Author: jollysailor

RYA sail for gold

Yet another busy weekend at the club, but with some sunshine …what a bonus! But no wind……Mark, Paula, Sally and their team of helpers organised an afternoon of fun – Sailing for Gold – with some 60+ people having fun, doing relay races, a lot of paddling and inevitably a lot of ‘swimming!!’ The lack of wind, didn’t seem to deter everyone’s enthusiasm, with the winning blue team each receiving their medals. The deck was suitably decorated with balloons and bunting and there was a great Olympic style atmosphere, culminating in a delicious BBQ – Barbara was again busy in the galley during all the outside activities. The ‘ ide hards’ were seen on the deck finishing their wine and beer and reflecting on another great day with the sun setting in the back ground. Well done and many thanks to everyone who made the day such a sucess.
Meanwhile the ladies had a day of coaching with Simon from the RYA – a challenge in the almost windless conditions. But we did manage to learn how to sail a boat without a rudder, and do some starting practice in the afternoon. Everyone learned something from the sessions on shore and the fluky winds on the lake – thank you Simon.
RYA sail for gold

You are invited to view Tracey’s album. This album has 12 files.
 

Summer series. 15th. July 2012

When is this summer going to start.  Again wet and dry suits were the order of the day! 

Sally and Mike our dynamic duo were setting another challenging course,  they seemed determined to follow the advice from the Jolly Sailor. The race started on time and we still had about 4 or 5 boats still being launched,  I feel Jon had better buy David a new alarm clock, he gave us all a huge head start. 
Karen could see the opportunity to get a good start and was followed by Jon and Mark. It was good to Monica in a Pico with her Grandson in the bow of the boat giving her vital sailing instructions! Karen seems very pleased with her new boat, she is pushing the bar up even higher now. 
The final positions are as follows.  1st Karen.  2nd Jon.   3rd. Mark

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July Pink Day – Pirates – Camp Sail

Another first for the Club, with Pink Day, Pirates and Camp Sail W/end…..
Despite the poor weather forecast, some 19 ‘Pinkies’ took to the water with enthusiasm – fortified from a pink fleet breakfast, thanks to Paul and Barbara.The packed clubhouse listened carefully to Ken’s briefing – the course we had to sail and the flags to look out for, flying from Tektona. There were some different combinations – Steve had Carol crewing in his 505 – Monica had Tane crewing a club Pico – Paul had David in his Wayfarer – Katie and and Andrew had taken the Lasers…..Jan went in the support boat with Ken, while Steve having helped us all launch, went out in the other support boat to give some sailing tips to the newly trained. There were the usual disqualifications, but the coveted Pink Fleet cup went to Jon….well done.
After a quick lunch break, the Pirates arrived and 21 youngsters took to the water, ably led by Gary, after his usual safety briefing by the log. Their destination a secret….??  The Pirates eventually decided to go ashore onto the island, and a lot of fun was had exploring.  Little did they know that the Parent Pirates decided to steal their boats and made off with three of them before they were found out!  The Pirate Fleet eventually headed back to shore, but the fun continued with shore and water games including the great jousting contest on surf boards in front of the clubhouse to the delight of all the parents. There were all sorts of floating equipment that was reminiscent of a scene from the Titanic.  Happily all survived, ready for an evening of feasting and camping.
Then came the lighting of the BBQ, the erecting of tents and eventually the lighting of the bonfire – the Mirror didn’t seem to want to burn….all during the afternoon, Barbara, Elaine marinaded chicken, prepared salads, while Jerry led the ‘boys’ erected tressle tables and gazebos. 70+ people enjoyed a wonderful feast, while the youngsters enjoyed the bonfire and doing silly things with rubber gloves filled with water….!!! While indoors Michael and Nathalie did sterling work washing all the pots and pans. Even the torrential rain during the evening didn’t deter some 37 people from camping overnight, having been well fortified against the cold…!!! A lot of fun was had by all though no one – not even Elaine herself – is quite sure how she came to be wearing Monica’s anorak or why Gary was seen trying to get it on as well!!! Even baby Affie woke up to join in the fun and eat more food…!!!Another feast appeared at breakfast time thanks to Elaine and all her team. As the campers took their tents down the Sunday sailors arrived…..A big thank you to everyone who made it such a great weekend.
July Pink Day – Pirates – Camp Sail

You are invited to view Tracey’s album. This album has 16 files.
 

July Cup – racing report

The sailors were greeted with for the first time in months warm weather with actual sunshine! Mark S.O.O.D. decided to set a course which looked more like a ball of knitting. I think all the buoys were used.

19 boats were on the water with the wind picking up all the time ,the S.O.O.D. had to delay the start to the race because all the boats and everyone please get to the start line on time,because in future the races will start on time! Anyway 10.35 the race started . The first mark was X , a short leg into wind from the start line. Everyone was trying to get clear air from the wind shadows caused by their fellow competitors sail! Chris was involved in a minor collision with Jon . Doing a 720 penalty turn resulted in a poor start from him. David sailed into clear air and pulled away from the fleet.

Mike and Sally are in a very small minority group of sailors! its very rare for a husband and wife to be in the same boat together. Steve and Lynne also fall into this category but Lynne was on race duty. Steve had his reserve crew, unfortunately they need to brush up on their technique, the end result was an early bath!

David continued to stay ahead of the fleet but Chris clawed his way back to reach 2nd place and Ian was 3rd.

