The evenings are lighter, the temperatures rising (?) and the snow's melting - must be spring - must be time to get out in the 400 !!
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> We've a great year ahead of us. Training last weekend at Findhorn was great - 11 boats with a number of new faces and a little bit of everything weather wise - F2 - F6 and a duststorm on Sunday. Special welcome to new owner Ian Underwood - http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/169062/Scottish-RS400s-at-Findhorn
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> Next up is Tummel - 4/5 May - training on Saturday with RS supremo Ben Robertson as super-coach - and then circuit event one on the Sunday. Free camping onsite at the super friendly club, and I believe many of us will be staying over in campers and tents . Our friend Stewart Brew should also be in attendance. I'd appreciate if you can reply to this to let me know if you're coming as it really helps the club to have an idea of numbers in advance.
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> Looking further ahead - we have a one dayer at Largo Bay on Sat 18th (again v friendly and yet another of scotland's premier dinghy clubs - Mr Gibb!) - then it's the first of 3 outings to East Lothian for their annual regatta 1/2 June. Entry is online and has just opened so thoroughly recommend entering now as numbers are capped :- http://elyc.org.uk/Default.aspx?pageId=1492331
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> The weekend after 8/9 June we have Jim Downer - top 3 nationals sailor - coming up from Cowes to do an advanced level nationals prep session at East Lothian. Again places are limited and entry is online here :-
> http://uk.rs400.org/index.asp?Fleet=RS400&Selection=Shop
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> We have 8 boats currently going over to the Irish nationals early July - that should be a great road trip for the guiness and craic if nothing else although it's rumoured the sailing is also excellent. There are other double trailers available if we can get another team together and it's only 1 day off work - contact Richard Bolton for further details. And then of course the big date for the diary is the nationals is 4-8 August - more comms will come out on that and online entry will also open soon.
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> Separately - Oli and Laura have done a great job with the tour merchandise - you'll have seen the comms. We're a wee bit behind with our publicity material this year but I hope to have the flyers for everyone at Tummel and posters to plaster your club noticeboards with.
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> JP currently has 2 400s in stock - #447 (995GBP!) and #818 (2600GBP) - so if you know anyone keen to get into the class there are boats waiting to be sailied - to suit every budget. The reduced sail deal was a great success (thanks JP) and I believe most teams are now see-through equipped for the coming season.
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> Once again we have great sponsorship from our friends at Stewart Brewing, jpwatersports.co.uk and dhsystems.co.uk - big thanks all ! And thanks also to all the small scale sponsors who came forward for the nationals - we've got the entry down to 112 GBP.
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> So it's shaping up to be a great year - 55 boats in Scotland so I'm hoping for minimum 15 per event - but it's up to you guys to spread the word and encourage each other along. As always we're open to feedback so anything we can do differently or better please let me know.
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> See you on the water
> Keith Bedborough
> RS400 Scottish Rep
