News, views & information from Weir Wood Club

Issue 5 Autumn/Winter 2010 The Open Season Oppy Club through the Summer RS 100 Inaugural Championships photos by kind permission of David Harding Lessons from the Nationals at www.SailingScenes.com of the Clubs future success. We are deeply indebted to all of the team who work so hard to make it work. So if you see Harrington, Richard Haw, Richard Baker, John Hamilton around the Club then shake their hand and say thank you. I had the privilege of spending a day with our Oppi team at Portland for the Nationals at the end of July which was a wonderful experience. Just seeing 450 Oppy sails on the water at the same time was great. Please put Dec 5 in your diaries for the AGM as you will hear a lot more about Youth Sailing development there as there are a

! Simon Davis number of very exciting initiatives in the air. A flourishing Oppi Club has benefits for all of those involved From the Commodore’s Desk throughout the year but it has important implications for the future of the Club. Often those involved in their Simon Davis formative years either develop and stay with the Club or A “Cosy” Chat from the Commodore. they develop but take a positive opinion of WWSC into the I’m writing this part of my ‘chat’ while enjoying Chichester wider world, often coming back after University and work. Fed week – from the pleasure of my office chair! It’s been a We have ‘golden generations’ of sailors from the past, some funny summer in that respect, dry for long periods without of whom grace leader boards in sail racing all over the world the searing heat that we had for a number of summers in the and participate in our races every week. I’m not going to early noughties. The wind has been pretty reasonable and mention any by name because I’m bound to leave one or two the water level has held and warmed up very quickly this out and end up doing more harm than good! Nonetheless year. Oppi and then the fast developing Youth section will provide precisely those sorts of stars of the future that are so I was asked recently why the water level was so high in the well thought of now. reservoir and answered that Southern Water were probably pumping water in from the acquifers. This subsequently The last week of August saw National competitions all over turned out to be incorrect when I checked with them and the UK and, despite the variable weather with lost days they have not pumped any water in at all but said that the through too much wind in the South, lost days through too water table was holding up after a very wet and late spring. little wind at the RS200 Nationals at North Berwick, it must Oppi camp this year was a stunner. Fully booked well in have been one of the best weeks for results for the Club for advance with fantastic support we had our first overseas some time. At the Nationals at Mounts Bay we had; team of 6 from Seoul in South Korea this year. Was so 2nd Standard Laser Simon Barrington2nd much joy and fun ever had by so many people over 5 days at Jon Emmett WWSC before? Oppi Club and Oppi Camp are two of the 1st Grand Master Chris Fyans great achievements of Weir Wood SC and the foundation 1st Grand Grand Master Tony Boulton At the Laser 2000 Nationals at Sidmouth we had: 2nd Rob and Katy Burridge Dates at a Glance 3rd Jon Holroyd and Jane Rusbatch Sailing Events 6th Tim and Linda Hulley Spring 2010 9th October InterClub at Bough Beech And WWSC were the best represented Club at those 14th October Laser Fast and Furious Nationals. 24th October Winter Draws On A WWSC team with Ernie Hatton, Jon Ching, Paul and

Afloat Peter Jenkins was 2nd in the RS Elite Nationals, sailing 13th March 2011 RS200 Training Day “Activ3g” and having not sailed the boat before the spring! 2 Social Events They were only beaten by a local team from Lymington and beat the team from RS! Fantastic achievement for what is a 11th December Christmas Dinner really a family team. Annual General Meeting I can’t leave the ‘Chat’ without mentioning someone who 5th December at 2pm (See enclosed Notice) should be an example to all of us with his sailing. Sailing Write them in your diaries NOW Secretary David Giles called tactics on the Laser SB3 skippered by Olympic sailor Sarah Allen to 4th in the SB3 worlds and was 5th in the RS200 Eurocup at Garda. The reason I use him as inspiration is that and people have all sorts of essentials the full splendour of a wonderful in one of the daily race reports from to cover before they get to sailing. evening and sunset at Weir Wood but Garda the race report read ‘David Nonetheless we are doing well thanks, was royally entertained by the Sussex Giles … rolled back the years…’ What in no small part, to the success of Concert band. I was not the only one nonsense passes for lazy journalism our top sailors like Ben Ainslie who mumbling the words I did know to these days! David is absolutely at the provides inspiration to many a young Jerusalem at the top of my voice as the top of his game, probably enjoying his sailor. We are making a number of sun went down over the western shore! sailing as much as ever and whipping changes before the next membership For all of those who were there it was the youngsters lower down the fleet. cycle like introducing Direct Debits so superb entertainment at a price that David is a couple of days older than me that lazy people like me don’t actually could be no barrier to any member and my view there is always hope for have to do anything to rejoin! On the and the Social Committee should be me yet! Going back to the Youth issue issue of membership Lynn Sandhu has fulsomely thanked and congratulated. David’s view is there is no substitute decided to step down after running The problem was there were only for an early start on the water, so let that side of the Club for a number of about 50-60 of us there! David Giles and his achievements in years. Lynn can’t do that fully until we I provided a summer Sunday BBQ in the sport be your inspiration. have found someone to replace her. So June in the hope, forlorn as it turned we are looking for a new Membership There is good news for those of you out, of encouraging families down to Sec to take over. If you would like to be who have no intention of racing the water at lunchtime and making a involved in one of the most important but would like to potter around the day of it. Forlorn it was because only roles in the Club then please let any wonder that is Weir Wood reservoir 6 people actually turned out. In spring member of the Committee know. of a sunny afternoon. Mike Summers only 13 turned out for a talk by one of is hoping to set up a cruising group Gripes Britain’s best sailors explaining what and has put forward some great you need to do to succeed in sailing Being Commodore isn’t all a cakewalk ideas. If you would like more details and a quiz night that required a lot of and there are a small number of then contact Mike on 01342 324793 effort only attract 20 people. recurrent issues that really do annoy. or e-mail [email protected] We have cancelled the planned Barn Talking of long term issues I have The first is the old chestnut of duties. Dance in September because we do been in conversation recently with our Duties are an unavoidable necessity not wish to risk the fee which would Landlord and I would like to thank of private Clubs such as ours. We be forfeit to the band and caller if we Michael for being both accessible could not run the events we do on 3 didn’t have people there on the night. and incredibly supportive of the Club days of the week (in summer) without since he took over. He sees his and members doing duties. Furthermore The issue is that the Club only gets our interests as being very closely we agree to doing duties as a condition the Social events it deserves. If Club aligned both now and in the future and of membership of the Club. It is members vote with their collective working with him has genuinely been a therefore incredibly annoying to Dick feet and don’t support Social events it pleasure. As you may remember one of Lankaster, me and all participants means there won’t be any Social events my stretch objectives as Commodore when members simply do not turn up and we are rapidly heading that way. Afloat was to either fully redevelop or even for duties. There have been a couple This would be a hugely retrograde re-build the Clubhouse. Michael has, of occasions this season when we step in my opinion so can I ask you to in principal, agreed to our request have almost not been able to run races support the Social Committee before

because either one of the Race Hut or they give up in disgust.

to extend our lease which opens the Spring 2010 rescue boats team have failed to turn possibility of this stretch objective Lastly – good news. There has been up. There are few sanctions we can put becoming possible. These are early a noticeable improvement in on- forward to prevent this and continue days but the committee have already water behaviour recently with even to rely on the public spiritedness of started work on the ideas that have recidivists* doing their turns when the vast majority to allow the Club to been put forward. If you have ideas caught. If this continues then the function. If you cannot for one reason yourself or have the sort of skills we Sailing Sec will not have to take further or another do a duty then please find might need to provide for the next action! If not then talk of a Protest 3 someone on Dutyman to take your generations of sailors at Weir Wood Committee has even been heard. This place. then please let me have them. would be another retrograde step. Secondly and another old chestnut – Membership has done well this year *recidivism- the habit of relapsing into Social events. In June I spent one of and we continue to work hard in this crime area despite the recession. Let’s face the most memorable evenings of my it, sailing is never going to be a cheap entire life at the Picnic & Prom. For sport at even the most basic level £5 not only was I able to appreciate Sailing Secretaries Scribblings

David Giles This is the time of year when many of Weir Wood members are off attending their class championships. For those skilled enough to win, their names will become immortalised on the club Honours Board but if not I hope the championship week was enjoyable and lessons learned for next time around. Results I have heard of to date are in the Laser 2000 Nationals at Sidmouth Rob and Kate Burridge were second, John Holroyd and Jane Rusbatch third with Tim and Linda Hulley fifth. In the Laser Nationals held at Mounts Bay Simon David Giles Barrington was second in the standard rig with Jon Emit % second in the radial rig. David Giles was part of the crew that were placed fourth in the Laser SB3 worlds in Lake Garda and members “buddying” up with a less experience member to teamed up with Fiona Clark to be placed fifth in the RS 200 offer advice and tips to help them improve. In the afternoon Europeans at the same venue. it’s everyone form themselves with the Sailing Secretary’s pint of beer for the overall winner! Our club Lasers will be On the home front since the last magazine letter Weir Wood made available for club members without a Laser who want has hosted open meetings for the and radials, to join in. Please let me know in advance any member who is the Laser 2000, the RS 200 and the . All these interested in borrowing one. events were run by our elite race teams who carried out a top professional job. Sadly the wind let us down at the Laser open There will be an RS 200 training day Sunday 13th March 2011. but for all the others the weather conditions were superb and The RS 200 is going great guns at Weir Wood with 9 home I am sure visitors went away vowing to come back in 2011. boats at the recent RS 200 open meeting. We are expecting Reports form these events can be found later in the magazine. 3 more to join the class this winter making it the one of the largest classes at the club now. The new club Lasers continue to be well utilised both for training and racing. There is now a fifth Laser that the club Please note that there will be three morning races on a has bought. Thanks largely to Chris Hopkins, youth training Sunday for the Lasers. The third race is just for fun and put on the Laser’s continues to be run along side on for those hardy types who believe that two races in the club with ex oppy sailors getting their first experience of a freezing cold and rain is just not enough. There will no series larger boat under the watchful eye of a club instructor. This attached to the third race. training is free to club members including the use of a club That’s about it for now. Plenty going on. See you on the water, boat. Check out the club web site for more details. More experienced club members can use the Lasers to join in club racing on a Sunday morning. For this there is a £10.00 charge. Latest Bird News at Weir Wood The Winter Racing Programme is being finalised as I write this. Each member will get a copy with their club magazine. Ed Please notice the Winter Draws On club open handicap event Whilst sailing most of us are too focused on what we on Sunday 24th October. This will be run by one of our elite are doing to pay much attention to the wildlife that is all race teams and there will be a prize giving at the end of the around us. But for those interested two muntjac deer seen Spring 2010

day. Entry is free for club members. There will be numerous on the north bank on Oppy Camp Sunday. 25 nests in the spot prizes for those outside the top few places including the heronry at the west end with a successful breeding season. Endeavor (for the last placed boat having completed all the More unusual birds seen since spring include common races) and the Duckhams award (for the biggest bloomer of crane, purple (just bred for first time in UK near the day) so please come and support the event. The format

