UK Cherub - news:2012

Isle of Sheppey Blast

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 19:21:58 +0000

Isle of Sheppey Blast

Sunday dawned bright and clear, which is more than can be said for the heads of those who reluctantly agreed that Dean’s Birthday party had finished (at 1am) and crawled into the Loco Perro 'taxi', which had arrived to join in the fun. But days like this are not to be missed and boats were rigged and away in time for the morning race with the small cumulus clouds producing a highly variable ‘almost 0’ to 12 knot wind.

3208 Eleanor, 2688 Atum Bom and 2698 Ronin joined in the racing and 2674 Born Slippy waited for newbies who wanted a ride. 2685 Loco Perro’s new owner was seen puzzling over bits of rope attached to the 21sqm kite and missed the cut. The race started with a short beat which saw Ronin take an early lead. Eleanor a little slow off the line due to having no watch, playing catch up downwind and managing to pass Ronin. Only to be passed in turn on the upwind leg, this game of cat and mouse carried on for the whole race until Ronin sailed neatly into one of the 0 knot holes, allowing Eleanor to blast through the finish line in one of the 12 knot gusts.

After lunch Loco got up and running and impressed briefly before dumping in several times under kite. Some work to be done on sailing skills then, but it is early days and Loco’s foredeck hand (sometimes literally), Sam was later shown by Roland Trim what Loco is capable of. More of a fluffy labrador than Mad Dog was his analysis but the smile on his face said the rest.

Cherubs take a siesta after a busy morning

By afternoon the breeze had really piped up and it was clear how much fun was being had by Atum Bom and Ronin, two boats with new personnel and potential to go well at the Natrionals at Pwllheli in August. Eleanor’s helm Dean Ralph had to rush off to fix a hospital power supply (yes, we do have day jobs) but the numbers were kept up by the arrival of the Bridles with 3204 Riot Van after Eddie received a 3-0 thrashing at his football match!

Born Slippy was busy giving rides and several Sheppey SC members who’d never been in a Cherub before were given a chance to get the feel of (still) one of the nicest boats to sail ever built (yes, we are biased – Cherubs are cool) and Loco Perro’s helm went out on the wire in Slippy for the first time in 30 years. ‘Like riding a bicycle…I still fall off those too.’

Errant of mercy - Banshee Ambulance heads off to do some good (above)

Equipment highlights must go to Ronin with furtive glances cast over her rig tensioning system, mainsail hook up (you mean you don’t have to capsize to drop the main? – innovative) and Velcro kite sheet retainers.

There was some drama late in the day as huge squall clouds closed in while two experienced crews were still on the water. Winds gusting to 40mph resulted in prolonged capsizing and a potential drift out to sea on a strong tide. Both boats were recovered with no damage to boats or owners and both crews are to be commended for the decisions made which resulted in a good outcome.

New boats and new faces

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 19:21:58 +0000

New boats and new faces

New boats, Marmite and Evo are on the water and ready (ish) for the season’s campaign. Marmite marked her arrival by winning the Commodore’s persuit race at Chew, whilst Evo marks the wrapping up of the Arup Skiff ISAF campaign back into the fleet - launched with her heart well and truly on her sail.
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Meanwhile new sitters have appeared for two of the E5's. Antidote is taking up a post at Bristol University and the Ching-Gonzalez-Ruiz's are the new owners of Exultant Jubilation.

Second hand boats are being snapped up fast. Shiny Beast and Cheese Before Bedtime are now the only boats for sale in the twin string fleet. Both are the best grin your £ can buy, see the Second Hand Boat List for more information.

Don't forget you can also buy a new one from Aardvark or Bloodaxe.

Weston 60th Anniversary and Jubilee celebration weekend

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 19:21:58 +0000

Weston 60th Anniversary and Jubilee celebration weekend

With racing due to start on Sunday, Saturday saw team Ronin (the PJs) and team EJ (for the weekend Dave and Hayley) arrive. There was some boat bimbling and tent pitching - or in the PJs’ case major marquee erection.

Sunday saw five cherubs on the water, Ronin, Usagi, EJ, Subtle Knife and Atum Bom. Usagi suffered a kite rip and so didn't make the first start – a reminder of just how sharp Jill and Andy’s bow is, in case anyone was thinking of getting in the way…. There was some close racing between Ronin and Subtle with Clive and Alex in Subtle winning out as the PJs experimented with some new kit. EJ and Atum exchanged places a few times as each went for the sympathy capsize having overtaken the other. Despite binning it in on the “death or glory” final run (“we can’t really carry the kite but we will anyway”) Ben and Sam in Atum crossed the line first. Usagi showed great pace in the second race winning comfortably with the spare kite.

EJ had suffered from a major loss of rig tension as her mast foot settled in the stump and showed no sign of wanting to stop its journey south, so a new foot was fitted overnight with consummate (ch)ease courtesy of Wallace and Grommit enterprises*

The evening’s entertainment was a night at the races. Or at least a man with a microphone, a DVD player and some DVDs of horse racing. Sam cleaned up, backing three winners, but didn’t manage the pink fluffy teddy bear which appropriately found its way to a small child. The PJs' party tent came into its own playing host to a post-betting Chinese takeaway.

