Author: jollysailor

Torrential, rain, strong, winds, huge waves………was this the Southern Ocean…? no, Monica, it was a Pink Day at Reading Sailing Club..!!!

On the start line were James, John and William in, on, hanging along a Topper, Louise in a kayak, Mike in a canoe, with only a single paddle – poor Mike, but what a sport – and Steve in his 505, with sails!!!

Getting around the course, 5s,Xs,7p, by any means possible, fair or foul, proved quite a mission – helped / hindered by Ken and M in the power boat creating waves from time to time!!!

At one stage James looked like a water skier – wrong bit of water James….

The usual disqualifications followed – Steve for having extra insulation in the form of a beard…..James, John and William, for just having too much fun…..Mike for only having a single paddle….

But the outstanding winner was Louise, winning her first Pink Fleet cup, well done Louise and well done to everyone for having so much fun on an otherwise dreary Saturday – fortified by a superb breakfast cooked by Barbara.

NEXT PINK DAY IS DEC 14 TH, THE XMAS PARTY – with a visit from Santa with prizes for the best decorated boat. There’s no breakfast, racing at 1100 and Xmas lunch at 1300 approx. followed by a quiz. Numbers limited, so sign up with Monica asap.

Reading Sailing Club AGM; 5th December 2013 at Berkshire County Sports Club, Sonning Lane, Sonning, RG4 6ST.

The RSC committee is delighted to invite you to attend the club’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 5th December 2013.

Members are invited to join the committee for drinks and a finger buffet from 7.00pm, followed by the formal AGM proceedings and prize giving at 7.30pm.
The current committee has been in place for four years, some members having served for over 10 years. Four committee members intend to step down at the AGM this year so there will be some vacancies. The club needs a full-strength committee to ensure we can continue to provide the wide range of current activities and it is important to bring in new members from time to time to bring fresh ideas. If you have enjoyed sailing or just socialising at the club and want to help please seriously consider joining the committee.

Please contact Jerry Cresswell or one of the committee if you would like to know more about the committee roles. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else for the committee please email Paula Scott (Club Secretary) at Paulajanescott@yahoo.co.uk

The committee structure is: Commodore
Vice Commodore
Treasurer
Secretary
Head Bosun
Training Manager
Sailing Secretary
Membership Secretary
Boat Park Marshall

Model Yacht RepWe are also seeking volunteers to help with non-committee roles such as social events, publicity, fleet captains and administration. If you are interested in any of these roles, or have further suggestions please contact Jerry Cresswell.

The AGM is your opportunity to propose any resolutions for change to the club. Any member wishing to do so should send their proposal in advance to the club’s Secretary Paula Scott

If you are coming to the meeting or can’t make it and would like to send your apologies, please email Paula Scott.   Many thanks.

Only 13 boats were being rigged this morning was this due to the thunder and lightning ??????? The forecast was strengthing winds . Between force 4 or 6 later. The laser sailors had no problem deciding what sail to use. That's if the remembered to pack it in their cars. Adrian didn't have this problem.

Adrian was the S.O.O.D. today and he had his full compliment of team. Zuki was manning a patrol boat with Sophie assisting her. Well done Zuki for your help today. Two boats required their help , the gusts were quite testing at times.

Rowland started at he meant to go on, what did he has for breakfast? Was he struck by lightning and the extra energy resulted him storming into a huge lead!

Final positions are :

1st. Rowland. 2nd. Newton 3rd. David

Sent from my iPad

Very little wind greeted the sailors. It didn't greet the S.O.O.D. Because he or she didn't turn up! Thankfully O.O.D. S who were there did a great job with help from other sailors and the course was set and the race countdown started on time. Everyone started but it took some of the sailors and age to cross the start line. Julian in his Solo couldn't take anymore of the punishment and retired before the first mark. Thank you Julian , because soon as you retired the wind started to fill in . You must of been a sacrifice to the Gods ! The slower boats had a disadvantage over the faster boats because the laser mob and Steve in his 505 soon caught them up.

Karen and Peter started to pull away from the catching pack. They then had clear wind and there was no stopping them, the wind picked up further to a force 2 and The Jolly Sailor thought it was becoming quite enjoyable !

Steve and Mike were doing very well but typically sailing in a pursuit race , the faster boats caught up in the last couple of minutes of the race . Four boats past Steve and Mike, how cruel

It can be.

