OOD Refresher Course
Ever found yourself nervous about an Officer of the Day (OOD) duty? Not sure what the locking up procedures are or where to find the applicable information? Or just feel like you could do with a refresh of the latest guidance?
If so, Sunday 17th November may be the day for you. Chief Powerboat Instructor, Jeff Stratford, and Sailing Secretary, James Williams, are going to run an OOD Refresher Session to cover the key aspects of a OOD duty. We’ll cover various parts of the role, including preparations in advance, through unlocking the club, monitoring activities on the lake, booking out club boats, finishing the session and more. This ‘course’ is designed to provide some confidence to our OODs to make the duties more enjoyable and relaxed rather than a chore or stressful.
We will meet in the main club room at Chew (near the OOD desk) at 13:00 on Sunday 17th November, I expect things will take between 1 and 2 hours depending on the level of interest. Come armed with all your questions!
We aim to repeat the session on a Saturday and a Wednesday at some point in the first half of 2025, and then repeat on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays regularly as required.
Duties Update
Forms for Visitors / Guests / Contractors and boat hire
Individual loose leaf sheets and forms have been replaced by the reintroduction of the ring bound A4 book, which has recording sheets for Visitors / Guests / Contractors on one side and for Club boat hire on the other side.
Please note, we now only accept payment for guest fees and club boat hire fees by card using the Sum up card machine. Cash will not be accepted
Wednesday Daytime 10am-4pm Duties
Thank you to those who have stepped forward to offer to do RH /OOD duties on Wednesday during the day. If anyone else is interested or able, please let me know.
In view of the numbers sailing on Wednesdays during the winter and the limited availability of Wednesday daytime OODs, we will only be rostering 2 Rescue Helms during the winter. In the summer, we will continue to roster an OOD in addition to the 2 Rescue Helms.
Boxing Day (Race 11:00) and New Year’s Day (Race 12:00) Duties
We are looking for volunteers to do duties on these two days, (which will count as one of your required annual duties).
Please volunteer via Dutyman or contact me if you can help.
Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club Facebook Page
Sometimes due to unforseen circumstancses, we are short of a duty role at short notice.
A request for anyone who can help out at short notice is made on the Club’s facebook page.
We are grateful to those who have helped out.
It is a private group and only available to current members
If you aren’t a member, it might be worth joining, as it is also often the first place that new information about the club is posted.
Use of car park in Laser slipway area – week commencing 18-Nov-24
A question at the AGM asked about the learnings resulting from the Blue Green Algae problem we experienced earlier this year as a consequence of which I approached Bristol Water to ask for their response.
While I await a full response, one initiative resulting from the outbreak is that they are planning to trial the introduction of a ‘floating wetland’ as a measure to try and prevent any risk of a reoccurrence.
The floating wetlands are a nature based solutions project that it is hoped will improve water quality by reducing sediments in the water and also by removing nutrients. They also benefit wildlife by creating habitats for small fish, birds, invertebrates and amphibians.
One floating wetland is already installed at Herriott’s Mill pond (7 x 4m) and they are shortly going to be installing a 2nd floating wetland (12 x 6m), which will be placed in Villice bay (both these are outside of our sailing areas). The floating wetland that has been installed at Herriotts Mill pond is on a pulley system, so it can be pulled into shore and samples can be taken to see what benefits it is delivering
Members should note that commencing the week of 18-Nov-24 we have agreed they may utilise an area of our car park to commence the build and launch of the Valise Bay wetland. The work should be comp[leted by the following weekend but as a result the laser slip will be out of action for a few days.
CVLSC Youth Programme Update (from the Youth co-ordination team)
The “structured” part of this year’s youth programme wrapped up on the last weekend in October, with Anna, Lys and Rowan achieving their “seamanship skills” qualification, which covers advanced skills such as rudderless sailing and reefing afloat. Big thanks to Camilla and Chris for putting these keen young sailors through their paces and delivering a rewarding course.
There may be some ad-hoc activities over the winter. To find out about these and plans for 2025 please join the WhatsApp youth community, via this link:https://chat.whatsapp.com/DjVdEnURE3bKOujtLYoiMA
WhatsApp Group Invite
Christmas Lunch and Denny Island Carol Service – 11-Dec-24
On Wednesday 11-Dec-24 the Police Group and friends are doing the duty day and organising the Annual visit to Denny Island for carols and to remember members who are no longer with us.
At 1030 we will ferry people to the island or if you wish you can sail over, we will clearly mark the landing site. The plan is to gather on the Island at 1100, sing a few well known carols, remember our friends whose ashes are scattered there before returning to the Clubhouse.