Afloat Dungeness), Snow Goose, Egyptian Goose, Opsrey and will be two handicap races in the morning, one of which Black tern. may be discarded, and a non discardable pursuit race in the 4 A pair of Barn Owls have successfully bred for the first time afternoon. for many years also at the west end. The Interclub takes place on Saturday 9th October at And we have a mysterious black unidentified four legged Bough Beech Sailing club with Weir Wood again defending creature about the size of a Labrador on the north bank champions both in youth and seniors. There is a Laser Fast near buoy 4. It was seen by Ann Lankester whilst racing on and Furious day on Sunday 14th with particular emphasis a Wednesday evening. She was so mystified that she asked on helping new/less experienced members. In the morning Dick to go round the buoy again so that she could get a the format will be multiple short races with experienced club better look. You can guess the response! Laser Ramblings

Olly Star man on home waters over the summer was David Binding who has been unstoppable – except when he’s caught infringing one rule or another. Comedy moment of the summer - unless your name is Geoffrey or Matt - was provided by Bill who got muddled up between a real Laser and an RC Laser when giving room on mark F, not once but twice in the same race. Here are the results: ! Jean Chisnall Early Summer: Summer: 1. Bill Stean 1. David Binding 2. Peter Meares3. 2. Paul Luttman Social News 3. James Meares 3. Geoffrey Bush Mid Summer: Late Summer: Jean Chisnall 1. Chris Spencer-smith 1. David Binding We enjoyed the customary Picnic and Proms on 26 June. 2. James Meares 2. Bill Stean The weather was fantastic and about 60 folk came and 3. David Binding 3. Simon Barrington soaked up the atmosphere, enjoyed their BBQ’s and all sorts of other food and drink. This year we were entertained by Like a crate of fine wine, the fleet seems to be improving with the Mid Sussex Concert Band who played a wide variety of age. Before I had a sojourn team racing Fireflies, I’m sure I numbers including many favourites. They finished with a remember being within a leg or two of the winners of a race. “Last Night of the Proms” medley with sea songs and Rule Now, no chance. Britannia. Everyone was in good voice even if they didn’t To confirm my strong belief that everyone else has got better know all the words! They even had a stand in conductor while I’ve got no worse, WWSC Laser sailors have done us waiting in the wings. (See Back Cover) proud battling foreign opposition. Rory and Bill head up The Laser 2000 Open hosted an evening BBQ and dance in the South Eastern Radial series with one race to go. In the July. Weather again was ideal and we enjoyed a superb BBQ Standards, David Giles currently leads with Matt not far off in catered for by Tim Maudant and his professional catering third. And of the top ten, six are from Weir Wood. The last team which included on the menu trout from Weir Wood Open of the season is at Bewl on the 19th September caught and supplied by Michael Evans. Delicious! Dancing On the national stage, Pete Young was eighth at the Masters, was to a local covers band, Driftwood. A most enjoyable while WWSC got three champions from three entries to the evening. Nationals (Simon was top Apprentice Master and a fantastic We have catered for Wednesday evening après sail again second overall, Chris F was top grandmaster and Tony was and thanks to Gill, Simon, Debbie and David, Ann and Dick, top great grandmaster). And as I write, Team Weir Wood Dil and Lynn and Annabel and Emily for sharing the load. (Chris F, David B, Paul, Simon B and Pete) is undergoing final Menus have included gulash, pork, chicken, chilli, spaghetti, preparations for the Masters Worlds in Hayling. Afloat paella, tagine, and more trout from Weir Wood. Can’t England expects. believe it’s all over again. Roll on next year. To celebrate all this and to ensure this lot don’t keep all their Based on the great response generally to Social events last secrets to themselves, a weekend of Laser excitement is planned year we booked a Barn Dance for September. Unfortunately for the 13th/14th November. Curry on the Saturday night and Spring 2010 there was very little interest shown and we had to cancel the fast and furious and race training on the Sunday. There must be event. This raises the issue about what sort of social events 100 Lasers in the dinghy park. It would be great to see a decent members want. In order to start thinking about next year fraction of them on the water. And we have four training boats can folk please get in touch with me with their ideas. If you for anyone wanting to try out Laser racing for the day (send me don’t want any social events that are not directly associated an email to book, first priority to youths). Details to follow via with a sailing event please say so, so that at least we know email. As always, email me with suggestions, questions etc. where we stand and we are not wasting energy dreaming [email protected] 5 up ideas that will not be supported. E-mail me at chisnall@ globalnet.co.uk or phone 020 8668 0869 The traditional Christmas Dinner is on 11th December. Put it in your diaries now and watch out for the ticket adverts. We have had just about a full house for the last few years so get in quick. Music this year by Alter Ego who some of you Olly Bush know and have listened to on the local circuit. A Weir Wood SC RS 200 Open Meeting 2010.

David Giles

! RS 200 Open

Weir Wood held its annual RS 200 open on Sunday 11th July 2010. The God’s have smiled on this particular event for the several years running now, but this year they positively beamed. The weather was unbroken sunshine with temperatures in the high twenties and a steadily building south westerly breeze that by the afternoon was gusting up to 18 knots. Having tried hard to advertise the event it was very gratifying to have an entry of 24 which included 9 home boats. Principal race officers, Ernie Hatton and Peter Clifton, were able to set Windward/Leeward courses for the scheduled four races which included a leeward gate. The races were timed to run approximately an hour for the leading boat. Race one was away promptly at 11.00 am with a slight committee boat bias to the line. The breeze was the lightest of the day at about 8 knots and there were some considerable variations in direction as the small gusts blew through. First around the windward buoy were David Giles and Verity Hopkins from WWSC. When Giles mistook the outer distance buoy for the leeward mark and dropped his spinnaker several other competitors took advantage, in particular Steve Restall and Judy Restall from Downs sailing club and Hector and Ben Cisneros from sailing club. Restall built up a comfortable lead over Cisneros in second while several others scrapped it out for third. In the end Giles just pipped Mike Chapman and Sheridan Killwick from Bexhill on the finish line to claim third. Race two again got away cleanly first time. The bias had moved to the pin end of the line as the south westerly breeze gradually built and generally swung a little more southerly. Juliet Charles and Alice Kingsnorth from BVSC had the best start and rounded just ahead of Cisneros and Restall. The girls more that held their own during the longest race of the day and although pushed constantly by Restall and Cisneros held on for a narrow victory.

Spring 2010 At lunch the overall placings were delicately poised. Restall held a narrow lead form Cisneros with

Charles only a short way behind. Giles only had an outside chance having recorded a 12th in the second race. The third race was again a clean start from a start line that was becoming increasingly more pin end

Afloat bias. Giles now sailing with Fiona Clark( who had been representing England in a 10km run in the morning) was the first boat able to tack onto port after the gun to take advantage of a large port tack 6 shift which almost allowed the fleet to reach the windward mark in one. Showing good boat speed down wind but poor tactical judgment Giles choose the left leeward gate mark while most of the other competitors choose the more favoured right leeward gate mark. Restall took the lead followed by Cisneros, Charles and John Ramshaw and Mark Harrington from WWSC. Restall rounded the second windward buoy first while Cisneros and Ramshaw had a coming together resulting in penalty turns for Cisneros which allowed Giles through to second. On the last downwind leg Giles just managed to get to leeward of Restall and sail him past the lay line for the leeward buoy. Rounding in the lead Giles hung on to the finish followed by Restall, Charles and Ramshaw. Going into the last race four boats could still win. Restall held the advantage with a 1, 2 and 3, Charles was second with 1, 3 and 6 with Cisneros third with 2,2 and 7. Giles still had an outside chance with 1, 3 and 12 but had to win the last race. With the wind gusting up to 18 kts it was going to be an exciting last race. The line was again pin bias and Restall got away most cleanly tacking onto port as soon as possible. In the end those that held on to starboard a little longer gained most with Charles and Cisneros rounding at the same time in the lead. Large gains were to made downwind now by being first into the squally gusts that regularly came through the race course. Giles made gains after a poor start to round the leeward mark 4th behind Restall, Charles and Cisneros. Giles pulled through to second upwind but could find no way through Restall. On the final % RSw 200 Open downwind leg Giles found a particularly good gust on the left of the course and eased ahead of Restall who had gone more right. It finished Giles, Restall, Cisneros and Charles giving Giles overall victory on the count back system for breaking a tie. As ever with our elite race team the results were ready soon after the racing was finished. Particular thanks for this must go to Barbara Hatton who ran the entry/ results side of the day. A complete set of results is published below. Outside the top three, spot prizes were awarded for first master, Mike Chapman, first youth Matthew Giles, Endurance award for the lowest placed boat having completed all four races Dan Hawkins and the Duckhams award for the biggest bloomer of the day Greg Caldwell. Greg was in line to win the endurance award but with just a little way to go in the fourth race retired and so became ineligible to receive it.

