Sailing Today	© Tom Gruitt/www.fotoboat.com
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The RS700 associations e-Newsletter		Issue 12
RS700 Breaking News... GUL Winter championships kicks off the 2007 season at Queen Mary's on the 3rd and 4th February!!
The 2007 season is about to begin... Welcome to the 12th edition of RS700 Sailing Today. This season brings an exciting calendar for the year which includes 2 trips into Europe including Travemunde in Germany and Carnac in France.  The latest calendar can be found by clicking here. The first event of the season kicks off on the 3rd and 4th of February at Queen Mary Sailing Club for the GUL sponsored Winter Championships. For full details click here. We talk to Steve Cockerill from Rooster Sailing who this year has produced a layered DS system range designed for the trapeze sailor! Alex has been busy at LDC making a few tweaks. Ian Nolan took his camera to the London boat show to find out more. Click here to see what he has been up to!
Click the bookmarks below to go directly to the article you want to read. A word from Alex... The RS700 Circuit 2007 GUL RS700 Winter Championships details New layered DS system range designed for the trapeze sailor Winter events Alex has been busy... Have a great season! Duncan Ellis GBR907 [email protected]
A word from Alex... Hi All Well it only seems like last week when I was writing the 2006 summary, Christmas and New year has come and gone, and here I'm writing the 2007 preview. We have said goodbye to a few old faces this year, but we seem to have an influx of new faces in the fleet so on behalf of the RS700 association we welcome you all. The 2007 circuit has been developed this year to bring some new events and some classics, from HISC in July to Gurnard on the I.O.W in October. We have some new rapidly expanding fleets emerging in Gurnard and also in Carsington Water . We will also be running some basic training camps at these venues through out the year to encourage there fleet. The Training calendar will soon be realised, with training to suit everybody. We will also be running more of the very successful master class sessions for the more experience sailor which worked very well last year. If you have not already done so, make sure you are not on family duty on the 2nd and 3rd of June and also book the time off work on 4th and 5th, for The National championships at the Royal Torbay yacht club. After last years success at Eastbourne we have many exciting ideas and plans to make this championship the biggest yet. So watch this space!! We have also the European Championships at the famous Travemunde. For people who have not been part of Travemunde week the atmosphere is electric with so much going on it's the same scale if not bigger than Cowes week but for dinghies. The race area is massive and it can produce some classic sea breezes, with big long rolling waves. The French, Italian and German fleets will also be there in mass. It certainly one not to be missed. The Nationals and Europeans are part of the the European circuit and this finale at Carnac yacht club in September on the 8th  & 9th for the French nationals, for people who have not been to Carnac, this is a real taste of France with some great food, sailing and its very easy to get too . Only a few days now until the first event, at Queen Mary for the winter championships on the 3rd and 4th Feb, make sure you bring your winter woollies. We are still as ever looking for people to help be part of the owners club, it really does not take that much time. If you want to part of this committee please let yourself known to either me or Ian Nolan. If you want to be a fleet captain at your club to rally you home fleet, also let us know. If people are sailing at non-circuit events or just going sailing at there club drop a line on the RS mailing list and may be you can attract more to come and join you. Looking forward to see you on the water over the next few months. Alex Newton-Southon Rs700 Class Rep. GBR 927 Direct line. 023 80 246 334 Mobile. 0791 944 6242 Skype. alsouthon [email protected]	© Tom Gruitt/www.fotoboat.com   © Tom Gruitt/www.fotoboat.com © Tom Gruitt/www.fotoboat.com
The RS700 Circuit 2007 - It's official!! 3/4 Feb - Winter Championships, QMSC 3/4 Mar - Dinghy Sailing Show 10/11 Mar - Chew Valley LSC, Circuit 14/15 Apr - Lymington Town SC, Circuit 12/13 May - Weymouth & Portland NSA, Circuit 2- 5 Jun - National Championships, Royal Torbay YC 23/24 Jun - Hunstanton SC, Circuit 7/8 Jul - Hayling Island SC, Circuit 23-27 Jul - Travemunde Woche, European Championships 8-10 Sep - French Nationals, Carnac 15/16 Sep - (Tide Ride - Hayling Island SC, Open) 29/30 Sep - Gurnard SC, Circuit 20/21 Oct - Inland Championships, Northampton 6 Fat Face Circuit events - 4 to count	© Tom Gruitt/www.fotoboat.com
GUL RS Winter Championship - 3rd/4th February - Queen Mary Sailing Club Click here for notice of race on Queen Mary Sailing Club website. EVENT INFORMATION: The briefing will be at 11.00hrs on Saturday with the first race starting at 12.00hrs. Catering available throughout the event. DIRECTIONS: From the South or West: take the M25 to M3, turn up the M3 into London. Take the first exit (Junction 1) and turn left down the A308 signposted Staines. After 1 mile turn left (large brown signs for Queen Mary Sailing Club) opposite the BP petrol station. After 50 metres turn right into the club. From the North:take M25 to J13. Turn left (A30 towards London). At first junction (Crooked Billet) take left lane to turn right (signposted A308 Kingston). Go straight on at next roundabout and turn right at first set of traffic lights. After 50 metres turn right into the club. For further directions please see www.queenmary.org.uk  ACCOMODATION: There is no camping available at club. Sheperton; Ann Morgan 01932 220003 Old Manor House 01932 571293 Walton-on-Thames; Ashley Park Hotel 08702 430500 Chertsey; Camping & Caravan Club 01932 562405 Laleham; Camping Club 01932 564149 Staines; Mr & Mrs Bristow 01784 464858 Mrs Harrington 01784 463542 Ashford; Mrs Thomas 01784 420256 Egham; MrsWilding 01784 435115 For further details please see the club website www.queenmary.org.uk
