October 2011 Issue - Costa Calida Chronicle

Well Autumn is here and the visitors have
gone back. You may just be looking for a
new hobby to fi ll in all that time you have
on your hands!!! Why not try sailing, Radio
Controlled Sailing. I am talking about a
great pastime whether you are a beginner or
a seasoned sailor it is worth giving it a try.
The new Radio Control Model Group based
in Los Alcázares under the name of RC Mar
Menor Sailing Group, has progressed well
over its fi rst three months. The group is a
S.A.M.M. group and members can enjoy the
full range of benefi ts that S.A.M.M. has to
offer, including an active social scene and the
opportunity of sailing full sized boats.
We are based at the Sports College of Infanta
Cristina on the shores of the Mar Menor
and enjoy their excellent sailing facilities.
Our racing series has now started and will
mainly consist of members getting used to
their new boats, with some learning to sail
for the fi rst time. Later we will have a better
understanding of the full range of boats at our
disposal and what we need to cater for. While
our main venue will be Infanta Cristina, we
hope to visit other locations perhaps once a
month to try and attract a wider membership
at venues such as Cartagena. We have our
fi rst visit planned for October 14 th and will
be meeting not to race, but just to check
out sailing conditions in the harbour. We
are currently seeking permission from the
Harbour Authority to use this location as a
regular monthly meeting. Anyone wishing to
join in is very welcome please give me a call
fi rst for more info.
Later we will start with some simple Match
racing to defi ne the different capabilities of
each boat and then progress to a form of
handicap racing along the lines of a rigged
start. With all new clubs it is a matter of wait
and see what boats people want to buy and I
believe that variety is the spice of life. In the
short term it looks like the International One
Metre will form the fi rst boat class for racing.
The I.O.M. as it is called has world wide
support and has been in production for more
than 30 years with national competitions in
Europe, USA, New Zealand, and Australia,
and world championships run every year. Last
year the Spanish National Championships
were held at the college over a 3 day period
with some 14 boats taking part.
We have already attracted a wide range of
boat types and owners with an equally wide
range of diverse skills. Their skills are always
available to members and they are willing
to assist if need be. The group caters for all
tastes whether you are a seasoned model boat
builder or you prefer your boat straight out of
a box. The range of boats we have attracted
so far to our Friday morning get together
is very varied from the compact Victoria at
750mm long, up to the mighty 5 foot long
American East Coast 12 metre, also including
a Thunder Tiger, two International One
Metres, and a Austrian Smaragd. We have
Just acquired one of the new American Vela
one metre boats, this was shipped in from the
states for valuation and trials, looking very
good it comes fully built and includes a 2.4
R.C. control system. We have also had a Laser
which is a copy of the world famous Laser
single handed 2.4 class dinghies. In the U.K.
Sailors of the full size Laser regularly race the
R.C. version in winter to sharpen their skills,
that is if they can break the ice on the local
pond, sorry I could not resist that one.
It is also our intention to cater for our
disabled friends with a new boat due to be
completed by September. It is an M6 and the
biggest boat to date at 5’6” long and dual
controlled. It is controlled by a crew of two,
one helmsman and one sail trimmer each with
a separate radio unit, we believe it is the only
one of its kind and is an ideal tool for disabled
sailors. This boat also has value for beginner’s
wanting to test the water so to speak, it allows
a beginner to gain confi dence with a tutor on
one aspect at a time before going solo.
We also would like to bridge the divide and
become multinational and have some other
nationalities as members. We already have
members from Scotland, Ireland, England and
even Yorkshire, where ever that is, (answers
on a post card to!!).
If we can tempt you to come and take a look
then for more information please check out
our website www.rcmarmenorsailinggroup.eu
or phone David on 968 170 870
E-mail davidlees66@hotmail.com. Hope to
see you on the water soon.
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Page 49
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