New for 2008!
June-July
Throughout the past two months we have
finally been able to get some important housekeeping done at BG.
Our Bargain Sale in early July was a great success with many skippers,
local and abroad, grabbing significantly discounted seconds and
used sails, along with moulds, spars, cordage and much more. We
still have some used sails and moulds should anyone be interested
at heavily discounted prices. Some more rigging items have been
added to the rigging page along with some updated prices on the
sails page.
Putting rumour to rest, both Victoria and myself are looking at
an indefinate return to the UK before the end of 08. Unfortunately
this may not be in time for the European Championships in Dubrovnik,
CRO but never say never!
Racing has been quiet on the home front with not much to report.
We have continued to fine tune the Glam Rock boat and she has
now shown us the results we were seeking with regards to fin and
rig placement. The boat is currently offered for sale as was always
intended.
Recent Results
2nd Ken Binks IOM Barbados event
2nd Dennis Rogers IOM Region 6 Ranking Race USA
Jimmy Teo from Singapore has sent us some news of his win in the
RC sailing regatta held in Malaysia 'Putrajaya Sailing Week 12-13
July.
Jimmy has been a long time supporter of BG and our congratulations
go out to him.
SIN 34 Jimmy Teo
April-May
The past couple of months have seen some
pleasent results with our sails continuing to place well throughout
the world against quality opposition. May saw the launch of a
new IOM design "Glam Rock" which is a development along
the SC4/Punk line of thinking, fitted out with components as per
widget AUS 42. It placed 3rd in its first outing against Paul
Jones and Craig Smith in an event which was marred by weed and
a lack of wind preventing any accurate assesment of its potential.
Currently we have no intintion to produce this design, though
should she continue to show promise we may look at offering her
as a lines plan. Sail orders continue to meet despatch targets
of under 3 weeks.
Recent Results from skippers using BG
Sails
1st IOM National Championship CRO - Zvonko Jelacic (ASuit)
1st RM Race of Champions UK - Peter Stollery
2nd IOM National Championship FRA - Olivier Cohen results
1st RM Tasmanian Ranking Race - Matt Grey
1st 10R NSW Ranking Race - Maurice Fletcher
2nd & 4th EC12 National Championship AUS - Gary Declauzel
& Yeoman Sands
4th IOM National Championship UK - Peter Stollery
Feb-March
After the first shipment of Sun Hats went
so quickly, we now have a new shipment in. The ever increasing
popularity of the Graupner Micro Magic has us now offering panelled
sail suits for this class, with Victoria keeping charge of stock.
Our sails are continuing to perform strongly around the World
and we would ask any skippers to share their pictures with us.
Keep Fast!
January
Along with our championship winning sails,
2008 will see BG offering our new "Simplicity" IOM boom
kits (as used by AUS 42), the Mac-Fit range of fittings from the
UK, New design Sun and Bucket Hats, along with a host of other
new parts.(see rigging section)
UK IOM skipper Victoria McNulty has joined us at BG and will be
only too pleased to help with any product enquiries you may have.
Whilst we are no longer manufacturing boat kits, our IOM designs
are being produced under license in Germany, United States and
Croatia.
BG 2007 IOM World Champion !
Oct 13 - 21 Marseille,
France
I'll leave it to others to report on how the evnt unfolded, though I must say that to come through in the final race was a fantastic reward after leading the event for 15 out the 23 races in total.
See links below for reports
BG Sails were used on 6 boats in the top 20 overall placings, equal to any other manufacturer
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pics by Frank VILLETTE, Marc MINAUD thank
you
1st AUS 42 Brad Gibson
5th GBR 39 Peter Stollery - BG Sails A suit
6th CRO 89 Zvonko Jelacic - BG Sails A Jib
13th GBR 72 Trevor Binks - BG Sails A & B suits
16th GBR 21 Chris Harris- BG Sails A & B suits
17th SLO 15 Jure Zule - BG Sails A & B suits
Results and Reports
Dave Turtons AUS Blog
Yachts
& Yachting Report UK
Official
website
IOM Ranking Race at Birkenhead, UK
June 23rd and 24th
BG Windstar IOM has a
win!
