ok so i'm a member of the adelaide land yacht club, no big deal so are other people, but at every sailing day that i've been to there seems to be the same ones sailing each time,, now apparently there are about 20 or so members ( i could be wrong maybe more or maybe less) but i seems to see the same ones each time so that got me to wondering just how many unused land yachts are sitting in peoples back yards and in sheds just gathering dust and slowly rusting away not being used for anything other than a home for redbacks,,,,i just wondered how many there might have been.....

Bill finch has built well over 100 in adelaide alone, pluss the F5 givens, then PM's,
all the old class 6's got sold off to the scouts, Ive nearly got to 100 myself, but about 60 have gone to cottees. then there is supposed to be 600? blowies.
basically people need pokin with big sticks to get them to use them.
i sold one last week so Im back to 8? and will be chopping 2 up this week to make one better

well how do we get people interested again or for the first time for that matter, it can't be done with everyone just sittng on their bums banging away on a computer and talking about it,,, if this sport call it what you willl is to survive and grow it needs a but shot in the arm and more public exposue, at least thats what i think anyway for what it's worth

I really needed to hear that Beachball..
i have been searching for 2 X 2005/8 "powdercoat" blokarts for nearly 6 mths now and haven't had any luck whatsoever......there just for a beach house so my money is a bit restricted, but the problem is i havent had a chance to negotiate with anyone as yet......I cant find any.!!!!
Its good to know there must be some still out there not being used...

Thanks heaps Hills.........
cheers

Hi Guys and Galls
Ive not been on here for a while due to work, Home building, Family comitments, La La La ... Youve heard it all before I know..
But today I went for a run along my old favourite and not-so favourite beaches as I used to do before the season started , and I was surprised by how much things have changed!!
I do fully accept that only a fool passes full judgement on only one visit but this is how I found them....
Firstly Pt Gawler seems to be drier than it used to be and not as slippery at the southern end and somewhat narrower than it used to be due to the mangroves spreading.Maybe more usable for a wider selection than the dreaded and boreing three cone tracks.. I was happy to see that someone, Probably the council, have ripped up the tracks behind the bushes hopfully to discourage those pesty unregistered motorcyclist that used to frequent the place.
Second was off to Lower light beach... Oh Dear who by and when was a gate installed with large dirt mounds completely blocking access to the beach to keep those honest amongst us out??
Finally Pt Parham ( I was once told by a local who recognised my mast and sail from its former life in Kalgoolie, that almost half the people in the town owned landyachts and the beach could get busy when the conditions did not allow for fishing and suited sailing..)
I know there was always a band of seaweed along this beach which varied a great deal ,usually in winter but reduced greatly in summer and by this time of year was usually all but gone altogether.But today WOW it was nearly waist hight in one spot as i walked back to the car on the sand and the beach where we used to sail was scattered with weed all over.The beach was wet from the tide but even this, in the past did not present the weed problem that was present today.I reminissed one fine day that two of us sailed south passed two or three beeches before we got stuck and turned for home about 40 klms return from local knowledge of the day.
As far as the club and members/interest is concerned.. when I last attended a regatta organised by them, the politics from about 20 years ago was still cutting deep into any sort of progress and a few of the commitee members I believe would not be allowed into any lawn bowing club because they are too narrow minded.
So imho not a lot has change in 15 odd years and I dought much will any time soon untill there is a very large changing of the guards, Which I might add has been attempted many times before.Ive seen this attitude drive away so many good helpfull and energetic people and families that did not want to be around such attitudes.
Apart from that if a great deal changes before they put me in a box and cover me in dirt and rocks please let me know and I may brush off the rust and drag a couple of my yatchts out there. But not on a racing level unless you can organise a track of about 10 klms a lap..
So keep the sand and salt out of your eyes and the wind in your sailsand enjoy
Cheers