The Colander Cup: Budget Queries

Since announcing the Colander Cup, probably the most common query we've heard has been around how we're calculating and policing the value of boats.

This is absolutely a valid question, and something that we've put a fair amount of thought into in order to try and keep the event as fair as possible, and to ensure boats enter in the spirit of the event.

A lot of the decision will be down to judgement, both from the entering sailor(s), and from ourselves.

We've been keeping an eye on the dinghy market for a good few months now, so we feel like we have a reasonable idea of the rough amount various boats are bought and sold for.

Fresh’s Laser II - what a beast!

If you have bought a boat for the event, the easiest way to show the value to be £300 or less would be with a screenshot of the advert, a receipt showing amount paid, or a screenshot of your dinghy insurance that shows the boat valuation as £300 or less.

If you already own a boat that you think would be eligible for the Colander Cup, have a look on your class association "for sale" pages, on Apolloduck/Dinghies & Dinghy Bits for sale/Gumtree etc. and do some market research on how much boats of a similar age & condition are selling for.

The £300 value comes down to boat on the water value, so we’re not going to get hung up on how many suits of sails your boat came with, but if you buy a boat for £300 and put on a new set of sails that you “just had lying around, so they count as being free”, expect to be asked to put on your least racey set of sails.

If you are unsure, drop us an email! We love chatting about boats and will be happy to look at pictures and descriptions of boats, and have a discussion with you to determine whether your boat will be eligible for the Colander Cup.

Fresh enjoying a good sail in his Laser II

One comment we’ve seen has been around whether road trailers are included.
We've decided that they won't form part of the boat valuation, as some people may roof-top their boats, and many people will be able to borrow a road base from friendly sailors from their local sailing club - which is kind of what this event is all about, showing how the sailing community can collaborate and work together to get people on the water.
What this doesn't mean is that you can pay £300 for a boat but £3000 for the road trailer.
Our current thoughts are that maximum trailer value would be around £300-350, but this obviously depends on the condition of the trailer and some trailers may be worth less.

What we want to avoid is people trying to loophole their way through to gain an unfair performance advantage, so the final decision will be made on the day when we physically see your boat.
We will not turn anyone away, any boats deemed to be over the £300 limit will still be encouraged to race, and they will still get a result. However, they will no longer be eligible to receive the prize money, or the prestigious Colander Cup trophy.

We hope this helps give a bit more clarity behind the boat valuation aspect of the Colander Cup.
Obviously, it's going to be on a bit of a case-by-case basis, with a fair bit of good-will and judgement to come into it, but we hope that by being upfront and open about what we're trying to do, it will answer your questions and help you to get out on the water with us!

The Colander Cup has been dreamt up and created to try and celebrate sailing on a shoestring budget, and we hope that sailors will enter in the spirit of the event to put everyone on as level a playing field as possible.

If there is anything we’ve missed, do get in touch (info@fmsailing.co.uk). We’ve tried to consider various angles but undoubtedly we’ll have missed something!

So don’t forget, on the 10th May there is only one place to be…

Northampton Sailing Club, getting involved in one of the hottest, most exciting dinghy/banger racing spectacles the UK (and indeed the world) has ever seen!
We spoke to Northampton SC at the RYA Dinghy Show and they’ve said that camping onsite will be FREE, and Colander Cup sailors are welcome to join in on Sunday’s club racing for FREE, so you get two days of racing for the price of one!

Entry is live right now, £30 for doublehanders, £25 for singlehanders. If you want to register now and pay later, simply use the discount code:
COL-CUP-BANK
…and we’ll chase you up nearer the time for payment.

In the meantime, enjoy a sneak peek of the Colander Cup, which is still in the process of being handcrafted, varnished, and polished to within an inch of it’s life!

The Colander Cup, currently being lovingly handcrafted!