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Newsletter December 2005
Christmas is approaching fast and so the end of the Club’s sailing season is in sight; although some members have finished their sailing already, other hardy souls will be sailing Winter Series elsewhere. This Newsletter mostly has that end of season feel, the one in February will look forward to next season.
Firstly I have some sad news. Fiona Blackburn our Membership Secretary died on the 1st of December, after a long illness. Fiona with Don, had been a member of the Club for 11 years. Fiona was well known around the Club and active behind the scene; we will miss her.
The Last Sailing Reports of the Season
Crewsaver Top Club 2005 at Grafham Water SC - Report by Simon Evans
All clubs in the UK are invited to compete at the Top Club Championship which has successfully run for the last 2 years. Clubs are required to enter a representative into a fast, medium and slow fleet who then battle it out over a 6 race weekend series. To make handicaps as fair as possible Top Club requires you to sail 3 different courses on each day in order to avoid advantage to any particular class.
This is the first year Delph has entered and this year they kindly paid the entry for the following team to represent you.
Simon Evans & Stephen Cronshaw sailing a 49er in the fast fleet.
Mathew Sharman & Jenny Brindle sailing an RS200 in the medium fleet.
Marc Starbuck sailing a Solo in the slow fleet.
On Saturday all three fleets got away at 12.00 with a very patchy and shifty force 1-2 making consistency incredibly hard. Simon and Stephen produced a 10th a 20th and a 6th in the fast fleet. Their finest moment was also caught on camera as a freak 20 knot gust was quickly followed by a 90° wind shift (hence the 20th). In the middle part of the lake Mathew and Jenny were having a decent day with a 16th a 9th and an 11th in a very competitive medium fleet. On the east side of the lake Marc scored a 14th a 7th and a 19th. Ironically at the end of day 1 the Delph team, and all three team members lay 13th overall in their respective fleets, however as Marc suggested; looking back that could easily be seen as bad luck cubed.
Sunday morning saw a very tired and shell-shocked team dragged out of bed for an early 10:30 start in a gusty force 4-5. The fast and medium fleets joined together on the west side of the lake to allow for club racing which meant a slightly crowded course particularly with the variation in speed of boats. Simon and Stephen put in a 13th an 11th and a 12th, Mathew and Jenny scored two 22nds and a 16th and Marc put in a 22nd a 19th and a 20th.
Overall Positions:
Simon & Stephen 12th in the fast fleet.
Mathew & Jenny 19th in the medium fleet.
Marc 22nd in the slow fleet.
Delph Team finished 21st Overall and are winners of the North-West Region.
Final thoughts:
Inevitably the standard at such events is very high. We were one of, if not the smallest club to enter and with a quick look down the list of competitors it is easy to pick out various current and ex World and National Champions. It is a prestigious event and one that we should continue to enter with a strong team.
The five of us would like to thank Delph Sailing Club allowing us to compete and for paying our entrance fee. All of us had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and we even have a nice ‘North West Region Winning Club’ plaque to display for our efforts, which we would like to pass on to the club.
“Thanks to Delph for making it happen, and whoever gets asked to compete next year should jump at the opportunity - it really was a great (and humbling) experience”. Marc Starbuck
Enterprises at Delph
The Enterprise Association (North West) held its Class AGM, preceded by a pursuit race at Delph on the 26th of November. On a very cold day 8 boats took part in the pursuit race, won by Alison Payne/Kev Law of Toddbrooke S.C. First Delph boat was helmed by Andrew Taylor in 4th place in a blanket finish with other Delph boats.
The Enterprise Association much appreciated the great lunch which Delph produced and were pleased to see the best turnout for the Class AGM in 10 yrs. Well done to all of you who organised this and took part in the sailing.
Welcome to New Members
Belinda and Anthony Haigh Sailing a Miracle
Thomas Lawton (Junior) Sailing a Topper
Simon Reddecliffe, rejoining the Club Sailing a Laser
Storage of Boats at Delph over the Winter
Many members remove their boats from the boat park over the Winter, which is generally considered best for the boats. The weather at Delph can be a nasty mix of wet, freezing and gales -not good for boats.
