Message from the Hon. SecretaryWelcome to the Autumn 2003 edition of news from the world of Redwings. The 2003 Nationals have been and gone, congratulations to Ben and John Crabb who really deserved their win. Thank you to everyone who made it to Fishguard and many, many thanks to FBYC our hosts this year. The report reproduced here is based on the one published in the national yachting press. It was written by the Redwing sailors who took part and I am indebited to them for their help with its compilation. A results table is also included. In this bumper issue of the Redwing News is a report on the current Redwing Sail Design which has come about from a desire on the part of Mike Mac (and others) to update the sails that are now about 20 years old. Your comments and feedback are welcome. Also we have breaking news of next year's championships that are rather special in that we are arranging them out in the Isles of Scilly. Some preliminary details are with this Newsletter The 'Dave Bowen Report' is back by popular demand and finally a 'for sale' section. Read on�.
Best wishes and happy sailing,
National Championships Report - Fishguard August 24th to 29th 2003 Fifteen Redwings gathered at Fishguard for the highlight of their sailing season, the annual National Championships, this year under the burgee of Fishguard Bay Yacht Club. The Redwings were making a welcome return, being regular visitors since 1983.
Positions changed constantlyThe first race on Sunday 24th August saw the fleet at the mercy of a light and variable North-Easterly breeze. The host club set an excellent course with a committee boat line start which saw three boats, R246, R242 and R212 a little eager to get away and thus having to restart for being OCS at the start. The early leaders headed off on starboard tack into the bay only to find a serious wind shift favouring those boats that went to port under the cliffs. Positions changed constantly throughout the race and after two hours the race officer decided to shorten the course and finish the first race halfway up the third beat. The final positions saw R242, Bud Coote and Dave Darlington taking line honours with R244 Rolly Squibbs second and R243 Roger Hocking and Dominic Lozynski third. Unfortunately the wind failed totally before all the competitors could finish within the time limit leaving R174, R201, R221 and R219 as DNF. The mixed fortunes of the day were discussed extensively at the Commodore's Reception in the evening with most competitors hoping for 20kts of wind and more for the next day's two races.The second race on 25th August started in a shifty Easterly wind, the first beat being 'one-sided' favoured the boats staying on the long starboard tack and those tacking inshore lost out. R212 Gareth Shaw and David Jackman closely followed by R243, Roger Hocking and Dominic Lozynski lead the way followed by R245, Ben and John Crabb. These three pulled well clear of the rest of the fleet but as the wind dropped and became even more shifty under the cliffs the fleet became compacted with the Crabb brothers gaining the vital initiative on the final leg from Shaw and a fast-finishing R244 sailed by Rolly Squibbs. The third race held back-to-back with race 2 started in similar shifty conditions and two minutes before the start a big wind-shift caused chaos on the line, with starboard tackers unable to clear the line. The beat was again one sided and defending champions R242 Bud Coote and Dave Darlington on the outside of the starting pack took a good early lead, followed by R224 Desmond Hocking and Colin Crabb and R245 the young Crabb brothers. With the wind freshening the leading group of six pulled well clear, but as the wind dropped again in the later stages the Crabb brothers made a late challenge but Coote just held them off with Des Hocking narrowly taking third from Gareth Shaw and R195 Mike Stace and Deanna Morton fourth. The start of the forth race on Tuesday 26th was delayed an hour whilst the shifty wind was allowed to settle and eventually it was set in the South West corner of Fishguard Bay. Conditions were fickle and by the first windward mark the fleet was well spread out. R212, R242, R245, R228 and R244 rounded respectively. By the leeward mark the wind had dropped and backed, the tide became a strong influence and places were changing as the wind changed in direction and strength. R245 and R244 maintained boatspeed well through the changeable conditions. On a shortened course the fleet bunched and also spread and R245 the brothers Crabb, R244 Rolly and R242 Bud Coote and Dave Darlington eventually crossed the finish line in that order. Punishing (Pub) scheduleAfter a well-earned rest day that subjected many Redwing crews to a punishing pub schedule up in the Gwaun valley the fourth race got underway on Thursday 27th August after a ten minute delay. Conditions were a F2-3 North/North-Easterly breeze. R224 Des Hocking and Colin Crabb pulled out an early lead rounding the windward mark 50 yards ahead of the rest of the fleet. R243, R242, R245 and R212 were all bunched up and had quite a tussle down the following reaches. Apart from R224, that had a massive lead for the whole race, positions were changing constantly down the fleet. After the three rounds and a beat to the finish, R224 Des and Colin took the gun with R245 second, and then R243, R242 and R244 finishing in that order.Not quite