RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show - the Graduate year
by Emma Slater, RYA 18 Feb 2015 17:03 GMT
28 February - 1 March 2015
Graduate Nationals at Chichester day 2 © Nick Culbourne
It was an action packed and fun 2014 for the Graduate class and 2015 is going to be even busier. Check out the 2014 season video:
The 2015 season kicks-off with a visit to the RYA Suzuki Dingy Show at Alexandria Palace (28 Feb – 01 Mar).
At the Show, the Graduate Dinghy Association (stand B56) will be exhibiting a brand new boat built by Tim Harper, the first new build wooden Graduate for several years. This boat continues the new boat theme started by Rooster, selling five FRP Graduates last year.
"A lot of sailors will stick with an old Graduate hull but upgrade the rig and sails to keep the boat competitive but at a very reasonable price. In recent years we have had a brand new boat and a thirty year old boat win the National Championships", commented Alistair Roaf, Chairman Graduate Dinghy Association.
The Graduate is a two person, two sail boat (about 11m2) which is 3.82 m (12'6") long. With its big top mainsail it does especially well on flat water and its handicap is beneficial up to marginal planing conditions which is typical of inland summer sailing. The boat is sailed by young, old and all between. It is easy to control but takes skill to be successful.
On to the season on the water, the first open of the year will be at Emberton Park on 12 April, with the Nationals taking place in Chipstead on the second bank holiday weekend of May.
A reintroduction into the Graduate diary is the Northerns. This will be the first weekend of August at Bassenthwaite and will be part of Bass week. A number of Grads plan to stay for the whole week.
In September we gather at Thornbury on the River Severn which is a new venue for a lot of Grads. The season will wind down with opens at Chester and Papercourt in October.
Being a great summer handicap boat, Graduates are likely to feature in various handicap events and demonstrate how they out point most boats up wind.
If you would like to learn more about the Graduate Dinghy, and how it provides cost effective close racing, come and see us at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show or visit our website www.graduatedinghy.com and Facebook page - Graduate Sailing Dinghy Fan Club.
For more information about the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show and to get your tickets visit www.dinghyshow.org.uk