Annual Dinner 15-Nov-25
Join us for a lively evening of fine food, good company and stories of amazing seafaring adventures with our guest speaker Stick Daring, who circumnavigated Britain in a £50 laser dinghy.
Food will be provided by Ben and Antonia (menu below) with tickets costing £25 per head.
Posh Bangers and Mash
Locally sourced traditional pork sausages served with seasonal greens, mustard mash and a red wine jus (GF sausages)
Mushroom and Butternut Wellington
Individual wellington, made with homemade pastry, served with seasonal greens, mustard mash and a red wine jus
Dessert
Apple and Custard Tart
Apple Creme Brûlée (GF)
There will be a collection on the evening for Sticks favoured charity, Prostate Cancer UK, and in addition the club will be donating £2 for each £25 ticket sold.
AGM – 7.30pm 12-Nov-25
Reminder – please join us for the AGM at 7.30pm on Wednesday 12th November 2025 at the clubhouse or, for those unable to attend in person we plan to once again provide an option of joining by zoom – details will follow prior to the AGM
The information document and the minutes of last year’s AGM are now available in the documents section of the club website along with most of the flag officer reports (more will follow).
The bar will be open for drinks on the evening!
Appeal: We are searching for a new Rear Commodore as Chris will shortly be relocating away from the area. This is an important role to ensure the ongoing smooth running of the club for the benefit of all members. If you may be able to help with this PLEASE speak with a member of the committee or contact the commodore here for more details
Youth programme update – from the co-ordination team
This autumn we’ve managed to run four breezy Chew Crew sessions and successful stage 3 and 4 courses, with big thanks to Tom, Camilla and Chris for making this happen and well done to the 9 sailors who achieved new qualifications.
Nick’s delivered some informal race coaching and will soon be awarding the hotly contested Chew Crew Autumn Race trophy. The ‘Youth Start’ in Sunday racing will continue until Christmas, for anyone keen to brave the autumn wind and rain.
We’re also hoping to squeeze in a seamanship skills course before spring (for those who already have stage 4) and are gauging demand for an Assistant Instructor course (for those with stage 4 and at least 1 advanced module) – please email chewcrew@chewvalleysailing.org.uk if you’re interested in either.
Overall this year, the CVLSC youth team, supported by All Aboard Watersports, have delivered over 500 sailing sessions to over 50 young sailors! Details of next year’s youth programme will be shared via newsletter articles and the youth WhatsApp, in due course. If you have any suggestions for next year, or would like to get involved, please email chewcrew@chewvalleysailing.org.uk
RIB drivers and Crew – take note
Hopefully all RIB drivers are aware that with water levels so low RIBs should be moored when in use on the flying fifteen pontoon and not the normal RIB pontoon. Please note there is a tree stump below the surface of the water SE of this pontoon end – this has been marked with a pole and bouys but please take care in the vicinity – as per all lake edges keep speeds down and raise the engines to minimise risk.
In addition – following a recent incident when a RIB came unhitched from the tractor please ensure that the secondary safety loop is placed over the trailer hitch before attaching the trailer. Care should be taken manoeuvring the trailer on the slip and in particular any people below the trailer should be asked to move. Finally, don’t forget to lift the jockey wheel so that the trailer drops securely onto the hitch!
Duties Update Oct 2025
The Duty book has been updated. You can access it on-line via the club website or in hard copy at the duties desk at the club. I suggest you read through the relavant sections prior to your next duty so that you are up to date with latest safety and other information.
There is a new bound book for guests and visitors, and one for Boat hire. Please use these. We no longer use individual forms for boat hire.
Thank you to those members who have chosen their duties by volunteering through Dutyman. This is a good way of ensuring that you have a duty on a date that you can make rather than waiting to be allocated a duty which might be on an inconvenient date.
The duty roster is currently open until the end of March 2026
We are looking for volunteers for New Year’s Day race (Resolution Trophy) which will count as one of your duties. If you can help please volunteer via Dutyman or email me.
Late notice of Duty Unavailability
There have been a number of occasions recently where I have been notified of late unavailability for duties (usually only giving a few days notice). Whilst I appreciate that there are sometimes last minute family, work and health emergencies, a number of these have been for holidays, weddings and work related issues planned well in advance. This puts pressure on the remaining Duty Team.
If you can do the duty you are allocated (usually you are given 3 or more months notice) or volunteer for,please confirm your duty on Dutyman. This is really helpful for the OOD (and the Duty Secretary). If you can’t do the allocated duty, please indicate on Dutyman that you are looking for a swap, and request swaps via Dutyman straight away. If you don’t have any luck with swaps, then let me know, ideally giving me 4 weeks notice to try and find someone else. Recently many of those unavailable for their duties have only tried to swap in the 1-2 weeks before their duty which makes a successful swap unlikely.
