Summer 2000

Message from the Hon. Sec.

Welcome to the first Newsletter of 2000. During the Winter ‘closed season’ things had been fairly quiet Redwing-wise, but now as the first signs of Spring are appearing there is a flurry of Redwing activity - as you would expect. Enclosed with this newsletter is your Subscription renewal form. The subs. are still a reasonable Ł8 so please make the Hon. Treasurer happy! Finally, did you celebrate the new Millennium at the start of 2000? Well if you did you were a year too early. But what the hey! any excuse for a party, you can celebrate the new Millennium when it actually starts at the beginning of 2001. Best wishes, Bill

NEW REDWINGS

There are currently three New Redwings under construction for completion in time for the 2000 season: R245 has just left Cliff Adams’ workshop in Looe. Built to the order of Colin Crabb and Des Hocking, she is now under the varnish brush and will soon be finished. R246 is pending and will be built for Cecil Duvalle as a sister to his ‘Flare’, R146. R247 is being built amongst great secrecy by persons unknown and at a location ‘somewhere in Cornwall’. The spies have been out but have so far not come back with any more information. Finally a new Association member, Dick Smith of West London, has just ordered a Redwing hull from Peter Chroston of Frank Knight’s at Woodbridge in Suffolk. Dick tells me that preliminary work is well under way and materials and equipment are already on order. She will have sail number R248 and as Dick assures me, will definitely be complete in time to take part in this year’s National Champs. Dick has let it slip that he is a keen International Fourteen sailor with both early and late designs at his disposal. He goes on to explain that, having studied the Redwing plans, how very similar they are to pre- war Fourteens. In fact certain dimensions, apart from the obvious overall length, are absolutely identical. He states that in essence the Redwing is essentially a ‘ruggedised’ Fourteen but I assume that Dick will stop short of fitting his new boat with an iron plate.

SAILS

There has been no change to the status of the Redwing class sailmaker:- New suits of sails can still be ordered from
Michael McNamara Sails,
9 Camperdown Terrace,
Exmouth,
Devon,
EX8 1EJ
Tel. 01395 264907
mailto:[email protected]

INLAND REDWINGS

Peter Shuttleworth from Milton Keynes has been in touch with me to let me know how he has been getting on with ‘Tern’ R155 since he took her over from Walter Heatlie. ‘Tern’s sailing base is now Willen Lake and she has recently been joined by Jon Cole with R187 ‘Jinks’. Jon tells me that he has completed ‘Jinks’ refit and decided to take her to Willen Lake as it is nearby. As I write this, their sailing season will have already begun and they will have got a lot of practice in before the National Championships this year, at Looe. Walter Heatlie, R155’s former owner, has recently been in touch. He tells me that since retiring from Redwing sailing he has taken up the slightly less stressful and energetic hobby of motorcycle racing and will be unable to come down to Looe to see us since he is competing in the Isle of Man TT races! Isn’t this a case of ‘out of the frying pan, into the fire’, Walter?

DIARY OF A NOVICE - EPISODE II

Once again I am putting finger to keyboard for another chapter in the life of a novice Redwinger. During the long enforced rest from work (14 Weeks) Helen and I decided as I was now regaining some mobility that for our October holiday we would venture into Redwing Country. Thus the middle of October found us in a caravan just out side Looe. On arrival I could not wait to see the Dinghy Park, hoping to see all their Redwing Fleet together !Wrong! Sailing had finished the previous weekend. There was just one boat left, loaded on its trailer ready for the journey to winter storage, being true Redwingers (nosy) we soon ascertained that this was R146. Although I was disappointed we were still going to enjoy a few days in the area before we headed to Pembrokeshire for Tenby's Prize Giving Dinner. I was soon to discover that this previously unvisited part of the country is very beautiful. I was quite amazed by the number of small ferries, something that you don't find in the Midlands, I think I cajoled Helen in to taking us on most of them at least once. On the Sunday night we decided to see if the club was open. We found the door locked and a good sounding disco going well. This we concluded must be a private party, later it transpired that it had been Ben Crabb's 18th Birthday party and we would have been very welcome had we known the secret way in. So we had a meal and then went for a stroll finding our selves, as you do, in the vacinity of the Dinghy Park. Where we found a Redwing festooned with balloons and bunting, while I was scratching my head and thinking where did that appear from, Helen was peering underneath soon coming back with the information that it was R224 (kidnapped from Tenby). This we later discovered was Ben's birthday present, he seems to be collecting venerable old relics as his recently acquired "new" car is a Morris Minor. The latter I hear is in the process of being beautifully restored. It seems Colin & his good lady had a difficult time keeping the news of the boat from Ben as he was trying to buy her for himself, and couldn't understand why her previous owner seemed to be avoiding his calls. Thank you Looe for making us so welcome, once we found the secret entrance, thanks Ben. Sorry we couldn't make the presentation who knows may be this year, it will make a great excuse for a few days away. We left Looe in the middle of the week and headed for Tenby, as we were to attend their presentation dinner on Friday. Helen took us by the scenic route over Dartmoor. I was a little nervous as she circled around the prison for the second time, though I think this was related to a large painting of Redwings that had taken my eye, a fact which I mentioned to her at every opportunity. We had a great night at Tenby even though I only managed one slow dance; I had fun trying to recognise people, sailors do scrub up rather well. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Tenby on winning The RYA's National Event Management Competition for their running of the Fireball Nationals in 1999. The Royal Thames Yacht Club 1840 Challenge Cup is a beauty shame they wont let it go (I'm sure it's value could be realised). All due of course to having such good Guinea pigs in us Redwingers? Seriously those who have much experience of your abilities in this field, or should I say sea, tell me they always knew you could do it. In November I finally went back to work and was determined to get fitter during the winter. To this end I joined Weight Watchers and the local gym, and Helen has bought me a bike for my birthday (I wanted an engine), which I intend to ride to work, when the sun shines. You thought I was going to get wet! As it seem there are only crews available when I have the Redwing at Arden and I wish to leave Discretion at Tenby for the season I am in the market for a second boat. Thus in February we returned to Looe. This trip was ostensibly to look at R189, any excuse. We stayed with Graham and Jan Craft R161 as their first paying guests and can recommend the establishment; the climb to the parking space should be good training (How are the legs, Jan). Once again a good night was had in the club. (I've noticed Helen only drinks in the company of sailors? Is this a sign of a misspent youth?). As the Plan to capture a Looe Redwing has so far failed I am still in the market; there must be one for me out there somewhere. Helen says this is typical Redwinger behaviour never satisfied with one. Wishing you all good sailing and GREAT Redwinging. Dave Bowen. R221 ‘Discretion’