RS 200 Open Results

Club HelmName CrewName Pos’n

WWSC David Giles Verity Hopkins / Fiona Clark 1 Downs SC Steve Restall Judy Restall 2 Burghfield SC Hector Cisneros Ben Cisneros 3 BVSC Juliet Charles Alice Kingsnorth 4 Bexhill Mickie Chapman Sheridan Killwick 5 WWSC John Ramshaw Mark Harrington 6 Wembley SC Rob Junering Charlotte Cater 7 WWSC John Clifton Caroline Clifton 8 Afloat Castaways David Beany John Beaney 9 Littleton SC Tim Lewis Elliot Lewis 10 Littleton SC Martin Vinson Heidi Vinson 11

WWSC Jonny Coate Kate Phillips 12 Spring 2010 WWSC Marin Pascoe Julie Pasco 13 WWSC Janine Blundell Mo Fitzpatrick 14 Littleton SC Sue Antonelli Dan Goodman 15 AltonWaterSC/BoshamSC Alice Brotchie Jane Turner 16 WWSC Matt Giles George Peters 17 WWSC David Ramshaw Miriam Ramshaw 18 7 RYA Nigel Harniman Emma Harniman 19 Chipstead SC Neil Bond Jo Bond 20 Bexhill Tony Witham Mandie Neal 21 BVSC Dan Hawkins Cassie Hawkins 22 WWSC Greg Caldwell Alex Caldwell 23 WWSC Heather Pavitt Jo Meares 24 Enterprise Open Meeting

Dick Lankester Fleet Captain Weir Wood hosted the Enterprise South East Championships on 18th July. The event was also the second Enterprise Open Enterprise Open round of the Blue Jib series. $ ! The gales which swept the British Isles earlier in the week had fortunately moderated a couple of days before the win of the day from the Beaneys, with the Mansons sailing event and the 8 visiting crews and 5 well to take third place and the Tylers 4th place. home crews arrived to find a perfect By the time the fourth and final race started, the wind F3 south west breeze blowing down had moderated slightly. The Bennetts again sailed into an the reservoir. For the second weekend early lead. The Beaneys had their work cut out after an running, the super professional Race indifferent start but eventually moved through to lead on the Team of Ernie Hatton, Pete Clifton and final lap and posted their third win of the day and retained Barbara Hatton were on duty to make the South East Area Championships and the Bennetts their sure everything ran without a hitch. third second place. The Mansons and the Tylers finished In the first race Keith and Katie third and fourth respectively. Tyler (Hunts SC) rounded in the Everyone agreed it had been an enjoyable and energetic lead closely followed by Pete/Alicia day’s sailing. It was particularly encouraging to see no less Bennett (Salcombe YC) and David/ than 5 crew members under the age of 18, laying to rest the Alex Beaney (Castaways SC). Down myth that you need to be drawing a pension in order to sail the reaches the Bennetts moved into an Enterprise. the lead followed by the Beaney’s. The Beaney’s moved into the lead and The Beaneys won the event (again) with a perfect score, briefly Nick Bush/Fiona Harrington but this year they were made to work hard by the Bennetts. (Weir Wood SC) took 2nd place, Nick Bush and Fiona Harrington, who had never competed but the Bennetts regained 2nd on together before, sailed very well to take 4th place and the the finishing line. Further down prize for first Weir Wood crew. the fleet, the gusty and shifty wind Many thanks to Ernie, Pete and Barbara for their efforts. caught out several crews who were That’s 2 years running you have delivered an Enterprise observed taking early swims, the Tylers open meeting with wind! recovering well from a swim to regain 4th place. The second race saw a similar pattern Results with the Bennetts taking an early lead, 1st David/Alex Beaney (Castaways SC) 3 points but the Beaney’s reeling them in and Spring 2010 overtaking them before the finish, with 2nd Pete/Alicia Bennett (Salcombe YC) 5 points Nick Bush in 3rd and David/Dominic 3rd David/Dominic Manson (Bewl Valley SC) 10 points Manson (Bewl Valley SC) in 4th place. 4th Nick Bush/Fiona Harrington (Weir Wood SC) 11 points When crews took to the water after 5th Keith/Katie Tyler (Hunts SC) 12 points Afloat lunch, the wind had increased to F4 6th Dick Lankester/John Chisnall (Weir Wood SC) 19 points with white horses greeting competitors 7th David Hodgson/John Beaney (Papercourt SC) 20 points 8 as they sailed to the race course. This proved too much for Dick Lankester/ 8th Vic/Verity Hopkins (Weir Wood SC) 23 points John Chisnall who managed to 9th Alan/Liss Ross (Chipstead SC) 26 points fill their boat with water without 10th Ian/Susan Simpson (Alexandra YC) 29 points quite capsizing a minute before the 11th Paul/Andre Turner (Chipstead) 34 points start of the third race, effectively 12th Chris Daniels/Ray Nevard (Weir Wood SC) 35 points compromising their chances. Up at the front, the Bennetts took their first 13th Mike Summers/Ray Jones (Weir Wood SC) 37 points ! Laser 2000 Millenium Series Open

Laser 2000 Open Millenium Even Rob got caught out! Series 3rd & 4th July 2010 After a break for lunch the third race of the day was started in increasing wind. There was plenty of position changing Andrew Sloper throughout the fleet. Miles Wade began to show his colours Fleet Captain improving on his earlier positions of 5th & 6th to finish 3rd, It had been over eight years since Weir Wood had hosted a with Holroyd getting his second 1st and Burridge 2nd The Millennium event for the Laser 2000 Class Association, so we final race of the day was won by Fillmore after Burridge had were determined to put on a good show for all the competitors established a commanding lead only to be caught in a windless and their families. 32 signed up for the event, a pretty decent pocket at the leeward gate on the final lap. 1st Fillmore, 2nd turnout for what was also Rob Burridge’s Birthday, although a Sam Greg (youth), 3rd James Macgregor. falling tree did threaten to interrupt the event but more of that anon. With four challenging races under their belts the competitors relaxed with a BBQ of steamed trout from the lake and a Having run several “Turbo” events in the past, where the well-earned beer or two. An excellent local covers band emphasis is on lots of very short races, we decided to bring a Driftwood provided entertainment, with dancing late into the bit of “turbo” to the Millennium event by running four shorter evening. The band performed music from over five decades, races per day. In practice the races ended up being not much which just about covered the age range of the competitors! shorter than usual, and with some full-on conditions on the Sunday, and a full evening of Saturday night entertainment, Overnight it all kicked off. Sunday morning started with a panic the competitors ended up being given a bit of a “beasting”, as a sizeable oak-tree had fallen across the entrance to the club, especially in the frequent gusts on Sunday, with capsizes at all trapping five of us inside the club grounds and the remaining standards within the fleet. competitors outside. Briefly thinking about the prospect of a guaranteed top 5 finish in the remaining four races, and free Martin Pascoe, our excellent race officer, set a windward/ access to the remaining beer, I decided to do the right thing and leeward course, with a spreader mark to windward and a choice help with removing the tree! Afloat of Port or Starboard rounding at the leeward gate. On Saturday the wind conditions were SW force 2 to 3 and like most inland This took a team of six people and two chainsaws over 45 waters, pretty shifty. We had blue skies, a few fluffy clouds and minutes to clear a path to let the competitors in. Nothing in temperatures of some 25°C. Sun block and plenty of drinking my event project plan had anticipated this happening! (What’s water was in order. wrong with you Andrew? Risk management is your business! Spring 2010 Ed.) The first of the two races scheduled for the morning got underway without any hitch, with the usual suspects of Rob Sunday saw a complete turnaround in wind strength; now a Burridge, John Holroyd and Elizabeth Fillmore leading the way. steady SSW force 4 to 5 gusting 6, which stayed for the whole Due to the light wind conditions the first race was reasonably day’s racing. This gave the opportunity for some hard beats to uneventful with Burridge leading for most of the race, which is windward and fast planing downwind. where he stayed. 1st Birthday-boy, 2nd Martin Wilson and 3rd Tim & Linda Hulley joined us having returned from holiday the 9 John Holroyd. day before. They were keen to make their mark. Race 5 was a The second start wasn’t quite so clean with an individual recall hard race with many capsizing in the strong conditions, sounding. With no one returning to cross the line, sadly Robin but with superb planning conditions downwind. (1st Burridge, Courtenay sailed the rest of the course for fun. The wind had 2nd Hulley 3rd Holroyd). Race 6 was almost a repeat of race 5 dropped further for the second race favouring the starboard with the exception of the first two swapping around (1st Hulley side of the course. All change in this race with 1st Holroyd, 2nd 2nd Burridge and 3rd Holroyd.) Burridge 3rd Fillmore. The only slight incident occurred when one boat got so Club Duties enthusiastic about finishing well, that he rounded the back of the committee boat and started joining in the sailing with the Dick Lankester back markers again. No names will be mentioned in order to Duty Co-ordinator protect the Brigadier’s privacy! By the time this edition of the magazine is published the next duty After lunch fewer boats took to the water given the testing roster for the period October through Dick Lankester conditions. With the wind gusting force 6 at times, the % to at least January will have been conditions were now not only testing the helms and their crews published. If you have been allocated but also the boats, with a few gear failures beginning to show. a duty on the roster, you will have Holroyd got his third first of the series with the boats finishing, received an email from Dutyman 1st Holroyd, 2nd Burridge 3rd Steve McCulloch, making a notifying you of the details. If you late charge. Only 18 boats started the last race. Rob got his don’t do emails (yes, I know who you third first of the series securing victory. (2nd Hulley and 3rd are), you will have received the roster McCulloch). by post. If you have received nothing, A big thanks to Martin and Julie Pascoe and Gemma Burridge count your blessings, you have not as the very slick race team, who reported “no wrecks and been allocated a duty. nothing to laugh at really”. (So that’s good!) Special thanks During the summer there have a go to everyone who helped run such a fun event, especially disappointing number of occasions John and Jean Chisnall who organised the splendid BBQ and when members have failed to turn up The final results were: to do their duties. Clearly, there are occasions where this is unavoidable, 1st R Burridge & K Burridge Weir Wood SC but the very least I would expect is that 2nd J Holroyd & J Rusbatch Weir Wood SC members who find themselves unable 3rd E Fillmore & T Fillmore Draycote Water SC at short notice to attend to notify me 4th M Wilson & H Wilson Datchet Water SC or the OOD. I am a vindictive person 5th M Wade & A Wade Army Sailing Association and I keep a list of offenders who 6th S Greg & T Russell should not be surprised to find that (1st Youth) Weir Wood SC they are allocated more duties than they might normally expect, especially during the coldest months of the year. entertainment. Having got that moan off my chest, I Full results can be viewed on the club website @ am very pleased to report that the vast www.wwwsc.org.uk majority of members perform their ( with significant contribution from Tony Carter) duties impeccably. Prize for innovation went to Dil Sandhu who capitalised In my last article about duties, I made on Rob Burridge’s birthday balloon. The idea was to fill the a plea which I am afraid seems to have buoyancy tanks with helium giving the boat a higher profile fallen on deaf ears in many cases. I in the water thus less drag. Subsequent sea trials were less monitor the Dutyman website and successful than hoped and Dil was last seen floating off at when members have ticked the box beside their duty, I can be confident Spring 2010 500 feet over after being too enthusiastic with

