Club Race
I left to attend the club race last Sunday in thick drizzle which hung in the completely lifeless air around home and was pleased to find sunshine and a light breeze waiting at Saundersfoot. Even more pleasing was the sight of six novices enthusiastically rigging their Toppers and Oppies. A further three experienced crews took to the water for a Pendine-Monkstone-Harbour course which sadly proved too much for the novices and nearly for the regulars, as the wind steadily died like a deflating balloon. Even the Phantom was struggling to cross the line finally.
However, a result was achieved with Peter Bower (Phantom) first, Paul Griffiths (Solo) second and Tonia and Julia (Graduate) third. Well done to Tim, Simon, Twm, Finlay, Ollie and Sophie - do keep up the attendance, conditions must be more helpful next time and of course practice can only improve your chances.
Inter-Club Racing
Tomorrow (Saturday) we have the Inter-club event with Tenby with three races back-to-back starting at 12 noon. Come on all you dinghy sailors, aspiring trainees and anyone else, we need to put up a good show against our friendly neighbours. I am not sure if we have a Barmy Army equivalent in Saundersfoot but the honours need to be regained for SSC following the previous few meetings!
There will be a social gathering in the club after racing from around 7.30 pm with free food for all participants - so another incentive to join in. Please support this joint event and help to entertain our visitors.
Saundersfoot Regatta Weekend
Next weekend, August 22- 23, is Saundersfoot Regatta with two races back-to-back starting at 3.30 pm on the Saturday and the Round Caldey race setting off at 11 am on the Sunday. The club will be open for most of the weekend (does Graham ever go to bed?!) with real ale on tap and good food. There will be live entertainment on the Saturday evening - more details next week.
Novices - your
time has come
Now many of our trainees have completed the full week's course and the beginners have had a reasonable period of introduction and practice, we invite you all to join the Sunday racing and extend your enjoyment with this regular friendly competitive sailing. It is nothing too serious or taxing and don't forget there is a new trophy awaiting the best junior beginner racer in the season. The inter-club this weekend will be sailed in the Bay from the Starters Box on the harbour wall so this would also be a good opportunity this Saturday.
Your Club
Needs You
We hope that all members are enjoying club activities and wish to remind you all that things unfortunately do not run themselves. There will be a number of vacancies to be filled on the committee for next year and you are earnestly invited to consider helping in whatever capacity you can. It is said that 'many hands make light work' and if all the jobs are shared out, none is too onerous. We welcome some new faces on the committee to bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm - please give it your consideration. Contact Paul on 814145 or email [email protected]">[email protected] or just have a chat with any committee member over a drink sometime
Club Open
The club is open every weekend on Friday nights from 7.30 pm and on Sundays for lunch between noon and 2 pm, as well as around the varying times of the Sunday club races.
Nautical Nips
SSC club racing last Sunday avoided any clash with Cowes Week which finished the previous Friday, but did coincide with two other major National events.
Firstly, the Fastnet Race which is sailed from Cowes, round the Fastnet Rock off the southern tip of Ireland and back to Plymouth. This is a distance of some 600 miles and attracts an incredible range of boats from around the world. The first race was with seven boats in 1925, but the event is now open to a maximum of 300 boats from 'simple' 30 footers to massive 100 footers in the £m bracket. The range of handicaps mean that the fastest boats have to sail over twice as fast over all the course than the slowest. The start this year was spectacular with this size of fleet all under spinnakers in light winds giving time for maximum spectator benefit.
The other clashing event was of course the The British Open Crabbing Championship held in Walberswick in Suffolk last Sunday! This attracted 1,250 hook danglers of all ages and raised lots of money for charity. I am reminded of the ever hopeful (and rarely rewarded) crabbers who sit expectantly on our sluice wall dangling their lines into the impenetrable murky depths below.
I am amazed that any Harry Potter readers could possibly dare this experience for fears of unimaginable horrors rising from below and grabbing their lines, if not their ankles, and sinking back into the primeval bottomless ooze of the Saundersfoot sluice.
Skipper's Mate