I will continue to post requests for volunteers for duties when we are short on Facebook. If you are someone who doesn’t mind being contacted for last minute fill-ins to count as one of your duties, please let me know. Missed duties are allocated to the next available duty slot, which may be at short notice.
Thank you
Mark Dinwoodie
Duties Secretary
duties@chewvalleysailing.org.uk
Chew Challenge 2025 – 26-Oct-25
From the sailing committee, we have new of the rebranded and improved Top Club event this coming weekend Details below
Rule 13 Boats – Open to Offers from Members
The list of abandoned boats has been displayed on the Club Notice Board and the last known owner has been contacted wherever possible. Rule 13 now allows us to offer the remaining unclaimed boats to members. Each boat has been photographed and assessed for value as shown in the table linked here.
You have 21days to take a look at the items and make a bid for any boat or item you are interested in. The items are “sold as seen” so you must satisfy yourself that the item you are bidding for meets your needs because we cannot offer any sort of warranty.
You should send your bid via email to the commodore here: SUBMIT BID.
Please be very clear about the boat that you are bidding for – it’s best to use the tag number in the table and class with hull colour please. The Commodore will maintain a spreadsheet of bids and make this available to any interested party – so bidding is an open process but can be anonymous on the spreadsheet.
If the club receives no bids meeting the assessed value, then items assessed as worth more than £250 will be advertised on eBay.
If after the 21 day period you are the successful bidder you then have 2 weeks to either arrange additional club storage & registration premiums or remove the item from the club.
The 21day bidding period will ends at noon on : 15-Nov-25
Carol Service on Denny Island Wednesday 09-Dec-25.
Above – last years visiters
A date for your diary – The Police Group are the duty team and will be organising our traditional Carols on the Island.
EVERYONE WELCOME, we will send over an advance party to identify a suitable landing spot.
We will be running a ferry service or you can sail across. We aim to be on the Island by about 10:45 ready to start at 11:00. Christmas hats optional.
We will sing a couple of carols, have a moment to remember our fellow sailors whose ashes are there with a roll call of them. We will have a final carol before returning.
Last year we had 38 people on the island, let’s do better this year, if you can sing even better. If you can play an instrument even better. This is one of only two days a year we are allowed to land on the Island, it has become a tradition we need to keep going please make the effort to join us.
Dinghy Cruising: Windermere trip 2026
The Royal Windermere Yacht Club have kindly agreed to host us for a week in May next year. They have room for only six boats and at the time of writing we have one space left. Currently we have 1 Wanderer, 2 GP14’s and 2 Wayfarers attending and we have 1 single occupancy room left at a local B&B, otherwise accommodation is up to you.
Costs:
£10 per head per day for the RWYC plus the cost of accommodation. The single occupancy room in the B&B where most of us are staying will be £390 for 6 nights.
Dates:
Arrivals on Friday 22nd May, sailing from Saturday through to Thursday 28th and also depart on 28th (unless you make your own arrangements with the club to extend your stay)
If you are interested please contact Simon Conway sailingskismo@gmail.com
Bart’s Bash 2025
The dark clouds were gathering and the talk was of when would the wind arrive and how strong would it be. Adam Broughton, the Race Officer, and his able team set about planning a course and posting instructions while James Williams, Bart’s Bash Maitre D’, rounded up the willing and unwilling sailors to sign on for the race and part with hard won cash for the worthy Bart Simpson Foundation.
With the wind in the south Adam avoided the shallows and set a simple triangle course with big orange inflatable marks – did he expect the visibility to get that bad when the heavens opened or did he know about my poor eyesight?
Nearing 11am the Committee boat was in position with the ‘On Station” orange flag visible…. Hoot…. Postponement…. As ever the wind had swung 20degrees east just at the wrong time and then continued to oscillate left and right just to raise the RO’s blood pressure. Adam gave up waiting and dropped the postponement and went into sequence.
The seasoned racers (read often old and often not very wise) were wary of the flotilla of juniors and improvers on the race course that were forming a log-jam on the start line. One luffing battle caused Nick & Alice in the RS200 to break the start line otherwise the start was clean into the fickle SE 12kt breeze.
Off went the RS100, Phantom and the RS200s chased by the single handers of ILCAs, OK and Solo. All that talk of strong wind had encouraged the improvers and juniors to elect for reefed and smaller sail sizes… only to find the wind light and progress therefore slow.