The wind decided to play some silly games on Monday, shifting around and hitting the stop button at will. Usagi surged ahead taking the first race, but in the flukey conditions found that a bit of luck also helps; having had a considerable lead they found themselves becalmed whilst Ronin twinned by to take the second race.

On Monday evening Roland arrived and, being the only one who hadn't partaken of the afternoon's heady mix of Pimms and the Atumist’s keg of real ale, taxied everyone to Hamble. It was apparent on arrival at the King and Queen that here at least the Jubilee was in full swing. As Sam was forcibly separated from his beer and swung onto the dance floor by a celebrating sexagenarian (narrowly avoiding the Tom Kiddle grab-a-granny award) food seemed out of the question. Luckily the next door Thai offered a solution, if not the fastest service, where we also bumped into Ian Christie, former owner of Suicide Blond. After a long but entertaining walk back to the tents, most people were out for the count and only one or two noticed the 5am trumpeted arrival of the 3 Queens.

Tuesday dawned looking breezy. Despite the jubilee of a hangover, everyone went for the first race, Usagi and Subtle opting for smaller rigs. Atum showed great speed at times but the corners caused a few dunkings. EJ flew off the line late and caught up with the others before realising she was missing her bungs and that bearing away full of water was not easy. So team EJ retired, happy knowing she is back on track and showing some serious speed potential.

The wind continued to build in the break between races and the rain was incessant. Peter and Alex deserve a lot of credit for persuading their damp and reluctant dads to go out for the second race. Alex's words went something like, “come on dad, have some chocolate, we're going sailing”. It seemed to work. The Atumists went for it as well, while team Usagi opted to dry out. Paul and Peter unfortunately had a problem with the stays on their new mast and were forced to call it a day. Clive and Alex soldiered on to the finish like absolute heroes with 49ers, 800s and 14s falling all around them. Huge respect.

Bring on the rest of the season, it’s going to be a cracker!

*See the member’s area of the forum for more details

Thornbury Regatta

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 19:21:58 +0000

Thornbury Regatta

It has some of the fastest tides in the country and launching can be a bit tricky - but 11 Cherubs made the most of a weekend at Thornbury.

Saturday saw some strong winds - conditions best described by the Thornbury regular fireball-ists taking the miracle for a sail instead. After some discussions with the shore team Paul Croote descided shore life was dull and went for a spin in Marmite.

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\\Closely followed by Born Slippy and Atum heading for a play.

Saturday night's entertainment “the five second rule” lived up to the high quality of live music always put on by the club and a buffet that would have been filling if we had sailed all day. Instead, it did well to soak up the afternoon session and prepare several for a long evening ahead.

Sunday saw 10 Cherubs on the start line (the Bansheee Ambulance only having a one day pass). Racing was close, with the unusual added entertainment of racing mixed in with the rest of the regatta fast fleet. Team E-Numbers on their first sail back from materity leave showed well in Race 1, leading past first and second mark before binning it unexpectedly well clear of the bear away. The rest of the Cherub fleet were close behind and there was no way back to the lead. Sadly the race ended prematurely as the RS800 capsized onto the windward mark, allowing the can to make a voyage up-stream at 6 knots.

Race 2 was close in light shifty winds. Evo was briefly given the bullet, before the results were ammended on shore by team Trim (ill helm had precluded a second lap). Even so positions 2-5 crossed overlapping and causing some additional debate with the race officer as to who was ahead.

All in, another fun weekend for the fleet. Looking forward to Royal Victoria next weekend.

Cherub Nationals 2012

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 19:21:58 +0000

Cherub Nationals 2012

We're expecting a bumper turnout to this event at one of the UK's premier venues. Crews of all ages will compete for the Simpson Trophy at Pwllheli Sailing club between August 21-24 2012. The fleet is friendly and inclusive, if you have a Cherub, make sure you are there. If you don't and would like to sail, talk to us and we'll find you a ride, or just holiday in Snowdonia and party with us, fun is not optional. It's going to be bigger, better and more competitive than ever before as the class introduces new talented crews to rival the old hands. Be part of it, get your heart racing. 2012 Nationals Online Entry - Now Open

Windscreen wipers for the car : £2.75
2012 UK Cherub Nationals entry, including food and entertainment : £100
Reaching the top mark, bearing away, hoisting and sending it : Priceless

Entries can be made online at the Pwllheli Sailing Club Website

2012 Nationals Online Entry - Now Open

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 19:21:58 +0000

2012 Nationals Online Entry - Now Open

Windscreen wipers for the car : £2.75

2012 UK Cherub Nationals entry, including food and entertainmnet : £100

Reaching the top mark, bearing away, hoisting and sending it : Priceless

Follow THIS LINK to enter.

If you are looking for a boat or someone to sail with please say hello on the Forum.