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Poets Day

Yes that day had to come. The final day of the regatta. The weather continued to hold out apart from the wind. With things to do and places to go, no-one really wanted to hang around so eventually the racing was cancelled and the prize giving arranged. That was then the time that the swimmers came and and all the sad farewells began.

Never mind, you can always come back to enjoy Bass week which starts on Saturday 5 August

Thursday - What a Difference a Day Makes!

While the rest of the country were suffering from thunderstorms, the NSSA regatta enjoyed yet another sunny day. The wind was stronger, and one young lady (yet to be named) survived 19 capsizes in race 7 and another 10 in race 8. She did finish her racing but was given a tow ashore.

The reaching leg for the fast handicap was the most spectacular of the lot - Isn't that what we all do some sailing for? Whether it's a change in the conditions, increased competition, or just protectionism to keep a good overall result we're not sure but there has been a big increase in the number of protests being held. Fortunately for us (but not him) Eddie Ramsden of the RYA was on site and was roped in to chair some of the protests.

Apparently he refused to hear the one from a 'grumpy 10 year old' who submitted a protest against the ice cream van! The case was based on him leaving site without due warning - no flags, or sound signals. Word has it that he did return to an eager audience later in the day.

Wednesday - Clouds!?

The weather remained sunny, but it was a bit of a case of the morning after the night before for some of the locals - perhaps it was just as well that the format of racing changed for the day, as it was a bit of a rest from the championship - the Mount Haes Trophy was a team racing event sailed for in Topper Zenons. With many short races, there was a lot of activity on the water, but the eventual winners were Lancashire.

At the same time an all comers pursuit race and a single handed trophy were sailed for - Unfortunately I don't know the winners! However, chief OD Mike Moore failed to acknowledge being beaten at dominoes by Rhonwen the results secretary. He put it down to luck rather than skill!

For those not on the water, there was an opportunity to try out the human powered hydrofoil. Not certain that anyone actually flew one without falling in the water, but they all had a lot of fun. Having just been introduced into the country last week, they could prove to be a popular item on this year's Christmas lists!

Tuesday - Sun AND Wind

The sun shines on the righteous, so why should we be surprised about the quality of today's weather! A good southerly helped the ODs set their courses and everything got off to a flying start for the morning race. Some good action shots for the local TV station, and sponsors British Nuclear Group enjoyed an excellent day out of the office! Dave Love representing BNG had the opportunity to start a laser race, and later presented prizes at the lunchtime prizegiving.

During the afternoon the breeze faded, possibly fighting with a sea breeze - but after half an hour the wind strengthened again from the south and the final race of the day was sailed and led to a few capsizes

Tales from the Day

• Good to sees Robert Casey and Tom Weston in an RS Feva from Plymouth really happy when they beat their team mates!!
• Most polite prize goes to James Shevelan in an Oppie from Lancs - he always says thank you to committee boat when he finishes
• Most improved - Rory Humphries in an Oppie from Lancs had a much better day than Monday. Well done!

A small collection of pics - loads more available

Water Water Everywhere...

...But not a drop to drink. The hot weather, and a light breeze, has slowed things a little, and you'll note from the webcam the final race of the day went on until late afternoon. Bottled water has been shipped(?) in and ferried out to competitors to reduce the risk of dehydration.

NSSA Regatta Ready to Roll (Rocking not allowed!)

After months of preparation, the start of the National Youth Regatta 2006 will start tomorrow. Boats are starting to arrive and get prepared for a week's tough competition both on and off the water.

Keep an eye on these pages for the latest gossip (if it's reportable!)

NB Club members can catch up on the weekend results by using the results link on the menu above

The Human Powered Hydrofoil Watercraft Has Arrived

It's supposed to be better than a boat. It's claimed to better than a jet ski. This machine is said to be the coolest product to hit the water in years. Unlike other human-powered watercraft, its unique hydrofoil wings and fibreglass spring let you fly across the water by simply hopping up and down. Since the hydrofoil has very little drag in the water, you can move at speeds of up to 17 mph. It's environmentally friendly...no fuel, no noisy engines and its maintenance free. With this piece of equipment, you can ride on waves, try new tricks, and race your friends. Any way you use it, it is fun and a great way to exercise.

 

Every time you jump, the force of your weight compresses the fibreglass spring, causing the back foil to change its angle. From the same impact of your jump, the angled back foil is pushed downward to generate the propulsion.

 

The front foil is locked to a constant height in the water by the skimmer, which planes on the surface of the water.

 

If you stop jumping, eventually, you will end up in the water. Not so bad on a hot, sunny day! In order to keep the machine up out of the water, the rider needs to either be jumping on the platform or riding a wave. A rider can glide for small amounts of time, but then needs to start jumping again.

The average cruising speed is 8-10 mph. You can reach a maximum speed of 17 mph. In order to keep the device above the water, you need to go at least 5 mph.

The maximum weight of the user is 250 pounds. The minimum is 70 pounds.

The device can be put together and taken apart in about 5 minutes. When disassembled, it can be fit into a golf-size bag.

• Weight: 24 pounds
• Wingspan: 7 feet
• Length: 6 feet
• Material: aircraft aluminium and fibreglass

All thoughts on this to the forum!

NB It seems as if the Kids at the NSSA may get a chance to trial them on Wednesday!

This page was last updated on 31 July, 2006