Category: Log

Newsletter – March 2015

The sailing season has started in earnest, 10 boats took to the water last Sunday, sorry I wasn’t there ….. babysitting duties!

License Fees

If you have not already joined and paid up for 2015 then you can do so, an updated form is available on the website. Boat license fees are as follows £60 for the first boat, and £30 for subsequent boats.

Forthcoming events
Sunday racing continues, the next one day trophies being the Novices and Veterans races on the 29th March.
Comet and Topper Open On Saturday 11th April we will be hosting the Comet and Topper Open Regatta, do come along to support if you have some free time.
Gilmer Trophy On Sunday 19th April, we are hosting the Gilmer Trophy. This is a club event where we race against Bristol and Avon Sailing Club, 10 boats from each club take part. Our team captain is Chris Mulholland, who is coordinating the event with BASC. Later on in the year we will have the second day at Bristol and Avon Sailing Club. Please note there will be no racing other than boats taking part on that Sunday.

Tuesday evening sailing commences on 28th April, see booklet for more details.

Volunteers
When we host events, we are often in need of help in the galley, either making cakes or meals of some sort. If you are happy to help out on occasion then please let Clive Chapman (house committee) know.

 

News and Events – February 2015

News
A busy month ahead as we prepare for the 2015 sailing season. The committee met a few weeks ago and I am pleased to report that Lease Negotiations with the Longleat Estate are well underway and are looking good for 2015. Many thanks to Chris Mulholland, who is our chief negotiator.
This year we will be self printing the Fixtures Booklet and as those of you who have already joined will know, it will be available in the ‘Members Post Box’ at the club house, along with boat stickers etc., from the 7th February (the first working party). Using this method of getting mail out has cut down our postage bill considerably so please remember to check the box when you are at the club.
I have been asked about membership forms by a few members, they are available on this website, and I have also attached renewal forms (including licence) to the February Newsletter email which you should all have received. Please contact me if you haven’t received this email as it means either we have an incorrect email address for you, or you have been missed of the mailing list.  Don’t forget to licence your boat with Longleat, especially is you want to sail at the first thrash which is only a few weeks away – 1st March 2015 (I may even make some Welsh cakes as it is St David’s Day!) On the subject of licences, we asked the estate if there was the possibility of the second boat fee being reduced … this is in negotiation now and I will let you know as soon as possible.
Events
 
Working Parties 
Saturday 7th February – first working Party 9ish to 12ish
Saturday 21st February – second working Party 9ish to 12ish 
For new members, working parties are where members work hard to get the clubhouse, start box, jetty, and boatpark ready for the season. it’s a good chance to meet with other members of the club, so do come along and make yourself knoown. I will be in the kitchen!
Teas and coffees,  hot dogs and cup of soups will be provided.
Fitting Out Supper
Friday the 27th February from 7 o’clock at The Royal Oak, Corsley
Fun Skittles and a supper of Lasagne both meat and vegetarian options served with salad and garlic bread for £7.95 per person.
Please can you let me know by the 20th February at the latest if you want to come, as the pub need numbers for catering. You can email me the.commodore@shearwatersailingclub.com or just reply to myemail.

 

Welcome to 2015

We start the year with a walk, kindly organised by Colin, on Sunday 18th January. The clubhouse will be open from 9:30 for a quick cuppa before we set of at 10 o’clock. Colin has planned several turn around points so that all walking abilities will be catered for! He hopes we will all be back by 12 when some may wish to visit a local hostelry for refreshment or have another cuppa in the clubhouse.

Also Pat has kindly added a downloadable calendar with events already printed in. Take a look there are some smashing pictures. There is a link below.

There is is a committee meeting meeting next week when the Working  Parties 7th and 21st February will be discussed and a programme of cleaning, repairing and generally spring cleaning will be organised.

The  Fitting Out Supper will be at the Royal Oak, Corsley on Friday 27th February, meal and skittles. I’ll give more information at the working parties.

Finally the membership and licence forms are now on the website, link below.

The 2015 membership and licence forms are now available from this link:

Membership Forms

and a printable wall calendar is available from this link:
Shearwater Calendar 2015
It is recommended you use photo quality settings when printing.

Best wishes

Lois Barlow

(commodore 2015)

Shearwater Sailing Club, Autumn Log, 2014.

Dear Friends,

Such a lot has happened this summer. As you’ll have been aware, West Wilts Youth Sailing Association lost their sail store and safety boats in an arson attack earlier this year, and Martyn our Commodore at Shearwater stepped in to offer them the use of our facilities. With the goodwill of the Longleat Estate, the West Wilts youngsters and their adult volunteers were able to run many happy Saturday sessions and the youngsters could explore our larger lake. That was until, ‘The Green Algae Attack’.

Suddenly, between Sunday and Tuesday, the lake turned to bright green, and looked like a special effect on ‘Photoshop’. My favourite pastime, capsizing, was curtailed and the young and infirm were told to keep clear. The rest of us sailed on, as if on a toxic waste pond at Hinckley B.

In spite of all of this, and a summer of lovely weather, but many light winds, the show went on. We have had a good turn out for races, Martin Honor has co-ordinated teams of merry helpers for every race and Chris Barlow has verified the results in accordance to the very latest RYA handicap figures. (Lasers have gotten slower apparently – mine certainly has, but that’s through lack of practice.) As always, it’s the folk that attend the most races that do best. We have seen Bill Lynn steaming up the league tables (admittedly from a very low starting point) and his perseverance is paying dividends (at last). In the tail end of Hurricane something that came over just in time to wipe out the ‘Shearwater’s Summer Event’, Bill was the only fool who took to the water in his trusty Mirror Dinghy. We all watched a perilous down-wind return and he offered me a go, so I crewed for him ‘The little boats really humming!’ said Bill, I said ‘That’s the loose dagger-board.’ ‘Can we do a jibe Bill?’ ‘Oh, Jibe Ho!’….. happy times!

Still, I digress. We have just had a re-run of the Summer’s Day Event and I’d like to thank the Barlows and the Pells for all their hard work, everyone who came and sailed their little socks off, the prize winning ‘Mulholland and Team Brewerton’ and James and myself for lighting the BBQ.

Next up at Shearwater is ‘Bart’s Bash’ on 21st September, Vintage boats event on 5th October, Founder’s day on 19th October, and regular races right up until the Dinner Dance on 28th November and the Final Thrash on 30th November. That’s 12 more sailing Sundays until Christmas!

Happy sailing,

Peter Barnes.