Family Regatta 2008 – note the weather!
Sailing Club News – 27-Jun-19
I am still feeling a little guilty about setting a course yesterday evening for the fast handicap boats which included a ‘stomach muscle cramping’ beat from mark 7 (the very South of the lake), to mark A (the very North). There was a brisk Force 5 Northerly breeze so I reckon the sailors will have slept well last night! And as for guilty – don’t believe a word of it!
Ed Presley lapped up the conditions in his Contender and won with room to spare. In fact Julian Cooke and Chris Goldhawk also won their fleets by a good margin.
So what else has been happening?
Police National Championships – 12/13-Jun-19
Thanks to everyone at CVLSC for making the PSUK Nationals such a successful and enjoyable event. Twenty five boats on the water was a pleasing turnout after only 14 at Netley last year. The positive feedback we have had has been outstanding, so with luck and a fair wind the event will live for another year!
Start racing – Thursday evenings
Sessions so far have had great turnouts in some testing conditions and lots of on-the-water practice has seen much improvement in skills around the racecourse.
Special mention to Marion and Tim in their Flying Fifteen who were “Smarties of the Week” last session for some major tacking-on-shifts action!
All are very welcome – we start at 6pm, just turn up when you can. Any boat will do……
Nick Martindale – Solo 5095
Youth News
Six youth sailors from CVLSC will be participating in the Feva XL World Championships, held in Follonica, Italy in July – Quinn Edmonds and Finn Oliver, Rosie and Susie Sheahan, Alfie Sheahan (with Henry Hallam from St Mawes) and William de Jaeger (with Sam Cox from Restronguet).
They will be racing Monday 22nd – Friday 26th July. This is a huge event with 195 boats already signed up. Their progress can be followed on the RS website https://www.rsfeva.org/index.asp?p=calendar
Looking Ahead
Saturday 29-Jun-19 – Ladies Day
The next (and most important date) in the lake & cake calendar is the Ladies Trophy Race on Saturday 29th June. Race practice will be available in the morning to get everyone in the mood for some light hearted competition in the afternoon.
The plan for the day is:
• 10.45am – morning briefing for a short training session
• 1.30pm – race briefing for a 2pm start. There will be 3 short races.
(Ladies can enter the races without doing the training. Male crews are welcome but the helm must be female).
• Then its – tea, cakes & prize-giving!
The current holder of this rather prestigious trophy is Cathy Bartram though, as she is still nursing an injured back, there are one or two likely contenders vying to grab the crown….!
If you would like to be added to the Lake & Cake WhatsApp group and/or Email list please contact Rosie on rosie.bowers@btinternet.com.
Cruising / Recreational Sailing – Sail and Ale Sunday 30-Jun-19
A reminder that the next SAIL & ALE will happen on Sunday 30th June. Please come along to sail or just watch the racing followed by a chat in the bar from 3pm over an ‘ALE’ (Alternative Light Entertainment) and/or some cake.
I haven’t decided yet what variety of cake to bring, so that will be a surprise. (Not another Black Forest Gateux, Chris please – Vice Commodore!)
Weather forecast is looking good so we will be sailing early afternoon.
Next month’s SAIL & ALE will be Saturday 27- Jul-19.
Happy Sailing.
Chris & Ann Platts – cruising@chewvalleysailing.org or chris.platts12@gmail.com
Sunday 30-Jun-19 – Admirals Chase 1 incorporating the Steve Morris Trophy
There are 7 Admirals Chase Races scheduled this summer. These are ‘all in’ Handicap Races on Sunday mornings starting at the later time of 11.00 (you get a longer lie-in!). The first race is also for the Steve Morris Trophy, a rather beautiful wooden plaque with inlaid patterning presented in memory of a past, brilliant Solo sailor.
The afternoon sees the start of the Summer Points series with two races sailed back to back.
Start Racing 5 – (yes, sadly the last one) 4th July
See the note above about what has been going on in the start racing sessions. This is the last chance to glean some titbits of knowledge from that racing legend, Nick Martindale.
Friday 05-Jul-19 – Music and Supper by the Lake – organised and in aid of the RNLI
This was an excellent evening last year. Look out for posters around the Clubhouse for details, but from 6pm to 10pm you can enjoy music from local band Rebel Brass and supper.
Tickets are £12.50, including food. Children under 14 are free. There will be a cash bar.
Available from Tim Gracey – 01275 854623 or Gillie Slater 01275 331074
You can pay on the night, but they need to know numbers for the food – contact Gillie on gillie@theslaters.net
Saturday 06t-Jul-19 – Family Regatta
This is always the busiest day of the year at the Club. The rough programme is:-
11.00 The Giant Inflatable Pirate Ship arrives – it’s free to bounce!
11.30 – we will start ‘THE’ Round the Island Race (briefing at 11.00) – this is the only time we are allowed to sail fully around Denny Island. (In fact many newer members don’t realise it is actually an island!). You can enter whatever your sailing boat – the more family members (or strangers) you have aboard, the merrier. Prizes will be awarded for the best dressed piratical crew, the best dressed boat and sometimes for the first boats to circumnavigate the island. Everyone will be fully briefed before the start – normal racing rules are somewhat relaxed (!) so, once again, let’s try and make this the biggest entry ever.
1.00 – Shore based Search and Find – keeping the young pirates occupied after a hasty lunch!
2.00 – Pirates on Parade, with prizes awarded to the best dressed and most fearsome looking! Judging by that notorious, wild pirate moll, Rosie Bowers.
2.15 – Island Treasure Hunt – all pirates, and pretty much everybody else, sets sail across to Denny Island to hunt for the buried treasure. Yes, there is a harbour on the far side – your galleon will be guided to the spot where small pirates can search for clues….
3.30 – BBQ by the Lake
The Galley and Bar will be open all day.
I hope to see all of you taking part – it is a huge organisational effort, particularly cutting the nettles from the paths on the Island – (see Jeff Stratford’s appeal for help below) – so please make all the hard work worthwhile.
Fun Thursday 1 – 11- Jul-19
The first Thursday after Improvers finish, Thursday 11th July, is FUN Thursday, run by the Police group with a bit of help. We will provide safety cover from 2pm for anyone to sail; at about 6 we will have a couple of really simple short races, anyone is welcome to join in, and afterwards one of our Jamie Oliver lookalikes will do a BBQ. All we ask is an idea of numbers and a donation towards the cost and a promise that you don’t brag about beating us too much. Let Jeff know if you might be coming along – jeffstratford@btinternet.com
RYA First Aid Course – 14-Sep-19
Jeff Stratford has booked another RYA First Aid course for Saturday the 14th of September. The cost is £25 which includes a manual and certificate valid for 3 years. Instructors must have it, it is recommended for both Rescue helms and crews, and good for everyone. Please book via webcollect – there are 8 spaces available.
Help – volunteers needed to clear the paths on Denny Island for the Family Regatta – Wednesday 03-Jul-19
I went to the Island Harbour this morning and it is completely blocked by part of a fallen tree. We are planning a working party to the Island at 10am on Wednesday 03-Jul-19 to prepare for the family regatta treasure hunt. I have got a small group together but it would be great to have some extra muscle, bring whatever implements you have, saws, chainsaws, choppers, scythes, strimmers , hedge cutters, shovels, brushes whatever you have. If we get enough help it will be done by lunchtime. Please help if you can. Jeff Stratford.
The most un-missable event has to be the Family Regatta. I have pre-ordered the weather – a cloudless sky and gentle breeze. I’m really looking forward to seeing the boats dressed up sailing around Little Denny and lots of fearsome pirates!
John Smalley – vice-commodore@chewvalleysailing.org.uk