Work Party Saturday 7th July

Work Party

 

Saturday 7th July

 

9.30 onwards

 

Your Mission: to clear road verges

 

and

fill the pot holes

 

Equipment :

 

Rakes, Hedge Trimmers, Shears , Loppers

Gloves, Boots

 

Attitude: Positive

 

Rewards:

 

Gratitude, Recognition, Tea & Coffee

 

See you there ! Thanks

Summer 3 – Racing Report

Start from Tektona 3p 2p 5s 8p 6p

 

12 boats set off from the clubhouse on the first blustery morning in July.  Monica decided to skip the race and head back to shore once she had gone up and down in front of the clubhouse a couple of times.

 

Three more boats retired before the first hour was up, leaving the remaining stalwarts to complete a fast race with more than its fair share of gybes.  The most spectacular event was Chris’s nosedive at the 6 mark – he had just lapped Curtis when a particularly big gust gave the chickens on shore something to cluck about.  Curtis was able to get back ahead, only to be lapped moments later as Chris quickly recovered his composure.

 

Chris easily held first place for the entire race, with competition for second place between Mark and Adrian being closer.  Even though Adrian used his big sail, Mark was able to hold second place at the finishing line.

 

The rescue team were heard to comment that they expected more chance to try out their recovery skills, and were particularly disappointed that none of the gybes caused any problems. It must have been torture for David to sit on Tektona for 90 minutes watching the fleet speed by when I’m sure he would have loved the conditions.

 

1st – Chris

2nd – Mark

3rd – Adrian

 

Photos to follow…

Summer 2 – Racing Report

2nd Summer Series – strong wind and heavy showers…..not very summery weather…!!!
John and his team set an interesting course, 5p, 9s, 3p, 1s, 6s, 7s, S for the 9 boats that took to the water and even more interesting for the many spectators on the deck…..a gybe at 6….Karen decided that scrubbing and polishing her boat was the order of the day, while Sylvia opted for a 4.7 sail, big Adrian his smaller sail – full laser sail – and Chris and Curtis both reefed their radial sails. Ken had no choice but to go with a full sail – he retired early. The start was delayed 5 mins so that the level 2 trainees could watch it and gain some tips…Sylvia made a stunning start on port and sailed a great race, capsizing 3 times including a spetacular one on the last lap at 6 much to the delight on those watching…well done Sylvia. David and Chris sailed a close race, swapping places several times with Jon and Adrian in hot pursuit.
Finishing places were 1st Chris, 2nd David, 3rd Jon. David stayed out for some planning and added even more entertainment by capsizing right in front of the clubhouse….nice one!!
 
Due to technical difficulties there are no pictures available this week.  Normal service will resume soon.

Summer 1 – Racing Report

Please note that there is a new code for the outside gate
 
For the first in the Summer Series, SOOD Karen set a long course which took in most of the lake
5p 8s 3p 1p 6s 7s S

20 boats took to the water on Fathers Day for the 10.30 start on a blustery morning with intermittent cloud.  The start was close to the trees, so it was busy with much shouting.
 
There were some hard sail selection decisions prior to the race, and those with full rigs were proved to be the winners, as the wind dropped during the race.  Big Adrian chose the 8.1 Rooster sail.
 
Two boats were a bit keen over the line and had to restart.  It wasn’t long before the fleet were spread across the lake with the lasers dominating the race.
 
Buoy 8 got a bit congested, as the fleet sailed from 5 to 8 then back again through to 3.  There were shouts aplenty as the fleet crossed itself in the centre of the lake.
 
First place was hotly contested between David and Chris, who switched back and forth throughout the 90 minutes on the water.  The wind helped Chris at one point by falling off completely when David was fully extended, leaving him lying on the water waiting for the gust to resume.  It never did, so he had to bring his boat back up as Chris sailed by.  David got the final laugh with a win of only 2 seconds – you don’t get much closer than that!
 
Sylvie took a tumble in her new boat. She had wisely chosen to borrow a club radial, but got caught by a gust. 
 
Ross struggled with the length of race, and was told by the SOOD “You’re not a child anymore!” as he grumbled his way over the line.
 
1st David
2nd Chris
3rd Big Adrian
 
Summer 1 – Racing Report

You are invited to view Tracey’s album. This album has 6 files.
 

Spring 12 – Racing Report

Last Pursuit
What a difference a day makes..!! 22 boats took to the water in very light fluky winds – another Sunday drift!!
Paul and his team set a very interesting sausage course, Xp, 3s,Op…..which was designed to catch all the available wind with a choice of which way to go through the gate at the top of the lake. Despite a 15 minute postponement, as the wind suddenly shifted, the course remained the same as posted, complete with drawing, on the board outside the clubhouse….Mick was the first to go off followed by John in his Topaz, Nev in his Ent, an odd Firefly and the usual hoard of Lasers, with Steve and Lynne eventually starting on 31 in their 505.
David made the perfect start, alarm clock went off on time this week!!…but was unable to hold the lead. The racing was close, with the odd puffs keeping the fleet together and the finishing even closer with Ian, in his Supa Nove 1st, Newton, complete with spinnaker in his Laser 2000 2nd and Karen 3rd.
Next Sunday sees the start of the Summer Series with one 1 1/2hr handicap race.
Spring 12 – Racing Report

You are invited to view Tracey’s album. This album has 8 files.
 
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