Wow, what a belt-busting feast! Graham and his team excelled themselves! Mulled wine on arrival, three whopping courses, accompanied by wine and crackers, followed by mince pies and finishing with a much-needed rest period with coffee and mints. This was all accompanied by great fun and lively conversation in a superbly decorated club.

A memorable evening and a big thank you indeed to Graham, May, David, Kath and Tom (who was pressed into preparing the sprouts!). Was this superb training for a repeat on the actual day, or should we now retreat to Caldey to practice abstinence?

Sunday Lunch

In case Graham's stamina needed testing after his achievements on Saturday - or perhaps because of the spreading reputation for good meals, a growing crowd attended lunch last Sunday and enjoyed a variety of menus from vegetarian to full-bloodied carnivore with ale for David 'you-know-who!'

Social Programme

Our Christmas activities continue as follows: Today (Friday) - carols and mince pies, 8 pm; tomorrow (Saturday) - games evening as training for Christmas and the return competition with Tenby SC next year. Limbering up 7.30 pm. You will enjoy yourselves; Thursday, January 1 - New Year's Day swim and fireworks. Not both at the same time, but fully entertaining nevertheless.

First Aid Course

We are running an all day first aid course on Saturday, February 14, starting at 9 am, for those wishing to update previous certificates or for anybody to learn the basic skills so helpful with our activities. Please contact Trevor on (01834) 811235.

There are early plans for a Valentine's Ball that evening - so at least we would be well prepared for any eventuality! Watch this space for further details, although these items are not irrevocably linked.

Website

Peter continues to update the SSC website on a regular basis and keeps it both topical and readable. Much information can be gleaned from the site. The new year's sailing programme, sail training calendar and other events will be listed as soon as these are available.

Weather Forecasts

Time was when we all complained because forecasts were so inaccurate - or perhaps they were all targeted at or from a roof in Bracknell and so less relevant to Saundersfoot.

I was minded of the increasing usefulness of our local forecasts whilst in Malta last week.

On arrival, I was considerably disappointed to read the five-day predictions, which gave gale force winds and thunder storms in varying proportions and directions for the whole week of our stay.

This was precisely what we had come to get away from - if you will excuse my English (my Anglo Saxon at the time was less printable).

The forecast was updated every day with more of the same, although the timing each day was varied - perhaps just to colour it out a bit.

However, each day, the actual weather proved perfect for us - temperature around 18-20 degrees, with some wind, which could be escaped by choice of appropriate facing coast, and long periods of pleasant non-burning sun in an azure blue sky.

Despite the settled and splendid reality, the same depressing predictions were offered up each and every morning.

At first I was very puzzled by this failure of science, but on reflection, one has to applaud the merits of this approach - it leaves no disappointment and only pleasure at how things turn out!

If only we could indulge ourselves in this way, but sadly we need the reality of such weather first.

For our very variable home climate, I find http://www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=47851">www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=47851 a very informative and accurate source of local sailing weather.

Last year for Coppet Week, when there were many very conflicting predictions, this site was virtually 'spot-on' for both timing and intensity.

However, if you prefer the Malta version, just dream on!

Nautical Nips

For this week's consideration - how can a 10-year-old boy sail a 12-metre boat single-handed?

Skipper's Mate