An Apology
As all dinghy racers know, we have been successfully using Sailwave to calculate and manage results this year. However, since the prize-giving, we have learned that Sailwave excluded some boats when aggregating series results for the overall aggregated result. This is resolved by adjusting the merge control settings (still learning!) and we are now checking the outcome very carefully before publishing the corrected prize list on the website. This situation has not affected the outcome of the individual series.
Cold Turkey
The annual “Cold Turkey” dinghy race will take place on 29 December starting at 1200. Following the race, hot food will be available in the Clubhouse.
Winter Training Programme
Coming-up rapidly is the Jon Emmett Highland & Moray Sailing coaching weekend on 21/22 December to be hosted by Chanonry SC. Jon coached Lijia Xu to Olympic Laser Radial Gold at London 2012. His achievements in sail racing are as long as your arm and include Laser Radial Champion, writing coaching books and producing coaching videos – see http://www.jonemmettsailing.co.uk/.
We are offering a variety of courses in the next few months both water and shore based. Places will go quickly and will be limited so please contact [email protected] to book yours or ring Richard Jenner on 01463 811080. We are also hosting Highland & Moray Sailing coaching for 3 weekends - this is coaching for juniors. The programme (so far) is:
We have now taken delivery of our second Wanderer dinghy and the Training Principal is planning to offer the juniors 'Stage 4' training and has also programmed a 2-day RYA Day Sailing course later in 2014.
Moorings and Strops
There are still a few cruiser strops on the harbour wall awaiting collection. Please return strops for the 2014 season to the Club no later than 1st March 2014.
Cruiser owners are reminded that the maximum total strop length (swivel to bow roller) is 3.5m for the outers, 2.5m for the mids and 2m for the inners. There were some incidents in 2013 where over-long strops caught around the riser buoy and chafed through.
Provisional crane-in dates for next season are Thursday 17th April and Saturday 19th April with back-up dates of 1st and 3rd May.
St Ayles Skiff
The ambitious and exciting Skiff building project is now underway with the delivery of the kit (pictures on the website) on 16th December to the Sea Scout hall in Avoch. The kit comprises 8 and 2 half-sheets of plywood (2.44m x 1.22m); this plywood is partially cut into the variety of shapes necessary to form the planks, stems etc.
These skiffs are designed by Ian Oughtred, a renowned expert on traditional boats, and are based on the old fishing skiffs once used extensively in the south of the Shetland mainland and Fair Isle.
Our first task is to pad up the floor and protect the surface prior to cutting and shaping wood. We must thank the Sea Scouts, who are partners in this project, for the invaluable use of their premises and they will be contributing to the build.
We are working in parallel with Avoch and Poolewe, who are also building skiffs, and will try and benefit from bulk buying where possible. We still have to source a supply of good quality larch and an order will be placed for that soon.
We intend that the project be as cash neutral to the Club as possible and have already received donations and pledges for approximately £1428 with perhaps another £250 in hand. There will be a fund-raising quiz night on 15th February in the clubhouse with a bar and food.
While we have a core team of about 12 volunteers so far, please note anyone with boatbuilding skills – or who wishes to learn - will be welcomed with open arms. Feel free to visit when the build is underway but be prepared to muck in!
Season’s Greetings
Finally, the Committee would like to thank everyone who has assisted with the 2013 season and wish all members and their families a happy Christmas and good sailing in 2014.
As all dinghy racers know, we have been successfully using Sailwave to calculate and manage results this year. However, since the prize-giving, we have learned that Sailwave excluded some boats when aggregating series results for the overall aggregated result. This is resolved by adjusting the merge control settings (still learning!) and we are now checking the outcome very carefully before publishing the corrected prize list on the website. This situation has not affected the outcome of the individual series.
Cold Turkey
The annual “Cold Turkey” dinghy race will take place on 29 December starting at 1200. Following the race, hot food will be available in the Clubhouse.
Winter Training Programme
Coming-up rapidly is the Jon Emmett Highland & Moray Sailing coaching weekend on 21/22 December to be hosted by Chanonry SC. Jon coached Lijia Xu to Olympic Laser Radial Gold at London 2012. His achievements in sail racing are as long as your arm and include Laser Radial Champion, writing coaching books and producing coaching videos – see http://www.jonemmettsailing.co.uk/.
