Good, bad and ugly

Last weekend saw the Club hosting the Flying Fifteen Inland Championships. There was plenty of wind on the Saturday causing all sorts of excitement including two previous World Champions seen standing on their keels to right capsized boats. Sunday was better with some very good sailing. For further details of the racing read Bill Chard’s excellent report in Yachts and Yachting: much the best for the fifteen fleet this year.  Steve Goacher and Phil Evans won the event but Ian Cadwallader and Nick Stone were third for the home club and rise to second place in the UK Global National Rankings. We shall watch their progress through the National Championships with interest. Best of the rest from Chew was a very creditable 15th by Keith Harris and Will Jefferis.  The local team of John Smalley and his assistants on the Committee Boat and other boats and Derian Scott on the shore made for a good event.  There was a fitting tribute to Andrew Simpson with a minute’s silence at the briefing and a Bart Simpson cartoon face on Richard Lovering’s boat. For the report and some good photos go to http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/169424/Flying-Fifteen-Inlands-at-Chew-Valley-Lake

I had the following from Keith Jameson, Class secretary:

“Happy days and thanks for organising a great event; I’d be very grateful if you could in your official capacity as Commodore pass on the associations gratitude to Bill and all your team at CVLSC.  The energy and enthusiasm at clubs like yours is very much appreciated and gives us a great boost on the committee confirming that our labours are indeed worthwhile.  I’m sure Jeremy (President) would endorse my thanks.”

If you think the Committees discuss matters of state I have to disillusion you: we have been hard at work discussing things like the pontoon, health and Safety (there is no escape from it), cleaning and other riveting excitements. However, we hope to launch a system of sailing lessons very soon, a really exciting development.

But safety has reared its ugly head again in the last week with the tragic death of Olympic medallist Andrew Simpson following the capsize of an America’s Cup catamaran in San Francisco bay. And this despite the presence of a fleet of support boats including medical ones.

We may not have the sophisticated facilities of an America’s Cup team but we can maintain our own standards. The Duty officers and the Rescue boat helms must maintain a watch on the lake at all times. The RYA Safety Boat manual will be placed on the Duty Officer’s desk in the Clubhouse: just come five minutes early and give yourself a refresher course.  Take the Powerboat update when offered. Don’t leave little children unattended  and don’t take them on pontoons. The list is endless. Water is great stuff but it needs to be treated with the utmost respect.

On a cheerier note the Club gives its official welcome to its new members this week. I wish you all well at the Club and that you get the most out of your sailing. The Committee members are here to help so make use of them.