Nationals
CHAMPIONSHIPS
LIFE RAFTS I just thought it would be helpful to let you know that the Friday – Offshore race – will not require life rafts or inflatables as the RO will set a course within 6 miles of land. Kevin
LIFE RAFTS I just thought it would be helpful to let you know that the Friday – Offshore race – will not require life rafts or inflatables as the RO will set a course within 6 miles of land. Kevin
Now that you have ordered your flag from Jo, a chance to show it off. All those coming to the Nationals are invited to take part in the RWYC Wednesday 1884 Series races. First start is 18.30, usually two races. SI’s are on the RWYC website, and the racing format Read more…
Here’s a treat – a 30 minute film of the 1992 Impala European Championships from 1992 in Brixham. 22 boats raced that year, and you’ll be able to spot many of the old names still around today! Thanks to Stuart from Atalanta for digging the film out!
It’s official – there are now 16 Impalas expected at the Nationals in Plymouth in July, by far the biggest turnout for many years. Expect some fantastic racing – come and join us, and swell the numbers even further! Enter by the 1st July to save £20 on the entry Read more…
Dear Competitors, The catering at Yacht Haven Quays is provided by Jan & Jan and they want to do their bit to welcome all the crews with large amounts of reasonably priced grub. In view of the numbers they do need some warning of the numbers to cater for. The Read more…
The Entry Form is now up on the Royal Western website: rwyc.org. A pdf and a Excel file version (which will let you type in your details) also available at the bottom of this post. Note that for entries received before 1st June, I can have your boat’s name put Read more…
The number 64 – the Beatles sang about it, there are 64 dark squares on a chessboard, it’s a Slang term referring to a 1964 Chevrolet Impala – and today, there are 64 days to the start of the 2012 Impala Nationals in Plymouth. We’ve got a bumper entry this Read more…
To All Owners,
At the last Champs we were so happy to have boats there that we never touched the topic of scrutineering etc.
However people are putting in a big effort to get to Plymouth and within the context of having 30 year old boats, some of which have passed through several hands as cruising boats, and which we sail on a budget, we do need to have a level playing field.
Not directly relevant to a One Design series but in theory everyone who races off the standard IRC 0.89 should have on board all the required mattresses, pots and pans, doors etc etc. and meet safety Cat 4. Those with other ratings will be based on what they had on board when weighed.
With the passage of 30 plus years since they were launched parts will have gone missing, previous owners will have made a number of mods, owners will not have the time or funds to restore their boat to the original specs and cannot see the point; on the other hand some boats will have acquired weight through being in the water or through all sorts of junk building up on board, overweight engines etc.
Maybe it all works out equal in the end, but we need to move to a situation where all boats carry the min equipment and fit out per class rules.
Matters such as black bands, tracks, etc are easily dealt with, and I am not too fussed about the sails – they are all made by professional sailmakers and the scope to oversize by an amount that makes a difference is very limited. (the overhang of the mast and boom beyond the black bands is minimal, and a full size genny can barely sheet on the track).
The main areas where I think there will be problems will be below decks.
Most of the equipment when purchased new is expensive, so I have have developed a checklist with the corrector weights for the missing parts.
If you do not want to restore the parts to your boat, then you need to add weights.
It is expected that the weights will be lead – but other weights can be accepted if you are fitting them just for the championships.
The weights should be added per the weight plan – see the rules section of the website – or if not shown there, then as close as practical to where the missing part would be.
The rule numbers is next to each item.
For practicality I have made two ad hoc variations
Rule 7.2 The door: rules do not give a weight,so I have allocated 5kg
Rule:13 Pilot Berth: The rule sates 15kg if the whole structure is missing, but I know of at least one boat that has done away with the hinged section and kept the lockers etc. We weighed the hinged section and they came to 7 kgs each (it was a factory finished boat). So I have divided the weight between the two parts. Of course that boat also carries weights for the missing mattresses.
I think quite a few boats have removed the lining from the forepeak – the weight compensation for this is quite surprising.
Check out the 2012 Nationals page for the latest info on the event, which will be in Plymouth from the 13-15 July. The racing will be run by Royal Western Yacht Club of England from their clubhouse in Queen Anne’s Battery and fleet will be based at Yacht Haven Quays Read more…
‘The Impala class is undergoing an encouraging renaissance’ says Stuart Childerley in his latest Yachts and Yachting column. ‘The boats looked good with the addition of Kevlar sails and seem to provide a value-for-money entrance into one design keelboat racing. There should be a good number of second-hand boats awaiting Read more…