MIRROR IMAGES
NEWSLETTER OF THE MIRROR CLASS ASSOCIATION OF SA - August 2000

Inside this Issue -

EDITORIAL

After a deep and lengthy silence from Ireland we can report that the 2001 Mirror Worlds are up and running.

There was growing concern because regular requests for information met with little or no response. At the same time there has apparently been an English/Irish clash between the long-serving secretary of the International Mirror Class Association, John Golding, and Donal Killian, who is president of the IMCA in Ireland as well as the new president of IMCA, the international umbrella body.

In a recent IMCA circular Golding raised questions about the organisation of the next worlds, which are to be held at Howth, near Dublin, during August next year. This apparently caused problems between Killian and Golding. The latter, who has been secretary for as many years as Mirror stalwarts here can remember, then resigned with Golding citing this clash in the circular as a reason for his resignation.

But the water is muddied even further by news that Golding has also resigned from the UK Mirror Class Association. Neither Golding nor Killian have yet responded to queries from Images for comment on why he has resigned as secretary.

Killian told Images that Howth had been been slow and hard to motivate initially. They were selected as hosts in 1998 and held their first meeting regarding the worlds in February this year after much prompting by him.
"But now some excellent work has been achieved."

The IMCA of Ireland's new website contains a category with information about future regattas, including the worlds. But there is no information other than the note: "More details once they become available."

The worlds are supposed to be held from August 1 to 10, 2001 and application has been made to ISAF to allocate these dates. But there has been no confirmation and the dates could change.

IMCASA president Willie Zevenster is one of those who has been pressing for information and reports: :"At last, a last minute, very comprehensive communication regarding the Mirror World Championship and International Regatta for 2001 was received form Donal Killian.
"Earlier there was no formal communication from the IMCA of Ireland and a circular of the international body also expressed concern. As with most good things, it obviously takes time to set the ball in motion.

"Looking at the above I once again learn a very valuable lesson: Communication builds good relations while the lack thereof breeds gossip, ill feeling and unhappiness. All of which does not promote the togetherness and happiness I got to love since getting involved with sailing three years ago.

"We have just under a year to prepare. Some of you are already hard at it, doing some serious travelling to compete in qualifying regattas to earn points.

"Sailors still have time to improve their position on the ranking while the IMCASA Executive committee will meet shortly to get the wheels in motion regarding planning for the event.

Members of the class will be kept informed of developments. In the mean time it is up to each one to take part in regattas to improve sailing skills and to earn sufficient points to qualify. Remember, it is never out of reach. Some of the sailors who earned their colours in 1999 made the top six in the last two regattas they sailed. The secret is to participate and to persist. If not this time, then next time in Tasmania. Working hard at your sport is a long term investment.

"The aim is to take eight boats of which six will qualify as per the points system. The other two places will be allocated on merit. The criteria for merit will be based on performance. One (or both) could go to the top performing development teams and one could go to a class member who proves that he/she could be a regatta winner but failed to qualify for some unexpected reason.

"If nobody is selected in terms of the exceptional criteria mentioned above, the next member/s on the ranking list will get the opportunity. Each region will have the opportunity to nominate and motivate the merit selections. The decision of the Committee in this regard will be final."

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We need you
By Willie Zevenster

We had a relatively low entry for the 1999 Nationals, but believe this was attributable to commitments relating to Millennium activities.

But it is of huge concern that we do not see the increase in our Class membership numbers. Only 19 households, individuals and families, have paid subscriptions to date. Some questions were asked about class membership at the AGM. Being an International class, recognised by ISAF (International Sailing Federation) and South African Sailing, there are some rules by which we have to abide. The International Mirror Class Association looks after the interests of Mirror dinghy owners and sailors to ensure that the one-design nature of the class is maintained and that they are kept informed of planned provincial, national as well as international regattas. It is therefore imperative for Mirror Dinghy owners to be class members in order for the national committee to have their detail in order to keep them informed, for their measurement certificates to be valid and for helmsmen to take part in Mirror Class regattas.