We spoke to Steve Cockerill from Rooster about the new Shin Tech Long john designed for both the hiker and the trapeze sailor... As we all prepare our kit bags for 2007, Steve Cockerill from Rooster Sailing tells us this year he has extended the rooster layered DS system range to include the trapeze sailor! A national 49er crew has been using and testing the rooster Shin Tech Longjohn in combination with the new improved raceskin. His first comment was – you have a winner there. He has spent plenty of time in and out of the water during the week. The most time in the water was 45 mins while off Hayling Island trying to get back over the bar in 30+ knts and was wearing just the Shin Tech long john, the new improved raceskin and aquafleece. The water and air temperature was about 12 degrees, but he thought that he might augment the kit with either a thermaflex or hottop to sail through the coldest part of the winter – commenting that it gives him the freedom of movement in his arms that he requires as a 49er crew. He also tried the new Rooster Neoprene Zipped Boot, liked it as a general purpose dinghy boot, but as a trapezer he preferred the compact surefootedness of the Rooster Hike Boot. We have been busy this year testing and developing even more cutting edge products for all types of dinghy sailors, as well as adding the products to our range that you the sailors are asking for such as dry suits for men and ladies and rooster pro hikers. We have now almost finalized the shin pad which should be available to Velcro into the front of the garment by the dinghy show. If you want to find out more on Rooster Sailings layered DS system for trapeze sailors then go and take a look at Steve's website at www.roostersailing.com	© www.roostersailing.com
Winter events Grafham Grand Prix Although a number of 700’s had pre-entered the Grafham Grand Prix, only a couple made it onto the water with many being put off by the gale force winds overnight. Pete Purkiss suffered some gear failure on his way out to the start so it was left to Charlie Stowe to represent the class. The three back-to-back races encompassed a wide range of conditions from 20-30 knots in race one to a genteel 5-10 knots in race 3. Charlie managed a very creditable 10th place in the Asymmetric fleet in his first season in the boat. Queen Mary In stark contrast the Bloody Mary was sailed in an absolute drifter and the majority of the 700 fleet either stayed on shore or retired after a short time on the water. The perseverance prize goes to Eddie Gatehouse.	Charlie Stowe in action at the Grafham Grand Prix
Alex has been busy over the Winter….. At the Europeans and Inland championships Alex Southon put his LDC hat on for a while and opened the floor up to any suggestions for improvements to the boat. One area which was discussed was the centreboard and as a result LDC modified the lay-up towards the end of the season to improve durability. A number of other changes have been developed over the winter, some are available now, or will come on line later in the year. Alex is also investigating a stronger boom end fitting, early days on this one though…
Forestay Cover We have all loved the blue woven tubing used to cover the forestay tackle, enjoying the struggle to cover our hardware every time we want to take to the water. LDC now have a tailored nylon cover in stock to make our lives easier. It is available in every color so long as it’s black and incorporates a neat little fixing to hold it down to the tack bar.                                   Longer Wing Bars and Weight Track When the equalization system was modified a couple of years ago the equalization range was increased from hole 6 to 8. The original racks were only drilled to go out to hole 6 so LDC introduced an extension kit to deliver the wider settings. Although this worked, it was complicated and introduced a bit more play to the system, not to mention the expense. LDC are now fitting as standard a revised rack which incorporates all eight holes. The finish has also been changed and is now galvanized for improved durability. The other change that has been introduced is the fitting of a track which carries 3 corrector weights as standard. The standard boat used to come with a two weight track, the longer item only being fitted on request.	Prototype Sail Another topic of conversation was the sail bolt rope is cut so that the end has to pass through the sail feeder as the Cunningham is applied. This can catch and damage the covering material over time. Alex had a prototype of a new sail at the London Boat Show which incorporated a full length bolt rope to avoid this issue. This has also been cut over length to allow for re-tensioning if it shrinks over time. (often mistaken for sail shrinkage on older sails) One other feature which has been added is that each eye now has a reinforcing strap. This has been incorporated as a precautionary measure due to some issues which the RS800’s have been having. The improved sails will become available later in the year.
New Chute Sock Finding somewhere to put your sandwiches, sun block, hair gel etc has always been a challenge on the 700. Forever mindful of our needs, another enhancement which is now available is a chute which has two pockets built onto the top surface. The rear one is clear to allow storage of diagrams, sailing instructions etc. The forward one can be used for bulkier items or the main halyard. Once agin only available in go faster black.
Pump Cleats In the past some people have had problems with the bed of these cleats deforming allowing the blue rocker to over rotate and jam, effectively locking the halyard at a very inconvenient moment! Add to this, the increasing use of thinner spectra/dyneema halyards and the problem was getting progressively worse. The solution from LDC has been to have the cleats custom modified by the addition of a thin steel plate, welded on top of the original bed. This both strengthens the bed of the cleat avoiding the deflection, whilst also reducing the distance between the bed and the rocker which supports the use of thinner lines.
Rack collars The original rack system allows a certain amount of play between the carrier tubes on the boat and the racks which can be a bit disconcerting until you realise that nothing is broken. LDC have introduced a simple system of collars, which significantly reduce this play and improve the quality feel of the boat. These are fitted as standard on new boats but can be retro fitted to existing racks. If you are interested please contact Alex at LDC as the precise specification depends on your rack configuration (intermediates or extensions fitted etc)
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