Darts

Last Friday's darts fixture against Castle A was anticipated by someone as likely to be a massacre.

In the event we had a very convincing win, but only because, unfortunately, Castle A couldn't get a team together.

This resulted in another unique and unexpected turn of events, in that the team undertook an entire evening's practice (a previously unknown word) instead.

This (Friday) evening we are away to league leaders Tenby Bowling Club, so maybe our avoidance of one massacre may be replaced by a bloodbath.

Sadists may recollect that support to these matches is always welcome.

Sailors Heave Ho

A big thank you to sailors for the excellent turnout last Saturday to help prepare for the new season.

The dinghy park received a fantastic spring clean and you could almost eat your dinner off it now.

A very large quantity of blown sand was recycled back to the beach.

The sailing side is pretty well prepared now, but we still need members to help paint the changing areas inside the clubhouse.

The use of these facilities is enjoyed by many members and this is a plea for your help with the painting sometime during this Saturday. You could then watch the rugby in style afterwards - big screen, warmth, real ale, half-time refreshments.

We await the new sailing season with relish, let's hope the weather plays ball as well - at the time of writing we have an easterly force 5-6 with snow flurries and a chill factor of about -6 degrees.

Cruisers Next

Cruiser owners whose boats are wintering at Saundersfoot need to respond to the lifting-in dates provided by Kelpies (tel. 01646 683661).

The lift-in times and dates are as follows: Friday, March 8, 9 - 12.15 pm (HW 9.49 am); Friday, March 15, 8 -11.30 am (HW 8.29 am); Saturday, March 23, 12.30 - 4.30 pm (HW 3.32 pm); Friday, April 5, 11.30 - 3.30 pm (HW 2.56 pm); Saturday, April 6, 2.30 - 5 pm (HW 4.11 pm); Thursday, April 18, 10 am - 4 pm (HW 12.15 pm) (NEW); Monday, April 29, 8.30 - 11.30 am (HW 9.14 am); Tuesday, April 30, 8.30 - 12.15 am (HW 10.02 am).

Six Nations

Rugby

The Welsh team produced the goods against Scotland last Saturday with a satisfying 10 points win to carry forward to the really big one this Saturday against England.

Besides the score, members in the warmth of our clubhouse were rewarded with sausages, beans and chips, topped off with a fresh donut during half-time, and the sun was kind enough to brighten the scene outside to make a very enjoyable afternoon.

We need to beat England to prevent them taking the Grand Slam, but if Wales can do so by a margin of eight points or more we would take the championship, which would be tremendous. Don't miss the action in the club from kick-off at 5 pm to final whistle, with refreshments at half-time.

In celebration of the importance of this game there will be real ale in the club - don't miss out!

Members, friends and families all welcome.

Saddle Up for

March 23

Don't forget that Tenby SC are welcoming SSC members and friends for the Race Evening in support of the RNLI. First race at 8 pm.

Membership

Renewals are now well overdue and those who have overlooked this necessity will find that the front door combination lock code has now changed.

The new number will be advised on renewal.

RYA 'I Love Sailing' Competition

The RYA is repeating the very successful 'I Love Sailing' photo and video competition between March and August this year.

Each month the two best entries will win a coveted ilovesailing rubber duck and the pics will be featured in the 2014 RYA calendar.

Nautical Nip

Regret is often expressed nowadays at the loss of hand working skills such as traditional boat building, hedge laying, stonework and many other manual crafts.

This reminds me of an insurrection from the younger more hi-tec members of my RYA Yachtmasters course many years ago, who objected to the fiddly manual chart plotting exercises demanded by the syllabus.

They were all experts with GPS, chart plotters and other electronic whizzy navigation aids and opposed the need for all this hand working grind.

The tutor, who in fairness was very familiar and capable with all the electronic gadgets, but was also a traditional old salt and an expert with pencil, chart and Portland plotter (as well as a sextant etc.), challenged them with what they would do out at sea if their batteries failed or there was a hiccough with all their electronic equipment.

The only response was that it doesn't happen!

As the huge asteroid which fortunately has now passed our planet, but which might have threatened our magnetic field and electronics reminds us - it didn't this time, but surely safety in the wild element of the sea is worth a little old-fashioned hard graft?

Skipper's Mate