The funds generated from membership fees are used for running expenses of the class and to promote the growth of the class.

The current registers of IMCASA are very old and we would like to bring them up to date. Please send me an E-mail to willie.zevenster@spar.co.za with your details and we will send you a membership form.

Please complete the form even if you have already paid your subscriptions for this year. Just mark your form as such. This information will enable us to keep you informed of any activities regarding the Class. We would like to send a copy of the latest class rules to all members before the end of this year. We are a recognised class and in order to maintain a proper image; members need to know their class rules.

The following quote from Sean Fitzpatrick:
"IT IS EASY TO SPOT THE WINNERS, THEY ARE THE ONES NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RULES."

If you want to play the game, know the rules and play by the rules.

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SEE YOU IN IRELAND
From Donal Killian, president of the Irish Mirror Class Association as well as the International Mirror Class.

He is at the centre of organisation for the 2001 MIRROR WORLDS at Howth Yacht Club, the hosts, near Dublin.

Howth is a sea-minded place. A busy fishing harbour set snugly into the north coast of the handsome peninsula which forms the northern side of Dublin Bay. It is a port where sailing thrives, the kind of community where you find Optimist and Mirror dinghies advertised for sale in the window of the village shop alongside baby buggies, kittens, mothers' helps, and all the other paraphernalia of busy family life.

Howth Yacht Club, normally very efficiently run by a very large, competent staff has hosted many major events in the past, including many world championships for different classes, dinghies and keel boats alike. They also have a lot of events planned before the Mirror World Championship in August next year. The club has very good facilities, is near the City of Dublin and has expansive sailing waters.

The racing area will be outside the peninsula to the North and North-East, which is to the top and right of the picture respectively. The club has good facilities, which includes a restaurant and a bar.

Howth is a fishing village with small restaurants and shopping. It is very picturesque and homely. For someone going on holiday or having free time during the regatta, Howth has a lot to offer, golf, tennis, walks, beaches, and many other activities. There are ferries across the Irish Sea.

Accommodation is available, Hotels, Guest Houses and B&B's. This is a most important aspect of the event and I have emphasised the importance to Howth. I have asked for one person to be appointed to look after this, taking into consideration the cost of living in our country in comparison with others. People are on holidays at present but September will sort out many items.

The planned dates for the Mirror Worlds is from August 1 to 10, 2001. The first two days are set aside for measurement and registration, The Pre-Worlds Regatta will be held on August 3 and 4, the opening ceremony on August 5 and then the World Championship and International Regatta will take place from 6 to 10 August. These dates are yet to be approved by ISAF.

The worlds usually include two events due to the limitation of 100 boats to the world championship. The one is the World Championship itself and the other an International Regatta which is sailed at the same time in a different course area. (When the World Championship was held in South Africa in 1999, there was no International Regatta because our entries did not exceed the 100 mark and although there were some entries for the International Regatta, it was cancelled and everybody sailed in the World Championship event.)

At Howth both regattas will share the same venue and facilities but will have different race officers, courses and entry requirements. Ireland has a fleet of 200 boats, but we will restrict entry to the international regatta to enable the visiting countries to have as many entries as they like. The cut-off for this regatta is also 100 entries.

I envisage all competing countries having whatever places they would like in the international regatta. I would like to encourage you to bring as many boats for this event as possible. I would love to see 40 foreign boats compete in it. Irish would fill the remaining places, I hope the entry fee will be about £150 Ir. (R1200) and I am fighting hard to keep this down.

Willie Zevenster reports that according to the normal IMCA entry entitlements, South Africa may have up to seven entries in the worlds regatta. Any other entries will therefore sail in the International regatta.

Killian promised that, like in the past, should a country not take up all its allocated entries in the worlds, more than the seven entries could become available to South Africa. Says Zevenster:"It was spectacular to see 73 Mirrors on the water at the same time in South Africa imagine the 200 boats expected in Ireland. "I honestly hope that we will be able to send a very competitive team to this world class event. Get your boats on the water, train and show your skill in the qualifying regattas still to come.

