Sorry it has been a while since I have done a full newsletter, but here is one to make amends. Please circulate this amongst your crew members.

Congratulations to James and the crew of Code Z for their excellent 2nd place in the national championships. No small achievement to go and beat so many English boats on their own patch. Try the Hunter 707 website (www.hunter707.org.uk) site for more information. We must not forget Tony and Eh! also made the trip to the Solent and returned with a very creditable 8th place.

A few boats (Whippersnapper, Scooter, Jetstream) have said they are going to the One Design Weekend at Granton, I am arm twisting James to bring Code Z. This is in 10 days time and a Notice of Race with entry form is attached. The Saturday start is 11:00am so it is possible to travel down before the first race. For those who have not sailed at Granton there is a large area of water, out of the shipping lanes and no bridges to deflect the tides or wind. There is a clock face of buoys permanently in the water, so it is easy for them to set good windward-leeward courses. Why not treat this as a warm up for the Carl Dyson regatta?

Two weeks after the One Design Weekend is our own Carl Dyson regatta (2nd/3rd October). Last year we had 11 club boats racing. This is also the Hunter 707 Scottish Championships. I don't believe that Black Sheep are coming to defend their title, so will there be a Scottish winner this year? Will anyone bet against James and Code Z after their showing at the Nationals. Keep you eyes on the notice boards for the details.

Following on from the Carl Dyson is the clubs well know Autumn and Winter Series. We still have a class start for the afternoon races in these series so there are still opportunities for class racing. How many are planning to join in?

I know we still have 3 months sailing left this year but planning has already started for next year. Please give me some feed back on what sort of event you want. Crews are welcome to submit comments independently from the skipper (they may have different views!).

Through this year there has been the same 7 or 8 boats turning out for the Wednesday evenings. Other boats have never turned out to race. There are very few boats sailing at the weekends. Is this because there are not the types events you want to attend or are you happy with club racing on a Wednesday evening?

I have 2 or 3 enquiries about the Scottish Championships for 2005. Where should these be held? Carl Dyson is convenient because very few have to travel, but we sail on this water all year. Feedback from the English boats is that it is not worth coming for just a weekend. If it is our wish to attract some boats up then we need a longer event, two have been suggested - The Bell Lawrie Scottish Series and East Coast Sailing Week. Next year ECSW will be in Blyth, Northumberland so it would certainly be easier for the English boats and from Port Edgar much the same as going to Tarbert.