Number 2

[Bob Carter]

We now have the second entry to the Thorpe Bay Nationals. It came on an entry form from our magazine - I notice that if you tear this page out you loose the Nationals programme. It seems such a shame to tear up the magazine so it might be worth printing the form off this website (or copying the page of the magazine) rather than spoil the magazine.
Anyway any guesses who has lost page 31 & 32 of his magazine. This one might be harder for even Erling to guess!!
Cheers
Bob
PS More clues to follow.
PPS I'll enter them on the chart that you can view on the website soon. For the first few I thought I would play this game - as a diversion from caravans!!

[Robert]

Caravans? Nothing wrong with them.

[Andrew Hannah]

Caravans? Nothing wrong with them.

Hey, Robert!

I understand Pentewan will be the nationals venue in 2009. There are loads of caravans in Pentewan. You will love it! You'll be in your element! If you chose one in the middle, you could discuss the joys of caravaning with your neighbours. Happy days!

The rest of us will be sailing!

PS In view of the early easter, when does the caravaning season get under way?

[Steve Willis]

Well it was really sad to see the small huddle of about 6 'vans' parked in the field at Farming World near us over easter instead of the usual 100-150.

You remember the gale force gusts and the snow - as we came back from the club on Good Friday there they were, all laggered up in a circle (and probably any other spelling of that you like).

4 days in a field next to the Thanet Way dual carriageway and the nearest shop/pub etc a mile away and not even allowed to have a camp fire. Maybe you need a special kind of brain for that..........................

Steve

[Robert]

OK - I get the message.

[Andrew Hannah]

OK - I get the message.

Oh no, Robert! We wanted you to rise to the bait!!

[Steve Willis]

Absolutely - wind up time.

No offence meant to anybody's chosen pastime. Some just need a special dedication.

Talking of bait. Joan and I were down at the club this afternoon reconnecting all the start lights, anemometer and radios after completion of double glazing and cladding to our Race Tower.

Now we no longer have the two inch hole in the bottom of the door it was nice and dry and quiet in there. Dinghy fleet out at Whitstable on the horizon in F3-4.

Bait diggers all over our area as the tide was coming in but still a long way off.

Then we noticed a 'drumming' and found it was the flag pole and the wind speed meter I had just reconnected was reading 40 mph. Could hardly be heard in the tower, brilliant job by local firm.

The horizontal sleet then hit and the bait diggers disappeared into the gloom.

Now what possesses anyone to spend hours digging in mud to get worms and traansport them and the muddy gear away just to feed the fish somewhere else and to make it easy for them by suspending them in the water on little hooks (sits back and awaits uproar from anglers!).

Steve

[Andrew Hannah]

Talking of fishing Steve, I have a friend who had fished for salmon in rivers for many, many years. Everyone was amazed at the size and sheer quantity of salmon he caught.

One day he was at the river bank, and to help another angler, he sheepishly enquired, "What bait are you using?"

The incredulous angler exclaimed, "Bait! Bait!, Did you say bait?". At that moment, my pal realised he had let slip his secret. He quickly left the scene.

[Robert]

I went a bit quiet there for a while but I have to say I agree with you about fishing. I fell out with anglers a long time ago on the River Ouse when I was trying to tack up through restricted wind and water. It took me a while to find all the maggots in the bilges.

I am a bit sad that there is now one less Bongo to be expected at the Nationals this year. I would bring my CVN to make up for it but I'm not sure it would be allowed on the seafront, being neither a tent nor a motorhome. It's also a tad inconvenient as it doesn't have a towbar for doing the roadtrain trick

Hopefully La Nina will relent a bit soon and I'll be able to get out into the fields around Carsington and have fun emptying the toilet. BTW did anyonyone guess who the second entrant to the Nationals is? How many are there now Bob - and do we have to pay in full up front or can we pre-register?

[Martin Searle]

<snipage>
Hopefully La Nina will relent a bit soon and I'll be able to get out into the fields around Carsington and have fun emptying the toilet. BTW did anyonyone guess who the second entrant to the Nationals is? How many are there now Bob - and do we have to pay in full up front or can we pre-register?

I have now enabled the pre-registration systems for both nationals and Bob and Keith are ready and willing to enter your names into them!

You can view them from the events page on the website. So Duncan Ford was our second nationals entrant from Thorpe Bay.

Remember 'Sprogs' (23 and under) in full time education can enter free too either or both the nationals events to celebrate our 30th Anniversary.

Martin S.

[Bob Carter]

BTW did anyonyone guess who the second entrant to the Nationals is? How many are there now Bob - and do we have to pay in full up front or can we pre-register?

Hi Robert,
No one seemed game to guess so I gave up and entered Duncan's name into the system for all to see. We still have just 2 entries but it is very early days. You have to pay when you enter or it involves me in more work. The cheques will not be cashed immediately.
Cheers
Bob

[Robert]

Thanks Bob

I like the info about not cashing the cheques yet. There could be a rush to be number 3!

Well done Duncan - sorry I changed the subject from guessing your id.

[Duncan Ford]

No problem Robert

I doubt if anyone would have guessed anyway! I was just trying to spur some of the other 23 Sprint 15s at Thorpe Bay YC into making an early showing. No chance. Maybe the info on not cashing the cheques will help!

Duncan Ford TBYC 1973

PS Being a cruising cat sailor I sail with a Dart 18 tiller so that I can sunbathe in front of the sails. I have got the shorter version as well, and assume I have to use that at the Nationals?

[Bob Carter]

Hi Duncan,
Yes the tube length of a standard tiller extension is 1.67metres.
Cheers
Bob
PS The Laser Centre pulled a fast one with some of the last deliveries by shipping them with Dart 18 tiller extensions which are too long.

[Duncan Ford]

Hi Bob

Just gone out to the garage and measured my short tiller. 1.67m it is! That's the one I'll use.

To be fair to the Laser Centre I wanted a longer tiller for cruising and they supplied me with one. Somehow over the years I have ended up with both.

Cheers

Duncan