All indicators are that it will be a memorable event. They are still talking highly of their unforgettable experience in South Africa and I am sure they will try to emulate that."

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CINDERELLA SEES REFLECTIONS OF MIRRORS
report by Paul Haglich 24 August 2000

No less than six Mirrors entered this year’s Kerry Lee Charity regatta at East Rand Yacht Club, Cinderella Dam. A bunch of four very keen Mirror enthusiasts from Emmarentia SC helped make up the fleet with Paul & Lorenzo Haglich and Robert Edwards & Brett de Jager in the other two boats. The Emmarentia flotilla was sailed single-handed and therefore in the almost non-existent wind, we had no chance to keep up with the lighter boats. We really did see reflections of Mirrors as the water was as smooth as glass for most of the regatta – except when we packed up on the Sunday afternoon! Much to our disgust, the wind suddenly showed itself, almost mockingly, in time for the prize giving.

We did manage to "race" three races and Robert Edwards & Brett showed that they are rapidly becoming a team to contend with. In the very light conditions they crew sailed expertly and improved with every race. They are going to be a good team at the Nationals in December, that’s for sure!

The Emmarentia guys had a ding-dong battle every race with positions changing constantly and the light weather making it very frustrating as the wisp of a breeze would change direction so-much-so that the burgee would indicate a direction contrary to how the sails would set. Much swearing was heard on the water, but hey, no names mentioned. You would see one boat running and another beating on the same leg, sailing in the same direction – unbelievable stuff and very uncharacteristic of Cinderella Dam as we have always enjoyed excellent wind in the past at the Kerry Lee.

Anyway, it was great to get six Mirrors on the water and its encouraging to see the keen team from Emmarentia keeping the Mirror flag flying high. Father and son team of David and Robert Marshall enjoy sailing the boat so much that Robert decided that he wanted to skipper so they now own two Mirrors, one for Dad and one for him. And guess what, Robert is showing his dad his transom on more than one occasion so David obviously did a great job training Rob.

I’m not to sure how the final results were scored (as I had to leave before the prize giving) but I know that Robert Edwards & Brett had line honours and I think that Jeremy Holcroft won the single-handers. Tony Lane also sailed extremely well and he was giving Jeremy a run for his money too.

It’s looks like its time to resuscitate the Hi-veld Single-Handed Championship, which we will plan for the new season.

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MIRROR INTEREST IS FLOURISHING IN GAUTENG
24 August 2000

The Benoni Sailing School, with Evelyn Loader at the helm, has implemented a plan to add 4/5 new Mirrors to their fleet. They have requested SAS to assist them with bridging finance to buy the kits and have the boats built by a professional cabinetmaker. These boats will be used for training and then sold to sailors who qualify through the school. The bridging finance money would then be paid back to SAS/ Mirror Class & used to finance more kits. They also want to enter a team of three or four boats for the Nationals in December. In this way the Mirror fleet will be boosted with boats and active sailors, which in my humble opinion, is the way to go in order to grow the class.

Andrew Edwards also reports that there are four members at East Rand Yacht Club who want to purchase kits and last weekend at the Outdoor Expo at Kyalami, where we had a Mirror on display in the NSA stand, we had two serious enquiries for kits. So, we urgently need kits to satisfy this demand before these people look elsewhere for a dinghy or possibly change their minds.

I know that Willie is pushing to get the production of kits in operation so we hope that kits will be available soon. Go for it Willie!

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Border Notes
From Lionel Latigan

Unfortunately, Karl Goddard has forsaken Mirrors for (whisper it!)multihulls. He is doing pretty well, proving again that if you can sail a Mirror well, you can sail anything! Hopefully, he will see the light, but if he has really joined the Legion of the Lost, we hope that someone else who is as keen as Karl will buy his Mirror and sail it as often as Karl used to.

