From the Commodore’s Logbook

December 1st 2025

That’s a Wrap

Sailing is over for 2025 & we completed our last race yesterday, the final round of the Duckman Transom. Huge congratulations to Nigel & Jean who won it in a closely contested series, followed by Tony and Andrew in second & Phil& Ros in third.

 It was a cold and sunny day but at the 12-noon briefing there was no wind, a quick decision was made to postpone for an hour & only have one race. When we re-briefed at 1pm, a zephyr of a breeze was on the lake, so 9 boats quickly rigged, some dressed for the season and most made it to the start line in the lower lake unaided. A light south westerly held for a bit and a course was set to mark 15 and back to the Dan Bouy disguised as a Christmas Tree. Nigel & Tony fought a tight battle being only inches apart as they rounded the final windward mark, but Nigel managed to pull away to win by a short head or 11 seconds on a thankfully shortened course as the light faded. All the boats need a tow home in the fading light with Duckmans Fairy lights flashing to lead them in.

The safety boats and Retriever were then pulled out to be put to bed for the winter, thank you to all who helped especially Nigel on the tractor and Phil in his Land Rover to pull the heavier Retriever out.

We then retired to the club house with a roaring fire burning, but only on the television for hot seasonal snacks of Pigs in Blankets and Chips & the Prize giving.

The Autumn Bowl for October was presented to Ros (was Phil being shy?) together with a bottle of wine to celebrate by Mrs class Captain Jean Tullett. The Duckman Transom & some wine was presented to Nigel & Jean by Chris Duckers mate Dave Heron and some wine for the runners up. Tim O Brien received a bottle of wine for effort; he had entered every race . I think Hugo is after his Dad`s prize

The best dressed crew prize was won by Dave Heron & Michelle Kay with Daves tinsel Rastafarian look and Michelle`s ever colour coordinated Green Tinsel Ruff matching her Christmas bobble hat swinging the vote, they took home advent calendars, very appropriate for 30th of November.

Coming Soon

Thursday December 11th

The Red Hot Strummers Ukulele band will entertain us with Christmas Tunes. No need to book just turn up

Friday December 19th

Members Canape Evening, these look a bit posh, bring what you like but it would be great to see as lots of people there. Dinner is available upstairs book with Zoe by the 18th

Great Training News for 2026

We have retained Callum Thompson as our Chief Instructor, and we will have a slick online booking system for Training. Sailing, Power, Safety, Radio & First Aid will be better than ever in 2026. We also looking into some other special training categories

Christmas Post

Don’t post at the post office early for Christmas but post your cards to your fellow members in our letter box file in the hall, you could put some of what you save on stamps in the RNLI box if you want. Don’t forget to check it, somebody may have sent you a card!

ADVERTISMENT

Last Saturday night I attended the 50th anniversary celebration of the Cumbria Soaring Club which included previously unseen pictures of our very own Barty inventing the now Olympic sport of kitesurfing in the early 1980`s by standing on a windsurfer holding a paraglider in his hands on Derwent Water, he survived just! You may wonder what this has got to do with you, but the relevance is it was held in our Club House.

If you are organising an event for another club, work family or friends can I urge you to consider using our club house, the benefits to you and the other guests include

  1. Central Location – Last night people came from all over Cumbia, Yorkshire & the Northeast and commented on what a great central location
  2. Good Food – Zoe made an excellent Buffet & Desserts last night, she can be very flexible, tell her you budget and what you have in mind, and she will adapt to it, as long as it is not too silly. There was a lot of very positive feedback on the food. She even managed to squeeze in 3 extras who had not booked.
  3. Economic – We have probably the best priced beer in Bowness, and as a member there is no room hire charge to you.

The relevance to all club members is there were nearly 70 thirsty people in the Bar on a winter Saturday night rather than the normal two or three i.e. turning Saturday night from a loss to a profit in the bar and giving us a happy treasurer which is always good, so please try and bring private bookings to our club.