Sailing Club News – Thursday 08-Jul-21
So much has been happening this fortnight past, I fear you will have to read to the end of this to keep up. There are reports from the Feva Inlands (and we should all be so proud of our home team girls, Rosie and Susie Sheahan who finished second!), the Ladies Trophy racing and, belatedly, the Police Nationals – all of which happened despite the best efforts of the lake weed!
I hope to see lots of you this weekend on Saturday for the Family Regatta – boats dressed all over with bunting, the huge inflatable obstacle course, young pirates swarming around the Club waiting for their lunchtime parade, the ‘one and only’ Round the Island Race and of course landing on Denny Island to search for buried treasure! Blackbeard Whatley has told me there will be a special prize for the best decorated Covid Face Covering….
On Sunday we have the Racing Regatta – details from Andy Jones further down. The forecast looks definitely benign, so come and join in the fun.
I have some sad news to relay in that our long-time caterer, Rob Hatherell, a familiar, friendly face at the Club for many years, has decided to hang up his apron. Rob has served us all so well during his time; an ever present whatever the weather keeping duty crews fed and watered even on the coldest winter Saturdays. The Wednesday evening racers have enjoyed some great post-race curries! We are not losing him altogether though, as he wants to spend some time actually sailing rather than cooking.
The exciting news is that we will not all go hungry hopefully. A lovely young couple, Ben and Antonia Allan – ‘Antonia’s Deli’ – will be taking over on 19th July. Antonia has written a paragraph introducing themselves, and we very much hope they will continue where Rob left off and be a great asset to the Club. You will meet them on 10-Jul-21 helping Rob deal with the crowd of hungry pirates!
Antonia’s Deli
Antonia’s Deli is so pleased to have the opportunity to be part of the Chew Valley Sailing Club community. We are a family business from Bristol, and our food really reflects our values of making and eating delicious food made with real ingredients, and where possible, sourced locally. We will be making you a variety of hot and cold dishes all made from scratch, ranging from authentic, fragrant curries and chilli, to homemade scotch eggs and frittatas. You can expect a choice of freshly made, seasonal salads alongside other deli style foods, and not forgetting some homemade sweet treats too! Can’t wait to meet you all soon!
Find us on Facebook @antoniasdelibristol
Membership Renewal
Reminder (if you haven’t renewed yet)
All 2020/21 memberships expired last week (at the end of June). If you intend to renew and haven’t done so yet please can you renew as soon as possible.
Renewing by Direct Debit – if you paid by Direct Debit last year please remember your membership will not automatically roll-over. You still need to log into your WebCollect account to renew and select ‘Online Direct Debit’ as your payment method.
Contact the membership secretary if you can’t find your renewal email, want to make changes, or would like guidance. Rosie can be contacted on membership@chewvalleysailing.org.uk
Racing Update from Andy Jones
The last few weeks have seen a mix of class racing, open meetings, and the start of the Admirals Chase & Summer series. With the many recent changes in racing format perhaps individual preferences are more evident; I have had the odd comment from sailors about the desirability and timing of the Admirals Chase all in handicap race in particular, so it would be good to hear more views – in future years would you prefer even more class racing or do you like the all in handicap racing offered by the Admirals chase? Please let me know.
While we have successfully held a couple of opens at the club now (reports elsewhere), members have also been flying the club flag on their travels with great success; James Williams and Sarah Tuppen won a couple of races and placed second overall at the recent Bristol Corinthian RS 200 open, while Rob Higgins dominated the 700s at the recent RS Summer regatta, winning comfortably overall. Dave Smart sniggled to third overall closely behind the acknowledged Frensham light wind fliers in the RS100s, with me 5th, Steve Jones 6th and Jon Elmes in 10th. I suspect there are more travelling results that I haven’t got to hear about – don’t be bashful and please let me know if you have been away at an event 🙂
This coming weekend sees us racing (I hope!) for three more of our trophies, with the Racing Regatta comprising a morning handicap race at 11am with A and B handicap prizes, and a 100% pursuit race in the afternoon for the Marshall trophy starting from 1.30pm.
Finally, as things slowly return to more normal a quick reminder that we are now asking all people intending to race to sign on in the normal way.
Start Racing has ended but there’s more….
Well done to all who attended the Start Racing sessions this year.
After 4 sessions covering the basics of getting started, with lots of practice on water, we finished with a mini regatta and BBQ.
It was great to see all the hard work pay off with some stellar performances. Well done to Lloyd, Kate and Julia for topping the leader board.
Look out for the “Start Racing Primer“, now in the Racing section of club website, for some guidance on joining in club racing.
