AUGUST 2022 COMMODORE’S NEWSLETTER
Dear Members,
Members will be aware that the tragic news of the death of our Vice Commodore, Chris Ducker, was announced by the Club recently. Chris was doing, what he loved best, when taken ill. He was in Wales, enjoying all that South Caernarvonshire has to offer. His passing was sudden and unexpected. Chris will be sorely missed at the Club.
I am very much aware that Chris was looking forward, with eager anticipation, to becoming your Commodore. His untimely death, at the age of 64, has shocked us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris’s family at this time. We will, of course, consult and think carefully, about how and when to celebrate Chris’s life. Those of us who knew Chris were uplifted by his eagerness to help others, his infectious enthusiasm and zest, not just for sailing, bu for life in general. We are in the process of setting up a page dedicated to Chris on the Club website. Dave Heron has already written his personal tribute which captures the essence of Chris perfectly. Please note that the address for condolences is: The Ducker Family, Eb and Flo, Lake Road, Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 3BZ.
July saw a real mix of weather. However, it was notable that the temperatures recorded all over Great Britain were the hottest ever since records began, with some places exceeding 40 degrees centigrade. This heat wave coincided with the 17 Ft Class’s Second Race Week and whilst Saturday, 16th July saw “Champagne Sailing”, Monday 18th July saw the opposite with hot conditions and a fading wind. Tuesday 19th July, the race had to be postponed due to lack of wind and even hotter temperatures still. Wednesday, 20th July saw close racing in some testing conditions, with Chameleon winning the Forward Trophy and a tie between Atholl and Whisper for the Atholl Trophy.
Guests:
There has been a longstanding rule in the R.W.Y.C. that Members may bring guests into the Clubhouse for a maximum of three times in a year. Should a guest come more than three times, then there is a charge of currently £10. If you have brought a guest more than three times, you will be asked to make a donation. The visitor and/or visitors must be signed into the Visitors Book which is located in the Entrance Hall beneath the Notice Board.
Training and Club Clothing:
Training has continued through July with Sailing Activity Weeks’ starting and Power and Safety Boat Courses being run to give volunteers a better skill set with helping.
Contact Zoe if you wish to book a course. Paddle Board Club continues to go well.
Club Clothing, such as Hoodies, can be obtained from https://www.conistonshop.com/Royal-Windermere-Yacht-Club_131/shop/index.php
Duty Roster:
As in all my previous Newsletters, I ask Members to remember that, whether they are Social Sailors, people with Cruisers, or those who race, part of being a Club Member obliges you to help. For new Members, it is a good way to meet like-minded people.
As in previous Newsletters, NO VOLUNTEERS = NO RACING, in particular, we are often short of Safety Boat Drivers.
Sailing:
July has seen some excellent racing for all Classes, in particular the Seventeens and Fifteens have seen some good turn outs and competitive racing.
Those of you who sail dinghies, please make every effort to turn out on your race days.
There were some notable results from our Travelling Sailors. Robert Richardson attended the Kiel Week in Germany, to compete in the Musto Skiff 2022 World Championships. He won the pre world’s event and came fourth overall in the Championship Racing. Congratulations on your achievements, Robert, from all Members of the Royal Windermere Yacht Club. Our own Richard Rigg (Riggy) travelled to Hayling Island with Nathan Batchelor to compete in the Flying Fifteen National Championships. Other Members who travelled, were former World Champions – Steve Goacher and Tim Harper and our Fleet Secretary Keith Jamieson, sailing with Jeremy Arnold from Notts. County Sailing Club. Conditions were difficult and frustrating, but Nathan and Richard finished overall, in fifth place, having secured two wins. Steve and Tim finished eighth with Keith and Jeremy a little farther down the pack. The GP14 National Championships were held at Llandudno over the weekend of 22nd to 24th July. Two boats went from R.W.Y.C. Robert Richardson and Steven Wilson who finished fifteenth and Harry Frith and John Richardson (our Rear Commodore) finished twenty-fifth.
Robert and Steven won the Vintage Plate for Boat Numbers Under 13200. Well done!
14th August to 19th August, GP 14 World Championships at Skerries Sailing Club, Ireland. Good luck to our Members who will be competing.
Abersoch Dinghy Week started on Monday 25th July and sadly, it was during this week, that our Vice Commodore, Chris Ducker, passed away.
August Calendar:
13th August Interclub Regatta for Cruisers, hosted by R.W.Y.C.
27th August Seventeen Foot Class Owners Meeting
15th September Annual Golf Match between R.W.Y.C. and Windermere Golf Club. The
first Tee is booked from 12.30 pm. The format is: Match Play with Teams of 14 Players,
8 Gentlemen and 6 Ladies playing in pairs and this year we shall be enjoying an Evening
Meal at the Golf Club. 2021 was unusual in that, R.W.Y.C. won for the first time in many
years. This is a friendly event played on a spectacular Golf Course with views over the
Lakeland Fells.
Any Member interested in taking part, please contact [email protected]
25th September, Solo Open Meeting
Belle Isle Challenge:
Please refer to my Newsletter of July 2022 for details of how to compete in this prestigious
event.
Commodore’s Day:
This will be held on Sunday, 11th September at the Royal Windermere Yacht Club, a Family Afternoon, finishing with a free Hog Roast for All. To help us in the planning, you will need to book during August, or early September – either On Line with Zoe (as usual) or on the List which will be on the Club Notice Board.
As always, our grateful thanks to Zoe for “keeping the show on the road”. Penny and myself are looking forward to seeing you at the Royal Windermere Yacht Club.
