Aug 03 2008
Dear Members,
Please note that the front car park at the clubhouse will be closed on Wednesday 6th August for Cadet activities. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
The back car park and tthe field to the east of the dinghy park will be open as usual.
Kind regards
Shaun
Jul 18 2008
The new club pico’s are now ready to sail. The rigging is a little different and if you have any problems or need some help please ask Rupert, Mike or me and we will be happy to help.
Happy Sailing
Regards
Shaun
Jul 16 2008
Could all those cadets that won the following trophies at last year’s Cadet Week please return them either to me or Lorraine in the office.
Walley Cup
Eyre Cup
Dedman Most Improved Senior Shield
Waitrose Most Improved Junior Shield
Race Group Trophy
Elmore Seamanship Trophy
Stingray Le Mans Trophy
Many thanks.
Beverly Warrington
Jul 06 2008
Hi all, Not much going on here sailing cancelled on first day due to high winds
Boat is now fully preped following a 10 hour day in the dinghy park!!!
Lots of help from the good guys V friendly class
Have attempted to attach a small vid clip of practice last thursday
Hopefully Sailing will start tommorrow Mon 7th July
Thats all for now Steve
Jun 27 2008
Please either go to youtube.com and type “pico nationals 2008” into the search box or click on the link below and you should find 25 short videos that I took during Saturday’s racing. The videos are in sequence, so the best place to start is shot 1.
Hope you enjoy.
Martyn
Video link to Pico Nationals 2008 at TBYC
Jun 25 2008
This coming Saturday Cadet Club is at 6.30 p.m. If you are a new member and need help with boat rigging, using the club boats or would like your children to get out on the water then there will be a group of cadet parents on the beach to help.
Pico Nationals – The Echo are planning to run a race report and pictures from last weekend in Friday’s paper. Lets see who the lucky ones are with their photo’s in it.
Jun 25 2008
Please click on the picture on the right to find a very useful animated site on knot tying.
Would someone kindly show this to Paul Spratt as I am not brave enough. (Martyn)
Article from Stuan Wallace.
Jun 24 2008
Pico Nationals 2008 Thorpe Bay Yacht Club.
By Mike Thomason 23 June 2008
Thorpe Bay Yacht Club hosted the 2008 Laser Pico Nationals over the weekend of 21st and 22nd June with varied conditions for the 46 entrants from around the UK with an age range of 7 – 54.
The event attracted sponsors from The Laser Centre, Wet Suit Outlet, Yachts & Yachting and Henry Lloyd.
This is the third year the Pico Nationals have been hosted (2007 Gurnard) and already the fleet turnouts are exceeding all expectations for this amazingly versatile dinghy equally suitable for children and adults. This year the Nationals were sailed as a single fleet with handicapping for different sail and crew arrangements.
Fresh winds and a lumpy sea greeted the starters for this year’s Championships and although the conditions were not idyllic – there was an abundance of enthusiasm and competitiveness from the younger crews.Three races were scheduled for each day in the broad uncluttered expanse of the Thames Estuary overseen by professional race officer Alan Willis and equally supported by Sally, Linda and Lisa.
Race 1 started cleanly in a steady force 4 on the flood tide. James French (Gurnard) made a clean break from the pack and was first round the top mark followed by Dan Henderson with new crew Max Duce (TBYC), then Natalya Eyre and Ben Warrington (TBYC) and Alex Farrell (TBYC). After much jostling with the top four James French pulled back into the lead to take the win by 16 seconds on this traditional triangle sausage course.
Race 2 saw the bulk of the fleet right on the line at the start with 2 crews being OCS and pulled back by the race officers. Racing was tight all the way to the top mark with few rule infringements. James French had a comfortable lead on the top mark from Mark Harrison, Andrew Paterson, Natalya Eyre and Dan Henderson when James capsized on to the mark whilst bearing away. Despite a rapid recovery and taking a penalty turn, James was overhauled by the top pack on the reach to the gybe mark. On the next upwind leg and with a freshening breeze, Dan Henderson changed up a gear, got into his stride and pulled into the lead to take the gun by 14 seconds from Andrew Paterson.
Race 3 with the Thames Spring Ebb in full flow saw some interesting tactical changes on the start. To start at the committee boat end or the pin down tide was the question. The fleet was divided as this is where all up weight became critical on the Pico with the heavier crews opting for the up tide end and tacking straight off onto port. The lighter crews on the pin made excellent progress to reach the top mark in a tight bunch with the opposing group. 10 boats rounded in quick succession led by James, Dan, Andrew and Natalya. Shifting wind saw the top 5 fighting all the way down wind to the leeward mark with Dan inches behind James at the turn. On the final beat to the finish Dan and Max took the win by 2 seconds on corrected time from James.