Those keen to keep going should look out for “Fun Thursdays” run by Jeff Stratford and colleagues, part of which is a fun race, relaxed and informal and all welcome.
Nick, Derian and Andy
Powerboat Level 2 Course 24-Jul-21 and 31-Jul-21
Want to do a PB2 powerboat course?
We have spaces on the next course which is on Saturday 24th and Saturday 31st July.
You have to be a Club member, over 16 and available to do both days. No experience required. The cost is only £40 – elsewhere you will pay about £300, the Club heavily subsidise the course as safety is a priority. You will get two days training, a Start Powerboating manual, a logbook and a certificate which allows you to apply for your ICC.
If you have any questions please ask me jeffstratford@btinternet.com please book via your webcollect account.
The RS Feva Inland Championship by Rosie and Susie Sheahan
The RS Feva inlands 2021, held at CVLSC, was a great event enjoyed by all of the competitors. It is also our home club which made the event even more enjoyable as it was one of our last competitions in the Feva. There were 33 boats who signed up and a number had never sailed in a big competition before. There were also many experienced sailors. Three schools entered competitors (Magdelen College school, Clifton College and Tonbridge). We always knew where Tonbridge were because of their stripey spinnakers.
The morning of day 1 started with light and shifty winds. Four races were completed two before lunch and two after. Our results varied throughout day one starting with a 4th followed by an 11th in the morning, then in the afternoon we managed to achieve a 2nd then 3rd. We had to be careful to avoid the weed which was an extra obstacle on the course. Tristan Ahlheidt and Finlay Clarke got off to a very good start winning three of the four races that day, with Toby Aldous and Gracie Joslin winning the other one. Overall, it was a good day; we placed 3rd overall with Toby and Gracie in 2nd and Tristan and Finlay in 1st.
Day 2 came with more breezy conditions coming from the north with large gusts. This was welcomed by us as we sail best in stronger winds. We completed 3 races and came second in all of them (moving us up a place to second). Tristan and Finlay maintained their winning form winning all of the races that day, which led to them becoming the inland champions (well deservedly). Toby Aldous and Gracie Joslin came in third. Noah Curtis and Ella Bishop won the non-squad top Chew Valley boat award.
Thank you to CVLSC for holding the event, they did a great job, and it was a really fun event to sail in. Also thank you to all of the competitors for some great racing. It was an amazing competition to have as our final event.
An appeal from CLADS
By Steve Nash – support@chewvalleysailing.org.uk
CLADS has successfully started their return to sailing programme. We are now looking to build on our great team of helpers which generally fit into 2 areas:
1. Shore helpers.
- We need helpers who can assist with rigging and derigging of CLADS boats.
- Helpers who can assist with helping sailors in and out of boats.
- Helpers who can assist with helping sailors put lifejackets on and waterproof clothing.
- Providing assistance in getting drink/food from the galley (especially with the lift work in progress).
2. Crew/Helms helpers.
- We need some helpers who can either be a full helm or a crew do assist a disabled sailor on the water in one of CLADS boats.
We are a fairly easy-going bunch and are easy to get on with. Through RYA Sailability we have a free process for DBS checking new helpers, in order to comply with safeguarding of minors and vulnerable adults.
Our sailing season generally runs from the end of April to early/mid October on Saturdays. Ideally we would like to increase our pool of helpers so each helper only needs to commit to one or two Saturdays a month.
As restrictions are eased further then we hope to resume our social events next season.
Ladies Trophy Race, and day – Saturday 03-Jul-21
The day started with a practice session in the morning led by Pete Sherwin. Those who took part practised gate starts with each taking turns as the pathfinder. It was a good workout session.
The Ladies Trophy Races were held in the afternoon in a F3 southerly wind, which died during the second race. There were 12 entries in all. The winner was Anna Mason, normally a Laser sailor, helming a RS200 with the owner James Williams as her crew. This was very credible as it was Anna’s first experience of helming a RS200. Tied on equal points was new member Mary Fenton-Jones in a Laser Radial with Christie Brasher 3rd and Sarah Harding both in Laser Radials. Young Lizzie Cooke was 4th.
The Race Officer Pete Sherwin gave a very clear pre-race briefing. Only 2 races were held out of the 3 scheduled due to stormy weather. Everyone scrambled off the water as the dark clouds approached and the thunder rumbled.
Afterwards it was tea, cucumber sandwiches and scrumptious cakes followed by Prize-giving to the very well-deserved winners!
Avon & Somerset Police Nationals
Long past are the days when 90 plus dinghies attended the Police Athletic Association National Dinghy Championships but, considering the current situation, it was pleasing to see 18 boats contesting the –now called – Police Sports UK dinghy Championships held at CVLSC on 16/17-Jun-21.
