Fitting Out Supper

The excitement and exuberant mood of the afternoon at Aintree continued last Saturday evening with horse racing in the club. Five races were on the card with eight entries to each and Nearly Honest Ivan was kept busy as the punters queued to place their bets under the watchful eyes of bookies runners - Jackie, Anne-Marie and Liz. Despite the absence of real turf, animals or actual race stands, the video simulation created unfeigned enthusiasm and raised race crowd roars over the last furlong, together with typical track side banter and critical dissection as to why particular horses should have won. Large handfuls of silver changed hands, but nobody lost their shirt or totally cleaned up! All the bookies' cut went to the club which enhanced the benefit of the enjoyment felt by winners and losers alike which was clearly reflected by the total involvement and noisy participation filling the club.

A great supper was provided by Rob and the ladies to ensure fortification for the excitement. The roast pork was all it was cracked up to be - especially the crackling, and the chocolate dessert was a gourmet chance missed by those who did not attend. Many thanks to all the members in the galley.

All in all, it was a very entertaining night and diverted the attention from the continuing lack of sailing weather and absence of action on the 'course' outside the harbour.

Hurrah -

They're Off!

No, not another report on horse racing, but the start of the sailing season at last!

Despite the doom and gloom created by the dismal forecast of strong easterlies picking up again in time for the racing last Sunday afternoon, a few hardy annuals challenged the testing conditions and agreed it would have been better to have ethylene glycol instead of hemoglobin in their veins, but sailed nevertheless.

There were two races planned and with the elements battling to keep the fleet in harbour, it was always going to be a tough decision to get out onto the water, but on this occasion the weather did not win and three competing dinghies and one patrol boat took up the challenge. The wind was gusting 4 to 5 south east with some very heavy swells. A Monkstone, Amroth, Harbour course was set and off they went.

Ben Roberts (Topper) flew off the start line, with Keith Jones (Streaker) in hot pursuit followed by Jamie Roberts (Topper). A good beat to Monkstone split the boats and Keith went ahead leaving Ben and Jamie to follow his lead. The first race finished as a shortened course after two laps, with Keith the eventual winner, Ben in second after a good tussle with Jamie in third.

The second race started in equally blustery conditions and was won by Keith with the other positions in the same order as the previous race.

A big thank you to Phil Barlow who has only just regained the use of his freezing cold feet and Steve Cavel who kept watch on the competitors from a very cold rescue boat and who were possibly more relieved that the race had finished than the sailors! Thanks also to Graham, our bosun, for having the patrol boats all ready and kitted out with fuel etc for us to just step into in these challenging conditions. 

The race officials were Paul Johnson, assisted by his new OOD trainee Mick Lightwood.

The next race in the so-called 'Warm-Up' series is at 9.30 am next Sunday.

Darts

Darts last Friday were replaced by a pre-Grand National sweepstake in which the club's ladies' selections pretty much swept the board during a pleasant social evening.

The darts team's next match is tonight (Friday) when they take on Evergreen away.

Procul Harum

The changing rooms are now resplendent in a whiter shade of pale cream following the painting by a devoted gang of members - thanks everyone! More improvements to follow shortly to upgrade the ladies hand basin plumbing (presumably this will be reported under the heading The Kinks!)

Cruiser Lift In

As I write, cruiser 'lifting in' is planned to be started this week - unless monsoons follow the awful easterlies!

WYA Appointment

A new club development officer is being sought by the WYA for the West Wales region, with the main role of supporting clubs, sailing programmes and volunteers in our region. A 25-hour a week job starting at £12,500 pa.

More details can be obtained from Steven Morgan on 01248 670738. For an application pack, e-mail [email protected]">[email protected] or call Ceri Yeomans on 01248 670738. Closing date 29th April 29.

Skipper's Mate