We understand the funeral may be this Thursday but we have no further details but will update this post if we hear anything.

I would like to thank the 10 people who braved the wet and unpleasant conditions to help out on the ‘berths day’. They did a great job; getting the rescue boats and longliner off the water and preparing them for the winter, creating new berths, digging and laying a very long drainage trench that will stop a large number of berths from being swamped. It seems a shame that when the club responds to the members requests to improve the facilities, those members are unable to attend and help. The 10 people plus myself make up less than 10% of the full members within the club and about 3% of all members. It would be nice one working party day if we had 25% of full members attending. Our club would benefit and we as members would also benefit as the facilities, both sailing and social, would be well maintained and improved.

On another note I would like to thank all those who turned up for their O.O.D duties , those who did more than their own, all those who are involved in the record keeping, to those who gave up their time to help with the training both juniors and seniors. Without your help many of those young people who are now in zone squads or on the fringe would not have progressed so far. To all of you a very big thank you. I hope that you have a great Christmas and I look forward to seeing you all in the new season.

Warren Price
Vice Commodore

(Photo by Sue Sharman)

We’ll keep you informed through the website

2011 sailors meeting agenda

Richard Craig
Sailing Secretary

More details to follow.

Year so far!

Can I start by saying a big thanks to all the people who have had a go, or been out as a regular sailor throughout this year.

I feel this year has seen a lot of new faces on the water with a ‘give it a go’ attitude.  Especially Captain Phil and his rapidly growing fleet ( I’m sure he is planning an invasion!!) The water has been pretty much full which is a good contrast and deserved payback after last year, and we have had a wide range of winds. The southerlies have been prominent but the lack of trees has still made it enjoyable.   This has also kept ‘Coffer’ (buoy 6) out of play and, Jerry Cahill happier. (For those who don’t know Jerry, he has a dislike to our poor number 6 buoy for some reason. The general opinion is that this is the one he hits the most!! )

Too cold to sail?

Well the 30 degree days are almost a distant memory and it is not long before it turns a little colder and Richard Craig may be forced to cover his knees up; I know this can’t come soon enough for most of us!

“It’s too cold to sail” I hear people starting to say –  Get some winter gear and enjoy the solid winds that this time of year starts to offer us.  And before you say “It’s ok for him with his polar bear physique!!”, On a serious note, which I know is rare for me, allow me to explain…

Sailing gear has never been so affordable and effective as it is now.  Be it a dry suit or a steamer , new or an ebay bargain, they are a great addition to your kit bag and will help you enjoy sailing from now till next spring. A few of us from the club depart from Bolton when we finish in December and sail at winter venues to get some valuable practice in. And, having sailed the past 4 winters at various venues I can recall several times every year when the sun was belting down, the wind a fantastic shift free force 3 and a fantastic sail was had by many.

It is so easy to arrive at our club in your heated car and walk into the heated club (sometimes! ), and look at the water through the window with cake and coffee in hand and say something like “err… I’ll  see what the 2nd race brings”. All I am saying is, get dressed and get out and you will soon get warm and enjoy it.  If you would like any advice on kit ask anyone who has been here for a while, or as always get hold of me, no matter how silly you may feel the question is!! I also don’t mind trawling ebay on your behalf to come up with some ideas.

So in short “Buy a hat and get sailing!!”

New additions

Firstly, thanks to Helen who, as most of you know, has been the record keeper for the last few years. With managing the Junior fleet too, Helen has too much on her hands, and has therefore resigned from her position as recod keeper. It’s a sad loss, and thanks again Helen for the years of service!!

So in her place we have managed to get a volunteer ,  Jerry Cahill. Jerry will be having his training in how to use Sailwave (results software). When I am confident he won’t fix the results,  he will be taking over! I also anticipate that in the near future results will be available on the internet in the days  soon after racing.

Also I am very pleased to announce that we have a Laser Fleet Captain in the form of Peter Mackin who will be helping me to motivate and organise Laser specific events.  Peter has been ‘lasering’ a relatively short while but as these young ones do, he has already picked up an enormous wealth of knowledge and is putting it to good use on the water. For any questions regarding laser, see Pete at the club or reach him at laser@sail.org.uk  If you see him please pat him on the back for taking on his new role  then nag him to death!

So for now, that’s it!

Please make sure you get hold of me for any sailing related questions.

Also drop me a line with any ideas on what the club, or indeed I, can do for you!

We only have a few months to go this season but we can also start to plan for 2012.

Thanks for reading, and look forward to seeing you with a hat on!!

Stuart

Fleet Captian
stuart@sail.org.uk
078416 36735

His more recent achievements include coming first out of 70 entrants to win the RYA North East Youth Travellers Series 2011 which resulted in an article, published in a local newspaper’s sports section, showing Alex with his glass trophy (which his mam managed to successfully re-glue after she accidentally dropped it …… ooops). This win brought him to the attention of the South Tyneside Sea Scouts who asked him to join them and during his second week of membership he managed to come 2nd overall in his Laser during their National Championships. These successes led their leaders to ask that he participate in the National School Sailing Association Topper Team Championships held at Birmingham on the 1st and 2nd of October. 32 teams of 3 participated, including some Topper National Squad members, but the underdogs (Alex along with his 2 Geordie mates Kieran and David) managed to keep them all at bay and went onto claim first place.

As this particular type of sailing requires strict rule adherence, teamwork, maths and tactical skills, Alex’s mam now knows for certain that her son can do soooooo much better in his school studies ……

As a result of winning the NSSA Team Championships the group are invited to enter the RYA Eric Twiname Youth and Junior Team Racing Championships at Oxford Sailing Club sailing Fireflys – please wish him luck.

Alex and Lynne would like to thank those all at Bolton who devote so many hours of time freely to the BSC membership, especially Mike for his ‘take no prisoners’ style GP14 coaching, our Flag Officers and all those who arrange the events, fix the boats and move the jetties (hours and hours of time), sort out the power boat fuel and the fuel for our bellies (…. and do the blooming washing up) and, of course, those who coach/instruct both us & our children; even though many of them have no children currently learning to sail themselves – completely selfless behavior!

…. Think not what your club can do for you but be mindful of what you can do for your club!
(think that may be pinched from Churchill or JFK???)

MORE VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED & ARE MOST WELCOME

2011 SS Youth champs Press cutting

ADULTS: Due to the Ironman (see above) on Sunday 31st July, and many of our volunteer instructors being away on Sunday 7th August, there will be no adult training on either of these Sundays.

If you are on OOD that day, you will be re-allocated another day. The galley staff have been informed and will not be opening. The trophy day planned for that day will be re-scheduled to another day in the year.

If you still wish to sail, you will need to find a route to the club but the committee would advise staying away for the day to alleviate traffic problems.

The committee would like to apologise for this short notice but have only recently found out how much the road closures will affect access.