, Wayne Richards 506 3, Nick More 505 4, David Tugwell
We will be sailing as part of the single handed Chamionship and will be starting first of 4 starts (F18's, Spitfires and Handicap follow)
3 races per day, back-to-back (First one not before 12:00 Saturday, Sunday not before 10:30, aiming for an early prizegiving so those travelling can gat away quickly).
There will be free sailing on Friday for those the pre-enter.
Saturday night there will be a meal, not yet sure of the cost or menu.
We will be showing Various sailing videos on the big screen in the club; hopefully Ishares and Skiffs etc.
Oh, and the bar will be open, late Hopefully.
Can people please indicate of they are planning to come....
Add me to the probable, sail 515. I'll be the one in the back of the fleet with my small main <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Re: Grafham cat open 18th and 19th Oct 2008
[Re: pepin]
#153955 09/03/0812:24 PM09/03/0812:24 PM
Dumb question from the newbie: shall I get my boat measured? All the NOR always include some verbiage about a measurement certificate, and frankly nobody seems to care. Are your boats, sails, mast, all measured? By whom? Do we care?
Re: Grafham cat open 18th and 19th Oct 2008
[Re: pdwarren]
#153958 09/03/0804:56 PM09/03/0804:56 PM
We have been mustering some interest at Datchet. I think you can add to the probables:
Wayne Nick David B Me (David T) Nigel
I think that makes 13. I have yet to talk to Graham and we have a new boat arriving soon (John) but as yet have not spoken to him. So possibly another 2 as well? Best get those prizes ordered.....
Re: Grafham cat open 18th and 19th Oct 2008
[Re: davidtugwell]
#153961 09/08/0801:00 PM09/08/0801:00 PM
We have been mustering some interest at Datchet. I think you can add to the probables:
Wayne Nick David B Me (David T) Nigel
I think that makes 13. I have yet to talk to Graham and we have a new boat arriving soon (John) but as yet have not spoken to him. So possibly another 2 as well? Best get those prizes ordered.....
We are not starting and racing with you guys I know but there with be a smattering of Spitfires coming to the Grafham Open this year. Five from eastbourne certainly maybe 2 or 3 dart16s too(yes some do race!)Dont like the really really sticky stickers we have to put on the hulls to identify ourselves as Spitfires though! Despite the fact they are yucky green (and really really sticky)we have a 2foot spitfire logo on all the hulls near the bow anyway!
We always enjoy Grafham, even last year with no wind! Here is some advice about no wind opens Last year we hired bikes on Sat and rode round the reservoir and Sun we invaded Cambridge and went Punting! This proved to be highly entertaining as we made rubbish progress down the river. I lost my stick, and it turned into a race. In the seniors punt we had been leading the race obviously making good use of our pole and paddle, until some Chinese boat people rammed us and headed us off towards the bank. Desperate measures were called for as Ricky in the youngsters boat punted past us. We were wedged against some fallen branches and the race looked lost. Then we saw it, floating just under the surface, a dead squirrel. Mark quickly dragged it with the pole over and onto my paddle, ammunition we giggled. One deft flick of the wrist it would fly through the air and knock Ricky off the punt, brilliant. We just had to win the race The pressure was on, I knew Lynn was rather taken by my punting but I owed it to Mark who was keen to impress Claire and further his chances of some nudie-prod. This would shake off the gay label given to him at last years dinner by a gaggle of ladies whose advances he spurned. We looked at the two ladies reclining in the front of the punt they looked so gorgeous and happy enjoying a romantic river cruise. The boat was steadied and we took careful aim, a mighty heave and the projectile was sent on its mission. Alas we had not allowed for the fact that the grey squirrel Scurus carolinensis has a large and very bushy tail ideal at soaking up water. With the added weight of water the trajectory was not quite as intended, the squirrel flew straight up in the air about 12 feet spraying water as it went. It crashed through the leaves of the tree and disappeared Time seemed to freeze as I looked at Mark and we both grimaced there was a crack a loud rustle and just after about a gallon of water fell on the front of our punt and over the girls Scurus carolinensis reappeared, by now I would imagine it had reached its terminal velocity as it and its tail struck both ladies on the head and fell into the punt. I thought about telling them how sexy their ‘just out of the shower look was’ but I was unable to get any words out for laughing and I fear Mark had already pissed himself such was the shaking of the punt A passing punt of Italians as one cried out oooohhhh poor thing, what happened? Lynn turned to them wiped the water from her face and said "perhaps it choked on a nut"
Will it be as much fun this year?
Gary and Team Eastbourne
Re: Grafham cat open 18th and 19th Oct 2008
[Re: gary145]
#153964 09/08/0802:33 PM09/08/0802:33 PM
The Stickers make the spotters on the CTB job easier.
We'll have 100 boats on one course if it's windy and some of the fast boats are lapping quickly.
I got mine off faitly easily last time.
I'd expecting around 20 Spitfires, 20 F18's 13 F16's 12 Shadows, 15 Hurricane59's, maybe 6 A classes, a few T'sin the fast handicap and and maybe 10 or so more single handers.
Ahoy! My pre-registration is in, I have my camping spot all booked (Camping in October in England, my dream come true!). Be afraid, I'm coming <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I'm trying to convince my neighbor to join us as well, he recently bought Nigel's old Stealth. One issue is with cars, if we both take ours, we leave our wifes and kids without a car for the whole week-end... Unfortunately I can't tow my cat behind my motorcycle!
Anybody got any experience in double stacking cats on one trailer? Is the boat solid enough to support another one on top of it? Anybody willing to lend us a dual (or more!) cat trailer (one can dream <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> to get there from Datchet?
Last edited by pepin; 10/06/0810:15 AM.
Re: Grafham cat open 18th and 19th Oct 2008
[Re: pepin]
#153969 10/06/0810:38 AM10/06/0810:38 AM
Has Nigel got a new Stealth? As for double stacking, I have put an A Class directly on top of the Stealth before now with the Stealth sitting on the normal trailer cups. When Paul and I went to Zandvoort last year he customised his trailer so both were independent of each other. This year John A took two Stealths back from Mumbles with him, he used an old tyre on each beam corner and ratchet strapped everything. I think it worked! As long as the trailer is in good shape, the cups are well padded and you can avoid the mast foots and travellers causing damage you should be fine (famous last words)
Don't forget a means of attaching the masts and put your beer in an accessible place!
Last edited by MarkP; 10/06/0810:44 AM.
MP*MULTIHULLS
Re: Grafham cat open 18th and 19th Oct 2008
[Re: pepin]
#153970 10/06/0812:42 PM10/06/0812:42 PM
Nigel is now the World Champion, OK he has bought the World championship winning boat from Dave ( who had a decision to make, house extension + laser or Stealth ) and is sailing it just like a champion should, bloody fast particularly upwind. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Re: Grafham cat open 18th and 19th Oct 2008
[Re: waynemarlow]
#153971 10/11/0809:18 AM10/11/0809:18 AM
Sounds like a great time..too bad I can't make another trip to the UK. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Hope you all have good weather and perfect wind.