Full
Results
Pictures
European 18 Foot Skiff Championship at
Campione, Lake Garda Italy
June 9th- 15th
BG wound back the clock
to compete at this years European Championship as mainsheet hand
with the Ssangyong/Yandoo Team from Australia. Our boat was skippered
by 18 Australian Skiff legend John Winning, with good friend Geoff
Bauchop running the business end of the boat (the bow) with effortless
ease. With up to 3 races a day, with each race lasting approximately
40mins, my body quickly let me know that i was no longer the young
punk i once was when i last sailed an 18 nine or so years ago!
As the week wore on we settled into some decent results, being
the first boat to take a win from the well sorted American/Australian's
on Team Pegasus Racing. So after a weeks racing, 2 gashes in my
forhead, blistered hands, faulty knees and numerous bruises, we
came out in 2nd position overall holding of the Pindar/Radii and
GE teams from the UK.
It was allways dream of mine to sail an 18 on Lake Garda and it
was great to do it with such a well sorted team.
Thanks Woody, Kerry and Roy for such a great time! (Next time
i hope im fit enough for a drink mid-week)
Full Report and Results on Yachts
and Yachting UK
UK RM Nationals at Burghfield
May 26th, 27th and 28th
BG Sails were used by
both Peter Stollery (A Rig) & Brad Gibson (B Rig) for first
& second place overall.
The event was marred by severe weed throughout with many placings
dictated by how many mid race "Pit Stops" were made
and at times sheer luck of the draw. All skippers at certain times
over the weekend experienced the high's of leading a heat, only
to be weeded & fall back to the pack. Frustration at its best
as a good start or shift at times had little importance.
Whilst as is usually the case with the big regatta's, the same
names tend to still get to the top end through being able to adapt
to the conditions at hand. Given a weed free course many skippers
could lay claim to a better overall result. Unfortunately these
claims will have to wait another year!
Congratulations to the entire fleet for putting up with such conditions
and to Peter for winning his 4th UK RM Championship.
1st Peter Stollery (Crazy Tube Too), 2nd Brad Gibson (Starkers
Cubed), 3rd Martin Roberts (Starkers Squared), 4th Rob Walsh (Starkers
Cubed)
Race
Report
UK IOM Nationals at Castle Semple, Scotland
May 5th, 6th and 7th
BG Sails get 3 suits
in the top 10!
5th John Arrundel (Triple Crown), 7th Chris Harris (Widget) &
8th BG (Windstar)
The event was won convincingly by Martin Roberts sailing a new
Widget, from Peter Stollery (Isotonic) and Rob Walsh (Lintel)
International A Class
UK PRACC Series Round 2 Fleetwood
BG Sails finished 1st & 3rd at the second round of the RA
PRACC series sailed at Fleetwood. The event was sailed with light
A Suit conditions in the morning, gusting to B Suit in the afternoon.
The racing was won by BG with a John Simpson designed boat, with
Derek Priestly second sailing his David Hollom design and David
Munro third sailing his new Australian designed Venom.
BG takes out the Race of Champions!
Full
report and Results
International A Class
BG Sails keep racking up the results!
Australia
Lisa Blackwood has once again won the Tasmanian Championship against
a quality field using her BG Sails.
Gary Declauzel dominated the NSW Championship after with some
solid sailing in some blustery conditions on Kogarah Bay.
Congratulations Guy's!
UK
BG recently finished 3rd in the first round of the RA PRACC series
sailing Lisa Blackwoods 5th placed boat from the 2005 Worlds.The
event was sailed from the Hampton Court Club in London with plenty
of wind. Most competitors found themselves searching for their
smallest sails as the day wore on with unfortunately many retirements
due to damage and badly leaking boats. The racing was won by Peter
Wiles with a well sorted Sweet design, with Chris Harris sailing
a Martin Dovey designed boat in second.
Report
& Pics
IOM Ranking Race at Woodspring, Portishead
UK
March 10th and 11th
BG Sails in the top 3 both days.
