| 2014_march_newsletter.pdf |
CONTENTS - Sailing Matters - St Ayles Skiff - Training Matters - RYA Affiliation - Membership Renewal - Cleaner Wanted - Ross & Cromarty Sports Awards Sailing Matters Following a comprehensive review by Richard Evans of all dinghy results, the outcome of the Aggregate Series result for 2013 has been revised. Thomas Hardie is the overall winner of the Dave Watson Quaich and Magnus Henry is the winner of the Junior Trophy. Many congratulations to both and apologies for any upset caused by the initial confusion. The season begins for dinghy sailors on the 6th April with an informal sail followed on the 13th April by the start of the Sunday series races. Sunday morning sailing will also start on the 13th April and will follow a similar format to last year with boat tuning, practice starts, team racing, etc (further details to follow). The cruiser season begins on the 17th and 19th April with the crane-in. All mooring holders are requested to return their strops to the Club by 8th March. The first race in the Moray Yachting Series takes place at Invergordon on 10th May. Diarmid Hogan has already circulated a list of other planned races and cruises-in-company and these will be published on the website. As last year, Diarmid ([email protected]) would be very happy to find berths for any members wishing to crew on yachts either for races or cruises. Some key dates for the sailing calendar are:
Dutyman has been loaded with race and safety officer duties for the whole season and members may volunteer now for their preferred dates. It is hoped/expected that each member will cover approximately 5 duties over the course of the year. At the end of March, members who have not volunteered will be allocated dates (that may be swapped). Please note that if you volunteer for duties you will do no more than members who are allocated dates; you will just get to choose when you do them. St Ayles Skiff Our Skiff kit arrived shortly before Christmas and we have an excellent space in the Avoch Community Hall (next to the Primary School and courtesy of Avoch Sea Scouts) in which to build our boat. We are turning pre-marked sheets of plywood into a beautiful craft with the aid of a simple set of plans, whatever tools we can muster and – most importantly- much enthusiasm! This enthusiasm compensates for our very limited experience in boatbuilding, but the idea is we have fun, learn from others who have built skiffs, develop our skills and end with a boat that the whole Club can be proud of and use for both leisure and competitive rowing. The builders meet at 2pm Sunday and 7pm Wednesday until the sailing season starts, and some individuals spend additional time working on the project. We hope many members will contribute to the build and especially seek those with more advanced joinery skills as we move into the mysterious realms of scarf joints and epoxy gluing. But anyone can help with many of the tasks and if you would like to be involved then we want to hear from you. The Skiff project leaders are Donnie Macleod and Steve Bramwell- contact details on the Club website. Please get in touch if you want to know more or can help. The websites www.scottishcoastalrowing.org and jordanboats.co.uk give a good flavour of what we are trying to achieve. Gaelforce have made a generous donation to enable us to start work but on 15th February we are holding a fund-raising Quiz Night (hot food and bar and Mairi Macleod will be selling her very clever and intricate ropework items). If you would like a table (£5 per head), please book with the Social Secretary ([email protected]). TRAINING MATTERS Bookings are being taken for the following courses all at the clubhouse - if you would like a place please email [email protected] or call 01463 811080.
