Carols and

Mince Pies

A suitably angelic host of members assembled on Friday evening for this festive gathering.

The snow did not lie round about deep and crisp and even, but the moon did shine brightly occasionally through the murk on the enthusiastic souls who had followed in each others footsteps up the stairs to the clubhouse. Pies were duly scoffed, ale quaffed and voices lustily raised in rendering all the old favourites.

Some readings were also given, which is always an excellent part of this traditional pre-Christmas evening in the club, although we missed Geoff's singular renditions this year.

Again, a great and appropriate evening's participation for members.

Games Evening

By way of contrast, a select super fit and highly trained unit turned out, despite the lure of the final of Strictly Come Dancing and other sedentary pleasures, to ply their skills at a range of games on Saturday night.

Graham did advance a new top-of-the-range, gold embossed, domino set in case other exertions were too much for anyone, but these were scorned by the finely honed specialists present.

After the statutory limbering up involving scampi and chips, a few beers and considerable tongue exercises, the battle lines were drawn and action commenced.

I think that I can honestly say it is a very long time since I was so entertained by simple things and have not laughed so much for ages.

Whilst activities were confined only to darts and pool - there was simply no time for skittles, boat races or any other sports - these were quite enough to bring out levels of competitiveness rarely seen on the water and an intensity of play to be marvelled at. It is impossible to adequately describe the levels of expertise that were achieved.

Many matches were drawn, supposedly due to the equality of muscle and eye-tuned skill - but more probably because of a failure to achieve any result.

In the pool competition, the ladies managed to pot more balls in short order than any of the men, but this had something to do with a dynamic balancing adjustment to the table undertaken by a perhaps over-zealous umpire following a comment that the table was possibly not exactly level.

This was an absolute highlight of hilarity, occurring in the middle of a game that had not been totally alight with action, when quite suddenly the entire spread of balls appeared to float and then jet in all directions like excited electrons to disappear down pockets faster than Hurricane Higgins could ever achieve.

As a night of side-splitting entertainment, it could not have been bettered; in terms of training for a New Year's match with TSC, one can only comment that they can have no idea what they might be in for!

Windguru Weather Forecast

Colin Newman has sagely pointed out that this prediction service is based upon computer modelling, rather than human 'experts' - no wonder it has proved so accurate!

However, I am not convinced in the infallibility of computers either, so am waiting for a Force 666 to be included during the next period of fiendish weather for Saundersfoot!

Extra Sailing Time

Don't forget to change your clocks over New Year's Eve when we gain the extra 'Leap Second'. If you don't believe it, listen for the extra 'seventh' pip in the time signal at midnight on the 31st.

Membership Renewal

The membership secretary welcomes prompt renewals now that these are due for 2009. For those with email addresses, please ensure that you submit clearly written and accurate email details so that we can use this means of communication to keep you better informed and more up to date with news.

Nautical Nips

The picture this week shows how possible and satisfying it is for a 10-year-old to sail a 12-metre model yacht. Sailing properly designed models is also extremely instructive, giving very good understanding of wind awareness, tiller and sheet control and racing strategies.

Such boats often use cutting edge technical ideas and so lead the way to new designs for the real thing. Both the swing rig and the bulb keels for racing yachts were developed in this manner.

Local Laugharne Sea Scouts regularly race model 'bottle boats' (so called because they are made from waste products such as fizzy drink bottles, supermarket bags and spent arrow shafts) designed by international designer Roger Stollery, who is uncle to former club member and SSC sail trainee Alfie Hart.

Appropriately for the New Year and the Leap Second referred to earlier, do you know what Harrisson (John not George) was famous for and what was H1?

Skipper's Mate