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Hi everyone

Thanks to everyone for making Largs a great event and to the Scottish Sailing Institute for rescuing us on the Tuesday.



I'm sorry that it was spoilt by the news of the theft of "Aquachip" and we all hope that it is recovered in one piece!



Following Largs, we went straight down to Bridlington where Matt and Emma sailed in the NSSA Regatta.



We had the "privlege" of being the only wooden boat in the whole Regatta of 176 boats, and therefore we assue that we were the oldest boat there.



Matt and Emma sailed in the fast fleet handicap, which had 24 boats,in the fleet they finished 5th overall, beaten by 2 laser vagos and 2 RS 200,'s but not by the 29er!.



The weather conditions were not quite as windy as Largs but they were strong.




On Thursday morning they were 4th overall, but Thursday was to prove their worst day and for their fellow Derbyshire Youth Squad, gusts of 30 knots resulted in a capsize (sound familiar to Largs on the Tuesday) and the rudder coming off, fortunately Matt rescued it!!



The following race, the shroud mounting pulled out, fortunately Matt and Emma's quick thinking saved the mast from being bent, but they had difficulty getting back in, with Emma hanging onto the shroud. Meanwhile their team mates capsized their Vago, unfortunately the crew had to be brought off the water and stretchered up the beach, fortunately nothing too serious and to her credit she was able to complete the Regatta on Friday



Thursday overnight we repaired the boat to enable them to complete the Regatta



So in the last fortnight "This way up" has sailed in 23 races and completed 20, not bad for a boat built in 1981.



Many thanks to Steve Bailey for having Matt as a crew in Largs and lending Matt a Jib for the NSSA Regatta.



Paul Metcalfe-Smith

"This way up 6956"

Well done Matt and Emma, maybe the time is coming for the old man to retire and hand over the helm?

To be the only wooden boat in the regatta is really something and even better when it's in there,I know I get a huge lift from the comments people make of my boat, and it's what makes the theft of Robin Brooks boat from Largs harder to swallow, hopefully it turns up again in one piece.

Cheers

Crawfy

RETIRE!! , I've only been sailing for 4 years!!,




I've handing the helm over to Matt for the Northerns, but they already use it for the Derbyshire Youth Sailing! that 10 days worth plus whenever they get the opportunity to sail it!

Well done Emma and Matt, sounds like an eventful week, and thanks Matt for crewing at Largs and returning the jib in what appears to be one piece.

Hope you can make it to Nottingham for the open in September, it's the weekend after the Isle of Sheppey bash.

Cheers for now

Steve

Paul

Well done to Matt and Emma for a great result at Bridlington. After a hard week of crewing at Largs they did really well to work up enthusiasm for another week of competition.

With so (too) many of these new plastic fantastic classes for young people to choose from, I think Matt and Emma would have have been a great advert for the Albacore dinghy.




We all need to try and encourage more younger people into the class, as this is the future.



Regards



Richard




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1925