Yesterday I received my copy of the Regatta Guide for this Summer's Internatonals. I hadn't expected it and it was great to see. It was also good to see the aspiration to achieve 77+ entries. Lets hope we make it!
Unfortunately the basis of the objective is misplaced because a number of the entry levels for some of the older events are inaccurate.
Most notable of these is the epic and somewhat notorious 1985 Herne Bay Worlds where there were over 100 entries rather than the 58 listed. On that occasion our friends from across the pond insisted that there should not be more than 60 boats on a single start line, so the fleet had to be divided in two at the 60 mark with a "B" fleet starting 5 minutes later.
The UK Nationals were to act as the "qualifier" for the "A" fleet, although all overseas entries were included automatically into that fleet. In practice the wind early in the week was monstrous and at the end of each day the boat park was more reminiscent of a scrap yard. The wild winds slowly ebbed away as the week progressed until on the last day there was virtually nothing. As a result there were a number of very good crews that suffered gear failures, and lighter weight crews, who had been placed into the "B" fleet. We were left in each subsequent Worlds race with the shameful sight of a number of "B" fleet sailors working their way through the "A" fleet that had started 5 minutes earlier.
Some of those people are still in and around the fleet and I'm sure would be most unhappy to be discounted once again!
Norman
