Reading Sailing Club Members

Racing on Sunday is cancelled due to the flooding. The road through Sonning is also now closed.  

There will be NO Pink Day on Saturday due to the floods.

Monica

Due to continuing flood and the forecast of further heavy rain and gale force winds the race on January 1st is cancelled. SOOD.

The committee have decided to cancel racing tomorrow Sunday 29th Dec. The Lane to the club is still flooded and it would be dangerous to take the cars down to the club. The committee will let you all know how things are before The New Years Day Race.

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Reading Sailing Club Bosun – Don Dow surveys the flooding on Saturday afternoon

              
                  Storm damage – before the flood

Good morning, I am the SOOD for the day, just been to the lake and it is flooded. The lane is flooded to the corner at the entrance so access is not possible. I have taken a decision to abandon racing today ….
Best regards,
Andy Jones.

 FOR WATER LEVELS AT SONNING LOCK – SEE HOME PAGE.

 A bright day and conditions looked testing but good at the start.
David (Team Clay) took an early lead but after two laps the wind picked up a pace and rescue boats braced themselves for a busy morning…Ultimately it was carnage. – SOOD Dave decided wisely to finish after only 35minutes….

Soup, thanks to Bernadette and Carole was great as was mulled wine and minced pies, thanks to Mike. People lingered in the clubhouse until 1400….very good. 

Dave sets the course

They are off and conditions are looking good



Frantic start as usual, no hanging back here



Where does Santa find the time



Second lap and the wind is building



Killer gybe




We’re coming in before it gets rough



Correction, we’re going in

Carnage

The Xmas tree was up, Father Xmas could be seen on the horizon, so it must be Pink Xmas at RSC!

At 0900 the lake looked like glass, but that did not deter the some 20+ pinkies from decorating their boats ready for the Great Turkey Race at 1100. At 1100 sharp, well 1115 ‘ish, after a photo call on the deck, 17 boats took to the water, the wind picked up and though a trifle line shy the race started in a light breeze. Steve and his mate Tim went into the lead, hotly pursued by Alice, while naughty Father Xmas. aka Ken made some waves for them to slow them down, while Monica tried to get some action shots……Jan and Mike were in the other safety boat on hand to pull Pat out of the buoy line in her attempt to get a turkey…..a little yellow duck really….,!!!

On the second lap the turkeys were thrown into the water and all the racers had to pick up just one – before the race Ken had put a number in an envelope and the racer who had retrieved the corresponding numbered duck won the prize. Paul in a club Laser won and was presented with a bottle of wine for his effort and having the right numbered duck / turkey.

The wind filled in nicely to give some good sailing – the 2 ‘elves,’ James and ‘big’ John struggled in their Pico with their ‘relaxed’ style of sailing.

Young William did not have much room in his Topper full of presents, while David in his superbly decorated Pico won the best decorated boat prize – it went to his daughter, Lily who had done all the work!

Once ashore everyone was keen to get into the club house drawn by the wonderful smells of mulled wine and roasting turkey.

During the race, Paul, Barbara and their helpers had been busy setting up trestle tables with loads of festive food, which we all tucked into.

Presentation of the Pink Fleet cup went to Barbara with a huge bouquet of pink flowers, pink bubbly to Ken, wine to Paul, Elaine and Jerry and a lucky dip bag of pressies brought by Santa for us to have a dip into……some were lucky and found smellies, an umbrella, socks, gloves, all pink of course – others, not so lucky got pink bin liners!!!

After all the thanks and applause had died down it was time for Ken’s special quiz. A lot of laughs and some strange answers filled the club house….but we were all winners and every team had a bottle of wine to share……

It was another great Pink Fleet Christmas and we all ‘mucked in’ to clear up the club house.

Thanks all round for everyone who had helped to make another fun day.

Report to follow:

After lap one, David is clear ahead, here’s the chasing group

Closely followed by

Quite gusty at times

Yes, the Start line is part of the course

At the end, David is first past the post, but what about the handicap?

Chicken or tomato soup? What do you reckon Dave