the galeLast day at Fishguard once again the wind was up overnight though not quite the gale that occurred in 2001, unfortunately. Bud needed to beat Ben And John by two clear places to retain the Championship. Whilst evaluation was made of the true wind conditions and to allow FBYC to locate some extra rescue cover the race was postponed to 12.30, the decision then being made to sail inside the breakwater to keep the fleet together for safety purposes, but with extra laps added to compensate for the smaller course. However upon reaching the start area the wind deserted the fleet, At the start the fleet split left and right with R224 & R244 heading left and R245 & R243 heading right, R242 was delayed after a start line collision involving R212 which caused Gareth & Jacko to capsize, putting them well down the fleet. At the windward mark R224 had a good lead from R243, R245 & R244, Following the second beat R224 was still clear of the chasing pack but R245 was second with a half length lead over R244 with R243 & R242 some distance behind.Power reachingBy now the wind had risen substantially leading to tremendous power reaching during which whilst examining a broken spreader and trying not to remove Ben's rudder & transom, Alan Lambert crewing R244 slipped from the trapeze and bit the boom on his way past breaking a tooth having crawled back aboard amazingly without a capsize, he declined the offer of retirement and demanded to set off in hot pursuit of the leading boats. At the start of the next beat the wind continued to rise and Ben and John overtook 224 and sailed away from the fleet by now Bud and Darlo were up to third place but were unable to progress further.Surfing into harbourElsewhere in the fleet boats were capsizing at all points of the fleet With Cecil, Chris, Rowland, Richard, Bill (3 times) all capsizing; but credit is due that the rescue facilities were not called upon by anyone. Gareth and Jacko having now retired on lap 3 with a lost rudder having sustained damage in the start line collision, surfing into the harbour dead downwind without any steerage. Upon reaching shore all competitors went to congratulate Ben & John Crabb on their first Championship title only to discover they had gone to ring Mother under orders from multiple championship winning father Colin...Thanks are due to FBYC for organising a great week both on and off the water and accordingly the Redwings look forward to a return to Fishguard in 2008, if not before. Results Table
Sailmaker's ReportREDWING SAIL DESIGNAfter considerable consultation with sailors the current shape of Redwing sails was created in the 1980`s. In the 20 years or so since then sail design in other classes has developed considerably. Generally foresails are fuller, are sailed with more twist and are sheeted further inboard. Mainsails have become more adjustable with flatter lower sections, less luff curve and more open leeches. Although these changes have often enhanced performance particularly in light winds and a chop the Redwing Class should look carefully at the implications before following suit. It will mean changes to both the way that the boat is set up and to the way that it is sailed.FORESAILThe upright mast rake and outboard sheeting position dictate that the existing jib is flat cut when compared to other trapeze classes. It has to be like this because sheeting outside the shrouds means that the leech has to be tighter than on inboard sheeting jibs to get the angle of attack right. The slot between the jib and main is also wider at the bottom than it is at the top. Inboard sheeting jibs are cut much fuller because they have to be sailed with a much slacker leech to open the slot. The aim with these sails is to create a constant slot width throughout the height of the sail.It is important to understand that although the leech profile is different in both types the angle of attack will be similar. Pointing therefore is NOT necessarily improved but because of the parallel slot width speed is increased. Some of that speed can then perhaps be "used" to feather up closer to the wind. In other words pointing APPEARS to improve. To take full advantage of this the sheeting position would have to be within say, 300-350mm. of the centreline and the clew just about half way between the mast and the shrouds. There are downsides to all this. On a reach the sheet would be kinked around the leeward shroud hooking the lower leech. The leech may also hit the leeward spreader. In the Kestrel class they reduced the foot length to stop this. Rig tension may also have to increase to keep the angle of attack correct. Finally, is there somewhere for the sheeting position to go!? MAINSAILThe present mainsail has radial head and clew panels, has a full foot with no lens panel and has considerable luff round. In other words the sail, like all sails in the 1980`s has an off wind shape that is modified albeit inefficiently into a flatter windward going shape by mast bend only!Modern mainsails are flatter more efficient windward going sails that are made into off wind sails by easing the foot and by using less kicker to straighten the mast. Modifying the present shape into this more modern shape would involve: -
Performance would also be improved in a chop provided that less kicker was used. On the other hand downwind sailing particularly for the heavier weight crews may not be so fast��.