The Shaw brothers from Queenstown have been showing a lot of talent but they are not able to attend as many regattas as we would like them to. There are other Mirrors in Queenstown but we are not seeing them. Come on guys! Martin Struwig is getting a bit big for Oppies and is now sailing the same Mirror that was in colour on the front page of the World's issue of Mirror Images. Martin is doing well and could make his mark on the class in time. Welcome Martin!

There was a one-boat invasion from Border of the Last Outpost of the British Empah for the Natal Provincials over Easter. The Club facilities at Midmar were superb as usual and it was great to see the Natal Mirror gang again. Things were rather quiet in the evenings and I could not even buy a glass of juice after 8 pm. but I am sure that it will be jumping during the Nationals in December! I am sure that there will be a full report on the regatta elsewhere in this issue, but I would like to give my impressions for what they are worth.

There was a good fleet of boats and although there was little wind, the Race Committee worked patiently and competently away at it and gave us a full event. Many familiar names were there and Robbie Norton who recently returned from the concrete jungle of Johannesburg sportingly scratched together enough bits half way through the regatta to put Zig-Zag on the water without a spinnaker to swell the numbers.

The first two races were a sorting out of who's who in the zoo and then things settled down to a terrific battle among three boats. They were the always helpful Trevor Gibb and crew Carrie Frencken, good friends to us off the water but putting on a wolfish defence of the trophy which Trevor has won so often, Oppie expert Roscoe Friend and his sister Derryn, determined to win, and Border raiders Craig Latigan and rookie crew Terence Wales, lean and hungry for good points.

Lurking like tigresses waiting to pounce on the slightest mistake by any of the front runners were Catherine Brereton and crew Mary Hassel. They seldom stopped hounding the three front runners, but those three were not making many mistakes and while there was the odd good showing by others in the fleet, after the second race, the three musketeers put on a brilliant show of tactical sailing in which whoever got to the front early in the race clamped an iron loose cover on the others who also never let up and no race was decided until the last tack.

By Sunday evening, Trevor and Roscoe were tied in first place, with Craig one point behind. All the races which had started before 2:30 had been abandoned through lack of wind and it did not look as if a sixth and final race would be sailed before the mid day cutoff on Monday, but the Race Committee persisted and after the fleet had drifted around for over an hour the wind came through and the last race started.

Jamie and Katie Barker made the running on the first beat but then the terrible trio came through. Again, the concentration was enormous, nobody could get past the next in line. They worked their spinnakers like stunt pilots, every breakaway was covered and positions were close but unchanging.

Then, on the last tack to the finish line, Roscoe made a tiny slip and the ladies pounced and slipped through into third place. First place could not be decided on best discards because Trevor's and Craig's placings were identical, so Craig took the trophy for winning the last race with Trevor second on the same points and Roscoe third, one point behind, with Catherine and Mary fourth. It was a good result for the Border raiders, but the real winners were the spectators who had seen four days of excellent close sailing.

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Spreading the Mirror Gospel

Lionel Latigan recently went sailing up the East African coast (not in a Mirror) and reports: "I had a good trip up to Northern Kenya, with only one two-day gale and otherwise a lot of brilliant sailing and a lot of motoring. An interesting experience was seeing three waterspouts in one morning.

We called in at Durban, Inhambane and Pemba in Mozambique and then went on to Kilifi which is north of Mombasa in Kenya.

When we left Kilifi for Zanzibar, we had serious electrical troubles with the boat for which there were no spares in Kenya. Because of the delay I missed the chance of calling at some of the East African Yacht Clubs where I had intended to spread the Mirror gospel and distribute some of our newsletters, including the Worlds colour edition.

A bright spot was the afternoon I spent sailing a local boat with a lateen rig. The rig may date back over a thousand years, but it still sails better than you would imagine and I thoroughly enjoyed handling it. The standing rigging is all rope, there are two wooden blocks, fairleads are holes in the deck and mainsheet cleats are pegs that you wind the sheet around and hold the end!