Last year 37 people joined us on the island, it would be nice to see more, particularly if they can sing, everyone is welcome just turn up on the day.
Christmas Lunch
Following on from Carols on the Island Ben and Antonia are planning the annual Christmas lunch on the same day. To make it viable we need 20 people to sign up inn advance as a minimum. The menu will comprise a two course traditional christmas dinner and dessert for £25 per head.
Main course
A choice of Turkey, Chicken or Nut Roast with all the traditional trimmings; roast potatoes, stuffing, pigs in blankets, braised red cabbage honey roasted carrots and parsnips with home made gravy.
Desserts
Traditional Christmas Pudding with Brandy Cream
Raspberry and Vanilla Cheesecake Tart served with Chantilly cream
Tradition Cheese Board
To book please speak and pay to Ben or Antonia.
Laser Fleet News
Inclement weather has meant we’ve only been able to run seven out of twelve races in the Autumn Points Morning (a.m.) series but 21 boats have competed so far and there’s 10 races still to go, so lots of opportunities for people to join in. Leading the series at this stage is Chris Sunderland on 11 points, two ahead of George Harrington on 13. Fleet Captain Gus Cameron is in third place leading ex-commodore Helen Martin and Simon Cummings by not very much at all. At this stage in the series there’s still everything to play (sail?) for.
And in late breaking news, Oli Allen-Wilcox is 2024 ILCA 7 Inland Champion, having used his lake-sailing skills to win the best of four races at Grafham Water last weekend. Well done Oli!
Finally, a date for your diary – the CVLSC ILCA Open Meeting is scheduled for 24-May-25
Member Travels
The end of September and in to October tends to spell the end of the class racing circuits, but often comes with Inland Championships for many fleets.
The RS200s had their final two South West events, travelling to Exe in September for the annual drift around Lyme Bay followed by the finale at Chew in October. 3 Chew boats travelled to Exe and 8 home boats were in a fleet of 24 at Chew a few weeks later (thanks to Ian Cadwallader, Bill Chard, Chris Meredith and team for putting on an impeccable event). Chew were consistently the best travelled club on the South West circuit this year, with Martyn Stubbs / Yvonne Smith and Pete Alvey / Mark Eyles 1st and 2nd in the Bronze fleet overall, Dave Sweet / Anna Mason & Derian Scott 6th overall and James Williams / Ruth Kenyon & John Spelman 2nd overall.
The 200s were joined by a handful of 400s at Chew, with Paul & Anna Smalley always pushing the front of the fleet. Fingers cross for more visitors (and an event report!) next year. The same weekend David Smart joined the Netley RS100 fleet for their Club Championships, finishing 2nd overall. Hopefully some of the Netley fleet will come west for the Inland Championships at Chew this weekend.
The symmetric spinnkers have also been travelling, with Tom Jeffcoate 4th at the Squib Inlands and Ollie Houseman 4th at the Hampton Merlin Rocket open. Bill Chard / Josh Preater and Derian / Andy Scott took their Fireballs to the Inlands at Rutland, with Derian and Andy getting a long overdue Inlands race win to finish 6th overall.
Chew hosted our regular Topper coaching and open event at the start of October, with nearly 40 boats on the water, a fantastic 13 of them sailing under the Chew burgee. James Colls was first Chew boat in the 4.2 fleet in 3rd, Anna Gribble first Chew boat in the 5.3 fleet in 15th and Rob Batho 3rd in the coached fleet. Thanks to Tim Johnson, Peter Sherwin, Angus Penrice and team for a brilliantly run event.
The ILCA fleet seems to have had an event just about every weekend since the last newsletter. The Masters Nationals were held in a weekend of huge contrasts at Hayling Island. Julien Shawyer (ILCA6) and Peter Sherwin (ILCA7) represented the club this time round. This was followed by the 5th Qualifier at Weymouth, Giovanni Bianchi (ILCA6), Oli Allen-Wilcox, Josh Morgan and Ed Baker (ILCA7) flying the flag for this one with racing only possible on the Saturday. The Masters Inlands at Rutland was also only able to be raced on 1 day, this time due to light winds. Julien Shawyer having a consistent 4 races to finish 8th overall and first Apprentice Master. Last weekend was the full Inland Championship for the ILCAs. The reports aren’t out yet, but I understand there may be silverware to report in the next newsletter.
The club hosts the RS100 / RS700 Inland Championships this weekend, before we head in to the winter season.
Andy Jones
Commodore