Performance Sailing
Martin 242
UPDATE TO CHANGES/DELAYS IN THE 2020 RACING SEASON
RVYC’s sailing season start has been put ‘on hold’!
As of Wednesday, March 18th the following events have been cancelled: https://youtu.be/snCxgNB9Dmw
A reminder of what we are missing
RVYC Race Day
Kitten Cup Regatta
Beginning of Wednesday Night Racing
May One Design Regatta
We will keep you updated as to when some of these events will (hopefully) be rescheduled.
Welcome to the regional fleet Mark Shelton
On February 29, the 1st boat of 2020 changed hands. Peter Gelinas of Randle, WA, sold Earth Girls, built in 1987, Hull #193, to Mark Shelton, who is a new sailor from Gig Harbor, WA. The white-hulled boat was listed at US$5500 and came with a dual axle trailer with all-new bearings and seals. Sails were old, and consisted of one main, 3 headsails and 3 spinnakers. Mast and boom are bare polished aluminum.
Ronstan Releases Versatile New Soft-attachment Snatch Blocks In Three Sizes For Keelboats
Ronstan has just released a new range of soft attachment blocks which have the highest ratio of dynamic load to sheave diameter of any block in their keelboat block range.
Ultimate dynamic and static load performance
Featuring fully machined aluminium cheeks and sheaves incorporating a full contact, self-lubricating composite bearing running on a polished duplex stainless-steel hub, the new blocks are built to last and suit a multitude of demanding applications where high static and dynamic loads are encountered. Many different iterations of the soft attachments were tested before finalising the specifications of the Dyneema® SK99 cord shackle. Proprietary Nodus Factory splicing techniques and fibre surface coating ensure secure load transfer from the block and maximum durability.
Attach, detach and open.
The soft attachment passing through the hub provides a simple means of attachment and a protective buffer between the block and boat surfaces. It is secured with a titanium “dog bone” that allows it to be easily opened when you need to detach the block. Soft elastomer retaining guides ensure that the block remains aligned within the soft shackle.
With the shackle open, a gentle rotation of the cheeks opens the head of the block so it can be fitted to a standing line. To close the block, rotate back to the closed position. A spring-loaded ball secures the assembly, with no additional external straps or bands required.
For more information, visit www.ronstan.com
Kieler Woche flexible not only in terms of dates
The relocation of Kieler Woche 2020 from June to September (5th to 13th) requires some adjustments in the regatta area. “We cannot mirror the regattas 1:1. The classes have been planning differently for a long time, our volunteers and we ourselves have done so,” says Dirk Ramhorst, head of organization of the Kieler Woche regattas.
After the postponement of the Kieler Woche to September had been discussed with the sponsors, the co-organizers, the German Sailing Association and the volunteers and their support and agreement had been secured, the next phase of planning is now underway. The postponement requires new ideas and a lot of flexibility. But we would like to give the active participants and classes some guidance now so that they can start planning right away”, says Ramhorst. The Kieler Woche organizers also deviate from the usual division.
“Of course we will take the class wishes into account. The J24 would like to sail in the first part and probably one day less in order to be able to leave for Great Britain in time for the European Championship. The 420s could slide into part one due to the EM/WM qualification regatta taking place on the second weekend in September, and the 29ers could therefore sail in part two, just like the OK dinghies, which will be holding their IDM in Lower Saxony on the first weekend in September. We try to make a lot of things possible”, says Ramhorst. The team around the Chief Race Director Fabian Bach adapted the class and course distribution to the wishes in order to enable as many classes from the Olympic and international area as possible to participate in Kieler Woche.
“Even if the basic structure is in place, it is not set in stone. We are still trying to react and respond to wishes”, says Ramhorst, who has received a lot of encouragement for the relocation from the classes and athletes. The postponement to September gives hope for an autumn with regattas, after most of the events have been cancelled until August.
However, Kiel will move on without the Flying Dutchman and the Moth this year. Their World and European Championships prevent the start in September in Kiel. Other classes, however, are trying to integrate championships that are cancelled before September into Kieler Woche.
The International German Championship of the Offshore Sailors will take place during Kieler Woche as planned. The Technical Department of the German Sailing Association and the Regatta Association of Sea Sailing have given the green light and welcomed the relocation, the Kieler Yacht-Club announced. The Fareast28R should also start during the Kieler Woche. Instead of the planned Pre Worlds during Kieler Woche, the event will now take place after the Worlds (August 10th to 16th in Laboe). But the World Championship and the Kieler Woche are now much closer together, so that the organizers and the class association expect the Fareast 28R boats to stay until after the Worlds.
“It will be a different Kieler Woche than usual, but we want to give positive signals. Of course, the health of the active participants, all employees and guests of Kieler Woche is our top priority”, says Ramhorst, who does indeed include in the planning that virologists and politicians could have the last word.
Kiel Week (05. until 13. September):
Part 1 (September 5 to 8):
420, 5O5, J/24, J/70, J/80, Contender, Europe, Fareast 28R, Laser 4.7, Laser Rad. (open), MustoSkiff VXone.
Part 2 (September 9 to 13):
29er (September 10 to 13), 470, 49er, 49erFX, F18, Finn, Laser Rad W , Laser Std. M, Nacra15, Nacra17, OK.