The sail is home made, the short mast rakes forward with a long gaff reaching from the bow, past the top of the mast and high above the stern. It is heavy and as primitive as can be but it goes to weather well and thousands of people go to sea fishing in them every day. Here at home we often forget how many people in the world still earn their living under sail.

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MIRROR CLASS PERSPECTIVE.
By Willie Zevenster

We have had a very good start for the year with the two provincial championships in April, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal, being well attended.

We are very excited about the support the class got since the NorthVaal championship in September last year. Forty four skippers took part in national and provincial regattas.

It is fantastic to see the growing interest in all the regions. Inquiries are flowing in from all over from people wanting new and used boats. Please let me know if you know of boats for sale or people wanting boats.

FAREWELL MR MIRROR

We were sad to learn that Trygve Roberts, a longtime Mirror stalwart who is reigning national champion and who served for many years as chairman of Fleet 6 as well as four years as national president, has decided to sell his Mirror to move on to a small keel boat. We wish him all the happiness and fair sailing on his new boat. We hope he will get the "itch" again to experience the excitement of the Mirror and that he will re-join us in due course.

SA SAILING COLOURS

Although a long time has passed since the worlds at Saldanha Bay in April last year, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate our sailors who earned their national colours in the run up to and during that event. We must apologize for the time it took to get the formalities sorted out.

Colours are awarded to the top six sailors, helmsmen and crew, who qualify and take part in a world championship. Any other South African sailor who finishes in the top 10 percent in a worlds also qualifies for colours. To qualify for colours in the top six, a helmsman also has to earn a minimum of 250 points in qualifying regattas. Any top sailor who withdraws from the event makes room for the next on the list to qualify for the team.

The teams that earned their colours for the 1999 worlds were, in ranking order:

1. Trygve Roberts and Nicholas Baigrie
2. Simon Baer and Amy McLouglin
3. Alon Finklestein and Barbara Heathcote
4. Trevor Gibb and Mary Hassall
5. Waldo Zevenster and Diether Zevenster
6. Jonathan Norton and Alexis Silberbauer

The seventh team to qualify - and they ended up being the top South African team in the regatta, was Sieraj Jacobs with Charles Hutton-Squire as crew. They qualified for their colours with their exceptional performance, coming in fifth overall.

Congratulations to all. We hope this is an inspiration for all to qualify for the Mirror Worlds in Ireland next year.

IMCASA WEB-SITE

We are very proud of our own web-site that was launched earlier this year. You can find it at WWW.MIRROR.ORG.ZA. It was a vision of Trygve Roberts, and with Mandy Roberts and Paul Johnson as key players, it all happened. We want to use this opportunity once again thank them for their efforts. Mandy did the initial design and publication and Paul has arranged for the hosting of the web-site with Duxbury Networking at no cost to the Class. Please send us your contributions for publication. The site belongs to all class members and we value your input. Remember, it is for the whole world to see, let's make it exciting.

REGATTAS TO COME

During the long weekend of 24 September we have the Eastern Cape as well as the NorthVaal Provincial Mirror Championships and in December the 2000 the Mirror National Championship.

The proposed date and venue for the Nationals is Midmar Dam in KZN from December 26 to JanuaRy 2, 2001. The championship will finish on December 31, but we would like as many people as possible to stay another day or two to enjoy New Year with some fun sailing across the dam. More info will be available shortly. The regattas above are still opportunities for helmsmen to qualify for selection to the 2001 Mirror World Championship in Ireland.

For all who sail for the fun or who would like to improve their sailing skills, these are ideal opportunities.

Happy sailing and we hope to see all of you at our events, especially the Nationals at Midmar. We had 30 boats at the 1998 Nationals at Wriggelswade in the Eastern Cape, let us beat that.

