Nearly there now folks, the weather looks better, the clocks have changed, the cruisers outside the clubhouse are shedding their winter coats and several anti-fouled speckled faces were even seen in the clubhouse over the weekend.

It can only mean one thing, that the season is upon us and indeed the first dinghy race of the year is this Sunday, even though there is little sign of activity in the dinghy park as yet, so I hope it's all where you left it last time!  

There has even been that most welcome sign of spring, the first dinghy on the water for a sneaky practice; that honour this year goes to Peter Bowers in his Phantom and I am delighted to report that he will be joining us for the season if he can sneak away from his foreman Wendy and his little DIY project. 

That first race of the Warm-Up Series is for the UDT Trophy, with a 2 pm start, to allow time for that fitting-out hangover to clear a little and for all you sailors to find those elusive bits of gear and sailing kit, and for the officials to remember which way up to tie the flags and where the kill-cord goes.

This is the club's 60th diamond jubilee season, so watch this space for further details and to kick things off, get an order in for your jubilee sailing cap as stocks are limited and this quality item of kit will undoubtedly be in great demand. 

In preparation for this big year, the clubhouse itself is being spruced up and is looking good as the works on new windows and painting near the end, so come on down get that cover off and make the most of what promises to be a great season both on and off the water

 New Racing Rules

It appears that most sailors and race officers have already bought and digested the new racing rules, judging by the disappointing number who attended the training on the changes contained in them held last weekend.

The outcome on the water could be interesting at the first mark. I won't spoil the fun by spilling the beans on the changes here as that would be unfair to those who have either read them or did turn up, but they will be mentioned in later press reports, and a fun video rules quiz is planned once things are really up and running again.

 

Fitting-Out

Supper

Don't miss one of the highlights of the year starting at 7.30 pm tomorrow (Saturday). Get your seats early, it is bound to be full. Graham will be producing one of his excellent buffets and we hope to have real ale on at the bar.  There will be live entertainment to enhance the proceedings.

 

Sail Training

Intermediates - your first session is tomorrow (Saturday) and we hope you all have completed the paperwork with Tina before arriving.

For those interested in sailing, but wondering what it's all about, there is a 'taster' session just for you on Saturday, April 25, with beginners training starting at 10.30 am on Saturday, May 30. Full beginners programme now on the noticeboard and the website http://www.saundersfootsailingclub.org.uk">www.saundersfootsailingclub.org.uk.

 Club News

Your weekly email news and newsletters are about to cease if you have not yet paid this year's subscription, so please, with the racing season upon us and the stir of activity in the dinghy park, get your renewal form in to Trevor as soon as possible.

 

Nautical Nips

As a diversion from the normal nautical nips, I file a brief report on the sailing meeting that took place at the start of the month on Wednesday night last week, at which the impact of the credit crunch on sailing and the club's activities was discussed. 

As we all know, whilst sailing can appear to be an expensive sport, it is actually possible to get yourself sorted out with a small dinghy and reasonable sailing kit for far les than the price of a set of golf clubs. 

But to encourage more competitors to take up the sport, changes have been introduced to the handicap system for this season which will see boats worth less than £2,000 sailing off the standard RYA yardstick, and boats worth more than £2,000 having the yardstick reduced by 10 points for every extra £1,000 of their value. 

It is hoped that this change, which came into force at the start of this month, will attract more newcomers into the sport, acknowledge the age of the boats (if not the sailors) afloat and reduce the impact of cheque book sailing in these financially difficult times.

 

Skipper's Mate is away on holidays and normal service will be resumed next week.