Six Nations Rugby
The club was awash with red last Saturday - no, there was not a massive bloody punch-up, but a very good natured and wildly enthusiastic crowd of Welsh-shirted supporters urging their team on against the black tide of New Zealand.
The first half was brilliant, but beer sales rocketed during the second to dilute the sorrows of disappointment.
Graham's excellent food also helped us to forget the final score and just enjoy a great evening in a cosy friendly club.
Don't miss the next instalment against Australia tomorrow (Saturday) at 2.15 pm.
This is not just ordinary TV entertainment, this is SSC TV.
AGM
Graham's home-made soup cleared the synapses for a lively AGM last Saturday.
Paul Johnson, as commodore, reviewed the year's achievements against the dual aims of the club to encourage sailing in all its forms and provide a place for social activities. Overall he concluded that it was a successful year, with membership being bolstered by a near doubling of social members to a total of around 250 members in all categories.
A full racing calendar had been achieved with club races, Coppet Week and the SuperNova/Lightning Nationals, the main casualty of the weather being the Regatta and the Round Caldey Race.
We have invested some £12k in new equipment for the Sail Training Unit over the past year and this has been combined with more instructors and more support from parents to expand these activities significantly. A total of 42 certificates were awarded to trainees this year - a large increase over previous years. The challenge remains to convert more trainees to club racing and wider involvement.
Paul complimented previous trainees who had not only made this progression, but developed 'beyond the club' - notably Mark Dwyer and Tom Horton, who had sailed with the Tall Ships Trust, and Ben Dancer, whose regular dedication got him to the Topper Nationals in Torquay and the Worlds Competition in Ireland during the year.
On a sad note, the AGM paused to remember Norma Smith who was such a bright star in the club for many decades. So many have great memories of Norma in the clubhouse and on the water and these remain to support Trevor after his sad loss.
In these confused times of borrowing more to spend our way out of the ills of imprudent spending, it was pleasing to receive treasurer Rolfe John's robust set of accounts showing a reasonable surplus and restoration of reserves from a low point last year. As a result, you will all be delighted to know that subscriptions for 2009 will remain unchanged.
The commodore offered sincere thanks to everyone who had contributed and helped the club to hold such a successful programme of events and operate efficiently over the year.
Social
Programme
Now that John Sergeant has eliminated himself from Strictly CD, there is surely nothing to keep you away from the club at the weekend and we do have a dancing licence anyway! The club is open from 6 pm until late every Friday and Saturday and between 12 and 2 pm on Sundays, plus special events as follows :
Tomorrow (Saturday) - rugby grub from noon, followed by Wales v Australia on the big screen at 2.15 pm.
Saturday, December 6 - Tom Horton recounting his Tall Ships experiences, 8 pm.
Saturday, December 13 - Christmas Dinner in the club, 6.30 for 7 pm. Please book with May on 01834 813595.
Friday, December 19 - Carols and Mince Pies, 8 pm. What about some youthful participation - we're not looking for aspiring Aled Jones', but this would be a good event for all our youngsters. Parents, take control now !
Saturday, December 20 - Games evening as training for Christmas and the return competition with Tenby SC next year, 7.30 pm.
Nautical Nips
The distinguished sailor in last week's Poser Pic was of course Richard Langford, RYA chairman, as all you RYA members will have known.
One of his many activities as chairman has been the introduction of Companies Act legislation to permit members to send proxies to the AGM. This seems to me a backward step if applied to individual sailing clubs like ours. Surely members should be enthusiastic enough to support their club on this key occasion once a year without ducking out.
On a (much) lighter note, do you remember Rambling Sid Rumbold - one of the many unlikely characters in the radio show 'Round the Horne'? He was always lewdly getting his futtocks entwined, but do you know the nautical origins of this seemingly naughty word?
Skipper's Mate