the gas. they will turn up. However, many members are STILL not ticking the Consistent sailing performance comes down amongst other box, which puts me in a dilemma and things to regular and constant good decision making and usually ends up with me sending out Afloat the Foye Belle crew came up trumps on the Sunday as usual. emails, which is waste of my time, and She took one look out of the tent flap and said “If you think probably yours if you know about the 10 I’m going out in that ...... !” and the result was whatAndrew weteaches have Jean A how to tack duty all along. come to expect. So, PLEASE, when Dutyman tells Ed you that you have a duty, log on to the system right away and tick the box! If you have any queries about the Dutyman system, please contact me on [email protected]. The Quiet Adventure – A Dinghy Cruising Section at WWSC?

Mike Summers The racing scene at Weir Wood is well supported and any weekend you can see upwards of 30 boats in the handicap and class fleets as well as the training fleets and Oppies. But there are so many boats in the boat park and the club membership is far more than is represented by the racing crowd. Where are all you all? If you are not a “racer” then maybe you call yourself a “cruiser” and maybe you would be interested in making use of your boat to take you on a quiet adventure, exploring new waters and getting to places other people cannot go, camping with your boat and waking up to the mist on the water and sounds of nature all around you. A boat is not just for racing, it is for going somewhere, taking its crew to see new places. A sailing dinghy with room for two or more is a transport for a different kind of sailing, setting off from a beach or a slipway to go to …somewhere, a destination that is not just “first around the cans then back to the clubhouse”. Now I am not knocking racing. I join in as often as I can and come last on every opportunity! Maybe I am not cut out to be a racer. Do you think there any club members interested in forming a Cruising Group? A Cruising Group would be able to put together plans for a couple of expeditions a season, and with several boats aspects of organisation become easier, with more hands to help man-handle boats and more people sharing views on where to go. Through our RYA affiliation we should be able to draw on the hospitality of other clubs, so finding somewhere to leave cars and trailers could be made easier. Maybe there would be some interest in getting a group of us together to talk about possibilities, destinations and practicalities. There are plenty of inland destinations to think about, the Norfolk Broads, the Lake District, the Medway, Chichester Harbour and Poole Harbour. Then Southampton Water and the Solent across to the Isle of Wight (maybe getting a bit ahead of myself there) but the possibilities are interesting, don’t you agree? Not all designs are suitable for cruising. It helps to have a dry boat with a transom, with plenty of capacity to carry stores in dry conditions which leads you towards more traditional designs. I have cruised an Enterprise although that was too small to camp on board and nights were spent in a tent on riverbanks and beaches. I am near completion of a refurb job on a which I got specifically with dinghy-cruising in mind and I hope to have ready for the first expedition in Spring next year.

If you have any views on the subject and if you would like to get involved, please email me on mike. Afloat [email protected] or call me on 07917 460662.

Spring 2010

11 Sailing At Cobnor The Elite Dedicated

Tony Carter Racing Teams We visit Cobnor three times each year, sometime four. Cobnor is a youth activity centre based around sailing in Chichester Harbour and Weir Wood has been You will have seen reference in several going there more years than I can remember. reports in this issue to our dedicated The objective is to enable members to experience sailing in tidal waters in a racing teams which run the main controlled environment. When we say controlled, what we mean is instructors are events held at the club throughout at hand to assist and teach club members to sail on the sea. That means members the year and in particular through the can become use to waves, tides and the effects these both have on their sailing summer season. abilities. Their job is to run the main club events Cobnor Activities Centre has undergone major refurbishments over the last such as the Club Championships winter in order to make the accommodation more versatile. However they have and Winter Draws On and the Open stuck with the small four to a room dormitory style in order to maximise capacity. meetings of which there are half a We appreciate that four to a room does not suit everyone, but please do not let dozen. Each event requires a race that stop you coming. It’s for only a couple of nights. Besides you are normally too officer, time keeper/results recorder, tired to worry about whether you will get to sleep. buoy movers and someone to compute the results. Competitors have to be All our weekends are run using the same successful formula which has proven briefed, courses set, marks moved, good over the years. It is a Youth Activities Centre so it is reliant on everyone competitors led round the course. The mucking in and helping by doing an assortment of duties during the weekend race officer has to fully conversant with from preparing and cooking the meals to help tidy the centre when we leave. the Rules, flags, start sequences and This helps keep the cost of the weekend to a minimum, with prices ranging from managing fair starts. With visiting between £70 to £85 for the weekend. This covers all your accommodation, meals competitors on national and class and boat hire. circuits it is essential that we maintain The main aim of the weekend is to sail. We use the Centre’s own Dinghies. the highest standard of professional These are stable and very robust sailing dinghies particularly suited to sea sailing. service and we are very lucky to have We sail in the relative calm waters of Chichester Harbour, with its variety of assembled a team that are second to locations to sail to and a wealth wildlife and scenery to view on the way. none. They give their time freely often Everyone is welcome and even if your own sailing is a little rusty we can pair you foregoing their own sailing. with someone more able so everyone has great fun. Although many members are happy We run a Cobnor for Oppies in May each year and Youth and Adult Cobnor’s in to serve the club anonymously in October each year. If you fancy a go you can download an application from the the background we would like to club website at http://www.wwsc.org.uk/training-application.htm acknowledge these folk: Go on! Give it a try you are unlikely to regret it. Martin Pascoe Julie Pascoe Tony Carter Peter Meares Andy Genders reported in this year’s Spring edition of “Afloat” his enthusiasm for James Meares the Adult Cobnor weekend. Here are a few highlights from that article: Ernie Hatton Spring 2010

“If I was asked for an elevator pitch promoting Cobnor I would say ‘A fantastic Barbara Hatton value for money weekend socialising with great people and some of the best sailing you just cannot experience at Weir Wood. You should really give it a go ” Peter Clifton “I always have a feeling of great excitement travelling down wondering what

Afloat events and experiences I am going to have, it’s like being a kid and going to camp….” 12 “Describing the Cobnor weekend is not easy as it offers everybody that attends individual experiences and we all get something different back. As a venue we would all agree the sailing can’t get any better. The setting is dreamy and several times over the weekend you hear ‘it would be great to have the view and location everyday’. The company is always cheerful the food plentiful, the cakes greatly appreciated and hugely calorific. The range of Ales at the local pub is great.” Laser 2000 Open Dell Quay