FROM THE EASTERN CAPE

The Eastern Cape Mirror fraternity is growing slowly but surely. A couple of boats have changed hands and some more have risen from the moth balls. Hopefully we will see some more boats on the water this next season.

The end of season prize giving at Redhouse, home of the Mirror in the Eastern Cape saw Waldo Zevenster walking away with all the Mirror Class trophies. Willie Zevenster was honored with the merit award for his contribution to sailing and related matters during the last season.

Some of our sailors ventured into the J22 "Junior Lipton Cup" held at Transvaal yacht Club and Simon Baer and his junior crew came home with the honors. Well done Simon. Our junior sailors are sought after crew for the keelboats in Port Elizabeth which is giving them valuable experience.

Our Provincial Championship is planned for the long weekend of 23 to 25 September 2000 at Montmere, Swartvlei near George. It promises to be an excellent event with the Lasers, Optimists and Dabchicks sharing the event as an Eastern Cape Championship.

Hope to see many of you there.

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There is a time and a season.........
By Trygve Roberts

At one stage of my life I thought I would be sailing Mirrors until I was no longer capable of getting in, or out, of one. My interest in the Mirror started in the early 80's, when the time had dinghy arrived to teach my three daughters - then aged five, five little and six - to learn all about sailing. I reluctantly covered the Laser for a while and bought myself a fairly clapped out Mirror in Hermanus. That was number 48000 and something. The boat immediately enchanted me resulting in many years of involvement and a great deal of pleasure in the Mirror Class.

After an invitation by Geoff Collins of IYC to sail in a club regatta, where my daughter, Lisa, and I won all the races, we were suitably motivated to sail in the WP Champs and later that year in the Mirror Nationals at Midmar in Natal, where we came second in both events. I wonder today how many sea miles passed under my Mirrors during the past 15 years. After 11 Nationals, 14 Provincials and 4 World Championship campaigns, I have achieved more for myself and my children than I could ever have done in any other class, local or international.

Organising the 1999 Mirror Worlds was one of the best trophies for me, leaving me feeling totally satisfied with a job well done. The stress factor during the two years leading up to the 99 Worlds was of major consequence. When the dust had settled after April 99, I found myself with no enthusiasm for sailing. By the time December came around and the Nationals were scheduled to be held in the Western Cape again, for the first time since my involvement with Mirrors, I found myself wondering whether I really wanted to compete. I sailed more out of commitment to the class than a desire to sail and (much to my surprise) won the event. That gave me 4 national titles and the last three in a row - none of that had ever been done before, so I thought to myself: "This is a good time to hang up my boots". Even in my stressed state, I realised that the main problem was sailing burn-out and that I needed time out.

From Dec 99 till Easter 2000 there was still no revival in my interest to race, so I just avoided the sailing scene for a while and waited for things to happen naturally. Various people tried to influence me to change classes, but nothing really grabbed my interest. There had simply been too many committee meetings, racing, responsibilities and politics. The time had come to take a rest and let fresher legs run with the baton....

During the Easter weekend 2000, we camped at Theewaters and there I found a small drop keeler which caught my eye. Two weeks later my sailing enthusiasm was back and some 3 months later I am now the proud owner of a Jeanneau Microsail - Not quite a Mirror ! But it's a nice little boat which I can sail alone or four up (or more) if I want. Just a little day sailer - perfect for Langebaan or Theewaterskloof.

Now I am pottering on the boat during all my spare time and the boat should be launched sometime during October. The next question was, do I sell the Mirror? After some soul searching, I decided the answer should be "YES" - For a while - at least - I want to just sail for the fun of it. No racing.

A consideration, of course, was the money. Having just returned from a two week sailing holiday in the Greek Islands, the old bank balance took a direct hit. I must admit the lead up to the Greek Islands had a lot to do with my enthusiasm returning.

Who knows how long this fad will last? I have comforted myself with the all-important knowledge that when this phase has passed in my life, I can always buy another Mirror. At least I know the Mirror Class will always be there - and besides I am a life member.