Final positions are

1st. Karen. 2nd. Peter. 3rd. Steve.

Sent from my iPad

This Saturday (5th October) the Model Yacht Section are hosting the ‘IOM Open Meeting’. 

The Work party will also be busy in the morning – for those at a loose end ! (a nautical term)

If members are looking to sail, can they co-ordinate it with our Model Yacht PRO.

The first day of Power Boat Level 2 was a little chilly and drizzly, but our 6 intrepid trainees, Gary, Louise, Ian, Henry, Mike and Craig, together with their instructors, Ken, Richard and Brian took to the water. Tracey sat in the club house reading a book….the commodore and his other half popped in briefly….but otherwise it was a quiet day on shore. While on the water and in the training room the 6 trainees were being put through their paces – nervous at the beginning of the day, but showing great promise by the end.

Day 2, much warmer, saw a lot going on….the modeller yachters got Mike and Ian, good practice for them, to bring in all their little buoys ashore for a good ‘scrub up’ and repaint, in readiness for their Open Meeting next Sat, 5th.

While on the water there was towing, coming ashore, standing off a mark and lots more to be learnt and sessions in the clubhouse, learning knots, weather conditions etc.

Meanwhile, lots of sailors took to the water for a ‘blast’…..Ian in his Laser, Steve trying out a new mast, Frantz, single handed in his Merlin Rocket, flying his blue and white kite, Gary and his…..one design…?, Carole in her Comet, Colm and Robert in their new Firefly, Maurice in his Comet, Tracey in her Topper – having ‘played’ with ropes and things on her Leader all morning, no quiet day with a book again for her! – Dean and Lucy out in their Laser 2 for a bit of R ‘n R for Lucy after a hard week at college? – Steve in his Laser and Mark trying out his new (quite old really) Laser as well.

Monica was seen repairing a shovel and spraying things with fluorescent paint ……..has she really lost the plot now….!!??

All the while the model yachters were driving the rubber duck round and round trying to break up the heavy clumps of weed around the shore – model yachts stop dead in any weed!!

Lunch was picnics on the deck, bacon butties for Sue and her lot and left over fajitas for Gary, Carole and Rene, with entertainment from Lucy getting into Dean’s foot less dry suit and trying not to look like Mr Blobby!! What a laugh!

All the boats on the water were a challenge for the trainees, practicing their newly learnt skills. But they were ..’all very good’….according to their instructors and all passed with flying colours and left clutching their certificates and books, ready to do lots more power boat driving – well done guys!

Hopefully next Sat will see RSC just as busy – Work Party Day….?

Sonning Bridge will be closed from 27th Oct to 11th November.

Sunday dawned warm and drizzly with no wind, but that did not deter 19 boats taking to the water. Mike and his team set a good course form the shore, 4p, 9s, 3p, 2p, 5s, Xp.


By the time the 2 Bytes and Rob in his Comet – great to see another youngster on the water, the first boats off, started, a little breeze had come up and lasted for most of the first lap – well for the early starters – while Steve in his 505 just continued to sail up and down the line till no. 32 came up….

Next away were the 3 Solos, Mike with some new skills, Chris still getting to grips with his new boat, Bob, Mike in his lightening and Monica in her Beau. Needless to say the wind died to just odd puffs, but as was observed by Mike A after the race…..”we never actually stopped…..”

Peter and Bob, went the wrong way after 4, allowing Monica to get through, but not for long. Peter in his Ent, as always in light airs, found his own wind and sailed into the lead. There were some shenanigans in the middle of the fleet with Newton and Mike having to do turns, which slowed them down a bit. Adrian found enough wind to fly his big red kite from time to time, while Karen had extricated herself from the Laser posse and went in hot pursuit of Peter’s Ent. In the dying minutes of the race Mike C put his new found skills into action and sailed through Monica….any more private coaching going Steve…??

Mike and Sally kindly towed Karen and Monica back to the shore as they were at the top of the lake when the 90 minute hooter sounded….lucky girls….. favoritism…?!

As always the wind filled in when the race finished…….finishing places 1st Peter, 2nd Karen, 3rd Mike C.

Standing on the shore AGAIN was young Haidy, watching the race, but after the ‘ear bashing’ she got from Karen, Monica, Roland and more, methinks she will be racing next Sunday…????