Gemma Burridge Following her daughter’s example Sarah’s mum Gemma dusts off her sailing gear and gets back in a boat. I don’t quite know how it got arranged but suddenly my husband and daughter, Rob and Sarah were sailing together at Dell Quay in their first open meeting, my other daughter Katie ! Sarah and Rob teamed up with Will Sloper and ‘liberated’ Andrew’s L2K to sail together and I found myself as Tim Hulley’s crew. It’s quite a long time since I stepped in a boat, let alone Bough Beech Laser 2000 Open competed in an event; two gorgeous children and life as May 2010 a mature university student have put paid to my plans for ‘leisure time’ at weekends for the past 6/7 years but Tim’s Sarah Burridge offer provided the perfect opportunity to slip back into a bit of Sarah Burridge reports on sailing with her dad, Rob gentle racing. Well… Ok, how do I sum up Bough Beech? Great venue, My first problem; where was my sailing gear? A root around some very windy gusts (more on that later) and a grand the back of the cupboard resulted in me finding my dry suit. result of 2nd. How did it happen? Hooray! Those who know me know that there is usually only a All week we had been checking the wind and weather charts short two week window in August when my dry suit can safely for Sunday and Monday. On Saturday night we all agreed be relegated to my bag in favour of my wetsuit! However, that the wind was going to be gusting 35 mph and that I the neck seal had perished and gone all gooey necessitating was going to struggle. Anyway, I was all set for an amazing a quick dash by retired parents to Guildford to get it fixed. weekend spent with my incredible father. Having treated myself to a new pair of gloves and dusted the cobwebs off my sailing boots I was ready to go. We got down to Bough Beech on Sunday morning and looked out over the reservoir. My tummy was tingling as my Next problem was the weather. The forecast was for strong dad gave me a pep talk over keeping calm in the almighty winds and rain. As already explained I don’t do sailing without wind. Little did we know, the wind was going to get a lot a dry suit, neither do I do rain! However, having said “yes” I mightier. couldn’t back out now. Fortunately it didn’t rain at all but it was very windy. We launched and I felt for a minute about how much I was going to enjoy the day ahead. The first race started and we Some things haven’t changed. got a pretty decent start. We rounded the first mark in front We rigged, we got changed, we drank tea and ruminated on of the fleet and it got better. Dad and I managed to pull off a our chances. Then I read the sailing instructions. When did rude lead in front of everyone. The first race ended and we the start sequence change to 5, 4, 1 and go? My watch was still Afloat had won! But things were going to get a lot worse. stuck on 10, 5, start. Actually I’m fibbing as the battery for my The hooter sounded marking the five minute call for the sailing watch stopped working about three years ago and I’ve second race. The wind was really picking up by now. The never got around to changing it. second race was very hectic. Again we got a good start but The sailing was fast and furious and in the first race with the Spring 2010 things started to go wrong. My tacking was getting dodgy tide against us the windward mark looked a long way away. and by the time we rounded the ‘gate mark’, everyone had And there was a routine new to me and unique, I think, caught up. Dad told me to gybe and we capsized. My dad to sailing in the harbour; tack, settle, helm throws himself capsizing! The water was so cold and I was extremely scared. over the back of boat to check for weed, centreboard up, The boat weighs 150kg and I was going to get squashed centreboard down to get rid of weed, settle, tack, helm….. etc, underneath but luckily I swam out just in time and we got etc. I have to say Tim became quite fanatical about the weed the boat back up. We retired from that race and the last race situation. The hours I spend in the gym every week doing 13 got me back on form, another first. spinning classes helped me to sit out hard. What was exposed On Monday the wind had died down and we got three 2nds. was my lack of upper body strength. Thank goodness, I By the end of Monday, and the end of the open meeting we thought, as we bore away around the spacer mark for the first had secured 2nd. We got a lovely shiny mug and if you read time– a bit of a rest! However, I didn’t hoist the spinnaker on, you might see a picture of me, with my glass. quickly enough and it went for a swim – not fast!! On one particularly windy run I was a passenger. The spinnaker was Thank you for reading this article. flogging and I literally had no strength left to pull it in. My arms were like jelly! I finished that particular run flat on GCSE Science Quotes my back having stumbled over the thwart leaving me with my legs in the air and poor Tim planing, holding the spinnaker sheets, main sheet and tiller! During the second race a very Another year of GCSE’s are over and the calm voice from the back of the boat informed me that there future of British science is assured with was a small problem. The ends of the rope for the traveller the following: had worked their way through the mainsheet cleat. We Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin were planing towards the bank, spinnaker up with no way of is pure gin and hydrogen is gin and water. sheeting the main in or out. Fortunately we managed to sort it out before we made contact with the bank. When you breath you inspire. When you don’t breath you expire. Sarah did really well for her first open meeting experience considering that she has never sailed back to back races at H20 is hot water. C02 is cold water. the club let alone three back to back at an open meeting. She When you smell an odourless gas it is probably managed to sit out hard for the first 2 races but then opted to carbon monoxide. sit out the third in the bar – a wise decision. Nitrogen is not found in Ireland as it is not found in a Will and Katie, sailing in their first open meeting together, free state. sailed fantastically. What they lacked in weight they made Blood flows down one leg and up the other. up for in determination, self belief and ability. They were Respiration is composed of two acts; first inspiration first to the windward mark in the first race and kept up the then expectoration. pressure all day. Particularly impressive was the way in which they picked out all the wind shifts without having a compass The moon is a planet just like earth only even deader. onboard. They were completely in control and I didn’t worry The body consists of three parts; the branium, the borax and about Katie or her safety all day. Hmm, I wonder how often I the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the will be able to make a comment like that about the company borax the heart and lungs and the abdominal cavity contains she keeps!!! the bowels, of which there are 5 – a,e,i,o,u. Whilst Bill and Charlotte Dauber won the meeting with Momentum: What you give a person when they are two firsts and headed for the quay, in a stretching of family going away. loyalties Katie and I ended the first two races on equal points. Planet: A body of earth surrounded by sky Will and Katie covered us up all the beats in the third race but we just sneaked through to take the lead on the last run and Rhubarb: A kind of celery that has gone bloodshot. win. Part of me felt slightly guilty at beating her and a small Vacuum: A large empty space where the Pope lives. bit of me wished that the results could have been reversed. Before giving a blood transfusion find out if the blood is However, that’s not Tim or Rob’s view and it was only a teeny- negative or affirmative. weeny bit of me that felt like that for a minuscule nanosecond! To remove dust from the eye, first pull it down over Their time will come and judging from their ability it won’t be the nose. too long either. For a dog bite: Put the dog away for several days. If he has not Thank you Tim and Linda. I had a great time and it was recovered then kill it. fantastic to be able to participate in the post-sailing conversations again. It was fabulous to be competitive sailing, For asphyxiation: Apply artificial respiration until the patient is even though the holes in my hand took a fortnight to heal. dead. Spring 2010 Clearly the new gloves weren’t such a good investment. At To keep milk from turning sour keep it in a cow. least I now have my gym programme sorted for the next The pistol of a flower is the only protection it has couple of months. Thanks Andrew for lending ‘Where against insects. Beagles Dare’. Be careful or it might become a regular event.

Afloat The skeleton is what is left after the insides have been taken And yes I have printed the results off and framed them and out and the outsides have been taken off. The purpose of the 14 stuck them on my fridge for all to see and marvel at. It’s skeleton is something to hitch meat to. probably the first, last and only time the Burridge’s race results will ever look like that, and yep - it does feel good! Finally a text received from a granddaughter who thinks bird watching is the most boring thing to do: “Two herrings have just flown over our house. Aren’t they big!” The Greenfield Family

One of the joys of Weir Wood are the many families that are involved often over several generations and we have celebrated several of them in recent issues of the magazine. Here’s another family that have a long and successful relationship with us. The newer members might be forgiven for thinking that we (Gill and Mark) only Mark and Gill Greenfield cook food on Wednesday evenings and $ at Cobnor! In fact we have done quite a bit of sailing during our lives. Here is a potted history of our time at Weir Wood. sessions and open meetings all round the Over and above Oppies, Wanderer and We joined Weir Wood some 20 years country and international competitions at Weir Wood we have owned a ago, having previously been members in Holland and France each year. , , , and 4000 (, the boys sailed those!) and of Mariners. Mark had the After Oppies we decided not to go the . Gill has also crewed for Jean opportunity to sail with Rob Burridge in RYA route of 420s but to buy a Lyle in an RS 200 for a couple of years the with a view to competing which Matt and Lizzie Lyle sailed and can currently be seen crewing for in the world championships 2 years later together. With coaching from Rob Mark in the Flying Fifteen, if it’s not too in Scotland. About the same time we they did very well indeed, finishing by wet, too light, too windy and there is traded our Enterprise in for a Wanderer winning the Worlds in France. with a view to cruising with our young enough water to launch! As the years Ant meanwhile was coming in to his family (Matt 5 and Ant 3) whilst Mark advance we are still enjoying Weir Wood own, becoming an Instructor and Racing got his racing highs in the Albacore. but also , thanks to Jean and Instructor, enjoying instructing at Oppy However, the racing bug hit hard and Peter, crossing the channel several times camp, Cobnor and Weir Wood courses. we were soon going to open meetings in to and from Brittany and the Channel Rob then asked him to crew for him in the Wanderer too. The same year of the Islands along with some more local trips. the Laser 2000. Can you see a theme Albacore worlds Mark persuaded Rob Mark and Gill Greenfield emerging here?! We continued as trolly to crew for him in the Wanderer for the dollies, travelling round to opens and Apart from enjoying their sailing Mark nationals as Gill had hurt her ankle. They finally the nationals in Wales where they and Gill are very involved in supporting won! Gill resumed her rightful place in won. Club activities in a practical way the boat shortly after and we continued Afloat particularly on the catering front where competing, winning the traveller’s trophy Uni opened many new avenues for many of us have enjoyed their substantial several times as well as the nationals 2 Matt, firstly qualifying for the keelboat and nourishing food at Cobnor (where years later. squad and also taking part in team we lackeys serve under Gill’s iron hand) racing and match racing. The highlight

Gill was soon usurped as crew, however, and Wednesday night’s “cordon bleu”. Spring 2010 of match racing was taking a Weir Wood once Matt got bigger. This was quickly Long may it continue. Ed team to the national qualifiers and followed by a swap at the helm once he beating Ben Ainslie in the heats. achieved the grand age of 9. As you can tell, sailing has been a huge Q The Greenfield Boys, Matt and Ant We tried our hand at Mirror sailing part of our lives and especially Weir for a while, a much better boat for the Wood where we have made many boys but, with Mark weighing in at friends, not least through Oppies and 17 stone, it was less than ideal! The 15 Cobnor weekends. We are currently natural progression for children at Weir writing this article on board Jean and Wood is of course, Oppies and both Peter Lyle’s yacht in Falmouth before boys were soon part of Oppy club and sailing across to the Scillies, or the Gill and Mark became heavily involved Channel Islands, or - no wait- make that as well. Matt soon qualified for the the Helford River - we have just seen the national squad which then became a full updated forecast! time commitment with squad training Sailing the SB3

