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Santa Irene Club de Vela Newsletter - 8th November 2006
"A solo sail in a Solo", yes that was me on Sunday
22nd October, it was a good day with three cats, the 470, solo, Pastinaca and
Tideway on the water. I could get addicted to the single hander, my thanks to
Jim Barr for loaning me his boat. That Sunday, the sea conditions were ideal
for launching off the beach – not so last Sunday, when the swell was too
big for the monohulls. It wasn’t easy for the Cats with a light onshore
wind. Paul and Lynn took the 470 to the slipway in Garrucha and sailed down
to us. I was “officer of the day” or OOD, (well, we try to do it
right) and started a race down to the red port-hand buoy off Martins Beach.
Hobie George was the first to finish with Vic and Frank a very close second,
1 min behind. Paul and Lyn in the 470 were 3 mins 29 secs after George. Now
if you apply the Portsmouth Handicap Yardstick numbers to the times, Lyn and
Paul’s time is 30mins 18sec, George 30min 35sec, Vic 31min 46 sec –
so thats the First, Second and Third.
Handicap racing means that various classes can race each other, yes, each class
has a handicap number. the Oppie is 1646, the Tideway 1447, the Solo 1155, the
470 is 973 and the Hobie is 802, we decided it could be 850 since they were
racing without a spinnaker – that`s generous don’t you think.
So Trevor you could still win a race in your Tideway, carry your mobile with
you, I’ll make sure you have a good start.
We have 15 dinghies in the club and I’m looking forward to the day they
are all on the start line, with the Drascombe as the Committee Boat.
The last time I dropped you a line, I told you about racing at Qingdoa, China - can I now quote from Steve Mitchell’s diary “The Medal Ceremony was incredible, like a mixture of the last night of the Proms, the Eurovision Song Contest and an outdoor Concert”
The Chinese put on an amazing show, fully televised and slickly run, hard to imagine that this was the pre-pre Olympic event! Well I would certainly like a piece of that.
When you read this I’ll be at the Barcelona Boat Show, flying the flag for Santa Irene. Talking to as many people as possible, telling them of our efforts down here in Andalucia. I’m going to travel up by train from Lorca and stay with Salvador and his family for a few days, he’s got tickets for the show, God Bless him!
Now I wanna tell you a story – the last time I was on a Spanish Train was 1954, travelling from Perpignan towards San Feliu on the Costa Brava. The train was like something from the Wild West, at any moment I expected to see Tom Mix or Hop-along Cassidy riding alongside. I think I was the only Englishman in San Feliu, but that started my love affair with Spain – Oh! and the four Senoritas I met from the Girls Hostal, which was near my little Hotel – they came from Barcelona. We travelled everywhere together by just thumbing a lift and singing “ I love to go wandering”. Two years later, I took a holiday in Barcelona, we all met in the Rambla – I can tell you it was a much better City then, than it is now – So where are you now Pipita, Anna, Nati and my good friend Isabel Morante
I have been to the Sailing clubs in Barcelona, many times recently – this time I think I’ll call in at the “Pensionistas” who knows!
Oh! Lynn and Paul’s 470 is for sale, so what are they going to buy? it will certainly be a monohull
See you on the Playa Del Cantal, opposite Mr UK, Sunday the 12th
Take care
John Talliss
Tel : 950 475 157
Movil: 658 548 790
E-mail John@Sailrway.com
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