Mirror Newsletter December 2018
Published 14:08 on 14 Dec 2018
December 2018
Dear Members and Friends,
You may have noticed rather more 'Mirror' sailing activity this year and we are pleased to announce that Mirror sailing and racing is included in the BSC programme for next summer.
Where our club is already co-ordinating thorough and extensive teaching programmes a revival of Mirror activity is seen as a worthwhile addition, especially since we already have the new beginnings of a fleet.
Jack Holt's design was first promoted by the Daily Mirror in 1963 as entry level sailing for everyone, and very soon attracted five thousand sailors a year - and their crews. At the 'zenith' in Brightlingsea, between thirty and fifty Mirrors competed in the annual race week regattas, resulting in lots of fun at every level and a plethora of top sailors as well.
So what we have planned is aimed at helping everyone get the most from their Mirror sailing at every level. Seven Sundays are programmed, each beginning at midday with the opportunity for safe learning and help, and then with Mirror class racing at 2.10pm – a full ten minutes clear of the previous start. Race courses will be one lap from the current BSC group A, or from the new mini-length course card, all aimed at something under an hour duration.
An opportunity then, for adults and children, youngsters, and for oldsters! In fact for anyone at all. And if you've got trouble with anything from your gaff to your starting signals - or even something very technical indeed, we can help. So please do come along- there has been nothing but positive response to this so far - and the more the merrier.
The broad scope of the programme is one Sunday each month with an extra one in September. The actual dates, as below, are "very unlikely to change" but will in any case be confirmed in another newsletter in March and of course in the printed BSC Sailing programme for 2019.
Provisional – 5th May, 2nd June, 7th July, 4th August (Pyefleet Week 10-16th August) 1st Sept, 15th Sept and the Mirror Final Fling on Sunday 29th September.
There will be some crewing vacancies in both the sailing and the racing and occasionally a privately owned lent to a guest ex- Mirror sailor. But the club does not at present envisage owning Mirror dinghies and so boats will be privately owned.
On that score there may be a number of unused Mirrors around? If you have a Mirror for sale please do let us know. Nationally, with a production record of over seventy thousand boats, availability in the second hand market is steady rather than prolific. Nicely priced boats are rather quickly snapped up. Websites for the Mirror Association, Apollo Duck and EBay can help but locally arranged sales can be very convenient all round.
If this works and runs, it will develop its own momentum. Previous best experience favours laying out convenient and attractive arrangements for everyone – because if they really are attractive then it will all work. But without a doubt in the very first instance a push will help. We can count at least five boats straight off – but ten would be better! Please come along – have some fun and help us give it all a push.
Your comments are not only welcome, they are sought – and feel free to get in touch for any help or information.
Malcolm Goodwin
BSC/Mirror Newsletter Editor/Co-ordinator
01206 823223 (before 7pm)
Managing Editor – Vice Commodore BSC
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Last updated 12:28 on 4 March 2024