Hon. Secretary's note:- Where do we go from here? Your comments and feedback on this are appreciated. Do you want to update the sailplan or keep it as it is? There has been a steady and carefully considered improvement in the Redwing rig over the years. Is this the next step? I will happily prepare a postal ballot for the membership to vote for or against a re-design as proposed at the AGM or wait till next year, your thoughts please. Thank you to Mike Stace for his work on this subject on our behalf. The Dave Bowen sailing year,,,The World's Strongest ManJust a by line I wanted one too but Helen and the Bank Manager said I really didn't need it. Strange this as Helen has regularly deserted me for cruiser races, to be bullied and shouted at by a certain Commodore who most of you know well. (Like I said why buy? Helen) He asked me to crew during the Saundersfoot Regatta because in his words he was desperate. Like a fool I agreed. Well! Two moments in particular will stand out for a long time. The first was when Rolly (Oops! I said I wouldn't name him) while saying I was in the way lifted me bodily across the boat. I'm sure those of you who know of my slight stature will agree this must give him a chance in 'The World's Strongest Man'. The second was as he ranted and raved from the foredeck about the spinnaker pole downhaul being cleated when all the time he was standing on it. Fear not, I will remind him regularly�Back to the Redwings; 'Discretion', R221, made a grand entrance at Tenby this year after all Bill's hard work, she still looked a picture at the Championships. I proceeded to take out most of the Laser fleetEarly August saw Rolly and Jane cajole me into entering the Angle Regatta, which I eventually did thinking somebody has to be last. Well whether it was the light winds, flat seas or the short courses or just Neptune smiling on us, we'll never know; Race one saw the starboard course that had been set earlier in the day resulting in a running start with just 150 yards to the first mark. On reaching the first mark I proceeded to take out most of the Laser fleet and raft up with an RS. Having extricated myself and done turns I discovered I was still third boat on the water and Rolly had managed to sail round the lot into a good lead. The second and third races were sailed around the same course but to Port without further incident.Rolly and Jane went off to see if we needed to sign off to discover that the presentation was underway. I followed having packed the boat away, Jane mouthed 'third' to me across the crowd, third from last I thought, not bad, but as I reached them she said "No, third place!". That took some taking in, the high lasted for some time. Championships at FishguardThe next event was the championships at Fishguard where a great bunch of people battled with one another in varying winds and strong tides.This year was a memorable one for me as when I did venture out, I wasn't lapped. Sunday was a frustrating day as even after three and-a-half hours of sailing I was one of four boats who failed to complete the course. Still the first day never was my strong point. Strange way to call 'Starboard'The second day was also special as in the third championship race I had my first ever collision on the start line and with the future champions. Sorry, Ben and John, though "Who's that stupid ****" is a strange way to call 'Starboard'. Things went down hill from there as I wanted to retire and guess what, Helen didn't, in the ensuing discussion we both dropped everything and the boat took off the fastest it had done all day, in completely the wrong direction.Fend us off the harbour wallAfter that things should have got better; You must be joking!, after surviving a dead run into the harbour we rounded up and dropped the main proceeding in on the jib alone. I freed the rudder and without realising, pulled the tiller out. This resulted in Helen jumping off the bow into five feet of water (remember she is only 5ft 4in) to fend us off the harbour wall. As I alighted in to only 3ft of water I was greeted by a tirade of Anglo Saxon.Tuesday saw Helen unfortunately having to go back to work for the day so I shanghaied my friend, well he was before we sailed, and sometimes Redwing helm Kevin Williams. We achieved my best result of the week, strange that at the Coppet Regatta in Saundersfoot in June, I borrowed a crew for the day in similar circumstances and also achieved my best result. Sorry Helen you're still the best and the only one brave enough to trapeze when I'm helming. Gold dust in WalesWednesday was the start of my troubles for the rest of the week an infected root canal saw me swollen and with little sleep for the next couple of days and, guess what, dentists are like gold dust in Wales! However I must congratulate the staff at Cardigan Hospital who fixed me up with some Anti-biotics which in time gave me some relief.Still there is no way I would have sailed on Friday. Once again the last day gave us, the wise ones on the shore, that is, some spectacular spills and thrills. I know there were a few aches and pains amongst the fleet after that one! The Three MusketeersOnce again the three musketeers at the back had some exciting tussles and lookout we reckon were getting closer as Des and Colin can testify. Apologies to Marian and Mike for depriving you of the Pegasus trophy we'll try harder next year.Dave Bowen R221 'Discretion' National Championships 2004REDWING FOR SALE R199 'Sparkle'
Excellent condition, wooden spars, trapeze, wooden plate, trailer and trolley.
Asking �1,200
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�NRDA 2003