We are offering a variety of courses in the next few months both water and shore based. Places will go quickly and will be limited so please contact [email protected] to book yours or ring Richard Jenner on 01463 811080. We are also hosting Highland & Moray Sailing coaching for 3 weekends - this is coaching for juniors. The programme (so far) is:
- 25 January 1000 - 1500 - Splicing. A session with renowned rope expert Tony Daly. We'll cover 3 strand splices and some braid-on-braid. Tony will supply rope but you will needs to brings some fids - contact [email protected] for advice and to book a place. £15/member.
- 1/2 February -RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship. A 2-day classroom course leading to a RYA certificate and a great introduction for all water users to navigation, tides, weather and safety. The course includes a comprehensive pack of a booklet, practice charts, training almanac, course plotter, dividers and even some practice chart plotter software and is exceptional value for club members at only £50/person.
- 8/9 February - HMS coaching
- 12/13 February - Reading Charts. Two mid-week evening sessions (1900 - 2100) where we will unlock some of the mysteries of the Admiralty Charts - recognizing hazards to navigation, understanding depths, measuring bearings & distance. This is a club course at £5/ person to cover both sessions.
- 15 February - First Aid. An all-day “Emergency First Aid at the Workplace” course leading to an AID Training & Operations certificate which is accepted by the RYA for instructors & coaches. £30/person to include a first aid booklet.
- 22/23 February - HMS coaching.
- 1/2 March - RYA Powerboat Level 2. A 2 day mainly water-based course leading to a RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate. The course fees include a logbook, Start Powerboating booklet and a certificate and is outstanding value at only £30/member as you will be expected to do some club safety boat duties.
- 8/9 March - HMS coaching.
- 15/16 March - RYA Safety Boat. A 2 day mainly water-based course for members who already hold a PBL2 certificate and have some driving experience. The course focuses on rescue techniques and is run at a subsided charge of only £15/member as the committee is keen to develop safety boat crew competencies.
We have now taken delivery of our second Wanderer dinghy and the Training Principal is planning to offer the juniors 'Stage 4' training and has also programmed a 2-day RYA Day Sailing course later in 2014.
Moorings and Strops
There are still a few cruiser strops on the harbour wall awaiting collection. Please return strops for the 2014 season to the Club no later than 1st March 2014.
Cruiser owners are reminded that the maximum total strop length (swivel to bow roller) is 3.5m for the outers, 2.5m for the mids and 2m for the inners. There were some incidents in 2013 where over-long strops caught around the riser buoy and chafed through.
Provisional crane-in dates for next season are Thursday 17th April and Saturday 19th April with back-up dates of 1st and 3rd May.
St Ayles Skiff
The ambitious and exciting Skiff building project is now underway with the delivery of the kit (pictures on the website) on 16th December to the Sea Scout hall in Avoch. The kit comprises 8 and 2 half-sheets of plywood (2.44m x 1.22m); this plywood is partially cut into the variety of shapes necessary to form the planks, stems etc.
These skiffs are designed by Ian Oughtred, a renowned expert on traditional boats, and are based on the old fishing skiffs once used extensively in the south of the Shetland mainland and Fair Isle.
Our first task is to pad up the floor and protect the surface prior to cutting and shaping wood. We must thank the Sea Scouts, who are partners in this project, for the invaluable use of their premises and they will be contributing to the build.
We are working in parallel with Avoch and Poolewe, who are also building skiffs, and will try and benefit from bulk buying where possible. We still have to source a supply of good quality larch and an order will be placed for that soon.
We intend that the project be as cash neutral to the Club as possible and have already received donations and pledges for approximately £1428 with perhaps another £250 in hand. There will be a fund-raising quiz night on 15th February in the clubhouse with a bar and food.
While we have a core team of about 12 volunteers so far, please note anyone with boatbuilding skills – or who wishes to learn - will be welcomed with open arms. Feel free to visit when the build is underway but be prepared to muck in!
Season’s Greetings
Finally, the Committee would like to thank everyone who has assisted with the 2013 season and wish all members and their families a happy Christmas and good sailing in 2014.