The New FF Rig

Datchet is down for another visit of the new experimental Flying Fifteen rig in February. If you haven't already tried it, let me know. I would like to get some idea of the number of people who would be interested in having a sail.

Next we ought get some bar level conversation going as to whether we think we should support the move to the new rig or not. The vote will be soon and we should raise the level of debate. When Howard and I tried it last year in light to medium breezes we were pretty impressed - same speed, much faster tacking, lighter sheet loads. The monster spinnaker was a bit awe inspiring, but I think the current status of that is 'dropped'.

FC

Boat News

Steve Bell and Simon Scullion will take their super-stiff carbon boat away for a short period for a speed upgrade - terrifying thought.... and this weekend we might see Mervyn Wright's new baby - FF3535. Fingers crossed!

Google Discovers "Datchet Man" !!

Google has discovered Datchet Man !! It looks like it was found around 8 days ago and is being reported now,.. but we're on the list from this point forward. If you key "Flying Fifteen" into Google, we're still miles down the rankings just yet - well, unfindable really! You still have to key "Datchet Man The Flying Fifteen Blog" to even get on the first page, but we should start rising up the tables now. Our aim is to be listed ahead of BIFFA when the search words are simply the class name.
By the way, we've had readers in Australia, USA, Netherlands, Belgium and New Zealand too. Lets hope there are some within an hour's drive of Datchet!!
We've also done some work on getting the fleet website discoverable by google. More on that later.
Well done, everybody ! Keep reading......

The New Datchet Man has Passed its 1,000th Hit today !!

Well done, Everybody !!!

Racing Outlook for this Weekend!

For what it's worth at a Thursday evening (!), the breeze forecast is 9-12mph for Sunday morning.
It's a northerly though - bring your woolies and drysuit !!!!
We have a member of the Club's small Wayfarer fleet expressing an interest in Flying Fifteens.
His name is Bob Maddex. If you should see him around, make him feel welcome.
See you at the slip! The more the warmer.....

Want to Try a Carbon Spinnaker Pole??

Do you want to try a carbon spinnaker pole? I have a P&B spare (end to end type, with triggers). One piston end is sticky - needs attention or replacement. Half price.

If interested, see the FC.

Sent from my iPhone

2011 Mid-Winter Championship Dates

This year's Mid Winter Championship is at Burton S.C. on January 29-30th.

We've written to BIFFA asking if we can have them back for 2012 and 2013 and called it "our Mid-Winter Championship"......

Club AGM Highlights - Phil Tinsley Elected Vice Commodore!!

Phil Tinsley of the Flying Fifteen Fleet is our new Vice Commodore at Datchet ("Hurrah" for Philip!!....) and Barry Peters is our new Club Commodore.
Barry made it clear that his priorites will be to increase the membership, grow the numbers racing, boost the JYS/training activities and encourage them to move to fleet racing. We can expect considerable energy to be appled to improving all aspects of our on-the-water activities. Plenty to do, Chaps!!
Congratulations to both of them - a Great Team in prospect.
David and Rosemary Harrop were elected honorary club members:
- they were Flying Fifteen members almost since the club was started
- David was Commodore
- Rosemary stood in for the Club Secretary at times when staff illness struck us down
- the first husband and wife team in the Club's history
Best wishes to you David and Rosemary !!

Other FF Fleets Also Showing Signs of Recovery

If the go to the BIFFA website (see link at the bottom of this blog), and select the "F15 News" page there, you'll see both the Chew and Dovestone Fleets reporting significant resurgence in their Flying Fifteen Fleets. Like Datchet they are now seeing average race turn-outs in the 6-10 range, with Dovestone reporting an 8.7 boat average.
Perhaps that's a metric that we should start tracking?