Last updated 06 December, 1998

Contents
Introduction
New items
"Doing it until your ears bleed!"
Where are former FD sailors now?
Training weekend
FD sailing at low cost
Website for Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club
Southern Area Championships
Lee-on-the-Solent Summer Solstice Series
Updates
Dates for Diary
FD Clothing
New FDs in UK
1999 Worlds in UK
Reminders
Regatta Information
No FD, No Comment
FDs are great value for money
Sailboat 98
Previous News
More information?
Contributions welcome

Introduction
This is the third FD UK Newsletter designed for the WWW. It is updated during the month. The final version is saved on the website and the text is emailed to sailors registering an interest with the FD UK webmaster. Contents

"Doing it until your ears bleed!"
Graphic description of a sail as a crew in an FD on a small lake in Wales in gusty April winds by Zoe (5ft5"). Contents)

Where are former FD sailors now?
If you used to sail an FD then please drop us a line. What are you sailing now? How did sailing an FD help you gain experience or contacts? Would you be interested in sailing an FD again either in a one off event or on an ongoing basis?  Contents)

Training weekend
Arrangements are being made for a training weekend - probably in August. Contents)

FD sailing at low cost
Julian and Cathy Bridges have over the years proved that FD sailing is not only very enjoyable but can also be achieved on a tight budget. They have now disclosed how this is achieved.  Contents

Website for Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club
The LOSSC website links to many other sailing websites.

Lee-on-the-Solent Summer Solstice Series
Hugh Myers and Gordon Kingston sailing in an FD won the series held on  15 - 19 June. 6 FDs participated in a large fleet -Stephen Parry with David Parr/Richard Phillips in an FD was third overall

Southern Area Championships
A fantastic weekend - excellent sailing conditions, range of winds, bit of tide, sun and views of the Round the Island Race, the second largest participation event in UK with 1356 boats and 10,000+ competitors. (London Marathon is largest event). So who won in the FDs? Four could at start of the last race - see report for how the birthday boy gained victory from the jaws of defeat.

Regatta Information
Detailed information packs about regattas on FD UK fixture list are available from John Best. No crew?, no helm?, no FD? - Do not stay at home! - contact Peter Doran.   Contents)

FD Clothing
A new FD badge has been developed for the 1999 World Championships. A wide range of clothing can be purchased from Shoreside Clothing with the new badge. T shirts were on display at the Southern Area Championship and will be available at the 1998 World Championships. Contact Debbie Jarvis on 01536 791302 (phone or fax) if you want to place an order now. Contents

New FDs in UK
Biggles gets a life, John Best's new FD features again in Yachts & Yachting. The late May 1998 edition has a Dinghy Forum article about John's views on the world of sailing in general and FD in particular with several photos. The Summer 1998 edition of RYA News has a large overhead photo of the FD stand at Sailboat. Contents

No FD, No Comment
Sue Pelling from Yachts & Yachting visited Lee-on-the Solent on 21 April 1998 to sail an FD. Her report is in the Mid May 1998 edition and includes the following...

"...the FD lives well up to her sparkling reputation, she's responsive, forgiving, rewarding and unquestionably gives those who race her an an enourmous amount of pleasure.

But what about the price tag? I was quite surprised to find that the brand-new boat I was sailing cost a very reasonable £10,200 ready to sail including top and under covers." Contents

1999 Worlds in UK
If you know of any organisation that would like to sponsor a race, a social event or even the whole championship please contact John Best (Lee-on-the-Solent FD WC Organiser) or the FD Webmaster. Contents

FDs are great value for money
The low prices of FDs continue to amaze even the most aware dinghy sailors. Competitive FDs start at under 2000 pounds sterling and brand new state of the art FDs on the water ready to win major events out of the box are around 11,000 pounds sterling. Contents.

Sailboat 98
Bruce Banks Sails contributed to the cost of the FD stand at Sailboat. See Hugh Myers Fly his FD. Contents

Previous News
May 1998
April 1998