With Best Wishes Nick Aubrey (Commodore, R.W.Y.C.)
Members will be aware that the tragic news of the death of our Vice Commodore, Chris Ducker, was announced by the Club recently. Chris was doing, what he loved best, when taken ill. He was in Wales, enjoying all that South Caernarvonshire has to offer. His passing was sudden and unexpected. Chris will be sorely missed at the Club.
I am very much aware that Chris was looking forward, with eager anticipation, to becoming your Commodore. His untimely death, at the age of 64, has shocked us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris’s family at this time. We will, of course, consult and think carefully, about how and when to celebrate Chris’s life. Those of us who knew Chris were uplifted by his eagerness to help others, his infectious enthusiasm and zest, not just for sailing, bu for life in general. We are in the process of setting up a page dedicated to Chris on the Club website. Dave Heron has already written his personal tribute which captures the essence of Chris perfectly. Please note that the address for condolences is: The Ducker Family, Eb and Flo, Lake Road, Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 3BZ.
July saw a real mix of weather. However, it was notable that the temperatures recorded all over Great Britain were the hottest ever since records began, with some places exceeding 40 degrees centigrade. This heat wave coincided with the 17 Ft Class’s Second Race Week and whilst Saturday, 16th July saw “Champagne Sailing”, Monday 18th July saw the opposite with hot conditions and a fading wind. Tuesday 19th July, the race had to be postponed due to lack of wind and even hotter temperatures still. Wednesday, 20th July saw close racing in some testing conditions, with Chameleon winning the Forward Trophy and a tie between Atholl and Whisper for the Atholl Trophy.
Guests:
There has been a longstanding rule in the R.W.Y.C. that Members may bring guests into the Clubhouse for a maximum of three times in a year. Should a guest come more than three times, then there is a charge of currently £10. If you have brought a guest more than three times, you will be asked to make a donation. The visitor and/or visitors must be signed into the Visitors Book which is located in the Entrance Hall beneath the Notice Board.
Training and Club Clothing:
Training has continued through July with Sailing Activity Weeks’ starting and Power and Safety Boat Courses being run to give volunteers a better skill set with helping.
Contact Zoe if you wish to book a course. Paddle Board Club continues to go well.
Club Clothing, such as Hoodies, can be obtained from https://www.conistonshop.com/Royal-Windermere-Yacht-Club_131/shop/index.php
Duty Roster:
As in all my previous Newsletters, I ask Members to remember that, whether they are Social Sailors, people with Cruisers, or those who race, part of being a Club Member obliges you to help. For new Members, it is a good way to meet like-minded people.
As in previous Newsletters, NO VOLUNTEERS = NO RACING, in particular, we are often short of Safety Boat Drivers.
Sailing:
July has seen some excellent racing for all Classes, in particular the Seventeens and Fifteens have seen some good turn outs and competitive racing.
Those of you who sail dinghies, please make every effort to turn out on your race days.
There were some notable results from our Travelling Sailors. Robert Richardson attended the Kiel Week in Germany, to compete in the Musto Skiff 2022 World Championships. He won the pre world’s event and came fourth overall in the Championship Racing. Congratulations on your achievements, Robert, from all Members of the Royal Windermere Yacht Club. Our own Richard Rigg (Riggy) travelled to Hayling Island with Nathan Batchelor to compete in the Flying Fifteen National Championships. Other Members who travelled, were former World Champions – Steve Goacher and Tim Harper and our Fleet Secretary Keith Jamieson, sailing with Jeremy Arnold from Notts. County Sailing Club. Conditions were difficult and frustrating, but Nathan and Richard finished overall, in fifth place, having secured two wins. Steve and Tim finished eighth with Keith and Jeremy a little farther down the pack. The GP14 National Championships were held at Llandudno over the weekend of 22nd to 24th July. Two boats went from R.W.Y.C. Robert Richardson and Steven Wilson who finished fifteenth and Harry Frith and John Richardson (our Rear Commodore) finished twenty-fifth.
Robert and Steven won the Vintage Plate for Boat Numbers Under 13200. Well done!
14th August to 19th August, GP 14 World Championships at Skerries Sailing Club, Ireland. Good luck to our Members who will be competing.
Abersoch Dinghy Week started on Monday 25th July and sadly, it was during this week, that our Vice Commodore, Chris Ducker, passed away.
August Calendar:
13th August Interclub Regatta for Cruisers, hosted by R.W.Y.C.
27th August Seventeen Foot Class Owners Meeting
15th September Annual Golf Match between R.W.Y.C. and Windermere Golf Club. The
first Tee is booked from 12.30 pm. The format is: Match Play with Teams of 14 Players,
8 Gentlemen and 6 Ladies playing in pairs and this year we shall be enjoying an Evening
Meal at the Golf Club. 2021 was unusual in that, R.W.Y.C. won for the first time in many
years. This is a friendly event played on a spectacular Golf Course with views over the
Lakeland Fells.
Any Member interested in taking part, please contact [email protected]
25th September, Solo Open Meeting
Belle Isle Challenge:
Please refer to my Newsletter of July 2022 for details of how to compete in this prestigious
event.
Commodore’s Day:
This will be held on Sunday, 11th September at the Royal Windermere Yacht Club, a Family Afternoon, finishing with a free Hog Roast for All. To help us in the planning, you will need to book during August, or early September – either On Line with Zoe (as usual) or on the List which will be on the Club Notice Board.
As always, our grateful thanks to Zoe for “keeping the show on the road”. Penny and myself are looking forward to seeing you at the Royal Windermere Yacht Club.
With Best Wishes Nick Aubrey (Commodore, R.W.Y.C.)