C'est la Vie

Aaaargh! The pain and anguish in the club and throughout the land last Friday night. The French had the hunger, the aggression and the edge and deserved the win, but oh, how close it was in those last minutes. If only... mais, c'est la vie!

Dinghy Racing

Last week's Club Race Officers Course run by the RYA at Teify BC provided a very useful update on why we run races and how to do it properly. It is useful for sailors to understand what is involved with the 'other side of the race' and it is imperative in our situation where (as with most other similar clubs) dinghy sailors undertake race officer and safety duties. Thus we plan to provide in-house updates before the season to refresh members on requirements and procedures. If you want to ensure good and fair racing, please participate in this. (For those who scoff at the need for club race training, you might be interested to know that there is a two-day official RYA course for mark laying - yes, just for mark laying!)

Remember also that we are hosting the International Moths in July when race management standards will need to be faultless, so let's set the top standard from the start.

Our objectives with club racing are to provide enjoyment to the participants, to provide competitive sailing at our club level and to provide opportunity to reminisce in the bar afterwards. We perhaps are not as successful in persuading sailors to get involved in the last aim as we might be - any ideas from members how to improve this?

The RYA also suggests a further objective, which might open a 'can of worms', but which is to provide competition in which sailors stand a fair chance of winning. Where a large proportion of cups are regularly going to a single home, maybe there is a case which would benefit everyone, to 'level the playing field' using personal handicaps. I await the fall-out!

Club News

Have you had the February newsletter by post or email? If not let us know (together with your email if you have one) as it contains much need-to-know information. Please note that both the weekly email news and newsletters will be discontinued to those who have not paid their subscriptions by the end of this month.

Members Welcome Day

New members will be especially welcomed to the club on Saturday, March 21, when lunch will be available, followed by the three matches which may well decide the final positions of the Six Nations rugby, with snacks and the bar open throughout.

Times are: 1.15 pm Italy v France; 3.30 pm England v Scotland; and 5.30 pm Wales v Ireland.

Duties Rota

The duties rota (why isn't it rotum, it's only a single list?) is on the noticeboard and the website and will be emailed this week. If it presents anyone with problems, please communicate these to Tina (811383) or arrange a swap with another duty and confirm the change to Tina.

Working Party for All Members

D for Doing Day is tomorrow (Saturday). Do please attend and assist from 10 am. Food and drink will be available.

Nautical Nips

Did you know your sea areas from last week? The majority of sea areas (25) are bordered by land at some point, but Bailey, Dogger, Faroes, Forties, Sole, and Viking are not.

Different charts of UK sea areas show the junction of Lundy and Irish Sea to be anywhere from St. David's Head to Anglesey, which is somewhat confusing to the navigator! Officially, the meeting point on the Welsh coastline is at 52o 00'N

05o 05'W, which is an obscure headland called 'Penbwchdy' on the west side of Strumble Head, but more practically could be regarded as Fishguard. Weather conditions, of course, have no respect for sea area divisions and when sailing in this general area, the forecast for both areas should be considered.

If anyone would be interested in the co-ordinates for other sea areas, please contact Skipper's Mate.

Whilst you are still thinking of weather, what is the difference between the Beaufort Scale and a Beaumont Period?

Skipper's Mate