Award and

Prize-Evening

The separation of this occasion from the Laying Up Supper proved a definite success with a full attendance and a most enjoyable evening last Saturday. A great team of members managed the bar and kitchen and provided an excellent buffet which was appreciated by all and which conveniently interspersed the training presentations and the prize-giving. Club funds were supported by a raffle with thanks to Keith Jones who provided a number of generous prizes. All in all, this was a great addition to the club's calendar of events.

Sail Training Awards

Sail training awards were presented by principal Paul Johnson and assistant Tim Harrison. Clearly it has been an excellent season for training with a good spread of juniors and adults receiving RYA certificates and being enthused with the sport. We look forward to them graduating into club racing in order to develop their competence and enjoyment further. Details of awards are as follows:

RYA Youth Stage 1 and 2 - Eugene Prout, Carla and Kate Harrison, Kellis Davies, James Munford, Ryan Kenyon, Angus Paget, Declan Punter, Jacob Davies, Samuel Davies, Elis Lloyd and Paris Capel.

Youth Stage 3 - Owen and Aled Llewellyn Jones, Georgia Evans.

Youth Stage 3 and 4 - Lowri Luxton, Eugene Prout, James Crowney-Richards.

James Crowney Richards also achieved Adult Level 2 and Seamanship Skills.

Eugen Prout also achieved Seamanship Skills and Day Sailing.

RYA Adult Level 1 and 2 - David Lloyd, Ryan Punter, Barbara Shaw-Preedy.

Adult Level 3 and Sailing with Spinnakers - Daniel Davies.

Adult Level 1, 2, 3, Seamanship Skills and Day Sailing - Peter Ordway, Steve Cavell, Andy Paget.

RYA Powerboat Level 2 - Ben Dancer, Phil Barlow, Ian Myers.

RYA Assistant Instructors - Rachel Tudor, Mick Lightwood, Phil Barlow, Richard Edmunds.

A special series of more light-hearted awards were then presented by Tim - details to be included next week.

Prize-Giving

A most alluring array of cups, trophies and awards awaited members who had achieved success on the water this season. (Thanks to Graham whose elbow grease had polished many of them!) We are most fortunate as a club to have such a magnificent collection of trophies. Presentation in the absence of Commodore David James was undertaken by John Griffiths (trustee) and Graham Wellman (sailing captain).

Whilst we do have a majority of male sailors, we have observed during the Olympics that the ladies are just as capable, and the club's Lady Helm trophy endorses this with Katie Hayden (Bower) being this year's winner in the Laser 2000. Amongst the up and coming juniors, Ben Roberts (Oppie) took the magnificent wooden Lady Merthyr trophy winning the junior helm.

A number of special prizes are awarded to encourage and reward particular achievements, namely: best junior newcomer - Eugene Prout (Topper), best adult newcomer - Steve Cavell (Topper), most improved junior - James Crowney (Topper), most races sailed throughout the season - Rachel Tudor (Topper), longest cruise - Ray and Dot Smith (Spartacus), Down The Pan Award for the most spectacular capsizes - Mick Lightwood (oloS - well it was upside down!).

Awards were also made for the Pursuit Race held during our annual regatta in August ,with David Plester (Solo) first, Paul Johnson (Solo) second and Peter Bower (Phantom) third.

In the overall club championship competition, Rachel Tudor maintained the honour of the ladies by coming seventh overall, taking first place in the Topper fleet and securing both the Junior and Lady Champion awards.

In sixth place and also recognised as the most improved adult sailor was Mick Lightwood (Laser 2000). In fourth place overall Paul Johnson (Solo), in third place and first in the Solo fleet Paul Griffiths and in second place overall and winner of the fast fleet Peter Bower (Phantom).

The 2012 club champion and first in the slow fleet, also taking four of the special cup races and winning all the individual Warm-up, Mid and Late Season groups of races was Keith Jones (Streaker).

Keith then graciously gave a vote of thanks to all the members whose help and support is essential to run the sailing programme, together with all the clubhouse workers who were vital for the important social side of the club.

He recorded his pleasure and satisfaction of having been taught to sail in the club's training programme and then gaining experience and competence over recent seasons finally culminating in achieving this year's champion position against many of his mentors.

The evening's celebrations then continued with lively social interaction and of course the inevitable recollections and dissection of the activities of the season and speculation for the future. A great club evening of members and for members!

FrostBite Series

Maybe it was the frustration of no sailing for the last two Late Season sessions or maybe it was the fantastic array of trophies that had been distributed the night before which motivated them, but competitors appeared like greyhounds out of their traps for the first two frostbite races last Sunday. Sixteen boats came to the start and there was some really keen racing supervised by race officer Paul Johnson who set a Pendine, Amroth, harbour course in rather slight breeze but pleasant, sunny and warm conditions.

In the first, Peter Bower (Phantom) showed daughter Katie and the rest of the fleet that he 'still had it in him' by taking the win. David Plester (Solo) was second with Paul and Julia Griffiths (RS200) nudging his transom just five seconds behind. Mark and Debbie Tissiman (Fireball) were fourth and Katie and James Hayden (RS200) fifth.

Even closer competition followed in the second race with Mark and Debbie crossing the line well ahead and taking the win on handicap with David again taking second but this time with Peter merely one second behind on handicap. There was a real ding-dong between the two RS200s with Paul and Julia just taking fourth, but only 11 seconds ahead of Katie and James.

Everyone would be pleased if the winter sailing continued along the same enjoyable lines!

Darts

Sadly we had to give Cresselly Cricket Club a bye last Friday, with too many of our regular players away. Maybe they had a lucky escape - you can choose which 'they' this refers to!

Tonight (Friday), we have the opportunity to hone our skills with a practice as there is no league match.

Cruisers Winter Storage

Cruiser owners were relieved to have confirmation that lift out and storage arrangements have been finalised for this winter. SHC has awarded the contract to Kelpies, of Pembroke Dock, who are investing in new equipment to be able to lift out of the water and from the dry so that more can be lifted in a day.

Their charges are set 'to be comparable with other local services' at £3 per foot for lifting and 55p per week for storage. They will be offering other services of pressure washing, engine maintenance, etc.

All berth holders will be contacted shortly and lift out is hoped to commence in week beginning October 15.

Laying-Up Supper

Now that we have had the prize giving this is a reminder that the Laying-Up Supper will be held at 7.30 pm on Saturday, November 17.

Skipper's Mate