David Giles For the last two years I have been heavily involved in the SB3 circuit. Although I have bumped into several Weir Wood members at meetings over the last two years I expect that many members know little about the class. For those of you keen on statistics it is 6.15 metre long (20.2 feet), 2.15 metres wide (7.1feet) and with the keel down draws 1.5 metres (4.9 feet). The hull weighs 635 kgs. with keel. To power it there is an 18 sq. metre main, a 9.3 sq. metre jib and an enormous 46 sq. metre mast head asymmetric spinnaker. The class allows a max crew weight of 270 kgs which means either 3 heavy crew or four light weights. SB3 Worlds Upwind The bulk of the fleet is based on the Hamble River at either $ Royal Southern Yacht club, Hamble or at Warsash. Racing takes place on the Solent with about 40 boats turning out both Saturday and Sunday on race days. The National in getting to the leeward buoy when “hotted up” is not worth Championships turn out about 80 boats with the World it unless the SB3 is planning. This is essentially the same Championships seeing 100 plus SB3’s. technique as used in a dinghy. I look at the SB3 as a half way house between dinghies like The SB3, as with most dinghies I have sailed, is incredibly RS 200/400’s and keel boats like a Sigma 32. It has a keel that responsive to small tweaks in the rig. A bit of extra mast provides most of the righting moment but still relies heavily rake when the wind increases along with some additional on crew weight for balance. So what are the similarities and rig tension makes a huge difference to how well the boat differences between an SB3 and a dinghy typically found on handles and consequently how fast it goes. Weir Wood? One of the big differences lies in upwind sailing where the One similarity is the need to use crew weight to maneuover keel only starts to work once the boat is heeled over. This the boat. Roll tacking and roll gybing is essential with the means all upwind sailing (unless it is very light) is conducted crew weight used to flick the boat from port to starboard with 30 degrees of heel. There is not a dinghy on Weir Wood and vice versa. To promote the SB3 onto the plane it is that does not require it to be kept flat to go fast. At first essential that all the crew sit as far back in the boat as that took a bit of getting used to as if you slip you invariably possible where as in light winds the crew must bunch as far end up falling overboard to leeward. The main sheet is still forward as possible to avoid transom drag. played to keep the heel at about 30 degrees and no more. Down wind they behave like a typical asymmetric dinghy. It With at least 3 crew and often 4, there is much more is essential to “hot up” (sail closer to the wind) as the wind scope for one of the crew to devote themselves to tactical builds to a certain strength in order to get the hull planning. considerations. In a dinghy with only one or two crew I Similarly it is essential to soak low (sail more directly down have found that you do your best with tactics but much of wind) when the wind decreases as the extra distance sailed your time is spent sitting the boat out and trying to stop it capsizing. In the SB3 the helm steers the boat and the Spring 2010 tactician (usually the one sitting next to the helm) tells the helm where to steer it. Probably it is this aspect that I like about the SB3 the most. What cannot be got away from to do well, in the SB3 as well Afloat as any other sail boat ever raced, the boat must be pointed 16 in the right direction and sailed through the water quickly A SB3 Worlds Upwind by a crew that are working well together. This can only be achieved by time on the water. I know this is true for any sail craft from an Optimist right up to a large Maxi yacht. So the next time it is wet and windy on a Sunday Morning and you are wondering if you can be bothered to go sailing at Weir Wood, just remember if you do not sail, your main rival probably will and you might not see him/her for spray next time you race.

Oppy Opens Paralympic Success been guilty before of trying to over- think things and over-complicate situations, so we just kept our heads and Two of our Paralympics sailors have Weir Wood kept things nice and simple it worked out well for us.” pedigrees, Helena Lucas and Megan Pascoe. Both have been competing fiercely on the International Stage, For Megan Pascoe, her bronze medal in the one-person 2.4mR class marks her apart from other things to win places in the 2012 first ever World Championship podium Olympics. With acknowledgements to Y&Y. finish, and along with her victory at the 2009 World Cup series, it’s given her a Britain’s Paralympic classes sailors scored their best ever World Championship confidence boost in ahead of the 2012 medal haul at the Delta Lloyd IFDS World Championships, which concluded today selection trials. (14 July) in Medemblik (NED) with a British crew on the podium in each of the three classes. “I think the biggest thing I’ll take from here is that I’ve shown I can be in that Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell picked up their second straight world title with top rank - I’ve definitely moved up a a race to spare in the two-person SKUD class, while John Robertson, Hannah Stodel step and I now know that I can be in and Steve Thomas earned a hard-fought silver in the Sonar event. that top bunch,” she explained. “It’s all Megan Pascoe capped off the sweep of podium spots for Skandia Team GBR with very well people saying you can be up her first ever World Championship medal – a bronze in the 2.4mR class. Rickham there, but it’s not the same until you and Birrell sailed solidly throughout the week, fending off their perennial rivals, actually do it and finish there!” USA’s Scott Whitman and Julia Dorsett, to take their second straight world title. Pascoe feels the overall team “It’s amazing. Niki and I will be able to fully comprehend it I think a bit later on performance at the IFDS Worlds tonight when we’ve chilled out with a couple of drinks!” said Rickham. also bodes well for the British sailors’ Paralympic prospects in 2012. “The last time we got to square up against the Americans, who are our main rivals, was in Miami so that was six months ago so to be able to come back with a win here “For British boats to be up there on the couldn’t be any better – and to do it at the Worlds obviously takes it to the next level.” podium in the other two classes as well is just brilliant. It’s been a hard couple “It feels awesome, although at the moment I’m really tired,” Rickham continued. “It of years for everybody, but the team happens every time! All that adrenaline high I’ve been on all week has now gone seems to have pulled it together here. and my body is just unable to move! Rickham paid tribute to the support team who The SKUDs are now double World helped her and Birrell to their winning form. “It’s been great working with our new Champions, the Sonars are finally back coach Ian [Clingan], plus Peter Bentley has been great on the technical side in getting at the top after a few years of dryness the boat ready – in fact the whole team has helped. All we can do is thank everybody and the 2.4mR battle is going to be as in Skandia Team GBR as we never would have made it here without all of that help hot as ever so I think we’ve definitely and support. “We’re just looking forwards from here, and hopefully we can make it a got a chance of a medal or two come the triple when the Worlds are back at home next year!” Afloat Paralympics.” The Sonar trio of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas overcame a Helena Lucas also featured for Skandia difficult start to their regatta, which had them down in eighth place at the beginning Team GBR in the 2.4mR event, but of the week, to claim their silver. had a disappointing regatta by her

The two-time World Champions held their nerve, and gradually sailed their way standards, picking up two false-start Spring 2010 back into contention with a series of solid results for the remainder of the week to penalties to finish 14th overall. end up in medal contention, and at one stage looking like they had pulled off a last- For full results and the latest news on gasp regatta victory on the final day. Skandia Team GBR’s sailors in action But a protest between the Dutch and USA crews for an infringement during race around the world nine ultimately went in favour of the Dutch, handing them the overall victory by one visit www.skandiateamgbr.com point and leaving the Skandia Team GBR crew with silver. Gold – SKUD class 21 “The start we had to the week was incredibly average,” Robertson explained. We had Alexandra Rickham (Epsom) & Niki a bit of bad luck, but we kept pegging away, had a bit more self-belief. Birrell (Knutsford) Silver – Sonar class “We knew we’d trained well and it proved in the end that we were stronger than we John Robertson (Sunderland), Hannah thought, so to get a podium spot here is great for the confidence. Stodel (Colchester) and Steve Thomas (Cardiff)Bronze – 2.4mR class “We’ve been pretty good this week at not compounding any mistakes that we did Megan Pascoe (Ardingley) make and being sensible, not panicking and getting back into the game. We have Gliding and Sailing

Matt Giles Matt Giles talks about similarities and differences. Since I was very young one of my desires was to . As I got older this passion grew with my competitive spirit for sailing. At the age of 13 I joined the Air Training Corps in order to get access to free flying. This gave me the opportunity to gain different scholarships that the general public could not have. At the age of 16 I was granted a gliding scholarship which involved completing certain manoeuvres and procedures over a space of 10 days. Once this had been ! Matt Goes Solo taught and I had demonstrated how to recover from stall of low level launch failures I was permitted to fly solo. One of the reasons I was able to complete this scholarship proficiently was due to the skills that I had developed through my sailing such as smooth and accurate changes in the boat’s pointing angle to achieve the best possible course which is very similar to gliding in the air. longer make a smooth transition over the cambered surface of the sail. For an When it came to our glider training we aircraft his will happen when it increases its angle of attack (angle to the airflow) trained on the standard Grob Viking past 12.5 degrees creating a loss of lift due to turbulent airflows over the wings Air Glider. It is a winch powered surface which is created when the air can no longer flow smoothly over the wings glider which can achieve altitudes of surface. This also happens to the rudder of a boat hence the loss of steerage when about 1000 feet from the initial climb. the boat is going through high levels of heel. Any additional altitude is gained The remedy is the same for both aircraft and boat. In the aircraft you lower the through thermal columns of air. The nose to gain speed and restore smooth airflow. In a boat you bear away to achieve main perks that this particular glider the same. possesses include a very high safety record and a very high resistance to But boats don’t produce lift! This is not entirely true. They do in the lateral plane. In order to counteract this centre boards are used in order to reduce the amount Spring 2010 spinning (where one wing stalls before

another). As a result this means that of side slip that is produced and propel the boat forward. This is why a flat boat most air cadets with fairly low levels of will perform better upwind than a heeled boat. The centre board is producing aptitude can fly and potentially go solo. more lateral resistance when vertical than at a 30 degree angle. When we compare this to a flying perspective the wings are the main producers of lift in the vertical

