Our secretary (or in naval parlance - flag lieutenant) has urged me to write a festive message on the blog to summarise 2011 and cast forward to 2012 – makes me feel like royalty, so perhaps I should ask that this is posted on the blog at 3pm on the 25th!
2011 has been a very busy year, with club members embroiled in four different activities; Cruising, Flying Fifteens, Picos and Skiff. It is no surprise to me that with all these activities going on there is also a diverse range of views as to how to balance them. The strength of the club will build if we can recognise with good humour the value in each other’s opinions even if they are completely opposed to our own! For me I believe what we all hold in common is a desire to mess about on the water and to share the good company of those who feel the same.
What better example of this than our annual dinner, once again held in the Royal, prize winners are either grateful or embarrassed and it was good to share highlights of 2011.
The cruising was for the most part local; with several gatherings of club boats in the Summer Isles. My own venture to bring Mollymawk across from Scandinavia in the footsteps of fellow Vega’s Lucky, Jim and Twister, and my own right of passage in a Sailing Club where making deep sea passages has a long and fine tradition. That Tim Loftus's Thembi with club members aboard made it to Jan Meyen north of the Arctic Circle is a notable achievement for the club's history books.
I recall three memorable sails, the first in Orkney in company with Twister where under spinnaker from Sanday to Shapinsay: Second, the race round Tanera Beg in the company of many club boats – the thrill for a while at least, to be ahead of three Osbornes! And finally in the storm cruise in company with Seonaid, a broad reach across Annat Bay in a stiff wind with awesome twilight colours illuminating cloud, sea and mountain.
There have never been as many Flying Fifteens battling on the loch. Win or lose the differences in the races are small and the flukiness of our winds means that the fleet can re-order itself with regularity mid race – seldom a dull moment. There were few Sundays and Thursday evenings with no-one on the water, and we are all learning to tweak sails and rigging to optimise performance.
The Picos had a great week's sailing when once again we exploited the RYA’s extended training arm to ship in a Senior Instructor. This year CarolAnn was supported by Emma, Beth and John C and in addition to putting nearly 20 kids through their paces (quite a few new to the club), we added six training sessions for RYA powerboat Level 2 and two days sail training for adults. The appetite for the sailing amongst the youth element stretches the adult resources of our small club, and it is a pity we have not found a consistent way to match the frequency of the Flying Fifteen Sailing with Pico Sessions.
Finally the club has added the rowing skiff Loki to its fleet; this is clearly very different from endeavours we have done before; it has its own gregarious and enthusiastic following and perhaps more that other activities focused our thoughts as to the direction are club should travel. For me I am delighted to see Kate as energetic to be on the water as I am, and I feel the better for the energetic discipline of bashing up to Loggie and back. The two local skiff regattas (Coigach and Ullapool) will undoubtedly become annual fixtures.
Our own regatta in August was wet but nevertheless successful, a morning of flying fifteen training and two great races – even the rain soaked BBQ didn’t dampen our spirits!
With all this energy Adrian spearheaded some club refurbishment with the construction of a shed to take the overspill that tended to clutter the store. There is space for items of immediate use (oars and the like) with the extra space usable for changing; damp kids in wetsuits and flying fifteeners soggy oilies can be kept out of the main room which has been freshened with some wood lined panels. Another session is planned for the 27th December when we hope to open up a hatchway between the kitchen and main room; in affect creating a bar and area for a kettle with tea and coffee.
So for 2012
In late January the committee has decided to organise an EGM to review our club finances; we are still in the black but this year there were a number of notable expenses that have cut into our reserves. It is important that we explore the options for funding all of our expenses through a combination of membership rates, fees for using club assets (Boat Parking, fifteens, skiff, Picos, Rib and sewing machine) and other income streams.
A number of options will be circulated as a basis for discussion soon. The reason for the EGM is that the club would like to introduce the agreed way forward in time for the collection of this year’s membership (mostly paid in February).
A number of options will be circulated as a basis for discussion soon. The reason for the EGM is that the club would like to introduce the agreed way forward in time for the collection of this year’s membership (mostly paid in February).
Over the next few weeks we will also aim to collate some 2012 the provisional dates below show confirmed events and traditional times for the usual club activities; other suggestions welcome.
8th of April: Easter,
21st of April: OK tides for launching Cruisers,
Launch of Flying Fifteens, first race on the 22nd April.
5th May Spring tides, Good date for launching Cruisers.
12th May Pico Shakedown!
19th and 20th May Overnight Tanera Cruise, Coigach Skiff Regatta.
25th to 28th May 4 day shakedown cruise
22nd June to 1st July 8 Day summer cruise.
9th to 13th July Pico Week (this week has neap tides which are good for training)
9th to 14th July maritime festival Stornoway.
Late July Summer Isles Cruise?
11th and 12th August Ullapool Skiff Regatta
18th and 19th August LBSC Regatta, this is the weekend after the school starts.
21st September Loopallu
Late September Storm Cruise
2012
Pico Activities - Paul Driver is taking the lead, they will have their own pizza gathering on the 28th of December with the kids targeting some fundraising toward the cost of Pico spares and their training week.
Flying fifteens – Bosun looking forward to even more sailing and boats in 2012! I have been reading upon race specifications and feel that my rudder may not conform to the optimal race winning adjustments – expect a master class in tuning and rigging pre season!
Cruising – John Osborne has agreed to co-ordinate the programme- a provisional week has been booked for the summer cruise – heading south towards the Clyde seems a favoured option while there are other mumblings about Scandinavia, I would like to circumnavigate Lewis and Harris (who mentioned the Flannens?). Cruising Crews are in the gift of the skippers; let them know if you are interested in a berth, shorter trips are a good way to test out compatibility!
Skiff – We are still looking for a champion, if the wind eases and we can fix the trailer there may be a winter row or two.
Finally, do access the blog and comment under the posts. Anyone wishing to post on the blog can simply email Adrian, who will put it up straightaway.
As we decide how best to rejuvenate the website, which is creaky to say the least, this blog will be used to post minutes and announce events. Let me know of your own plans for 2012 and if these could be extended to include the club in any of these activities.
Last but by no means least this comes with a big thank you to one and all for making my sailing in 2011 memorable, best wishes for a merry Christmas and of course, good sailing in 2012!