If you leave your boat up at Delph, you need to make sure it is secure and weatherproof. A simple thing like a leaky cover can result in a boat becoming waterlogged, which is bad enough but if followed by freezing …. well you can imagine. If a boat is blown over or partially off its trolley, then it may damage the nearest boat and it’s at the mercy of the next storm. Don’t expect anyone to be around at the Club to notice and rectify a problem. The best advice is to: at least take down the mast, this removes significant windage, remove the sails because they are really tasty for the mice over winter and - if you can, turn the hull upside down, protect with a cover and lash down securely.
Refurbishment of the Gents Changing Room Floor
We plan to carry out this work in February but In January we will be taking up large areas of the Asphalt, to assess the wooden floor underneath. The work is being carried out then as it is the quietest time for the clubhouse. The changing rooms will still be accessible but of course the standing surface will be the wooden sheeting currently under the Asphalt – which we will want to keep dry. If this presents a problem for you, please talk to Rene Savelli.
Galley - for 2006
With Pat’s retirement from the roles of Social Secretary and Catering Manager, a new role of Galley Captain is to be introduced to mirror the role of the Sailing Captain but overseeing the Galley during racing and training events. Duties are pretty straightforward and are considered to be normally compatible with sailing.
It is expected that Galley Captains will do two weeks duty, hopefully once a year but possibly twice in the year depending on how many volunteers we are able to ‘attract’ to this task! Many hands make light labour..
In outline, the duties of the Galley Captain will encompass: a point of contact for matters relating to the Galley, supervising the Galley Helpers, ensuring the cupboards are locked at the end of the session and reporting any problems to one of the Flag Officers or a member of the General Committee
The ordering of stock, organisation of Galley Rotas, writing of galley procedures etc are not part of this role!
To start off this initiative we are asking for volunteers (male or female). Names, preferably with preferred dates available for duty are needed by the end of January to be included in the Club Calendar along with the usual Race Management duties.
We need this to work if the Galley is to run smoothly next season. Please help and contact Pat on 01772 704874 for details.
Next Sailing Event: plum duff - tuesday the 27th december
This is our final sailing competition of the season and is open to people from other Clubs. Come and sail, first race start is 11 am and we plan to be off the water by 4 pm; or come at 4 pm for the presentation of the ‘Plum Duff’ and to enjoy a mince pie, a drink and a chat with friends.
Social Events
Annual Dinner & Prizegiving
This was a great evening with the many achievements of Club Members recognised in the presentation of prizes. The food was good, the Band was excellent, many people danced, we ran precisely to time (!) and it seemed to me the evening was a total success. We plan to be back at Bolton School again next year.
Social Events Early 2006
Junior Disco - Saturday 7th January
This promises to be another lively night of music, dancing, games and food for Club members and friends who are under 16 yrs. The disco starts at 7:30 pm and finishes at 10 pm. Tickets will be £2.50 on the door but if you are coming, please contact Hilary Baycroft on 01204 594690 so we have an idea of numbers.
Pantomime – 21st and 22nd January
There will be a Pantomime: “Snow White and the SeveRn Sailors” – make a date: Saturday evening the 21st for Club members, or a Sunday Matinee on the 22nd for family and friends of the Panto team also. We can only seat 100 people, so you must book your ticket, as many people have already.
The pantomime last January was a top drawer performance and this one promises to be just as good. You can pay Hilary when booking, or at the clubhouse on the remaining sailing days, or on the door. Prices are: £4.00 for adults, £2.00 for Children and £10.00 for a Family. There will be some light refreshments after the show. The bar will open at 7.00 pm on the Saturday, curtain up at 7.45 pm. On Sunday afternoon the curtain up time is still to be finalised. Do come. Contact: Hilary Baycroft on 01204 594690 soon.
Steve Hewitt produced a terrific video record of the last Panto but is unable to do it this time. Is there anyone out there with the equipment and ability to produce a video record of the 2006 Pantomime? If so we need you, please step forward and contact Jill Stephenson on 01772 324995.
Commodore’s Dinner Saturday 11th February 60’s Night with Live Band “The Dodgers”
7.30 pm start. The evening will include a short quiz on the 60’s, a photographic recognition competition - (so please bring along a photo of yourself taken in the1960’s) - and the menu will be one that those of you who were around in the 60’s will recognise. As this event is in the ‘closed’ season, please book your tickets by phone on 01772 704874 or email: patricia.tucker@zen.co.uk Final numbers by the 5th February please! Price will be around £12 – to be firmed up in January.
February Quiz Night
The Quiz Night shown in your 2005 Calendar has been cancelled.
Have a Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year and for the sailing ahead.
John Tucker Commodore