MacGregorSailors.com

Hope it's OK with you guys for me to post this brief advert for the UK Owners Association.

We've been in existence since 1992 and have over 150 members. We're a very sociable and thriving group. We arrange numerous events throughout the season. We also produce a regular newsletter. The members range from novice to expert and all are willing to share knowledge.

We have had an "internal" website for a while but thanks to the efforts of our webmaster we now have a website with public access which should make us easier to find in the real world. The website can be found here

Regards to all

Mike

Yeah, I checked that out the other day, Mike. Not much there, though, unless you actually join! Kinda tough for us folks here in the States and other non-UK sites.

Aloha, e komo mai. (welcome)

Well, to be honest, the webmaster is new to the Association and we have pounced on him rather quickly to utilise his skills.

The website should now develop and most importantly it puts us on the virtual map so that potential new UK members can find us.

I remember when I first discovered Macs and was looking for information via Google, the first thing I came across was Sailing Anarchy. Didn’t like that. Then I came across Heath’s wonderful site with such a wealth of knowledge and such great guys. Then eventually I discovered that there is a UK Owners Association of which I am now currently the Hon Secretary for my sins.

The main activity is to organise cruising around the UK coast and lakes and even mastless up the River Thames (see photo of eight Macs in a lock on the UK website gallery).

I know lots of the UK members enjoy visiting this site even if some of them only “lurk”. Maybe it’s a very British thing?

Regards

Mike

Some interesting pictures. Love the canal shot with 8 mastless Mac's in the lock.

mike uk wrote:I know lots of the UK members enjoy visiting this site even if some of them only “lurk”. Maybe it’s a very British thing?

Trust me on this, Mike.... "lurking" is is *not* a UK-only thing.

one of the things that i was a wee bit envious of was that our buddies accross the pond was the gatherings etc but it looks like we do it too.

im waiting on my registration stuff so that i can join,looking at the site,its got a lot of great stuff,but i do think that an open forum or a part for public postings would be a better idea(only my opinion)

the sharing of assets is a fantastic idea

The locked up photo is really cool, to bad they don't sell you faster Blue Ms, must be something to do with national security and loosing the America's cup.

If the blue M really is faster, and that's a very big IF, I'm not sure how much good it would do. I'm one of the white Xs in the background - spent longer in the last pub and still caught up with the pack at the lock.

As for the Americas Cup, given that we've never won it, how can we lose it??

Mike

the biggest drag in the locks is the rudder steering; this totally freaked me the first couple of times I was out on the Thames, as I'm used to point & shoot directional steering from the outboard or sterndrives on my other boats, and the idea that you had no steering at all until some water is running over the rudders caused me a mild heart attack at Caversham lock (which is an especially tricky one to negotiate single handed).

who needs a mast?

well, actually, I do, but that's another story....

Mike,

I will be a displaced American living in London with my stored in Florida for three years or so.

I will probably sign up for some sort of membership. Maybe I can find someone who will take me sailing.

I arrive later this month.

See ya,
Jim

Jim

I read your other post about overnighting. You said you won't be able to sail your Mac "for some time" - you didn't say three years!

You'll definitely have withdrawal symptoms so please do get in touch with the UK Association via the website when you get here - we could enrol you as an associate member but come to think of it you qualify as a full member because you own a Mac even if it is in Florida - that will definitely be a first.

Regards

Mike

Mike:
The speed of the Blue hull is directly proportional to the deal that the dealer gives for payng the extra price and inversely proportional to the number of white scratches and rub marks. Blue hull owners also tell their wives that it is bigger.
No we lost the Cup and can't seem to find it but the America's Cup has finally become truely American with its Multi-national sponsers, teams of mixed nationalities, and huge expenses that would feed several African nations for a year or two. Anyway, it was just a bad attempt at humor but not at the photo or the boats.
Is your Association open to foreign members? I get over to see family every 3 years or so and it would be great to charter something and tag along on one of your outings.

Ron

That's a great idea - hands across the sea.

Do make contact via the UK Owners site nearer the time that you are next coming over - maybe some of our members could point you in the right direction for chartering or there's sometimes space on a participating Mac for a guest sail.

Maybe we need a new category of membership for visiting overseas friends

Regards
Mike