Commodores’ Comms, May 2025
Hello members, hope you’ve been enjoying the lovely spring sunshine of late. April at the club has been very busy. The season has started with racing for the Cruisers, Flying Fifteens and dinghies. All of these fleets have had some great turnouts, the dinghy fleet last Thursday had 11 boats starting, the F15’s have had 2 Sundays with 15 starters …. just like being at an open meeting and great experience in big fleet sailing for those who haven’t done that much.
On Easter Saturday we had the waking up supper, a wonderful buffet prepared by Zoe, the dining room was full and there was a great atmosphere around the club. And of course, last weekend we hosted the F15 Northern area championships. A fleet of 35 boats from as far afield as Plockton, Lymington, Ipswich and Dublin, together with 13 of our own fleet sailed 5 races for the title. The event was won by one point by Steve Goacher and Tim Harper……maybe an omen for the forthcoming World Championships at Weymouth in August! He’s still got it…as they say!
The social side of the event was also excellent, the club was busy in the dining room and bar Friday night, on Saturday the dining room was at capacity for the Sailors Supper and breakfasts were very well received on both days. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Steve Bewsher and his race team, the safety boats and mark laying crews, and Zoe who all did a brilliant job on both days. It was a very slickly run event and a great advertisement for the club. We certainly had the wow factor last weekend! Long may it continue.
So here we are at the start of May, and it’s nice to see the 17 fleet emerging from its long winter hibernation, with racing commencing on Saturday May 3rd and carrying on all through the Bank Holiday Weekend, with sprint racing for all fleets on Sunday. This is a great way to practice starts, mark roundings and just becoming more familiar with your boat. Remember that the dining room is open for lunches at weekends, and on Thursday evening s too…(not just for those sailing) so please come and make use of it. Also please remember we have the 17 foot dinner on Friday May 16th.
May also sees the return of Sunday Morning Sailing where you can come long and receive expert guidance and informal tuition from JR, Nigel Hutchinson, Paul Aston and others. Thanks to them for stepping up again to help out or less experienced members learn the ropes!
If you have been to the club recently you may have met our new Chief Instructor, Callum, who is settling in nicely, organising courses and helping out behind the bar. There is lots of training going on this month including 2 PB2 courses, a Safety boat course, all of which have spaces available, and Friday and Saturday Junior sailing starts again. Friday night for juniors does have capacity, so please spread the word if you are aware of any juniors who would like to learn to sail. If you are interested in any of this then please contact Callum via the website or at [email protected] and he will help you out.
Well, that’s about it from me. I’m off to pack my sailing bag for some big boat sailing with the Hon Sec and family in Corfu next week. I shall leave you in the capable hands of Vice and Rear whilst I’m away.
Toodle pip
David Heron
Commodore