Celebrating 50 Years
The Club is celebrating its Golden Anniversary in 2017 and a number of special activities are planned – not least the launching of our new logo and corporate identity. 50 years ago when the Chew Valley had only recently been flooded the colours of green and gold had been relevant but now the Club has an established reputation as one of the leading professional sailing organisations in the South West the shiny new blues of our new logo seem much more appropriate. Indeed, the club has gone from strength to strength over the years and, if you look in detail at the graphic you will see that the boat is now sailing on the ‘crest of a wave’. Many thanks to Alex Timms and his award winning consultancy Timms Creative for masterminding the new look and for overseeing a number of related items including this new website, an exciting range of branded clothing and the new burgee that you will see flying from the Clubhouse mast. A roll out of all our other branded items is planned to take place over the forthcoming months.
We have a number of anniversary events planned for the year including a talk on the history of the Club in early Spring; a Family Regatta weekend with barbecue and a Beatles band; a new Anniversary Cup together with a ‘Sail Past’; a revamped Visitors Day and an extra special Prize Giving in November.
There will also be a number of prizes and anniversary draws to look forward to and even our very own brand of CVLSC Beer – a real Chew Brew for everyone to celebrate!
Save these dates:
Winter Wednesday Social Event
1st February with Chew’s Ellie Curmpsty Podium Potential sailor. 
The Cumpsty family have been members of Chew for years. Some of you may well remember when a cheerful, enthusiastic, very talented and very young Ellie first beat you in club racing!! Her illustrated talk will cover her “journey” to the top of the Topper and Laser junior and youth national fleets and on to the 2020 Olympic Podium Potential squad. What does it mean to be “podium potential?” – targets, expectations, training, funding.
The RYA squads and training programmes tend to take sailors away from the club. Ellie is proud to be a member of Chew and continues to sail here as often as she can. It has been lovely to see her coaching our Topper sailors over the last few months. Her talk will appeal to members of all ages.
Wed 22-Mar-17The Story of CVLSC
Past, Present & Future – Wed. 22-Ma-17 @ 7.30pm
The Story of Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club, an interesting talk by senior and not so senior club members. We would also like to recognise the huge contribution of the club Trustees as we move to incorporation. Join us for an informal meal beforehand, food available from 6.30 until 7 (timing for the galley to be confirmed). We need to know numbers for food, please email Helen Martin.
Wed 21-Jun-17Summer Solstice
Summer Solstice
Come and enjoy the Club on the longest day of our 50th Anniversary year!
Morning: General Sailing from 10:00. Coffee etc., available – Rob & the galley staff preparing for lunchtime
Lunchtime: Salad lunch available with choice of meats etc., from the Galley + Bar open!
Afternoon social: please bring your photos & other memorabilia to update the CVLSC book. Various means of copying will be available on the day and we hope to produce a ‘50th’ CD. (Rumours have been heard about the Chew ‘sea shanty group’…) Rescue cover for afternoon sailing provided by schools / university sailing activities as usual. Round-off the afternoon with a cup of tea and a piece of special cake from the galley.
Early evening: pre-race snacks (and more cake) available from the galley.
Evening: 19:00 – Wednesday Evening Points (No. 10) / Summer Solstice Race. Bar & Galley open as usual.
General sailing is possible away from the race until approx. 20.30 – sunset is 21:30.
Sat 01-Jul-17Family Regatta followed by 50th Anniversary Party
Family Regattta (all welcome)
09.30 – Duty Team Briefing & general preparations for the day.
10.00 – Start of general sailing.
10.00 – Bouncy Castle arrives.
12.00 – Round The Island Race (approx 1 hour).
13.00 – Lunchtime BBQ – bring a picnic and Captain Hatherell’s Galley will be open.
13.30 – Pirates Parade and Paint a Dad competition.
14.00 – Briefing for those sailing to Treasure Island.
15.30 – Prize giving.
16.00 – Bouncy Castle sinks.
16.00 – Pitch your tents.
16.00p- Family regatta activities end.
Followed by an evening celebration of the founding year 1967 with a Beatles Tribute Band and delicious slow roast pork feast.
See 50th Anniversary Party & Beatles Tribute Band for more details.