The overnight positions gave Dan and Max a 2,1,1, with James 1,4,2, so all to play for on Sunday.
Sunday with 3 races scheduled – bright, sunny and a constant 30mph on the TBYC on line weather station gave Alan Willis no choice but to cancel the second day racing much to the relief of the competitors and safety boat crews.
Dan Henderson and Max Duce were crowned as the Pico 2008 National Champions, with James French runner up followed by Natalya Eyre / Ben Warrington in third, Ben Green in fourth and Mark Harrison who scored a consistent 5,5,5 in fifth.
The Wight Cable Cadet Cup (first under 15) was won by James French and the Designers Cup was won by Peter and Rupert Snow.
The Isle of Wight Trophy for first youngest with a combined age of 18 was won by Finlay Cullender and Alex Thomason.
Generous equipment prizes were awarded to the top 8 by Wet Suit Outlet, Henry Lloyd and Laser performance.
Prize giving culminated with Simon Ogden from Laser Performance pulling out the winning raffle ticket and presenting a brand new race sport Pico to an amazed Tom Harrison.
The weekend again proved the Pico to be an exceptional racing boat – great for learning tactics and capable of being raced in varied wind strengths by light and heavy weight crews for competitive racing.
A fantastic time was had by all on and off the water. The Pico class are a very friendly bunch – noted by not a single protest being made for infringements which made the protest committee redundant.
Our thanks to Shaun Christian for his fantastic skills in organising and running the Nationals. Thorpe Bay Yacht Club which excels at hosting these events, the race officers and spotters, Tony Clarke and his support crews, Howard Hawkes for acting as beach master, our sponsors and never forgetting of course the cadet mums for supplying us with home made cakes and hot chocolate.
Top 10 results.
|
Pos |
Helm |
Crew |
Club |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
R4 |
R5 |
R6 |
Net Pts. |
|
1 |
Dan Henderson |
Max Duce |
TBYC |
2 |
1 |
1 |
– |
– |
– |
4 |
|
2 |
James French |
– |
Gurnard |
1 |
4 |
2 |
– |
– |
– |
7 |
|
3 |
Natalya Eyre |
Ben Warrington |
TBYC |
4 |
3 |
4 |
– |
– |
– |
11 |
|
4 |
Ben Green |
– |
Gurnard |
6 |
6 |
3 |
– |
– |
– |
15 |
|
5 |
Mark Harrison |
– |
Gurnard |
5 |
5 |
5 |
– |
– |
– |
15 |
|
6 |
Alex Farrell |
– |
TBYC |
3 |
10 |
8.5 |
– |
– |
– |
21.5 |
|
7 |
Isabel Duce |
Athina Duce |
TBYC |
9 |
8 |
7 |
– |
– |
– |
24 |
|
8 |
Peter Snow |
Rupert Snow |
TBYC |
12 |
13 |
6 |
– |
– |
– |
31 |
|
9 |
Mark Petty Mayor |
Olivia Petty Mayor |
TBYC |
14 |
7 |
10 |
– |
– |
– |
31 |
|
10 |
Tom Harrison |
– |
Gurnard |
8 |
12 |
13 |
– |
– |
– |
33 |
Jun 24 2008
Please click on the image on the right or look in the Photo Gallery situated to the left of this article to see some photos taken by Nigel Campling during Saturdays racing.
Thanks Nigel
PS. If anyone has any more please either get them to me via email or cd.
Jun 18 2008
Entry Forms have been coming in all week and the current estimate looks like we will have over 50 Pico’s out racing. We have a number of visitors attending the Nationals so please give them a warm and friendly TBYC welcome.
You can enter on the morning but it would be helpful if TBYC sailors could get theirs in beforehand, this will help with results & speed up registration.
There will be a briefing by the Race Officer at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday morning with the first race scheduled for 12.55 p.m. start. If you would like a packed lunch these will be available from the club chef but need to be ordered in advance of Saturday (£3.50 for a sandwich, chocolate bar, crisps and a bottle of water). Visitors please speak to the chef as soon as you arrive.
After sailing on Saturday your entry price includes a free meal and Karaoke. If you need extra meals please either note this on your entry form or speak to the Chef (extra meals coat £5.50 each).
Any other questions please give me a call. Entry forms can be downloaded from this website. Please click on “Pico’s” down the left hand side on the screen.
I look forward to seeing you on Saturday.
Shaun – mobile 07881 501 675
TBYC Cadets – At Cadet Night this week on Thursday 19th June Rupert will be giving a talk on what to expect and how to prepare for the Pico Nationals.
