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2006 - A Retrospective (RoyB)
I think we enjoyed ourselves. The debate over adopting international class rules, a feature of 2005, has been resolved. Members are not really interested in it, we prefer to go our own, constantly evolving way. And did we evolve? Well, on two fronts.
A couple of years ago the trimaran canoe seemed to be climbing into the ascendancy. Challenged by the original Solway Dory model from JohnB and eventually by the Osprey sailed by JimB and SteveR, monohulls seemed to be going out of fashion. Trimarans' disadvantages - transport, setting up, mooring at jetties, weight - couldn't be overlooked, however, and when a simple solution to the risks of the monohull's instability was found, the tri no longer seemed such a good idea. And it happened by accident, literally.
After RenateW capsized on Loch Lomond in 2004, husband Paul asked Solway Dory to make for her a monohull with "waterwings" to prevent a repeat occurrence. The new craft was revealed at the winter meet in Jan 2005. When SteveR launched his new monohull with said attachments this year and, as I understand, sailed it on the challenging Scottish trip, it was clear that a new idea, despite offering an aesthetic challenge, had really taken root.
Secondly, away from the technical sphere, I sense that we are seeing a slight shift towards real cruising, alongside our traditional meets. Last year EddieP's trip at Balquhidder was a success, followed this year by the Scottish adventure in May and the Windermere weekend trip in September. We should bear in mind, of course, that they require more detailed and stricter organisation, but I think we ought to build upon the popularity of these events.
Meet
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2006
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2005
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Racers
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Boats
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Racers
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Boats
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Winter
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-
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2
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-
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7
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Roadford
|
-
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16
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-
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16
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Bala
|
13
|
17
|
12
|
14
|
Coniston
|
12
|
13
|
17
|
19
|
Hickling
|
8
|
14
|
11
|
13
|
Ullswater
|
13
|
20
|
13
|
19
|
Rutland
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-
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11(?)
|
13
|
15
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Windermere
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-
|
17
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8
|
13
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Low Wray
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-
|
10
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-
|
14
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W. Scotland
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-
|
7
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N/A
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N/A
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Lough Erne
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12
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17
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N/A
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N/A
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Anglesey
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N/A
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N/A
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-
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6
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Balquidder
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N/A
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N/A
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-
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7
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Loch Sunart
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N/A
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N/A
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-
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4
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Sweden
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N/A
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N/A
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-
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5
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Averages:
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11.6
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11.3
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12.3
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10.1
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And what else springs to mind? WarinK has done the OCSG proud in the South-West with his well-organised meet at Roadford (note the recent informal gathering, below). I'm glad that an official Scottish OCSG cruise got off the ground (or water) as it provides the really experienced, adventurous members with a challenge. It's never going to attract many of us, but that doesn't matter. Even after this year's thrills and spills I hope the organisers will still feel able to mount something similar next year. Two new successes followed: the Lough Erne week (for me, the peak of the year), and the aforementioned Windermere cruise.
As JohnB has been fond of telling us, we need new ideas to maintain and broaden our appeal and I hope that we will read more in Gossip of individuals' unofficial canoe sailing, such as GavinM on the Itchen and RobinC in Scotland, to prod us out of the comfortably habitual.
One other memory is not so comfortable, the loss of IainH. But if we can follow his example of cheerful enterprise, the OCSG will indeed flourish.
Following a similar exercise in Gossip last year, I've put together a sort of analysis of our events this year, compared with last (see table).
Our Fashion Guru's Tips For 2007 (SteveR)
What's Out
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What's In
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What's Out
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What's In
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Hats with brims or peaks
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Beanie hats
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Ron Hills
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Baggy trousers
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Accidental capsizes
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Mini outriggers
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White sails
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Red sails
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Dressing like a canoeist
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Dressing like a sailor (?!)
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Buoyancy bags
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Decks
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BCU Star Tests
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OCSG Competency Awards
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Racing
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Cruising
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