I quite like the idea of the "deckchair ballast" role! Using a ladder as a crossbeam was suggested by DaveP some years ago.
If you want to have a more detailed look go to Jim Gallant's web-site.
Odds and Ends (KeithM)
Drysuits
Following discussions at the Winter Meet about drysuits for group members' use, especially to encourage practicing capsize recovery, some research has been carried out into prices. It seems likely that a useful discount would be available if a group buy could be organised. Anybody interested in buying a drysuit at a reduced rate - around £200 but possibly a bit more or less, depending on numbers and style etc., please get in touch with JeffB ASAP and certainly by the end of April, as people may well wish to have theirs in time for the Training Weekend in June.
Denmark
There has been an invitation received from our Scandinavian friends in Denmark for canoe sailors to join them this summer. There are no details as yet, not even on possible dates, but anyone interested should talk to JanP, who will find out more.
Online Sailing Canoe Magazine
An internet-based periodical for all things sailing-canoe related has been launched. It's based in the USA but intended to be very much international and has already featured an article seen in Gossip. We are happy to support the venture but suggest that articles should be published in Gossip first, before possibly being offered to them for publication there.
Open Canoe Association Canoefest
ChrisR, a former member, has been in touch with Keith suggesting that some of our members would be welcome to attend the OCA weekend rally at YMCA Lakeside on Windermere over the May Day weekend. The idea is that canoe-sailing can be showcased as a demonstration activity. His exact words were: "I wondered if you or anyone else from OCSG would be interested in coming along to do some more sessions on canoe sailing. It would be great if a couple of guys with purpose-built canoes could come along so folk could get some idea of the types of craft." So cost will be minimal to those who choose to get involved - camping will be free and they will even feed a couple of people who run the sessions, but they can only accommodate a handful of us, rather than a full-on OCSG gathering. If you are interested in such a weekend, sailing on Windermere for next to nothing, then let Keith know.
Bala - Date change in September
The dates we had planned to choose from for going to Bala both turned out to be when the Catamaran Club are racing, so we have now rearranged our weekend meet to be September 20-21. To spread our meets out a bit it might be better to put back the camping expedition meet on Windermere by a week to October 4-5, unless anyone has any strong objections. Let Keith know of your views.
An early "artist's mock-up" (on the left) of a design from an Italian sailing-canoe manufacturer - spotted in Rome (in a painting in the Geography Room of the Vatican Museums) by a member recently. From the number of oars/paddles being used it may be that they are expecting to be allowed even more sail area for the extra crew carried. Solway Dory are reported as saying they are not unduly concerned by this potential competitor...
Tishoo (HamishS)
A letter from HamishS, a long-standing member with an interest in designing and building his own sailing canoes, incorporating his own specific design features to deal with the various challenges. Like many great canoeists and sailors, such as John MacGregor, Joshua Slocum and Sir Francis Chichester, he uses the same name for all his boats, adding a number to differentiate between them. We hope his cold gets better (sorry - couldn't resist it...)
My attendance at OCSG meetings has been sparse, but I am still active, always read the Gossip, and will continue to attend when possible. My latest canoe is a development from previous Tishoos, which were all extremely unstable. The theme of Bermuda rig, pivoted centreboard, pedal-operated rudder and very simple rig remains. I have tried outriggers and studied others but have rejected them as being too cumbersome and a cop-out from the essence of canoeing.
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