Prize-Giving

Evening

A bumper evening was enjoyed by many members last Saturday when awards for both sail training graduates and club racing competitors were combined for the first time in a separate event from the end of season Laying Up Supper.

Sail Training

Awards

Sail training principal Paul Johnson and his well-organised team of supporting volunteers deserve many congratulations for their training efforts this year which resulted in a very impressive number of juniors and adults receiving RYA certificates and awards. It appeared to be almost an international sailing school this year with a real mix of nationalities taking part! Paul reported on the details of training this year and Commodore David James handed out the awards. In the junior section, 16 achieved RYA Youth Stage 1, seven RYA Youth Stage 2, three RYA Youth Stage 3 and four RYA Youth Stage 4. It was also pleasing to see a larger than usual number of adults learning to sail - many with children in the juniors. We hope that we can retain their interest to continue sailing and racing with the club each week next season. Seven adults achieved RYA Adult Level 1 and six RYA Adult Level 2. In addition, three members acquired RYA Seamanship Skills Certificates, seven RYA Start Racing Certificates and four Sailing with Spinnakers. So there is a good potential to apply all these new skills next year.

Of special note were juniors Hywel Jackson for best junior newcomer and Aled Llewellyn Jones who was best junior improver in the club and who received the Angela Hollies Trophy.

Club Sailing Awards

Whilst sailors are a hardy lot and focused on a sport frequently beset by challenging weather conditions, everyone felt that this season had been so much more enjoyable with its sunshine and more normal temperatures than the previous soggy grey seasons we have endured recently.

Over the season, some 40 different people sailed at one time or another in 17 different classes of dinghies reflecting the wide variety of our club racing. Average turnout was about 10 boats with a fleet of 15 on some Sundays and a few more for the Pursuit race over Regatta Weekend.

Sailing captain Alan Lambert highlighted the details of the season and Commodore David James again did the honours presenting the many awards. Thanks to John Griffiths for crunching the numbers.

As a club, we are fortunate in having a tremendous wealth of trophies which have been provided over the years. We have eight special trophies for individual races. Keith Jones (Streaker) won the UDT and Daffodil Trophies and the Royal Marines Cup, Paul Johnson (Solo) won the Lloyds Edwards Cup, James and Katie Hayden (RS200) won the ETM Stephens Cup and David Plester (Solo) the Jollity Cup.

Rachel Tudor (Topper) received the Stanley Edwards Cup for winning the Lady Helm race and Ben Roberts (Topper) the beautiful Lady Merthyr Trophy for the Junior Helm race.

Our main season of 41 planned races is divided into three series. Keith Jones took the David Randles Trophy and the Beatrice Roberts Cup for winning both the Warm Up and Mid Season Series, with David Plester (Solo) receiving the Harry Hooper Cup for taking the Late Season Series.

Awards were presented for the very popular Pursuit Race which was held during the Saundersfoot Regatta and was won by Paul and Julia Griffiths (RS200), with David Plester second and Mark and Debbie Tissiman (Fireball) third.

There were a number of special awards including the Thomas Challenge Cup for the Most Improved Adults (or perhaps most reduced level of argument?) which went to Paul and Julia Griffiths sailing the RS200 together this season for the first time! Keith Jones received the Stewards Shield for the most races sailed, missing only a single race during the entire season. Martin Andrews (Solo) was presented with the auspicious Toilet Seat for the Down The Pan Award for achieving the most persistent capsizes.

In the cruisers, Ray and Dot Smith (Spartacus) received the Denekamp Shield for the longest voyage and John and Tonia Griffiths (Sherpa Mor) were awarded for the Most Days Afloat achieving a record 54 in the season. This is not to say that other cruisers failed to stay afloat, but merely undertook fewer voyages!

Within the full season club championship, Julia Griffiths took the Gulf Oil Cup as Lady Champion, Mick Lightwood lifted the Leonard Warden Trophy as top Laser sailor, Ben Roberts was awarded the Cliff Hitchings Shield as best Topper and the Rhoda Davies Bowl as Junior Champion. Peter Bower achieved top place in the fast fleet and was third in the championship overall thus taking the Vic Morris Cup. Second overall were Paul and Julia Griffiths. Leading the slow fleet to receive the Bromley Trophy and Club Champion 2013 winning the Samantha Stephens Trophy was Keith Jones in his Streaker.

Keith kindly thanked all the many helpers and supporters who make the sailing possible and all present then enjoyed a great buffet.

Frostbite Series

The first two races in the new autumn series start at 12 noon this Sunday.

Social Programme

The 'Cafe d'or' (clubhouse!) will be open for coffee and chat this Thursday at 10.30 am. Everyone welcome. 

The next event will then be the Thank You Evening for all members and everyone who has given support to the club over the season. This is at 7.30 pm on Saturday, October 19. 

AGM

At the conclusion of an excellent year for the club, it is easy to relax and expect the same to follow for next year. However, nominations for officers to help run the club next year are urgently needed ahead of the AGM on Sunday, November 17. All posts are open for election so members should not assume that new committee members are not needed.

Skipper's Mate