The hosts were Avon and Somerset Constabulary Force Club Sailing Section, who have been active corporate members of CVLSC for some years.
Police sailing, as with all Police sport is on the decline due to the ever increasing demands on the Police service but there were attendees from Hampshire, the Metropolitan Police and West Midlands Police, as well as several from the A&S Sailing Section.
The Race Officer, Keith Harris, ably assisted by the Chew Commodore, John Smalley and Alan Coventry, set courses for the light winds which produced good tight races over the two days.
The overall winner was Ian Ingram from West Mids in his Solo. Ian has been a frequent visitor to Chew over the years, either for the Solo Opens or for Police events and won four of the five races; the first being won by Rob Jones from Hampshire in his Devoti D-One, which would undoubtedly have benefitted from stronger winds.
Local man, Simon Hawkes took second overall in his Phantom and it was another Solo, helmed by Shaun Welsh from Hampshire, who finished third.
Chief Powerboat Instructor, Jeff Stratford organised the safety crews and these were all covered by A&S Sailing Section Members.
Unfortunately there is a danger that this event might be the last ever PSUK Nationals but it was a great event to go out on if that is the case.
Jim Shaw, Commodore, A&SCFCSC
Radio sailing report
Four Chew Valley Radio Sailing enthusiasts returned to Sutton Bingham (Yeovil) radio sailing club for a second time ( due to an explosion of weed in Chew lake ) for more inter-club punishment competition. Very light ENE winds drooped over the Northern high ground and dispersed in all directions possible once over the water. This made for very challenging tactical racing, clearly an advantage to the local ensemble. That said, the Chew helms had moments of glory between them with a win for John Smalley, 3rd for Errol, 3rd for John Shimell and a 2nd for myself. There were 8 competitors in total for most of the day. We hope to reinstate the invitation for the Sutton Bingham helms to join us at Chew when the weed becomes less bothersome. If you fancy having a go with one of these radio controlled racing yachts ( yes, you can tell your friends you have skippered a yacht! ) then please get in touch and we can organise that for you, but be warned, it is addictive!
s1m0njc@icloud.com
Sailing Rope at Chew
We dinghy sailors are passionate about rope! Old off-cuts tend to stay with us forever!
With the demise of Force 4 Chandlers in Bristol, getting supplies is sometimes problematical. The club has managed to secure a job lot of sailing rope and two stands at a significant discount. There is a variety of sizes from 2mm to 12mm including the more useful 4, 6 and 8mm braid on braid polypropylene. The smaller sizes are stored in the buoy store and the larger sizes near the bosun’s bench in the boat garage. Each stand has a 1m length of rope to assist with measurement and there is a pair of scissors attached to the stand in the buoy store. The rope is available to members on an honesty payment basis with all profits going to the club funds. Please measure your purchase and pay by credit card to the Officer of the Day. The costs are displayed and are 2 mm to 4 mm diameter at £1.00 per metre, 6-8 mm diameter at £1.50 per metre and 10-12 mm diameter £3.00 per metre.
Please address any questions about this to David Johnson d.johnson@orthopaedics.co.uk
Club Boats for Hire and Guest Fees
Just a reminder for you all that the Club has a number of boats available for members to hire. The Committee has allowed this to happen without payment for the duration of the pandemic, but from Monday 17-May-21 we are once again charging as follows:-
- RS Vision, 2x Quests, 6x Fevas, 4x Teras and 2x Picos – £15 per 2 hour slot.
- 10 x Toppers – Free to Under 16’s £5 per slot for adults.
- 10 x Optibats – Free
(All of these boats may be unavailable if they are required for Club RYA Training/Coaching or Chew Crew sessions).
Members may bring a Guest to sail with them for a fee of £5.
A visiting boat will also be charged £5.
Thanks to all the many contributors of ‘news’, and of course providers of pictures – particularly Ann Belcher for the Feva Inland shots. Please keep things coming; where have you been sailing? How have you modified your boat – anything that might be of interest!
John Smalley – commodore@chewvalleysailing.org.uk
Beware Pirates on Saturday
The Pirate’s No 1 priority!
Antonia and Ben
The Gazebo has landed!
Racing last Sunday afternoon
A happy Race Officer Team
Feva Inland Championships
It got windy on the Sunday!
The Feva Prize Giving
Action from the Ladies Trophy racing
The proud and worthy winner – new members secretary, Anna Mason!
Duncan practicing with his snazzy new yellow Dragonflite 95
See article about our new Rope Chandlery