Afloat So how does this tie in with sailing? direction meaning that it works in the same way as a sail. However, there is no Well one of the main similarities that need for a centre board as aircraft are meant to go up whereas boast are not the two craft have in common is the 22 meant to go sideways. fact that they both require air flows in order to work. Just like an aircraft, Flying and sailing techniques are very similar which mean that the two different boats are also susceptible to stalling. hobbies complement themselves. By learning the techniques in sailing from a Stalling is where the air flow over the young age I was able to transition to flying with a great advantage. As I grow older aerofoil becomes disrupted causing a I am still looking to continue my flying training through both self funding and by reduction in the amount of lift. In a hunting for potential scholarships. Sailing has helped be grasp the fundamentals boat this happens when you sail too of flying and I hope that will aid me through both private and commercial training close to the wind and the air can no in order to gain the relevant qualifications to become an airline pilot. Four Nationals and a Fun Time tanker split the fleet and we closely crossed its bows, whilst our near competitors had to take significant avoiding action. We Tim Hulley were now in a clear winning position. Lessons for all from Tim Hulley. We followed a yacht ahead with very similar draft towards the I have been involved with 4 big National events which has next mark on exactly the same track. I think it was called ‘East significantly changed the way I think about racing and Knoll’ and the clue to the remainder of the day is in the name, what I want out of it. plus the fact the colour of the water had changed from blue to yellow. CRUNCH!! The boat stopped dead and panic set in. Nationals 1 Laser 2000’s at Hayling Island (2009) It all began in July last year when I badly splintered a rib The next few minutes were awful, as we all did everything windsurfing, and in much pain and on maximum painkillers I we could to get us off the most famous shipping hazard in sat out and watched the Laser 2000 Nationals week at Hayling. the Solent (yes, it was Bramble Bank!). We motored round Linda and I had aimed, trained and prepared for this over in circles, hung out the side, the front and the back. Slowly several months and I was looking forward to it immensely and our feelings turned to despair as all our competitors sailed aiming for a good result, perhaps even in the top ten. Sitting in away, carefully avoiding the obvious shallow area which were the committee boat all week, I had a lot of time for thinking and displaying. Then we started to accept it and lose hope. As the introspection and came to a few personal conclusions: tide ebbed the boat heeled over to a fairly alarming angle, whilst also being stood up well above its normal water line, adding to Setting goals I can’t control leads to frustration and stress (like our embarrassment. being in the top 10) An element of ironic humour set in. Michael and Matt found The further down the fleet the more the crews appeared to be a pen and paper and started a huge game of squares. A Laser having fun! 2000 gaily bobbed towards us, recognised Rob as one of the best sailors in the class (he was hiding behind his sunglasses) Being out on the water, smiling, sailing, chatting, and enjoying and cheerily asked “is Tim on board too?” Someone asked if the wonderful scenery was what I was missing, and this was we had noticed that the birds a few metres away were actually hugely more important than where I figured in the rankings standing up. “Anyone got a cricket set”? Tony joked. Ernie It’s about the people, the places and the fun. rang Barbara and she said ‘I thought that yacht had one of those things that told you how deep it is?” (it did, and we checked its It was torture for me in many ways, but I vowed to learn from calibration as it was clearly showing 0.00..... !). the experience, take time to heal and come back and continue enjoying this wonderful sport. As time went on we began to relax and though we were bitterly Nationals 2 Beneteau in the Solent disappointed we nevertheless enjoyed a sociable few hours and watched things happen around us. Our competitors My next Nationals opportunity was on Paul Jenkins’ and Ernie sailed past on their next lap. We had a sweep stake for when Hatton’s Beneteau 40.7 ‘Active’ in June this year based at the the tide would lift us and from our fixed vantage point we had Hamble. Ernie arranged a training event two weeks before an excellent view of the start of our next race a few hundred and on arrival at the Hamble I met the crew – all Weir Wood metres or so away. dinghy sailors! We had a great day working hard at improving Afloat our team work and tactics. The tide eventually lifted us off, and to add insult to injury this coincided with the finish of the racing for our fleet, so motored The Saturday of the Nationals was a perfect sailing day, with in to the Hamble with them. medium winds and blue sky. Building on our Team work, we Looking back, we had a most wonderful weekend: out enjoyed champagne sailing. The racing was very exciting;– Spring 2010 tight and close with just a few metres between the top boats. on a beautiful stretch of water, sociable with friends and Overnight we were in first position out of 10 or so. experiencing an adventure which we will be talking about for the rest of our lives. We all owe Paul and Ernie a huge On Sunday conditions were similar but with a slightly lighter thank you for this. They probably experienced the most wind of about 10 knots. After a reasonable start, we judged disappointment having so carefully prepared and trained up a the leg to the first mark perfectly. We all knew our jobs and top notch yacht. responsibilities: Paul on helm, Rob on tactics, me on main, Matt Larkin on trim and crew boss, Ernie, Mike Uher and New learning point – Bramble Bank is the only major hazard 23 Tony Carter on trim, Annabel a cool head on the all important in the Solent. When sailing there, keep thinking about it, pit ‘nerve centre’ jobs, and Joe Pascoe and Michael Barnes on regardless of how good the crew is! bow. With some of the very best sailing talent at Weir Wood Nationals 3 Laser 2000’s at Sidmouth (and nationally) on the boat we were flying, tracking the shifts, This was the Laser 2000 Nationals in Sidmouth this August. I thinking about the tides and our tactical positioning in the carefully packed the car to make sure I would not miss out on fleet – the yacht pushed to maximum. Racing never gets better anything: 4 windsurf boards, 8 windsurf sails, 1 Laser 2000 , 1 than this. On the next leg, even Luck was on our side as a huge unicycle. My objectives, following the examples of some of the boats at Hayling the previous year were to work on being more through the centreboard case! relaxed and calmer in the boat and fundamentally to enjoy the The Weir Wood team came home with a good set of results event without getting screwed up about the results. throughout the fleet, Rob just missed first place by one point, Unfortunately, the weather very ‘bumpy’ over the week. Day 1 and Jonny was third. Dill and Lynn sailed superbly to win the gave insufficient wind, but we all launched hopefully and went Bronze fleet and a brand new jib. through for the first timed the Sidmouth training experience Linda and I enjoyed the week tremendously plus we had a of dragging a Laser 2000 up a steep gravelly beach opposite lovely last day, calmly working through the shifts so I was the sailing club and up onto the promenade which takes 10 very pleased having met one of my ‘controllable’ objectives. people per boat (over 700 pulls for the whole fleet!). Day 2 we Fortunately we had good accommodation, but the campers up couldn’t launch opposite the Club and had to move the whole on the hill had a very wet and misty week in the clouds. fleet of nearly 80 boats about half a mile along the seafront to a more benign part of the beach. Although the surf was Nationals 4 RS100’s at Poole less the problem was a 30 metre foreshore of steep shingle. It Colin Hatton and I are just back from the inaugural RS100 took a team of 6-8 people to get the boats in to the sea. We nationals at Poole and we are both cooking on endorphins after launched, the wind then peaked at 35 knots, we came ashore some of the most exciting racing. amid carnage, and repeated the hauling (no racing again). Day The event started on Friday with a training day run by 3 the race support crew launched their boats and then a wave Nick Peters of LDC, which was especially helpful for me swamped the committee boat smashing its mast. Fortunately as my boat was straight out of the box on the previous we were allowed to stay ashore and avoid the boat hauling. Bank Holiday Monday. A highlight was when some of the The mountain boards, skate boards and unicycles all came out trainees mentioned to Nick the mainsail halyard needs to be and we had lovely day larking about on the prom. Day 4 and improved which he only reluctantly accepted as one of the in marginal conditions the fleet was sent out. Linda and I were main designers. Some 10 minutes into Nick’s demonstration worried about the building waves, so I went windsurfing and of just how much downhaul tension the boat needs there was therefore we opened the regatta with a ‘Did Not Start’! Rob a the loud ‘twang’ of his halyard splitting. This was much and Katie also took this decision, which was especially tough appreciated all round. for them and they did very well to produce a consistent set of following results. Day 5 and the weather gave us a ‘cyclonic’ Racing began on Saturday and I nervously followed Colin out experience meaning the wind blows round in circles so of Parkstone Marina wondering if I could sail this thing. I hit a tying the fleet and the race officer in knots. One Weir Wood wind band of some 15 knots, hauled up the genneker and the competitor felt the effect of the washing machine type waves boat took off towards the racing area at breathtaking speed. I and for most of the day fed the fishes on last night’s supper. It then realised I had forgotten to tie the genneker sheets together took about 6 hours to complete 2 races. in the boat (Linda does that normally), and then stupidly let go of the active sheet. At this speed in the 100 you have to In between the postponements, cancellations and hauling we stay at the back, so whilst I was working out what I should actually again had a wonderful and very sociable week, helped do, the gennaker twisted itself into a narrow tube, with the by there being 12 Weir Wood boats there. The Sidmouth Team downhaul tightly wrapped around the outside. I sailed over to were amazing, incredibly friendly and putting on very excellent Brownsea Island, capsized the boat in the shallows and spent socials, and the scenery around the bay is stunning. An half an hour re-rigging it in the water with the boat on its side. example was the “commodore’s nibbles”, usually small amounts Whilst trying to keep calm and complete this I looked up to see of finger foods, but here was a full supper of pasties, cakes, wine the lead boats rounding the windward mark in the first race. and all manner of superb fare, and the local club members all Fortunately I had reminded myself of my objectives before

