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SAWS 2024 event announced

Announcing the 2024 UK Saws

For the uninitiated this is a straight line speed event to set UK speed records for Fast Electric RC model boats

To be held on Sunday the 29th of September at Carr Mill Dam near St Helens.

Carr Mill Dam is the home of the Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club.

This is a full-size boat venue and is ideal for RC boat record breaking.

The event runs from 10am to 4pm and fees are £6 per class entered.

The address for the venue is:

Carr Mill Dam, Garswood Old Road,
St Helens,
Merseyside
WA117LZ

IMPORTANT

I need to know how many people would like to attend, so will you please let me know at electro-marine@talktalk.net if you want to attend.

I can email you back with all the current records and classes.

I know that there are many more people out there with fast boats who never race them, but this event is easy, all you need to do is run the boat in a straight line for 110 yards.

So even if you just want to know how fast your boat is please come along and have fun.

FINALLY

  • You need to be a member of the MPBA to enter
  • You will need to bring your membership card
  • You need to display your MPBA number on the boat
  • This should be in black lettering 20mm high on a white background.

(This is at our Insurers insistence)

Hope to see you there.

MPBA Numbers on Boats

We have been contacted by the MPBA to remind us that it is a requirement of our insurance that our MPBA number must be shown on our boats (scale models excluded).

It has long been in the MPBA-FES rules that this number must be on our boats but didn’t state explicitly how and where this number should be displayed. As we in this section, race broadly to Naviga rules, the relavant section from these rules are reproduced below.

We hope that this clarifies the requirement for all who race in MPBA events.

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All models for the M class must have a permanent registration number. This permanent number is to be in the form – GB XX XXX (where XX XXX is your MPBA number).  For example GB SF 154
This number must be unchangeable and be put firmly on the model. It cannot be placed on example: a lid, the sponsons or any other removable part. For hydro’s the permanent number can be on the outside, bottom part of the middle section.

The numbers and letters that make up the registration number must be black on a white background. The height of the letters and numbers is set at 20mm. The class in which the model is used does not have to be stated on the model.

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New Naviga class

Navaga have announced the creation of a new class. This is to be an Endurance class that will be formed from both the M class and FSR-V class. Rules are still being formulated.

For more details, click here

Battery Limits for Mini Classes

You may be aware that the Naviga rules now allow votes to be taken at times other than the bi-annual presidium. These votes are done electronically by the National Section Leaders.

Recently such a vote took place as a result of a Polish proposal to increase the energy limit for the mini classes from 21WHr to 23WHr in order to maintain a level playing field with the newer high capacity weight limited batteries.

The results of the vote were:-

“Five countries voted to raise the limit to 23Wh: Belgium, Thailand, Italy, Romania and Lithuania.

Nine countries voted to leave the limit as it is, so 21Wh: Russia, Slovakia, The UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Hungary.

There was 1 abstention: Czech Republic.”

There will therefore be no change this year to the UK battery limits.

 

Naviga M section rules for 2020 published

The Naviga M section rules for 2020 have now been published. You can find them here:-

http://www.naviga.org/section_m/index.php/2019/12/30/m-rulebook-is-available/

 

I have had a skim through and the main changes are:-

  • Boat colour clarified. A single bright colour which contrasts with the water is allowed. This can’t be white.
  • Limiter settings and use outlined.
  • Limiters mandatory in non mini classes and are provided by Naviga with specified connectors.
  • No turning back if a buoy is missed.