TOPIC:

Hello to all who remember Starsky and Hutch, when the worlds at Crammond totalled over110 boats!

Is Reckless Rat still alive, is Hitchhiker still illegal( 1.5mm beyond tolerance behind centreboard, it was ok under the old rules and then the witchhunt started by moving the goal posts).


I haven`t sailed Hitchhiker for 8 years, although I did sail in April 2009 in a Bexhill albacore whilst scattering my father`s ashes( force4-5 SW off Bexhill, is there a better place)

Hitchhiker is still in the garage in it`s covers, could i be given advice please.

Golf has taken over(down to 7) but i have an urge to sail again, my mainsail still says organ donation(5 years). I am now up to 17 years, great friends such as Martin Cochrane have moved up stairs to better things.



Look forward to hearing from anyone who still has a retentive memory.



Simon Baber

Hi Simon....Sorry to hear about your Dad. I've lost your email address, so if you want to get in touch, mine is jean_simmonsattalk21.com (obviously replacing the at with @ !!



Cheers

Jean

Jean knows the status of Mr Weekes who is relaxing in his stately pile in Devon but sails various craft off his private beach on the Dart! Ron and Julie are sailing Alb intermittently at Maidenhead but majoring on Dragon racing the last I heard. I think Ron looks on here occassionally, Trevor

thanks Trevor,

I will ring. Any news of Johnathan Weeks and Ron and Julie?



Simon

There are some details of pole arrangements on this site at albacore.org.uk/Projects/jibpole/jibpole.htm It seems every boat is different but ths works OK for me.
I think the nearest measurer for you is Martin Pearson, I don't have his number but he is Sailing Secretary at Parkstone YC 01202 743610, Trevor

Hi Derek,

Good to hear from you,

the albacore at Crammond was Recklessrat that was too wide at deck level.

Hitchhiker is all ready to go minus the final coat , can you give me a list of measurers in the south.

fly away poles is new to me, advice again please.



Simon.

Hi Simon



I certainly remember you and (I think wife), certainly remember issues with your boat at Cramond, I seem to remember it was too wide and the thwart cut and re-glued I currently sail Kingsfield 7176, bought from Gavin Fleming and since bumped by myself and then re-measurered by Don O'Donnel. The only dispensation I have is for hull thickness. I think most people agree it has removed some of the reaching advantage, however the inovation of fly away, leward poles, have re-introduced a faster planing option for everyone.



I would be happy to discuss what options you have.



Call me on my number in the committee list. I would love to see you sailing at Lyme, If there is an issue with your boat I could bring you a ex Graham Child "Young" 6955.



Cheers Derek Gibbon

NAA Chairman

Hi Simon,



I have put the question to the committee, I used to own 6936 "Shadow", which was OK, but I know that 6836 was required to be bumped. I was also around Grimsby in the early nineties and there may have been issues with 7144.



We will let you know, it would be great to see you back in an Alb.



I'm sure there are other people about who know more.



Phil Smith

A6504"Nemesis"

Northern Rep

Any comments please about the legality of kingsfield marine boats. hitchhiker 7145 was one of the early editions, the remeasurement of the boats was meant to catch out the later models, but unfortunately i bought Hitchhiker after my kidney transplant with a valid certificate only for the movement of the goal posts, and she then became illegal by 1.5 mm at one station, the certificate is now with the RYA.

Any comments from the committee members please about the present situation.



Simon Baber.

Hi Simon,

Captain Beaky was bought a few years ago by Andrew Callum from Canada. He kept it at Greenock and used it when he came over for the Scottish. The boat has now gone to Canada on the container from Largs and sold to Jeff Beitz who plans to strip her back and do a full renovation. Jeff, I understand has also ordered a container of new boats from Chris Turner for this year.



CrawfyCrawfyReid2010-01-30 12:28:21

Simon, Indeed I remember you as one of the top Albacore sailors. I will mention you to Duncan and ingrid Glenn and Johnny and Anita Herbert at Parkstone as I am sure they remember you. I also remember how helpful you were to us when we were starting out by riding with us and pulling strings at a freezing Spring tuning at King George reservoir.
Sad to hear your father passed on as we thought he was a role model sailing Captain Beaky well into his seventies. We still see that boat occassionally. It would be great if you came back into Albacores and sailed at the Nationals at Lyme. I bet you would show everybody a thing or two. It is like riding a bike they tell me - you never forget, Trevor Smith (ex Axolotl)

Hi Simon

Hitchhiker is before my time, but Reckless Rat is still alive and well being sailed very quickly by Judy and Paul Armstrong.

Hi Simon, Yes I do look here occasionally. It certainly would be good to see you back in an Albacore. My retentive memory is of many epic on water battles with both you and your dad, mostly won by the Babers! Sorry to learn your dad has passed on; I always enjoyed those battles.



Julie and I still sail AL 7925 at Maidenhead during the winter; not with too much success these days. Julie has an excuse in that her two metal knees, though better than her real ones had become, are not as flexible as the real thing, and I am just getting old I guess. Our main sailing these days is on the international circuit with our cold moulded Dragon (made exactly the same way as a wooded Alb) where we do rather better as keel boats do not require quite the alility needed for a dinghy on a pond! We get to sail in some nice places in the sun and in the bigger regattas there can be 100 Dragons on the start line.



We still enjoy the Alb yjough, and if you go to the Nationals and the forecast is OK, we could even be tempted to join you.



Ron James