50th Anniversary Party & Beatles Tribute Band
50th Anniversary Party – ticket holders only
Tickets (in advance only) for THE summer event of our 50th anniversary year. Celebrate our 50 years from 1967, the year of Sergeant Pepper – dress in style (prizes for fancy dress!!) sing and dance along.
16.00 – 17.00 – Main club room and site tidied and set up for party. (Band set up from 16.30.)
17.00 approx. – Bar opens.
17.30 – Food available until 19.30 in the marquee.
17.45 – Commodore’s welcome.
18.00 – 18.40 – First music set.
19.15 – 17. 55 – Second music set.
20.00 tbc – Presentation of fancy dress prizes and special prize draw.
20.30 – 21.10 – Third music set.
Thereafter – The bar remains open for a while; relax, enjoy the scenery and convivial company.
22.00 approx. – Help please to tidy up
Tickets are £15 for adults and £10 for children under 16, and can be purchased via Web Collect, or at the club. If buying online, please bring your E ticket on the evening and this will be exchanged for a food ticket.
By special permission from Bristol Water members’ camper vans may be parked at the club overnight. Pre-booking essential, contact Helen Martin vice-commodore@chewvalleysailing.org.uk
AND by very special permission, members’ camping is available at Woodford Lodge, Individuals will need to book into Woodford Lodge on the day, before 4.15 (to pay, provide details and receive instructions).
Sun 02-Jul-17Club Racing Regatta
Sun 03-Sep-17Mercury Macklin & Melvin Watts, Golden Anniversary Trophy
Parade of Sail Postponed to Sun 17-Sep-17
Mercury Macklin Melvin Watts Age Group Trophies race 10:30
Anniversary Trophy Pursuit Race – for the new Golden Anniversary Trophy. 14:00
Sun 17-Sep-17Parade of Sail
50th Anniversary Grand Parade of Sail
Postponed from Sun 03-Sep-17
The Grand Parade of Sail will take place in the afternoon: briefing at 13:15, start time approx. 13:30/14:00.
Prepare your bunting and flags to dress your boat! The event is open to members and visiting sailors so invite your friends from other sailing clubs if they are not running their own event.
Sun 22-Oct-17Visitor’s Day, Top Club and RNLI Trophies
Visitor’s Day / Top Club
(Registration link will appear here when available)
Equipment
Committee boat
Dory
1 rib
Ref. John Smalley
Sat 11-Nov-1750th Anniversary Dinner and Prize Giving
An evening to celebrate!
We are delighted to announce our special guest: Iain Percy, double Olympic gold medalist, multiple world champion, team manager and tactician of the Artemis Racing America’s Cup team and founder and trustee of the Andrew Simpson Foundation.
Music later on from our very own in-house band led by Andy “Bonesy” Bones.
Booking and payment is via WebCollect.
Members and partners only, numbers limited to 116.
£25.00 per head to include:
welcome drink, canapés, two course meal, coffee.
(Menu choices available on booking page)
To be held on Saturday 11th November 18:45 for 19:15 at the sailing club.
(please note this is a change from the date published in the paper calendar).
Dress: black tie or lounge suit
Book 50th Anniversary Dinner tickets now
You can also pre-order wine for your meal
Thu 01-Feb-18An Evening with Ian Walker MBE
An Evening with Ian Walker MBE / Thursday 1st February 7:00pm
As the Grand Finale of the Club’s 50th Year Anniversary Celebrations we are delighted to welcome Ian Walker MBE for a talk about his winning career in Sailing and to answer any questions you might have.
Voted ‘Worldwide Sailor of the Year’ last year after winning the Volvo Ocean, Ian is one our most successful sailors and the only Briton to have ever won what has been described as ‘the globes most gruelling race’.
After leaning to sail in a Mirror dinghy, Ian progressed to win 2 silver medals at the Olympics before coaching Shirley Robertson to Gold in 2004.
Most recently he has been appointed Director of Racing at the RYA and ultimately responsible for our future medal winning performance.
Come and hear what it takes to win at the highest level – and ask your own questions of Ian in this unique and special event.
A suggested minimum donation of £5 per person will be contributed to Ian’s John Merricks Sailing Trust. The Club will also be making a special contribution to this Trust.
Look Out For:
Special Anniversary Beer
Our stylish new range of exclusive CVLSC clothing – wool sweater, beanie and cap now available from the bar.