Opinions wanted for new race series in 2006
by Nigel Duncan 19 Nov 2004 16:18 GMT
Forth Yacht Clubs Association are canvassing opinion for a new race series which they propose to start in 2006. It will involve clubs in the central area of the river from: Burntisland, Aberdour, Dalgety Bay, Cramond, Port Edgar and the clubs at Granton, the Royal Forth and Forth Corinthian.
As racing will be scheduled over low water, the time of races will be set to encourage boats from tidally restricted harbours to enter. Races would be short to maintain interest and, as no briefing meeting on the day would be available, instructions would be circulated well in advance.
Royal Forth would provide their committee vessel and the 2006 race calendar would be adjusted to suit the new Central Area race dates.
The Forth Yacht Club Association welcomed the proposals at their annual meeting at Cramond Boat Club in November. Fiona Brown, the new Chairman of the Forth Yacht Clubs Association, said that the proposal was to set up a sub-committee of the FYCA to administer yacht racing in the central river.
"The objective is to encourage yachts which do not travel to many of the FYCA regattas or FIG races to take part. The courses would be set up for different types of boats with the start times arranged to suit harbour access times.The overall objective is to bring all clubs closer together and to encourage people to take to the water."
Dinghy racing is not included in the plans but she added: "We are actively seeking comments from sailors on the proposals. Should we have a series or single events is one of the considerations but the schedule would not be onerous if there was a series.
We believe this is a really good idea and we need comments quickly as the series will have to be scheduled by the Spring delegates of 2005 for the event to get under way in 2006."
All comments should be sent to Graham Crawford, Hon Sec of the FYCA on graham@crawford78.fsnet.co.uk