Ime solace to know that my Mirror "Black Magic" t would also give will go on to another racing skipper and that it might even go to Ireland in 2001 and taste the briny again.

On the other hand (in the inimitable words of Naas Botha) - you should keep a sharp lookout at every major Mirror event - you might just find me on the startline again!

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Solid Strides
Mirrorscape from the Western Cape, By Anthony Johnson, chairman of Fleet 6

Any class that stages a major international event is presented with both an opportunity and a problem. The staging of the Mirror Worlds in Saldanha on our doorstep last year sparked something of a South African Renaissance for the class, with both regular Mirror sailors and more recent converts revelling in the excitement of being part of such a special and prestigious event.

In a bid to counter the post-Saldanha blues problem, the committee held a series of brainstorming sessions on how to keep the Mirror on the sailing chart, as it were. Part of the solution, we felt, was to use the upcoming World's in Ireland in 2001 as an incentive or rallying point for maintaining interest and competitiveness in the class. To this end, a report was drafted and sent to the IMCASA. It contains proposals, among other things, for the national body to fund sailing coaches, managers, provide sponsorships and incentives in the run-up to the next world's. The committee's thinking was that profits derived from the hosting of the Worlds could, judiciously used, serve as a major boost for the class in general and help send the most competitive and representative SA Mirror team ever to the Worlds in Ireland.

The committee also believed that the creation of a local Mirror website would give the class a higher profile and provide enthusiasts and potential entrants to the Mirror family with a modern, attractive window to most things they would want to know about the boat. This includes current news, results, features, discussion points and backgrounders - plus historical material and technical information.

All committee members participated in a series of discussions about the nature and purpose of the site and it was an item on the agenda of every committee meeting over the past year.

But the lion's share of the work was done by Mandy Roberts, who designed the site for a nominal fee, and Paul Johnson, who registered the site and whose company now hosts it for free. The website (www.mirror.org.za) is now up and running and is being maintained and managed by national chairman Willie Zevenster. All Mirror sailors are urged to visit the site - and make submissions and suggestions. In short, turn it into a truly living, interactive shop window for Mirror activities and concerns that will make other classes drool. It is already several cuts above most of the other international mirror sites.

The Mirror Images newsletter is yet another Fleet Six initiative which has become an indispensable vehicle for communicating about Mirrors and keeping Mirror sailors in touch nationally. Mirror Images now also appears on the website but the committee has decided that, for now, hard copies of the newsletter will continue to be sent out to Fleet 6 members. (IMCASA members get it free.)

Within Fleet Six the social sailors seem to have gained the upper hand, at least numerically, over the racers in the past year. Hopefully the lure of the Worlds in Ireland will help the pendulum to swing the other way this season.

On the racing side, special mentions and congratulations are in order for a number for Western Cape sailors. First, well done to Trygve Roberts and his crew Nicolas Baigrie for winning the Nationals at Theewaterskloof in December.

Second, national colours were presented in July to a number of Mirror sailors from this region: Nicolas Baigrie, Barbara Heathcote (who won her colours in Gauteng and now studies at UCT), Charles Hutton-Squire, Sieraj Jacobs, Trygve Roberts and Alexis Silberbauer.

On the social side, there have been two full-blown family weekends at Langebaan in October and Theewaterskloof in April. There have also been a number of mini-weekends (where 4-8 boats participate instead of 15-20 for the bigger gatherings). John Moss is investigating additional/alternative sites for family weekends in the coming season, including Hermanus, Brandvlei and Voelvlei Fleet Six arranged a formal training session at Zeekoevlei in October and there were various informal sessions during the year, Mirror promotional campaigns were also held at two Sportsman's Warehouses in November, with Sieraj Jacobs' boat on display and sailors on hand to answer questions and hand out brochures.

In a bid to attract new sailors into the Mirror class, Fleet Six now owns four fully-kitted boats in sailing trim. These are available for novice and development sailors.

See you all on the water.

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