A special update with a focus on the upcoming 2026
Situation vacant!
As many of you will know, we are now regrettably without a Rear Commodore, Chris Meredith having formally set sail to another lake away from the area. Obviously we wish Chris all the best and I should like to record our massive thanks for everything he did to move various House and grounds initiatives forward over the 18 months or so he was in role – thanks Chris you have been a star.
Which leads me to another plea – in the absence of a rear Commodore and as a temporary measure, our Vice Commodore James, and myself , will be doing our best to try to keep on top of clubhouse and grounds matters, as well as covering our existing roles (and in James’s case his full time paid work!!).
We are really fortunate to have large groups of willing volunteers who can help out as well (see later news items eg around the dinghy park tidy up), but it is inevitable that the odd thing will fall over until we have a new Rear Commodore in place. Please bear with us!
More importantly however, please do contact us if you may potentially be able to take up the role. The role involves keeping an eye on on things around the clubhouse, coordinating our existing network of contractors to remedy any specialist problems or else working with the already established groups of volunteers to tackle other issues and generally making improvements as needed. There are genuinely lots of people that get involved and help carry the load.
I know from talking to people that there are lots of you keen to assist, but maybe unsure about taking on a formal committee role – I would really encourage you to please speak with us or contact me in this case; you can certainly help out James and myself in the short term and just maybe, after experiencing what’s involved, you will then feel comfortable to take the next step into the full role 🙂
Damage, breakages etc!
Inevitably things do go wrong around the clubhouse, but if they are not reported, we are often unaware of the issue and may not be at the club, or notice ourselves for some time. This is particularly the case given the lack of a Rear Commodore.
If you have been at the club recently you will have seen the signs around the clubhouse shown below.
So, if you see something that’s broken, needs fixing or any other problem ( and assuming you can’t easily and safely resolve it yourself) please do take a minute to scan the QR code and fill out the form. It can be used to highlight things in the clubhouse, around the grounds, slipways, pontoons, training boats and RIBs.
We will at least then be aware of the problem, and even if we can’t sort it out immediately will prioritise getting it done alongside everything else
A tyre-ing days work
In a great example of the work put in by groups around the club I hope everyone will agree that the dinghy park is looking tidier than it has for years. This follows the rule 13 abandoned boat exercise, which is now nearing completion, followed by a general tidy up which saw hundreds of old tyres, unused in brambles and undergrowth, removed from our site.
The group included the following members, Dave Plug, Jo Cudmore, Simon Chapman, Chris Meredith, David Price, Reuben Woodbridge, John Rogers
Special thanks are due to all those above that helped out and especially to Roger Lowrey, who largely drove the clear up and organised the not inconsiderable skip, for removal of the tyres.
Youth & Junior Sailing
Youth courses are now open for booking on WebCollect. They’re selling fast, but spaces remain on the following:
- stage 1, starting 26-Apr-26
- stage 2, starting 13-Jun-26
- Chew Crew stage 3+, starting 26-Apr-26
- Chew Crew Topper/Tera racing & Feva racing, starting 26-Apr-26
Any questions, please email chewcrew@chewvalleysailing.org.uk
Breakfast at the Lake
Quick reminder breakfast at the Club on Wednesday 25-Feb-26 still a few spaces left for details contact jeffstratford@btinternet.com
RIB PB2 Courses
The PB2 powerboat courses for 2026 are all on Webcollect places are going quickly so don’t delay booking. Any questions contact chief-powerboat-instructor@chewvalleysailing.org.uk
The ARHSC will be going on Webcollect in the next few days
Duties Update Feb 2026
If you are planning on leaving the club at the end of the current membership year (1st April 2026), please let the membership secretary (membership@chewvalleysailing.org.uk) and myself know, so that we don’t allocate you a duty after March 2026. If you are leaving, you are still obliged to undertake allocated duties in the current membership year (2025/26).
Thank you
Mark Dinwoodie
Duties Secretary
duties@chewvalleysailing.org.uk
Lake (&walk) and Cake by Jo Cudmore
The Police Group Breakfast is on Wednesday 25-Feb-26 and I will be going for a walk afterwards weather permitting. I am hoping that those of you attending the breakfast will join me and anyone not attending the breakfast is very welcome to join us for the walk
Breakfast is at 10:00 so I am thinking we should be ready to walk from 11:30
The first Lake and Cake sail is on 18-Apr-26 – all the dates are on the club calendar!
Looking forward to seeing you on 25th!
Members travels by James Williams
Solo4069@yahoo.co.uk
The winter continues to be quiet for travelling members, with the only known venture afield being that of Ian Cadwallader, this time with Alex Knight, taking his Osprey to the Steve Nicholson Trophy at Northampton Sailing Club.
Wednesday Evening Racing
While it seems a distant thought that evenings could possibly be light enough for sailing, our Wednesday evening sailing kicks off again at the start of April, with a warm up evening leading in to the usual 18 race series.
As usual, those that raced last year will be given duty slots to facilitate racing again this year. These duties should be going on Dutyman soon.
Andy Jones
Commodore