As you may be aware from the various sailing web sites, yesterday night ISAF voted 24 -12 to replace the Europe with the Laser Radial as the woman's single-hander.

This is terrible news for the class worldwide and has an immediate impact on the UK class association, regardless of your Olympic or non Olympic asperations. This coming weekend event at Warsash is still going ahead, however subject to RYA confirmation this is likely to be the last National Ranking event we can attend with the other Olympic classes ie our 2005 sailing programme will have to scrapped (will not affect the Nationals at Bexhill) and re-organised.

Some members may be think this is a good thing, no more long trips to Weymouth etc, but it means as a Class we shall have to organise a lot more things ourselves - something that in all honesty we have got out of the habit of doing. There will also be the impact of loosing members to the Laser Radial class, although before the Europe became an Olympic class the membership in the UK was in excess of 100 with nationals of over 50 boats, so perhaps we may attract sailors back?

This is a time of great upheaval for the Class in the UK, and one that requires all members to pull together for the future of the Class. Therefore I cannot urge in the strongest words possible that you please attend the AGM on Saturday, regardless of whether you are sailing or not.

I have attached the Agenda and as you will see there are a number of committe vacanies that need filling. Without an active and strong committee the Class is not going to survive, and you cannot expect one or two people to carry the load!

If you cannot attend but wish to make a suggestion, proposal or volunteer please just please email me or phone me (01376 347366).

Lastly one last plea - after many years of loyal service, Roger Silk can no longer continue as our Webmaster. This is a vital link for all members and we need someone with some IT knowledge to take over this role.

See you on Saturday.

Robert Laurie
UK Chairman

Class Training for All 27th August, 2004

After a lot of work to put these together, I am finally pleased to announce that the following training for ALL class association members has been arranged.

11 & 12 September at Hayling Island SC

2 & 3 October at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

Both events will be run by Jon Emmett an experienced coach who has worked in the past with our Olympic challenger, Laura Baldwin. If we are lucky Laura may attend the October weekend to pass on her knowledge & expertise.

The cost - £15 per weekend (yes it really is that cheap!), plus a charge levied by each venue host.

£15 by Hayling Island - you must sign in at their reception on arrival. You can also contact them about on site accommodation for Saturday night tel: 023 9246 3768.

£9.50 by Weymouth - again you must sign in at their reception.

The class association is subsidising over half the cost of these weekends and supplying the class rib, so the cost to you is being kept down to the bare minimum.

Training will consist of rig tuning, two boat speed work, boat handling and race tactics, and debrief onshore. Perhaps we can have a social get together in the evening?

The weekends will follow on from each other, however if you cannot make one do not worry, please still come a join in (you can pick up on anything that you have missed). For both weekends the start times are as follows:

Saturday - rigged and ready for 10.30am and finished by 4.00pm
Sunday - rigged and ready for 10.00am and finished by 3.30pm

Robert Laurie

News from Scotland 18th July, 2004

Congratulations to Loch Tummel Europe sailor Fiona Barron who came first in the single handed class of the Scottish Ladies Championship held at Loch Tummel Sailing Club on 10 July, reinforcing her 2003 win. Val Ludlow from Port Edgar, who has being doing well in the current traveller circuit, took third place. In the double handed section of the championship, Bess Homer and Kirsty Higgins, both well known Scottish Europe sailors from a few years back won their class in the RS200 which they now sail together. Bess still takes her Europe out on occasions, taking second place last year in the Scottish Single Handed Championship.

Worlds Team 18th April, 2004

Congratulations to the following ladies who have been selected to represent GBR at this year's
Europe Worlds to be held at Cagliary, Italy in July - Laura Baldwin, Lizzie Vickers, Andrea
Brewster & Natalie Lloyd. There are four places for any men that may wish to take part - please
contact the Class Secretary for more info.

Our Olympic Representative! 17th January, 2004

Very many congratulations to Laura Baldwin, whose selection for the 2004 Olympics in Athens
has now been confirmed by the RYA. We wish Laura every success - as Laura said, it is going to
be an exciting year!