Northampton – TNT Post North Travellers
By Secretary. Filed in Events |
| June 6, 2009 | to | June 7, 2009 |
Northampton Sailing Club Full TNT 2009 calendar
Northampton Sailing Club are pleased to announce that they are holding a Flying Fifteen open meeting on Saturday June 6th and Sunday June 7th 2009. The event will also form part of the TNT Post north Traveller series.
It is ten years since Northampton Sailing Club (NSC) held a Flying Fifteen open although as you will read below there are strong ties to the Flying Fifteen fleet back to the days of Uffa Fox.
A few years ago the fleet at NSC dwindled to near extinction but over the last two or three years the class has come back to life and there is now an active club fleet that is attracting good fleet sailors to join from other clubs.
The Club has a long tradition within the Flying Fifteen fleet, being the first inland sailing club to have a fleet way back in the 1950s. In fact the club was officially opened by Uffa Fox. In the early days of Flying Fifteen racing the boats based at Cowes would come up to the Northampton en masse at the end of each season in order to race on the fresh water of Pitsford and give their boats a good washing off before laying up for the winter.
This race was for the Gittens trophy (the reason for the name is not known to any current member of the club and we would be please to know more of the origins). This trophy, originally sailed for in 1959 and last in 1999, was recently “ rediscovered” , and has been refurbished (well to be honest polished up a bit) in readiness for this year’s open meeting. The Gittens trophy has been won by many who have gone on to great things, including many names that have lifted some serious trophies in their time and who are still active in the class today, e.g. Greg Wells, Steve Goacher, Alan Bax, Dave McKee, Nick Jerwood. All previous winners of the Gittens Trophy that can be contacted will be invited to the event and the organising committee very much hopes that they come and try to win the trophy once more.
We look forward to welcoming all Flying Fifteen sailors to the event whether they be occasional travellers to open meetings , past winners, Silver or Classic boats, newcomers to the class, or hardened circuit sailors.
Competitors will be able to gain access to the club on Friday afternoon (please call Chris Harris to arrange 07977 557614).
Free camping is available on site . There is ample room for tents and a limited number of motor homes can be accommodated.
Please note dogs are not permitted on the club site.
The bar will be open Friday evening, and there will inevitably be a run to the chippy and / or the Chinese for a take-away. The club’s legendary great value galley will be open on Saturday and Sunday.
Entry will include dinner on Saturday evening for the helm and crew, and further evening meals can be purchased on the day for those who bring family or other supporters with them.
If competitors from the south are travelling to the Northerns later in the month, they are welcome to leave their boats at the club between the two events. Again please contact Chris Harris to arrange this.
Notice of race and sailing instructions can be found at www.northamptonsailingclub.org/index.asp?selection=Calendar, or contact Chris Harris ( results@northamptonsailingclub.org or 07977 557614) for further information.