What does a fully rigged and ready to sail Sprint 15 Weigh?

[Steven Tunnacliffe]

Dont like the idea that me and Jeremy (arnt I brilliant, look at me) Clarkson have anything in common.

But Caravans

[Robert]

Well I do admit that some of them get in the way, but I find chip vans (sluggish underpowered motorhomes) worse.

If I'm towing the caravan and there is another one up ahead doing anything less than the towing speed limit I do get a bit frustrated because the two rigs have a large combined length and getting past is not always easy. However this is much less frequent than being baulked on the motorway by some dolt in the middle lane or by someone else dawdling on a single carriageway road. Of course all Travellers towing always keep to the speed limits so there shouldn't be too many Sprint 15 ~ caravan clashes on the way to events

Do you find HGV's as much a problem as caravans, because there are a lot more of those around? My main problem with a caravan is that you're not allowed a towbar on the back of one and eventually I might have to get a chip van.

ps Pete Richardson's machine is NOT a chip van, it's really cool.

Gotta keep this thread rolling somehow - there's not much else going on at the moment!

pps Not that I'm sensitive about the caravan image or anything and at least you're a bit better looking than Clarkson, Steve.

[Robin Newbold]

Robert did I read that you keep your cover on while towing? So it doesn't add too much windage? I suppose once all of the straps holding the boat on t the trailer are on, they will keep the cover in place. That would save a lot of time, as jib fittings, mainsheet etc can stay in place like you said.

[Andrew Hannah]

Actually, I don't mind being stuck behind a caravan.

I invariably drop back sufficiently, to prevent other drivers cutting in front of me. If they are going to overtake me, they will want to overtake the caravan as well.

I agree with Robert. What a boring thread!

[Steven Tunnacliffe]

I like the description of "Chip Vans"

HGV's tent to want to get somewhere so usually get a move on, as for Caravans they are enjoying the getting there and seem to have a herding instinct and close up so even in a car not towing a sprint you need a straight of around a mile to overtake the pair

Andrew I think Robert meant that we should keep this thread going as every one else seems not to have come out of hibernation yet as you can look at the web site for days in a row and nothing has changed, so thank you for your contribution

[Robert]

I'm sorry Andrew, it's flattering to be agreed with but Steve has caught my drift. There's nowt happening at present and not even any entertaining insults flying back and forth. I'm suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Perhaps I should have gone on the water at Grafham and got mashed to give me something to recover from.

So, for the benefit of being annoying, I shall continue...

Robin:
I can't see what difference a cover would make to the drag when towing if there is a tramp on the boat anyway. I think Adrian Holland did remove his tramp for towing when he first got his boat, in order to stop it taking off, but maybe he's slowed down a bit now. When I look in the mirror the cover seems to be flattened onto the tramp and I generally travel at 50-60 mph. Yes, the straps hold the cover down as well and so long as all loose cover straps are tied off, all seems to be well. I do have a fairly heavy pvc-type cover that doesn't flap that easily, but it does ripple in a gale if it isn't secured to the boat properly (but not when towing because then it is secured).

Thanks for your input - are you thinking of getting a trailer?

[Andrew Hannah]

When I was a young lad, I attended a church bazaar where they had a "guess-the-weight-of-the-cake". We were allowed to see what others had guessed, so I withheld my guess until the last moment. I checked the highest weight and added one ounce. Amazingly, I won.

Unfortunately, I was observed by the parish priest, who was not amused. So I was disqualified! I never liked him, anyway. I simply laughed!

[Robert]

Beats me what his problem was, but maybe I've missed the point. He sounds like a bit of spoilsport to me. The first entrant could be Gabriel the Trained, though.

[Robin Newbold]

[quote]are you thinking of getting a trailer?[/quote]

I've already got one. I was luckily eavesdropping at the Queen Mary traveller when I heard there was one for sale. So now I am mobile. Although, it is an odd attachment for the lighting board; there is a metal frame to attach the board to which hangs of the rudder pintles... So I am having something made up a little less destructive to the boat.

[Steven Tunnacliffe]

Thats it Andrew throw something in thats totally out of the "Trailer Box" Keep it going

got any more anecdotes