I hope that everyone really enjoyed their summer, even though the weather changed as the school holidays began! As I write this the late summer series has been completed and the cruiser Open series will start on the 1st October. Our Dinghies will race on Saturdays up to the 9th December.
Sailing
Over the summer we hosted the Osprey Nationals and the Topper Nationals both events went very well. As always our team of volunteers and our staff ensured the smooth running of both events. Thank you to all our members who came down to the Club to watch and support and to be tolerant of the squeezed car parking, due to us hosting in excess of 150 toppers, with their associated motor homes, trailers etc. The youth sailors really respected our facilities and were a credit to their class. What a great pleasure it was to see so many youngsters enjoying the water.
We were all set up for a great days racing in support of Bart’s Bash. Unfortunately very strong winds over the weekend caused a postponement.
Our RYA Recognised Training Centre was recently inspected and passed with a very good report from the inspector. Congratulations to Andrew Tate for his role as our Training Centre Principal. Andrew is stepping down after a number of years of ensuring that our training is undertaken to a high standard and safely. Thank you Andrew, and we welcome our new Principal Alyn Fendley.
For your Diaries
- New Members evening 11th October
- Volunteers thank you evening 10th October
- Cruiser Summer Series prize Giving 28th October
- Commodore’s Charity Pursuit Race Sunday 12th November.
- Over the Summer I have issued the annual challenge to Parkstone Yacht Club. The Commodore’s Youth Challenge with Parkstone is hosted at our Club this year and will be sailed on the morning of the 27th December. Please come and support our team.
Our Youth Section
Over the summer we had some really notable achievements within the youth section. Freedie Howarth was 1st UK Junior Sailor in the Optimist Nationals in Weymouth. James Foster achieved 3rd in the Optimist National Rankings and Angus Kemp was 6th in the Topper Worlds in Brittany. Carlo Consolos reached the finals of the Honda Rib Challenge. Really well done to the above and all our youth sailors.
In September I hosted my Commodores Cocktail Party at the Club. The event was very well attended but for me the outstanding success of the evening was the comments offered by our visiting guests from other Yacht Clubs and associations. They were very praiseworthy of our Club, our staff and our youth members who distributed trays of canapés. The Club looks first class and I wish to thank all our staff and volunteer youth members for all their hard work in making the evening such a success.
Of particular interest was a history of the Club from our foundation in 1852 to the mid 1950’s. This display along with photographs of our early Commodores can be seen in the Skylight Lounge. If you are unfamiliar with our early history you will be amazed! A huge thank you to Sue Thornton-Grimes and Richard Cake for all their hard work in the research and putting the display together. There will be an evening talk in the New Year for members on the history of our Club, with some fascinating facts unearthed by our sleuths, date to be announced.
Social
- Youth End of Season Awards Wednesday 4th October
- Volunteers thank you evening 10th October
- New Members evening 11th October
Commodores Charity
The next fund raining event towards raising money for Julia’s House will be the Charity Pursuit Race in November. This along with the “Fashion Show” in the spring of next year I hope will, along with fund raising so far, reach a total of around £2,500, already half of the target of £5,000 we are aiming for. This will fund very special facilities for children at Julia’s House.
Regards
Nye Davies
Commodore