REDWINGS ON THE MOVE

Late last year Graham and Jan Craft, R161, finally got their move sorted out and shifted their alliegence from Brightlingsea to Looe where they have opened a Bed and Breakfast. They tell me that they are now fully open for business. If you are visiting Looe i.e for the Nationals, and are looking for somewhere to stay give them a ring on 01503 263919 or 0850 458943 More recently Reg Craft, Graham’s Dad has written to me to say that, on his Doctor’s advice, he must reluctantly give up sailing since the excitement was making his heart beat too fast! However, his Redwing, R240, ‘Red Devil’ is staying in the Craft family and will be further swelling the Looe fleet by joining R161 in Graham and Jan’s care. Ben Crabb, son of Colin, a long standing Redwinger, has got bitten by the Redwing bug and is now the proud owner of R224, brought back from Tenby. (Ben’s Birthday Party was gatecrashed by Redwingers from the Midlands as you can read about elsewhere in this issue.) Ben tells me that he has restored her to her original name of ‘Maid Marion’ and after a bit of re-furbishment work she will be joining the Looe fleet this season.

TENBY

Congratulations are due to Tenby Sailing Club for winning the prestigious National Event Management prize for their handling of the 1999 Fireball Nationals. This was in the week after the 1999 Redwings and the team that looked after us went on to run the Fireballs with no break. Well done Tenby SC. I have been informed that despite this hectic schedule, Blake Shaw has been spending a lot of time refurbishing R202 ‘Melody’ bringing her right up to scratch. The work has not stopped at the boat herself though; Blake hacked down the weeds in his garden and found his road trailer! Now this has been serviced as well and ‘Melody’ is ready to travel to Looe for this year’s championships. For your diary:- Tenby Sailing Club regatta and ‘round Caldey Island race’ are over the weekend of July 1st and 2nd. For further details telephone Rolly Squibbs on 01834 842170

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2000 - LOOE

The National Championships this year are from Saturday 26th August till Friday 1st September 2000 under the burgee of Looe Sailing Club . Racing starts on Sunday 27th August and there will possibly be a lay-day on Wednesday. We are sharing the venue this year with the Albacore class which is a distant Cousin of the Redwing. More details will follow as soon as they are forthcoming.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Just a reminder that your subscriptions are now due and a form is enclosed. Please return this and your subscription of Ł8 to the Treasurer, Helen Williams, whose address is at the side of this page. To those who have already paid, thank you very much. Your Membership Cards are enclosed with this Newsletter.

WEBSITE

The Redwing Website is now being regularly updated thanks wholly to the kind efforts of Simon Cole, R201, who gallantly took on the job of ‘Webmaster’. Thanks to the technology and, if I get organised properly, it should have been possible for you to read this Newsletter on the site before the ‘snail mail’ arrives.

YEARBOOK

Enclosed with this newsletter is a copy of a Redwing Yearbook that I have produced vaguely in the style of the ‘Handbook’ that used to be a regular class feature. The content is similar and, if feedback from you is favourable, I will try to produce it on an annual basis from now on. Your comments are welcomed.

Send comments to the webmaster. Last updated 19^th June 2001

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