Dinghy Regatta
The dinghy regatta will take place on the 3rd and 4th August. Racing starts at 1pm on Saturday and 10.30am on Sunday with 6 races in fast and slow handicaps and prizes for the first 3 boats in each class. The notice of race and sailing instructions are published on the Club website. The competitors’ brief is at midday on Saturday. Online registration for participants is now available and is the preferred method of entry for the Regatta. Bacon rolls and snacks will be available from the galley throughout Saturday and there will be a selection of hot food after racing for both competitors and spectators. Bacon rolls and snacks will also be available on Sunday with soup and sweet meals served after racing. The bar will be open both days from midday. Race participants who would like a hot meal after Saturday’s racing are requested to book it during registration for the races. The car park in front of the club will be reserved for dropping off boats and race preparation. Additional car parking is available at the Fortrose Leisure Centre. Please come along and support one of the Club’s premier events which this year is being organised by Iain Morton and Tim Lloyd. 

Dinghy Purchases 
The committee has decided to buy 2 new Tera dinghies to bring the training fleet up to 6 boats; one, being bought with the aid of a subsidy from the Eric Twiname Trust and a grant from Ross & Cromarty Sports Council, is being collected from Newark by Richard Jenner this weekend and the other will be bought before next season. In addition, 2 second-hand Wanderer dinghies will be purchased in time for use next season primarily for training but they will also be available for use by all club members. 

St Ayles Skiffs 
Many thanks to all those who responded expressing interest in the Club perhaps building and racing a pair of St Ayles rowing skiffs. It is still very early days and no decision to proceed has been taken but the major hurdle of a suitable place to build the boats over the winter has been resolved with the very kind offer by Avoch Sea Scouts of space in their Avoch HQ. Steve Bramwell and Donnie McLeod are leading on this project and would welcome hearing from anyone who would like to help. 

Dinghy Park 
With many thanks to Mike & Malcolm Wilson, Alan Munroe and Jeremy Astill-Brown all who were still working at 10pm, most of the boats in the dinghy park have been moved to allow the grass (and weeds!) to be cut. Please check that your boat has been retied to your satisfaction. Time precluded cutting all the grass in the dinghy park and the rest will be done shortly.

Club Regatta

The Regatta will take place on 3/4 August and detailed information will be published on the website in due course. Meanwhile, the organisers are looking for volunteers:

• 2 assistant ROs to help on the committee boat.
  
• one person with Sailwave experience to take entries and calculate results.
  
• one assistant to help with taking entries on Saturday morning only.
  
• a “traffic warden” to assist with car parking and boat unloading direction.
  
• a beachmaster to look after shore activity and to liaise with the committee boat.
  

Anyone willing to help please contact sailing@chanonry.org.uk.

Ness Cup

The Ness Cup cruiser & dinghy passage race, postponed because of poor weather, will now take place on 25 August. Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions are posted on the website. The Harbour Rosebowl races currently due to take place on the 25th will be rescheduled.

Cruiser Regatta

The cruiser regatta will take place on 20 July and further information will be published on the website.

Scones & Tea – 14 July

Following the cruiser and dinghy racing on 14 July there will be “scones & tea” available in the clubhouse for all members – not just those sailing.

Rowing Skiff

The committee is in the very early stages of considering a proposal to obtain/build one or two rowing skiffs (www.jordanboats.co.uk/JB/stayles.htm). If anyone is interested in this project, either building or rowing, please let Steve Bramwell know (mostb@talktalk.net).

Training Issues

Marisa Astill-Brown is moving abroad later this year (although still hoping to spend the summers sailing at Chanonry) and Richard Jenner has kindly volunteered to resume the role of Training Principal. As Miriam Fisher is expecting to be abroad for several months Richard will also be covering the Chief Instructor position. Please contact Richard J for all dinghy training matters (training@chanonry.org.uk).

There is a 'sail better - adult improver' evening on Friday 5 July at 7pm. This is open to all adult members at a cost of £2 and is there to help you 'sail better'. Please note this is about general sailing skills not just 'racing'. Contact Richard J if interested.

There is one vacancy left on the power boat level 2 course on Saturday 24 & 31 August. The cost is £25 and preference will be given to someone who is either training to be an instructor or keen to help with club safety duties. Contact Helen J (r.h.jenner@btinternet.com).

There are 7 club dinghies (3 x Optimist clones & 4 x Tera) and by arrangement access to 3 Sea Scout Topaz (was 4 but one is broken). The primary purpose of the boats is to support training but we also allow them to be used for other club activities such as racing or recreational sailing. If you use a club boat please fit a masthead buoyancy bag to reduce the risk of inversion and consequent boat damage. One mast section has been replaced this year (around £60) and we are in the process of replacing a Tera hull (over £600) following damage to the mast pot. Please also remember to make your contribution in the appropriate honesty tin in the Race Office when you use a club boat - the charge is £5/person/session (only £3/person/session on Friday evenings). Finally, if something does break, please let Richard J know. We are coming-up to the junior stage courses and all the boats will be needed; it is very frustrating for the instructors and disappointing for the sailors to turn-up for a training course to find that the boats are broken or missing parts.

Clubhouse Security

On 3 occasions recently the clubhouse has been left open overnight with complete access to all our stock and equipment. While it is the last person present’s responsibility to lock-up, please, if you are one of the last to leave remind those left of the need to leave the clubhouse secure. This includes the sail store door which is easily overlooked and gives direct access to the club room.