Fresh breeze and sunshine – Wednesday Evening Series, 2 May
Sailing Report
May seems to have started where April left off – lots of the tree-shaking stuff for us to contend with!
The climax of the Spring Points series gave us some worthy winners. Nick Martindale with assorted crews in an RS200 won the Handicap fleet. The tussle was tight in the Flying Fifteens with Keith Harris and Claire Jefferis and Russell Abrahams and Jane tied on points; Keith and Claire edged it on count-back. Consistency paid dividends in both the Lasers and Solos where Martin Jeremy and Chris Goldhawk were clear winners.
The first Wednesday evening race was a drifter with the wind dying away in the time honoured way! However, a depleted fleet braved the very opposite conditions last week. Spars and shrouds suffered with many spectacular capsizes and subsequent rescues. Not a good night for the Insurance companies! The points battles will continue for many weeks to come….
Lake and Cake 2
I am told a great time was had by all last Saturday. The usual runners and riders were joined by the newly RYA qualified dinghy sailors in a cruise around every one of our racing buoys; and then just to be sure, they did it again in the other direction. After all this exertion, the cake I hear was particularly welcome.
Rosie Bowers is in charge of the Lake and Cake programme so please get in touch with her if you want more details or just turn up for their next gathering on Saturday 2nd June.
rosie.bowers@btinternet.com
Safety Boat Training
9 RIB helms had a great, educational day learning how to recover people in the water and rescue capsized dinghies at the first course last month. Course number two is now full. If you have the RYA Level 2 powerboat qualification, are on our RBH duty rota and would like to learn more about how to carry out the RBH duty safely, contact Jeff Stratford to book your place on the 23rd June course. This amazing training is free to Club members.
Does anyone have an old but sailable windsurfer that they would like to donate to the Powerboat Instructing team for training purposes? If so please contact jeffstratford@btinternet.com
Looking Forward…
Class Race Day 1 – Sunday 6th May
A four-race format, two in the morning and two after lunch. The first start will be at 10:30. A prizegiving will follow the last race. The forecast is for light and variable winds, but it will be deliciously warm!
New Members Day – Saturday 12th May.
If you have joined the club since May last year or perhaps missed last year’s event you are warmly invited to join us.
Outline programme:
- arrival 11:30
- introduction and welcome 11:45
- lunch 12:00
- there will be a variety of activities and sailing on offer from approx. 13:15 onwards
- Weather permitting – Round the lake fun race or cruise- open to all, briefing at approx. 14:00
We need an idea of numbers for catering, please; if you would like to attend, please reply to Caroline:
new-memb@chewvalleysailing.
Push the boat out day – Saturday 19th May
Be part of the team to promote our fantastic sport and introduce newcomers to sailing. To make this day a success we need volunteer helpers. Please contact Andrew Martyn-Johns to volunteer, vice-president@
Pay and Play
As the spring trees are blossoming, so is the seasonal interest in the club’s Pay & Play scheme.
For those who may not be familiar with it, the scheme offers a half-day session for 1 or 2 students with a Dinghy Instructor. The content of the session is very flexible – it is chosen to meet the needs of the student. This could be a taster session for novices interested in joining the club. However, the scheme offers the opportunity for members who are newly qualified, or haven’t sailed for some time, to build confidence and experience.
The club dinghies may be used for P&P sessions but members are encouraged to use their own boat if they have one.
It’s important to stress that Pay & Play is a CVLSC initiative to encourage membership and improve sailing skills. “Pay & Play” sessions are not RYA training, nor can they be logged as any part of an RYA recognised qualification or course.
Requests for “Pay and play” sessions should be emailed to training.cvlsc@gmail.com and they will be circulated to the Dinghy Instructors by Dave Orme, the club’s Training Co-ordinator. Dave will put an instructor in touch with the student(s) to agree the timing and content of the session.
The cost for club members is £40 for up to 2 students using a club dinghy. If the students are non-members they also have to pay the Guest Fee, currently £10 per person.
https://www.chewvalleysailing.
Finally…
Security Reminder – The outer gate should be locked. If the padlock is there, lock it.
John Smalley
vice-commodore@chewvalleysailing.org.uk