Dinghy Show 2011

[simon_jones]

              What   :-   Dinghy Show

              When  :-   5th and 6th March 2011

              Where :-   Alexandra Palace

[Graham Bridle]

Well I have just returned from a truly fantastic dinghy show, the cherubs its fair to say stormed it.

We had five amazing boats on show in the hall of fame, with constant visitors and interest on all fronts, they really were a credit to the class and a fitting tribute those that have gone before us.

In the middle of that we had the cakes (someone will put the photo's up I am sure) which generated much interest and judged by Penny Clarke ( Olympian) and Liz Adams (Allen) who took the job very seriously and were super complimentary about all the entries. Rolands clear winner was eventually cut by Neil Pryde who proudly told us how he used to help John Spencer design cherubs and used to love sailing them himself.

To top it all, the main stand was never less than busy as Dean and Simon had polished Eleanor until she gleamed, and she quite rightly won "best in show" .... yes, the whole show above all the sideboards !

Anyway, a big thanks to all f those that lent their boats, lent their hands, brains and time - you know who you are.

[ross_burkin]

Sounds like the cherubs stole the show! Good effort guys and girls!

[Phil Alderson]

A big thanks to all who put an increadable amount of effort into getting all the boats, and information, and stands, and cakes, and people ready, the preparation really showed, and made the whole event go smoothly.

[Bobc]

Well done guys, good effort.

Elenor looked very well turned-out.

[Will_Lee]

What a triumph! Well done to everyone! Well done us! Gawd bless us every one etc etc etc.

W

[Neil C.]

That was the first time I've been to the Dinghy Show in many years. I thought two things stood out.
1. The Cherub class continues to offer something indefineable, something different and exciting which most other classes just don't have.
2. The quality of boat within the class now appears very high thanks to the major effort put in to Eleanor and all the Hall of Fame boats. This has surely raised the appeal of the class and shaken off some of the old unreliability image that used to prevail. Well done guys!
(Sorry not to see you Bob - we must have been there on different days).   

[phil_kirk]

I can't agree more to all said above.

We really pulled out the stops and everyone involved delivered on their promisses.  It was a pleasure and an honour to have been involved with the organising of this and I would personally like to thank everyone for their efforts duirng the planning, preparation and excecution of this display. Many people outside the current class membership have contributed information and photos for the displays.

It was great to meet people from the classes past and to listen to some of there stories.  Personnally I enjoyed talking to Alfie Hawksworth (1959 natoinal champion) who was interested in the recent developements of t-foils.  I understand that Chris Forman was also at the show.

[simon_jones]

What an effort! What a class! Proud to be involved!

[dean_ralph]

That was the first time I've been to the Dinghy Show in many years. I thought two things stood out.
1. The Cherub class continues to offer something indefineable, something different and exciting which most other classes just don't have.
2. The quality of boat within the class now appears very high thanks to the major effort put in to Eleanor and all the Hall of Fame boats. This has surely raised the appeal of the class and shaken off some of the old unreliability image that used to prevail. Well done guys!
(Sorry not to see you Bob - we must have been there on different days).   

I am quite ashamed to say it but I was one of those people who had the wrong opinion of the class, and since I have been a member of the cherub class the boats and people in the class have given me the best sailing experience ever. The boat show is defiantly the icing on the cake for me (that’s for you Roland). Hopefully from the positive feedback from the show will bring new interest and members/sailors to the class as it justfully deserves.

Thanks to everyone who put so much effort in making such a spectacular display with such small recourses.
 

[paul_croote]

See Yachts and Yachting website (www.yachtsandyachting.com) first page write up on the show. Within the 1st few sentences the Cherub class is written about. It makes me proud to be part of a class who, as small as we are, have made such a positive impression on so many. Well done to everyone who was involved.

[dave_ching]

As a class we are very lucky not to have to pay for all the work that was put in.
I think we have some in the clas who could quite easily be events co-ordinators as another career.
Can we have another 60th next year?

[phil_kirk]

I agree we are lucky that we have people in the class who can bring specific tallents/skills to bear.
The same people are also willing to give up their time for the good of the class.

i wouldn't choose being a show organiser as a career.  Once a year is enough for me.

[phil_kirk]

From RYA marketing manager Paul Bayliss,

Dear Phil

Thanks for your note, and to you and the Class Association for putting on a top class display in the West Corridor.

For a small class association you really did yourselves proud, and some of the comments I've seen online seem to back this up.  The Cherub fleet should be very grateful for the profile that their committee has given the class.

As one of the judges on the Concours D'Elegance, the boat on the stand was genuinely the stand out boat of the show, and we were unanimous about that.  The best bit was when we presented the trophy on the stand.  A real "beam me up Scotty" moment for the two guys we presented to if their faces were anything to go by!

So a big thank you to the Cherub class overall for making such a great contribution to this year's show.  You really put us, and your class, on the map.

kind regards
 
Paul Bayliss