Reading Sailing Club

Pink Fleet

Pink days include informal training and fun sailing, to improve confidence and sailing skills. We start at 9.30am with breakfast cooked by our Pink Fleet chef, Paul, and aim to be on the water by 11am for games, races, or cruising.

Pink Fleet captain: Monica Beer.

Pink Day Christmas Party 12th Dec 2009

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It was a picture postcard winter scene as we arrived for the Christmas Pink Fleet fun, games and dinner. The blue sky and a low sunshine and small amount of wind were just perfect for the games to begin. Boats were decorated and those sailing dressed up in their most fetching Christmas outfits. We had been told there would be prizes! Father Christmas stepped into the rescue boat and the game started. The teams, Stuffing, led by Monica and Giblets, led by Paula, sailed to the anchored rescue boat to pick up a bag containing a mince pie and a number. Jane, crewing with Chris & Carol, leaned over to pick up the bag and missed …. "Drat, we'll have to do that again", says skipper Chris," the wind was too strong and we were too fast and missed - ready about", "ready", shouted the crew, and round they went to try again. Giblet team member, Jan, in her lazer, skilfully sailed closely past and leant over as she scooped up the bag - yeeha, another one and a high number! Chris turned the Sport 14 around - "get ready, Carol", he called, "let the jib go and pick up that bag!" After this the teams sailed round number 6 buoy, then back to the jetty to throw the bag into the right bucket, ably hindered, oops, I mean, helped, of course, by John and Dave. Paula swooped by to pick up another bag - yahoo - we were sure to win! Then all too soon, one last bag to pick up …. o no, Monica, skilfully sailed by and scooped it up. Would Stuffing win, even though Giblets had picked up high scores? We would have to wait for the results until after dinner!
Meanwhile, chef Paul and 'elf' Barbara, together with other helpers, had turned the clubhouse into a place of appealing festive smells and splendour. Tables lay side by side creating a long curved table, which was dressed with rich reds and greens, tinselled crackers and glasses that sparkled as the sunlight shone through the patio doors. Father Christmas unveiled himself - Ken - and he was smiling from ear to ear, thoroughly enjoying all the fun that he had created for us on the water! Dinner time, he called! Those staying for dinner donned their Christmassy outfits, some their pink fleet colours and all piled into the clubhouse.
Yummy, turkey, gammon, stuffing, roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in bacon (pigs in blankets - one of the answers to the quiz that happened after the dinner) and a plethora of vegetables and gravy, Christmas pudding and mince pies. What a success! Paul (mustn't forget Jan's help too!) and Barbara have yet again surpassed themselves. Thank you so much! So, so good to eat and enjoy the fun together!
But, Ken had more up his sleeve as he stood to speak, announcing (no, not the results yet) a quiz. Simple questions had us shouting like mad to be the first to be heard. Halfway through Ken had to move so that the other team had the chance to be seen with their hand up!!!! Kris, standing by Ken's side, ensured the scoring was fair. It was a draw, no, the last question and there, they had won! Clap, clap, clap and three cheers to the winners!
And, there was more …. Prizes to the best dressed boat, the best dressed person, the winning team - hurray, the Giblets had won - three cheers - hurray, hurray, hurray! Lastly the pink fleet prize cup went to our chef, Paul - what a scoop the club have made with our great fine chef, Paul Hearn! Wonderful!

Last Pink day on the 10th of October was a brilliant success!!

We started off with an excellent brekkie cooked by Elaine. We had incredible weather, steady wind and lots of sun! We were on the water by 11 and started some games run by Monica. The first race was won by James. Next we did a ball game when we had to collect as many red balls from the water as possible, in this race Rachel and her sons won! Then we did a team relay, the captains were Monica and Paula, Paulas team won (yes!) and somehow Monica avoided being thrown in; but we will forgive her because she had organised such a fun day! Finally Rachel and her sons, Matt and Sam, won the pink fleet cup for some fab sailing!!!
Thanks to Jerry and Brian for being in the resue boat because some of us needed it! And to Barbara for being the official ball catcher on the jetty!
Cant wait till next Pink day!

Thea and Freya

Fantastic Fun at September 2009's Pink Day

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You would not believe it! It was Pink Day at Reading Sailing Club on THE most beautiful day in early September. The sun was warm as we gathered: some were rigging their boats; some were chatting in the galley. Chef Paul had his work cut out cooking bacon and mushrooms for about 40 people. Barbara was busy filling bread sticks adding a slice or 2 of tomato to our bacon butties!

Ken, meanwhile, had a wry smile on his face for 2 reasons: there were lots of people which meant 2 enormous teams of people; and the fun that was to be had by everyone. He called us together on the balcony; Jan and Carol eager to find out what was to happen. Monica and Steve were the team captains. Hands up those who had boats ….. 7 on each side, toppers, Lasers, Wayfarer, Sport 14's, etc, etc. With the teams chosen we swiftly moved on to hear what Ken had in store. We had 3 games, so we guessed that one of these would be the decider ……. Ha,ha!

The first game was to pick up numbered red plastic balls and placed (or thrown) into their team's bucket. The shrill noise of the whistle came and off we went. With the wind was coming from the north east, and the balls placed opposite the clubhouse, we tacked criss crossing each other to and fro in picking up the balls. There were shouts of 'I've got 45 - yahoo!' and laughter as another yelled, 'I have 115!' We're going to win ……… yay, Steve's team won!

Tension mounted as the captains were off sorting the team tactics for the next race - to get as many team members to the 'x' buoy and back again … in a Topper (one of them was reefed)! Steve split the team into pairs, with Carol & Paul off first. This was good, we thought …. Carol paddled for all she was worth while Paul sat and steered! To our utter amazement the other team had 4 people on their topper. Surely, someone would fall in. But, alas, they paddled fast and were soon back on dry land while Carol was puffing and panting still on their way back. O dear! There were quite a few mutterings I can tell you! Steve changed his tactics and put 3 people on the next run, but, alas Monica's team won, even though a few of Steve's team tried to drown the opposition pouring water over their heads and into the boat!

A draw …. What can happen in the last game, I hear you ask?

A course was set. All hands on deck and off we all went - 5-4-3-2-1 (isn't that a song?). One lap of the course and in true sailing style we were counted going over the finishing line. Well, what do you know? Ken's announcement was a draw - you would not believe it! Both Monica and Steve were to swim ashore in true Pink Day penance! Then, we heard that they had both nominated a team member …. Monica chose Oliver and Steve chose Peter. Brian, who had been motoring around watching over us in the rib, then sped them to the middle of the lake! Throwing their buoyancy aids back into the rib they dived/jumped in and swam to the pontoon. Great cheers of encouragement and a few minutes later, Peter waded ashore, the winner! Oliver came up soon after smiling from ear to ear to rapturous applause and cheers!

What a superb Pink Day

Thank you so much to one and all, and to Ken - hip, hip hooray!

Carol Meunier