2019 RACING PROGRAMME: FIRST EVENT, RUTLAND: 13th-14th APRIL

 The Catapult fleet launched the 2019 season by again heading again to Rutland Water April  13th-14th, racing in the Cat Open on Satuday (with the Sherwater fleet) and joining the club fleet for their "Big Pond" series at the wide dam end of the  the Water. Brisk easterlies gave bracing sailing, with sunshine to ease the chill on Sunday.(results)

After that, the  2019 racing programme  has a favourite venue at Bassenthwaite for the May bBank Holiday.

 Bridlington for the Nationals venue is at the end of May and Yorkshire Dales and Bala Carsington

We will be on the Blackwater again for a TT during Stone week in early August, and rounding the season off again at the Grafham Cat Open. There is are new venues, going for a TT as part of Felixstowe Ferry SC Cat Open, and returning to Bewl in Kent.


(Below:  Northern Championship 2018: event winner John Terry leads the start of Race 1 at Bridlington.) (Photo RYYC Rib with thanks.)

DVDs FROM CATAPULT EVENTS; LIST AVAILABLE Syd Gage has worked on the output from his and George's on-board cameras (photo further below) to produce great videos of Catapult action, including a season roundup. The list and details are here

               HYPALON  TUBE REPAIRS Puncture? Leaky tubes? Seams coming unstuck? End caps need replacing?
Paul Stubbins offers a high quality professional repair service. Paul, now working as a sole trader (with therefore no VAT to pay!), has many years experience working for RIB manufacturers.Paul offers a nationwide service from his base in Hull.
 Have a word with Class Secretary, Stuart Ede, to see if he can arrange for pick up and delivery through the membership network to save on transport costs.
Contact Paul at paulstubbins23@gmail.com or on 07429 754392.

 (Below: Tight racing in the Nationals after the short first beat, Saturday, with Nationals winner Gareth Ede leading again. Photo BSC Rib with thanks.)

 
INTERNATIONAL LINKS

 CATAPULT WANTED IN USA. Rick, living in Pennsylvania is wanting to buy a Catapult in trhe Eastern US. He can be contacted at milkweed33@gmail.com
 
CATAPULT CONTACTS IN EUROPE?  Ed Barclay has a Catapult in Switzerland, and is interested in linking up with other Catapults in Europe. He can be contacted at edward857@gmail.com

(Below: Close racing at Carsington in the light breeze and sunshine, Saturday, as the fleet turns through the gate. Photo CSC Safety Rib, with thanks)

 SPARES AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS Through the generosity of past Catapult sailor Admiral Sir Robert Hill and previous Secretary John Peperell, the Association has a good supply of spares to keep the fleet afloat in cases of breakage or damage.  John Terry manages the store: list of spares here and guidelines on availablity here
 
(Below: the fleet at Bassenthwaite streams across  in front of Scafell, in Saturday sunshine. (Photo BSC RIB, with thanks)

   NEW REPAIR ADVICE Syd Gage has added to his stream of practical advice and detailed instructions with a new article on DIY Puncture-free PU-foam-filled Tyres The article here shows what to buy, and Syd’s excellent photos and instructions (and personal setbacks) show how to change the steel roller bearings to nylon ones (more suitable for water immersion).  Many more are  here, the latest on  Repairing frame bolts  beam repairs, mast buoyancy, and halyard options.  
 
 (Below: Syd Gage's camera mounting, picking up the opposition ahead as he concentrates on catching them.) (Photo Paul Hargreaves with thanks.)

CATAPULT CRUISING  Justin (below) uses Catapult's shroud adjustment to dip the mast and negotiate the New Cut bridge between the Waveney and Yare rivers on the Norfolk Broads: more ) Get in touch with Alastair (at alastairforrest@hotmail.com ) with cruising plans or reports to add to the Cruising write-ups (and see his recent tidal Thames cruise.)

   
Jon Montgomery: Designer of Catapult: 22nd February 1935 - 9th June 2009.

 A tribute to Jon here.