GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS

SUBJECT MATTER: absolutely anything which is likely to interest, inform or amuse other members. Technical articles are particularly welcome. By all means send the same piece to the Newsletter <newsletter@oceancruisingclub.org>, and to Flying Fish <flying.fish@oceancruisingclub.org>, but PLEASE inform us BOTH that you have, as duplication is most embarrassing!

LENGTH: preferably no more than 3000 words. Articles of up to 4000 words may sometimes be accepted, but only if they are of exceptional interest.

FORMAT: the vast majority of articles now arrive by e-mail. Equally acceptable is an MS Word or similar text file on a 3½” disk or CD, formatted for PC rather than Mac, please. A hard copy following/accompanying the original is very helpful – files can and do get scrambled, while accents frequently come through as gibberish. I can also scan in good quality typescript, but Flying Fish no longer accepts faxed or handwritten articles without prior agreement. Whatever your choice, please ensure that all place, personal and boat names are spelt correctly, as errors often offend!

ILLUSTRATIONS: the vast majority of photographs are now received digitally – either by e-mail or on CD – which can be a mixed blessing. PLEASE don’t send more than 15 photos maximum, please caption those you do send, and finally please number the captions in the order in which the photos relate to your article.

Before sending digital photographs, PLEASE either dig out Flying Fish 2005/1 and re-read Digital Photographs – Their Care and Handling or, if you no longer have that issue, e-mail me for a copy. Then please warn me that you’ll be sending photos by e-mail, how many, and approximately when. Finally, send the pics through attached to  several e-mails, with no more than three photos per e-mail. Of course photos on CD can arrive at any time, but an e-mail to check receipt can do no harm.

If sending prints (colour or black and white) please include a caption list similar to the above, with individual photos identified by pencilled, self-adhesive stickers – not  ball pen which all too often damages marks the next print. Photocopies, colour laser copies and computer-generated prints seldom reproduce at usable quality, however black-and-white line drawings of approximately final size make an interesting alternative, in which case good photocopies are normally fine. If relevant please include a chartlet of your travels, with place names etc, which can be professionally redrawn.

Whatever your photographic technique, please ensure that you either own the copyright of photographs or have the photographer’s permission for them to be reproduced (in which case I’m happy to include a credit, though Flying Fish never pays reproduction fees). I always take great care of prints and original artwork and return them after use, but the Club cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. Typescript, disks and CDs are no longer returned unless specifically requested.

DEADLINES: Please note that the final deadline for inclusion in the December 2006 issue is THURSDAY 14 SEPTEMBER. However,  as I operate a firm ‘last in, first out’ policy, it really is a case of the earlier the better.

                                                                                     Anne Hammick, Editor