Well it soon comes round and it does not seem like yesterday since we packed everything away for the winter. There has of course been loads happening down at the club and membership has taken on about 40 new club members and the social scene has transformed to a place where we are not used to having to limit tickets sales.

We have all the rescue ribs waiting and ready to go along with a new engine from Pembrokeshire Sports Boats for the refurbished Dory. The bosun’s locker is ready and waiting for all those repairs to start coming in as I am sure they will and the club has been given a good dose of TLC.

There have been a number of courses happening over the winter period, along with juniors and senior members wishing to improve both their own personal skills and confidence when racing or out on safety duty.

The rowing club has been a dominant force in recent months by using the club nearly every weekend for some form of training or coaching skills and awards by either their own now qualified coaches or the Welsh national rowing coaches.

Jet Ski rescue

It was interesting to hear last weekend that two of the club’s junior members Hywel Jackson and Finley Harrison were involved in a rescue at Burton after they heard a ‘Pan Pan Pan’ call from Milford Haven Coastguard. Apparently, two people on a jetski needed assistance and they were on hand straight away to help before the Angle lifeboat arrived. Obviously, the skills they have learnt at the club and out on the water came in useful at a time when needed to be calm and collected to deal with the situation, well done to them.

Alzheimer’s charity band night

The club hosted a charity night on Saturday and it was standing room only as ‘The Shambolics’ played to a packed audience of supporters. Local ales supplied by the Saundersfoot Brewery were on tap, along with many other beers and SSC labelled wines to suit everyone’s tastes at rock bottom prices. A fantastic evening and well-organised by Dan Mc Dermott who now makes this an annual event to fundraise for a cause that has been close to his family in recent years. Current estimates and the money is still coming in is around £800 raised. See the Facebook pages for more photos and info.

Race season

The first race starts on Sunday, April 3, at 2 pm, and there will be two races with a good turn out predicted.

Pre-season brief

Tonight (Friday, April 1), at 8 pm, John Griffiths, our resident race marshal for the club’s main events, will be giving an overview of how the race organisation happens with an aim to give more club members confidence to take this task on board. Afterwards, there is an excellent buffet planned and catered for by external caterers which is something not to be missed and is free to all club members.cx

Training

There are a number of training sessions being planned this year and more details can be found on the website or by contacting either Jo Musson or Malcolm Williams down at the club. The courses are all very competitively priced and organised by RYA qualified members.

Push the boat out

Once again, the club will be running another session of push the boat out where non-sailors can come along for free and give the sport of sailing a try in any of the club boats with some basic tutoring to see if you would like to take it further.

The date is Friday, May 29, at 6 pm, but we will be giving more information as we get closer. See the website for more details.

Coppet Week

Organisation for this year’s Coppet Week is well underway and we have decided again to cover the clubhouse side with permanent house managers. There will be some very tasty and varied meals to suit everyone’s tastes, including snacks to enjoy throughout the week, along with some excellent entertainment.

The club now has its own guest labelled ales and wines which are proving to be very popular along with a full range of other drinks including many selected non alcoholic beers for those that have to drive in.

More details will follow, but this year is looking to be very popular but please book those boats in soon as the club will be limiting the number to 75 boats. There is already loads of information on the new website so visit there for booking forms and race details.

A Salty Sea Dog