Assistant Training Principal We are seeking a club member to help the Training Principal with course administration. The Assistant Training Principal would take course bookings, send out joining instructions and keep an up-to-date training diary and help the Principal (Richard Jenner) with other administration such as grant applications. It would not involve being on the committee and the majority of the work would be done on-line from home (the Assistant Training Principal would need internet access at home and be comfortable with email and basic word processing). If you are interested and feel that you could commit to this for at least 2 years, please contact Richard via [email protected] or call 01463 811080. RYA Affiliation The club affiliated to the RYA in May 1956 and has maintained that status ever since. The fee for 2014 will be £395 so what are the benefits for the club? Through affiliation we can and do access all sorts of relevant advice covering legal matters, child protection, constitutions, insurance, event management, club development and training etc. Two little known benefits are that we can use the Racing Rules of Sailing – these international rules are copyright to the National Governing Body (the RYA) and can only be used (legally) by organizations affiliated to the NGB; the other benefit is that while we pay an affiliation fee we do not have to pay a recognition fee for our Recognized Training Centre activities (currently worth £294/year). MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Membership renewal time is upon us and renewal forms will be issued to current members via Dutyman during January. All fees and forms must be returned by 28th February when the database will be updated. As in previous years, members who haven’t renewed by this date will be removed from the database and must pay the joining fee to re-join. Direct debits will be claimed towards the end of February and relevant members will be contacted with the exact date. Please contact the membership secretary (Joanne Johnson – [email protected]) if you have any questions regarding renewal. It is essential that updated membership forms be completed and returned with payment to maintain accurate records and ensure correspondence is sent to the correct address. Dutyman has the facility for members to update their details throughout the season and members are issued with a login and password on renewal. New membership and discount cards will be sent out on 1st March. After freezing membership fees for 2013, the committee has agreed a minor increase in fees (approx 2.2%) for 2014 and the new rates are below. This figure reflects the increase in the Consumer Price index for the year and ensures that the value of subscription income to the Club is not reduced in real terms  CLEANER WANTED As you may have heard, our cleaner Ann Geddes has retired after 28 years with the Club and we wish her all the best for the future. This leaves a vacancy - we are looking for a self-employed cleaner for the Clubhouse for about 6 hours/ week in the main sailing season, fewer in the "off" season. If you know anyone who may be interested in this opportunity please contact Helen Jenner." STOP PRESS At the Ross & Cromarty Sports Awards event on 16th January Richard Evans, against some very stiff competition, was the runner-up in the “Administrator/Volunteer of the Year” category. Many congratulations to Richard and also thanks for the very considerable contribution he makes to the running of the Club. 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. Newsletter attached including details of: * Ness Cup * Black Isle Challenge Cup * Cruise in Companu * Duties * Powerboat Courses * Dinghy Race Changes * Bargain Nautical Publications * Cruiserscope Trophy
Venue…Wormit Boating Club ,Wormit, Fife.
Event open to all rs tera pro and sport sailors under 18 years old in one class on 31st aug and 1st sept. Venue..Wormit Boating Club Date..training day 31st August , 10.00am start, 3.00pm finish. Racing Sunday 1st September..11.00am start. Saturday evening..BBQ and games at club. Payment at club on day. Entry is £10.00 per boat for weekend or just Sunday racing day. Entries open until 10.00am Saturday , and 11.00am on Sunday 1st sept. Wormit is on south Fife side of the River Tay facing towards Dundee, with sailing between the road and rail bridge crossings on the Firth of the River Tay. Prizes for sport , pro and overall winners, gratefully donated by RS/LDC, Scotherbs Ltd and JP Watersports the Scottish RS agents. For more info please contact Robbie Wilson on tel 07711 382207, or e mail [email protected]
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. 
7 days sailing for only £300!
Are you aged 12-15 and available the 19th to the 25th August? Are you aged 16-24 and available either the 26th August to the 1st September or the 2nd to the 8th September? Or know someone who is? Due to a last minute cancellation we have just had 3, week long, voyages become available and are offering them at an amazing price.....but places are limited, so book yours now! The voyages will be starting and finishing from our base in Greenock, offering a great area of the West Coast of Scotland to explore over your 7 days onboard. Whether you are looking for an adventure, your Duke of Edinburgh Residential, or to learn a new skill, this opportunity is one not to miss! With only 12 places for 12-15’s and 24 places for 16-24’s, get in touch with our office straight away to book your place and join us for an amazing adventure! “Sail training provides a uniquely powerful and extremely effective environment for the personal development of young people from a diverse range of backgrounds. Residential voyages aboard our 3 Vessels Alba Venturer, Alba Endeavour and Alba Explorer are safe, yet genuinely demanding, and the often unpredictable nature of sail training requires a high degree of interaction and both mental and physical commitment. The twelve voyage crew aboard are accompanied by six highly qualified sea staff. Young people complete their voyages having increased their confidence, responsibility, respect, resilience and ability to work as part of a team. More than that, they will have expanded their horizons, made new friends and have memories to treasure for a lifetime.” Telephone us on 01475 722 722 Email us at [email protected] check out our website - www.oytscotland.org.uk |
||||||||||||||||
