50+ boats sailed the 1st Wednesday Evening Race of the season

Sailing Report – John Smalley, Vice-Commodore

The John Jarrett trophy and Commodores Cup were sailed in a very light, basically Northerly breeze. Our Race Officer, Nick Martindale was able to start the morning, all-in Handicap from the Club start line – no mean feat with 44 boats trying to make a fast get away! The conditions generally favoured the slower boats with K1s and Solos leading the way. In the morning I had some lucky breaks and lifted the trophy. The pursuit race in the afternoon produced a truly nail-biting finish between last year’s holder of the Commodores Cup, Chris Goldhawk, and John Shimell in his K1. John just edged in front as the final horn sounded; it is his first cup success at Chew and I suspect the grin will stay in place for weeks!

The numbers on the water were still good last Sunday when the breeze was much stronger. It’s early days in the series but good to the see the first showing in the Handicap fleet of a National 18. Derian and Andy Scott won two of the Handicap races with Andy Jones in his RS100 taking the other. The Flying Fifteens, being a fair minded fleet, shared the honours with a win apiece for Andy Bones and Lynne Adams, Keith Harris and Claire Jefferis and Russell Abrahams and Jane Yates. Martin Jeremy stayed the course in the afternoon in the Lasers, and Chris Goldhawk was unstoppable in his Solo.

Wednesday Evening Series – we got an extremely well attended practice race under our belts last week and the series proper has now started. Nick Martindale and Ruth Kenyon made a great start at retaining the fast handicap trophy with a win, Tim Johnson proved that it is possible to beat Chris Goldhawk in a Solo, and the Laser winner’s name was illegible!
Come along and join in – the post-race curry last week was delicious and Rob in the galley assures me future weeks will see more of the same – it’s worth risking the crowded start lines just for the food!

Escape To The Country

We had a small but very thorough film team visiting the Club this week as they made an episode of this TV programme. The young house-hunting couple had expressed a desire to experience sailing as a part of their country escape! Cue a fine performance by Helen, our leader, and, after a very long wait, a trip out on the lake in the capable hands of David Orme, our RYA training co-ordinator. I gather the programme will not reach the screens for many months (by which time the property prices will have of course risen by 25%!) so watch out for it.

RYA Training

On the 11th – 15th April 2018 the Avon & Somerset Police Club sailing Section had their annual five day RYA Level 2 Dinghy Course at the Club. The weather was kind and the course was completed in four days with 8 successful students. Well done and we look forward to seeing them out on the lake and joining in with the Thursday improver sessions which we will be supporting.

Our own Chew RYA Dinghy Courses will be running for two weekends, starting on Saturday 21st.

Lake & Cake

It was great to see Lake & Cake well supported on Sat. 7th April with over 18 boats on the water. It initially looked like the afternoon sail would be ‘windless’, but a breeze soon picked up and there was enough of a blow to get some lasers planning. Then it was tea, cakes & savouries afterwards – perfect! The next lake & cake is on Sat 28th April (meet in the bar at 1.45). Rosie will send out the usual email reminder this week. If you haven’t already heard from her and would like to be added to the distribution list (some emails bounced back, and there are always new people to join in), please can you contact Rosie by email.

Safety Boat Training

By the time you read this we will have held our first Lake Specific one day Rescue Helm Safety Day. It’s a follow on course from your PB2 which you must hold; it’s one day, it’s not an RYA recognised course, it’s free and over the next three years we hope to train all rescue helms who do not possess a Safety Boat Certificate. The next course is on Saturday 12th May and we have vacancies. To put your name down or to find out more contact Jeff Stratford.

Chew Crew – Sunday 6th May

Mike Kew and his team start the Chew Crew operations in May. Informal group tuition is provided for youngsters aged between 8 (by the 01-May-18), and 16. Dinghy Instructors, Assistant Dinghy instructors and experienced club members will give tuition. We use Optibats, Toppers and Tera dinghies with full safety cover on Sunday Mornings from 10 am from May to September.

These sessions provide a marvellous opportunity for personal development of our children acquiring the skills of sailing and seamanship whilst having fun on the water. The sessions are open to all youngsters with Stage 2 ability. Application forms are on the website now.

New Member’s Day – Saturday 12th May

If you have joined the club since May last year (or if you were unable to attend last year) you are warmly invited to join us. Hopefully you have received a personal invitation by email, apologies if you slipped through the net – please let us know if you are coming so we can order enough lunch.

If you have any questions please contact Caroline Hughes or Helen Martin.

RYA Push The Boat Out Day – Saturday 19th May

Look out for more detailed information coming soon. An opportunity to showcase the club and our fantastic sport and to recruit new members
We need volunteers:

  • to help publicise beforehand
  • to take people sailing, approx 20-25 minute tasters
  • to meet and greet
  • to explain how to join
  • to be around to answer questions

Please contact Andrew Martyn-Johns with offers of help,

Security Alert

Missing and damaged trolley wheels, mast sections disappearing – please be vigilant.

Occasionally the padlock is taken off the outer gate to allow access for contractors, otherwise the gate should be locked at all times.

Have another great week sailing and enjoying our wonderful lake!

John Smalley
vice-commodore@chewvalleysailing.org.uk