I can’t remember how many laps I did… I do remember sometimes getting the beat right (don’t go too far right and careful going left in case the shift lifts you too high for the mark) and sometimes getting it wrong. I also remember on one beat a constant chatter; scanning the boats ahead I spotted a family populated Feva where the conversation seemed to oscillate between terror and excitement! (well done to the Keay family)
As the faster boats started finishing there appeared to be Nick Martindale’s RS200 lying on it’s side and crew in the water…. Had an unexpectedly strong gust wrought havoc? …. The boat righted but with a mainsail somewhat lower down the mast than it should be. Nick and Alice sailed on under only jib to finish the race but their chance of winning had gone. Not to be outdone, Jim Rosser in a Firefly decided to forego the use of the jib and finished with just a mainsail.
As we sailed in after the race the forecast wind and rain began to arrive; one or two keen types stayed out for a quick joy-ride in the more boisterous conditions….. Rob Mitchell ended his joy-ride with a quick swim having been overpowered by a gust in his RS100.
To the Results and again thanks to Adam and his race team for getting the job done … just in time!
1st Junior 2 handed boat : Jonathan Pendle & Alyssa Penrice in a Feva
Special prize for creeping over the finish line : Nick & Alice in the RS200
6th Emily Wright, Topper
5th Ruth Gribble, ILCA6
4th Chris Pope, Phantom
3rd John Spelman, ILCA 6
2nd Chris Meredith, Solo
1st Chris Sunderland, ILCA 6 (Pictured with the Bart’s Bash Barometer and RO Adam Broughton)
Full results available here
BCYC closure
While water levels at Chew are still very low, they are so low at Bristol Corinthian’s Cheddar reservoir that they are unable to sail. So, we have once again offered to support their dinghy sailing membership (note: not wingfoilers) by allowing their keen sailors to come along and sail at Chew.
BCYC members have been invited to join us until their lake reopens and are able to keep their boat at the club for a nominal £10 fee. This reflects the kind support they gave us last year when we had to close due to Blue Green Algae.
We are not expecting many members will make the trip – to date only one has and last year only a handful did.
BCYC members wanting to come over have been asked to contact our boat park team in advance to be allocated a temporary space, and informed to pay the £10 fee on arrival via the sum up machine on the OODs desk
Member Travels
As we come out of summer in to a, so far, windy Autumn we can look back to the last of the summer championship and other open events Chew members have been to.
Starting with an excellent result at the Cherub Nationals, with Paul Croote, crewed by Andrew Whapshott, winning 5 of the 12 races at Paignton to pick up the National Champions title for 2025.
Continuing the asymmetric nationals, the RS700 fleet suffered at Eastbourne with too much wind, only sailing on the final day of a 4 day event 4 Chew boats (Rob Higgins, James Clarke, Elliot Booley and Jaye Rickards) sailed, with Rob finishing 3rd, just 1 point off the title.
5 RS100s (Andy Jones, David Smart, Jaye Rickards, Jon Elmes and Maggie Eyre) travelled to Mounts Bay for their nationals. With a full on day 3, a 9 race series was sailed with Andy Jones finishing best of the Chew boats in 2nd overall.
The RS200 South West circuit continued at Exe SC, combined with the Youth Champs in a 2 day event. For the first time in years there was a proper breeze – Dave Sweet, sailing with Anna Mason, put together a consistent series to finish 8th overall. The RS200 & RS400 fleets come to Chew this Saturday (25th) for the finale of their series’.
The symmetric spinnakered boats were represented at a few events in the last month, kicking off with Ian Cadwallader and Bill Chard teaming up to sail at the Royal Corinthian YC Flying Fifteen Open, finishing 2nd overall. The following weekend Caddy took his Osprey to Castle Cove for the second day of their open meeting.
2 weeks ago Chew played host to the Inland Championships for the Firefly and Mirror classes. Unfortunately Saturday racing had to be abandoned due to the presence of Storm Amy, but John Smalley and team managed to get 4 great races away on Sunday for over 60 boats. It was great to see 15 of the fleet of 40 Fireflys representing our school and college groups, while 7 of the Mirrors sailed under the CVLSC burgee with Paul and Peter Smalley finishing a fantastic 3rd overall.
Chew also hosted the annual Topper coaching and open weekend in September. While there is no report, it was great to see the Chew sailors putting in some great performances in challenging conditions, with a number taking away some of the overall prizes, Anna Gribble finishing 3rd in the 5.3 fleet while Harry Smalley and Jonathan Pendle traded wins all day in the 4.2 fleet.
The travelling single handers were not in the form of Solos this month, but by two of our newer members. Chris Pope almost broke the top 10 in a 60 boat fleet at the Phantom Nationals at Hooe Point, while Charlie Maunder was 4th at the OK Southern Champs at Poole YC.
A shout out too to the Adrian and Jo Cudmore, for winning every race at what sounded like an extremely windy Impala Nationals hosted by Parkstone YC.
Andy Jones
Commodore