Chris Halewood
Does anyone else agree with me that making this forum members only is a big mistake?
It cannot just be conicidence that since the change to allowing members only access the use of the forum has dropped significantly.
We should be encouraging use of the forum and thereby hoping that people join the NSA rather than restricting use to members only.
At the risk of making me unpopular if you can access the forum and you agree with me please register your support so that we can re-enable access for anyone.
Chris H
Kallista GBR8404
Peter Booth
Yes I agree, please do it now before we lose all interest in the class.
John Lanham
I also have to agree as this area of the forum probably contains the stuff of most interest to prospecitve new owners members.
Association matters should still remain private however – hopefully that would not make too much additional work for our most execelent webmaster
Edward Harrison
There are obviously things like accounts meeting minutes, that whilst arguable are of little interest to outsiders, probably shouldn’t be available to everyone.
But I do agree that in principle as much of the site/forum should be open to non members as possible! Possibly something worth discussing in July at the AGM. Is it at the Medway Nationals?
Steven Rolland
Yes, it has been quiet.
I’ll ask for it to be brought up at the AGM.
Andrew Baker
I agree with everyone above. It is such a shame it has gone so quiet since it went members only. I am sure there could be a members only section for confidential issues. Just remembering passwords puts people off joining in the forum.
mark homer
as a new sonata owner and past visitor of the forum , I am dissapointed to see tumbleweed blowing throughout , I was anticipating the lively banter and flow of information I had previously seen ,
also would like to see a full for sale section of bits , there must be a great wealth of spares out there , but could be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
Mark Taylor
Mark,
Brilliant to hear you have finally bought a proper boat rather than messing around with big white sailing caravans and those RC Lasers…….although presumably you have kept that F18 as part of your flotilla of boats that’s bigger than what will be Scotland’s navy!! I am of course assuming that you will be allowed to drive or even sail it given the considerable sailing talents of your family, who are also some of the friendliest and helpful crew at West Highland Week………..”you would be going a lot faster if you sat further back” being the most memorable, as the boat you were racing against leapt forwards and overtook you, thanks to their advice!!
…………….are you getting enough banter yet??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slightly more seriously, its great you have joine dthe class and i assume you will be racing at Tarbert and hopefully your enthusiasm will rub off onto some of the other Helensburgh boats to ensure we win back a Sonata class start at the Scottish Series………….if we can get 5 or 6 boats from HSC then with So from Northern Ireland and Saraband then we will have the required fleet size to satisfy CCC.
Mark
Saraband 8314N
Peter Booth
Mark T & H,
So that is the site finally come back to life is it – it would have to take MH to do that. MT if you are around Ardrossan marina I understand that the people who rescued Maggie May off the rocks in the Cumbraes plan to restore her – it would be good to know what they intend to do with her after that.
Peter Booth
mark homer
I cant see the misses loving her pride n joy becoming the “suitable repository ” the world loves a tryer 
,
im sure the boys will do the kip warm up , never know some others too , there seems to be a few new faces to the east patch fleet , theres at least 5 new additions including us and praps 1 rekindled that I know off plus one actively seeking from up here
mark homer
fraid the thought of trucking across loch fyne at 5.5 knts is a tad too much for me , though the boys will be free to do whatever regattas they please and im sure they will , I intend racing east patch weds nights , Stealth catting travellers and thurs hburgh , and yes big white sailing caravan ccc, passage races , cumbraes , scottish series ,polaris as we did ths year .like the comfort and speed 
decided I was too young for rc lasers seems thats where folks to ole for sonata sailing go (heads down )
anyone looking for a RS 600 project Ive one , everything apart from centreboard and rudder , just needs putting back together including trolley and cover , help finance sonata restorations and rationalise the fleet .
Mark Taylor
Any encouragement you can give to HSC boats to get them to do a warm-up at Kip in May and then the Scottish Series would be brilliant…….if you are taking the cruiser anyway then you would be a suitable repository for their bags and to shepherd them during the sail down and back.
Remember also that the 2013 Nationals are at Strangford Lough which apart from being a great regatta location has some pretty serious socialising opportunities……SLYC + Association kindly re-scheduled the dates so it no longer clashes with West Highland Week, so we have had that excse removed this year!
Mark T
mark homer
that one has now bought one !
Gareth Martel
I’m afraid I can only agree with this. I would be amazed if the forum has ever been this quiet since it’s creation. I thought it was the winter thing, but now with the season kicking off this is when I would have expected more discussion!
Its fair enough to have a dedicated section for ‘sensitive matters’ which is limited to members, but the rest has to be reopened in my opinion. I remember reading it before buying my first sonata, and the depth of support and interest really encouraged me into the class.
This needs to be changed at the AGM if it cant be before, although to be honest this wasn’t voted on, so I don’t see why it can’t just be reversed.