Saturday saw Chris Harris sailing his new Dave Creed built "Widget" scoring a well earned first up win using his new BG A suit mainsail. Conditions on the day saw A rigs used throughout with winds gusting from light to very overpressed. 47 starters
Sunday had similar conditions
with the breeze going further left with some B Rig gusts flattening
the fleet on occasion. The day was won by GB from young Robert
Walsh of Scotland. BG sails were equal third with John Arundell
and BG showing good speed throughout the day in the tough conditions.
John was sailing his own built "Triple Crown" Dicks
design. BG was sailing his new "Popstar" version of
the Robbe "Windstar". The design is modelled on the
very successful "Metric Magik" sailed by designer Chris
Dicks over 13 years ago!
Full
Results
BG at the Australian Nationals 2007
Jan 2-14 A Class, 10 Rater,
Marblehead and IOM
A Class
BG Sails took out 2nd,
3rd and 4th placings overall
Rob Obrien Vic, Gary Declauzel NSW and Daniel Weizman NSW continued
to prove BG's dominant position in the RA's. We have consistantly
won or placed higher than any other sailmaker in this class for
the past 7 years in Australia
All three skippers were using differing versions of the Russell
Sidewinder design. Not bad efforts for a 15 year old design.
Congratulations Guys !
Results
10 Rater Class
BG Sails took out 1st
and 4th placings overall
Congratulations to Chris Stokes who has finally been the first
skipper in 5 years to break the renown domination of the NRW10B
design of Bill Wright. The NRW 10 has been the dominant force
in Australian 10 Rater design for the past 5 years and this year
was also sailed by Greg Willis, who pushed Chris all the way until
the end .
Bill Wright himself had an unfortunate event with a broken rig
& numerous hang-ups resulting in an unusual 4th place for
him, though he can still raise a smile.
Chris was sailing a BG Modified Russell P3 hull. The supplied
bare carbon hull shell was completely built up by BG including
new appendages, displacement configuration and modern sailplan
for all rigs. Chris and the boat came very close in 05 to taking
the title and has now finally achievd his goal. Well done mate!
Marblehead Class
BG Sails take out 4th
placing overall
Congratulations to Greg
Willis for climbing back up to a very respectable 4th place after
a lowly start to the event.Greg was sailing his walliki Skalpel
design with complete BG sail wardrobe and made a remarkable comeback
from the mid teens after day 1.
Greg knows if he sailed the boat more than twice a year instead
of driving race cars, a different result would be assured.
A great result nonetheless
A mention also for Josh Torpy a who also scored a top 10 placing
using BG Sails. Josh borrowed at the last minute Bill Wrights
NRW 7 design and was sailing in his second M event at the age
of 16. Well done Josh!
Results
IOM International One Metre Class
BG Sails/Design take
out 4th placing overall
Congratulations to Greame Bird Qld for
a fantastic result over 4 days. Greame was sailing the BG designed
PUNK and clearly showed his and the boats potential. Being the
last skipper to drop down to B fleet in the penultimate race (costing
him a podium finish) shows just how a good a result this was!
The PUNK was designed in early 05 with a view to being used by
BG in the Worlds at Mooloolaba. Due to a lack of time for complete
development the proven Disco was used.
Greame and I go back to our 18 foot skiff days and i was more
than happy when he wanted to help develop the boat with his entry
into Radio Yacht sailing only 8 months ago.
He has worked hard on his radio sailing skills over that time
noticably moving up the pecking order in Queensland over recent
months. Working with Greame on rigging solutions and sail shapes
for the design has been great and we look forwrd to further work
on this project.
Winning the two B Rig races on the 3rd day was certainly a highlight.
A great effort Birdy!
Other mentions have to be made of both Col Cameron and Rob Guyatt.
Col was sailing his Eclipse design from North Queensland and finished
with an 8th overall. The boys up in the north have allways thought
they had a good design and have worked very hard to achieve this.
Thanks Col for your loyalty over the past 7 years and we look
forward to helping keep you where you deserve to be.
Rob Guyatt well done!. Certainly suprised a few with some great
races scoring two 1st's and a 2nd in such a quality fleet with
his 04 Disco.
Rob is the the builder of the RMG series Sailwinch and would have
supplied over 90% of the fleet with his product. With the friendly
faultless service he provides im sure his victories were very
well recieved. Well done Rob!