Spring 2010 happily mingled with the 2000 crews. setting out (learn about the boat, have fun, avoid collisions), At last! Friday, day 6 dawned a perfect sailing day, with 15 knots and I thought these through and calmly carried on working offshore wind, fluffy clouds and Weir Wood shifts. We all through the problem, rather than fretting about this being enjoyed a most wonderful days racing with a mile long beat up another regatta, starting with a ‘DNS’ and the effect on my to the terrific Jurassic deep red-coloured cliffs. With sailing, you Afloat results. have to take the rough with the smooth and this day was just In a similar vein to the 2000 regatta, after the low of the DNS fantastic after the waiting and poor weather. 24 the next race (my first in the 100) was a fantastic experience Sidmouth awarded a special prize each evening for doing and a huge ‘high’. Using the skills learned from the 2000, ridiculous things. Young Will Sloper did very well at this. On I worked the shifts up the beat, hauled the kite and then one day he lost his shroud pin overboard whilst attempting to the boat took off. This boat is electric! I was hollering and change his rake and cleverly fixed it by cutting a piece from ‘yehaaing’ all the way round and just loved it. his main halyard and running it through the hole. On another After a friendly dinner out with the class association, the occasion his mainsheet block came adrift, and this time his next day was even windier, up to 25knots. We flew out crew fixed it with his knife but unfortunately then dropped it towards the start, and I tried to gybe – straight over! Then got to the start area and tried to tack – Further flavours of the Sidmouth straight over!. Hmmm, with 3 races of 45 minutes and one long race of 120 week from the Editor minutes, this was going to be a long Ed day! The Editor needs to take a leaf out of Tim’s book about In the last critical medal race, I forgot relaxing and enjoying himself. The Sidmouth Nationals were the downwind gate and had to go back, about as disappointing for us as sailing could get. With the capsized 5 times, and my slot gasket conditions of the week we didn’t make one start. Despite Sarah leads the fell off. But what a mind blowing race. the fantastic social fun I was sent by my crew for serious S candle walk The downwind wild sleigh rides were counselling for depression and ill temper. Dr Islay Malt did fantastic. the trick and we stayed on to enjoy a fantastic weeks walking Anyway, we both survived, but were around Sidmouth and Fowey. absolutely shattered. The sun came Apart from this two events remain to be reported. out and we quietly sailed back together, Firstly a sailing manoeuvre guaranteed to keep you in front; tacking a long tack out across the the “Sam Greg method” Wait until you are neck and neck harbour into the sun, then bouncing at the leeward mark. Then come along side close to the back through the shipping channel to opposition and gybe. Ensure that the genneker lassoes the the marina. A lovely easy sail, just sat helm of the opposition and haul in tight. The unsuspecting on the wing, after all that effort. helm is whipped out of his boat and dumped in the drink. So many lovely places, friendly people, Untangle genneker and sail off. amazing sailing conditions, many Secondly, we were treated one evening to a candlelit walk laughs, and adventures. Great times. around the town led by Sarah Burridge. Sarah had been By setting objectives for things I could on holiday in Austria and was disappointed when a similar control rather than a placing position, walk was cancelled due to rain. So on her own initiative I’ve learned more and had a wonderful she organised this one and gave us lots of interesting summer’s sailing. I think I still need information about Sidmouth on the tour. The weather was a lot more time on the water to fully fine and apart from a bit of an annoying wind that blew a make the best of it, this may take few candles out we arrived at the Club House ready for the many years! band. Thanks you Sarah.

Sidmouth Laser 2000 Nationals week

The Sidmouth Chronicle We reprint an article from the Sidmouth Chronicle describing the thoughts of one of

the many “Saga” holiday visitors who was privileged to watch this complicated sport Afloat from the promenade. So that our readers will have a better idea of what to expect when the sailing Olympics are held just down the coast in Weymouth in 2012 we were given a

foretaste by eighty boats of the Laser 2000 flying circus. Spring 2010 Thousands of people lined the promenade to watch this very energetic sport. The Royal Navy, the Army and Royal Air force each supplied various teams and we anticipate this to be the future Royal Tattoo. S Candlelight Walkers Day one. Gentle sea breezes. Competitors drag their boats across the road, down the ramp and across the shingle to the sea. They launch and bob around for three hours until three 25 blasts on a horn announce the start of the racing and all the boats sail for the shore in the onshore breeze. Then “Human Targets” walk into the sea to chest height and the boats must sail in at top speed and harpoon the targets with their lances on the bow of the boats. It is good to know our old traditions of Chivalry and Jousting are continued in this very modern sport. It is pleasing to state that our British where the boats are allowed to wallow competitors found this very easy. The and roll before returning to their neat resulting shortage of targets meant the rows. See photo below. rules were changed midweek to make it Crowd Trouble. more difficult by insisting the boats only use their little sails. As usual louts have to turn up and ruin it for the rest of us. The lifeboat with After this, the competitors carry the seven men sitting had to be dragged whole flock of heavy Lasers across the along the promenade across the shingle The Magazine Editor shingle and back to the club house to ! and launched , motor for twenty yards be first to sit in the 19th hole. There is a (or was it 20 feet? ) to remove some team element in all this with competitors The Magazine disconsolate young offenders who were helping team mates carry their boats sitting on the Groyne watching the Yacht Timetable back to the road although these teams racing. seem to be of various sizes. John Chisnall They were given a severe dressing down: The Magazine Editor Day Two. Strong wind and heavy surf. “You just cannot go and sit down to After the publication of the last edition A Le Mans start watch. How will we find Corporate the Editor came in for some unkind and Competitors race from the starting grid Sponsors for empty seats at the ill informed criticism for not covering at the 19th hole and drag their boats 800 Olympics if you just go and sit wherever? certain events. The explanation was yards along the road to the other end Go and join the thousands of spectators simple: the events took place whilst the of the promenade. Hitting the glass of standing on the Promenade.” magazine was being printed and the the overhanging lamp posts is not good people concerned hadn’t bothered to These kids retorted “This competition it enough. You have to smash these to be ask for the activities to be covered prior is a load of **//!!!!, a waste of time and considered for the prizes. I am pleased to this. So I thought it would be a good billions of pounds. “ to say that one of our plucky British idea if I set out the process and timetable competitors (the highly skilled Chair It is a shame the opportunities these kids that we follow for the magazine from Woman of this Olympic Association) pass up. They just do not realise how inception to arriving in your post. won the prize with the most broken difficult it is to lay on a performance like We publish 3 editions a year: although I am ashamed to say none of this. In our day we would tear up empty 1. January to cover autumn activities and the Armed Services scored a direct hit. seats and throw them at the boats. to send out membership renewals There is no team element to this stage Sad Farewells 2. May to cover winter activities and of the competition which is a shame Unfortunately, for some inexplicable publish the summer season programme because I can think of several gangs back reason, for the rest of the week the boats 3. September to cover summer activities home who would excel at this. sail out to sea, vanish and return four and give notice of the AGM At the other end of the town the fleet hours later. This will never catch on with The programme for each magazine again races across the shingle and line the thousands of townsfolk and holiday is as follows: their boats along the edge of the sea. makers at Sidmouth who have been A copy cut-off date is published in the They then rush back to the nineteenth privileged to watch their new spectator previous magazine. hole. I think this tradition harks back to friendly Olympic Sport of the flock of In the 4 months that lead up to putting Sir Francis Drake in nearby Plymouth 80 Laser 2000’s. We look forward to the

Spring 2010 the mag together the Editor is identifying when he first espied the Spanish Armada return of this circus next year to cheer potential articles and talking to possible (I forget which year). up us simple country folk. authors. Le Mans Start No 2. With thanks to Mike Ramus who spotted this article. About 6 weeks before copy-cut off Editor

Afloat After several hours the competitors drafts contents list and starts to chase for leave the 19th hole and run to their Q Photo by Adele and Oliver Salter copy in earnest. boats so they can move them back to the 26 About 2 weeks before copy-cut off Editor receding waters edge again where they chases Commodore, Sailing Secretary, stand for two hours contemplating the Fleet Captains and Youth and Oppy sea before putting the boats in neat rows Flotilla leaders and Training for their on the shingle. contributions. Day Three. Lots of wind. About 1 week before copy cut- off Editor The boats launch, race off for half an now panicking because little has arrived hour and then race back to the surf and the serious chasing begins. When received each article has to be read in detail, spelling and grammar corrected and edited as necessary. After the words are put together I have to sort out photographs and his can be a long winded process. If I haven’t already got them it means chasing people and asking. They have to be linked to the articles they illustrate and I have to decide ! WWSC Winners ! Would you welcome them in? which ones warrant colour reproduction including the front and back covers. (We can’t afford to print everything in colour) The final text and photos are put on Laser Nationals Mount’s Bay Cornwall disk and hard copy printed with photos Chris Fyans in position so that the printers know Grand Master how it all should fit and this is posted to Some jottings from the Laser UK Nationals at beautiful Mount’s Bay in Cornwall in Embassy Press. August by Chris Fyans. First draft usually received about a week The principle aim of attending was to get some more useful sea sailing ahead of the later. I check and amend with 24 hours Masters Worlds at Hayling Island in September, accompanied by Simon Barrington and the final proof usually comes back a and several other Masters sailors from other clubs. Tony Boulton also joined in, but couple of days later. largely because Mount’s Bay is one of his other home clubs. Controversy reigned to Instructions are given to go to press and a certain extent because the UK Squad had been “persuaded” that they ought to be magazine usually posted out about a training for the upcoming Worlds instead of sailing at Mount’s Bay. So the field was, to week later. a certain extent, open. This is usually about three and a half Day one brought sunshine and no prospect of any wind. We arrived at the club to find weeks after copy cut off date. the entire fleet had been rigged and fully kitted out since 8:00 am. Very keen these youngsters but, as Simon noted, the poor lad next to him in the boat park was sitting Please remember: on his boat fully kitted out waiting when we arrived, and was still there when we left Although I am a quite competent “snoop” several hours later to go to the pub! with access to much of what is going on Days two and three brought 20 – 25 knot winds and we caught up the lost race by in the Club I rely on you to tell me if there doing three races on day two. This was perfect for Mr. Barrington who catapulted are things you want covered. himself into second place overall. At that time he even had an eye on the title - very You have to take responsibility for at least difficult to live with! The north westerly wind and south westerly ocean swell on sending me a draft. (I am quite happy to those days made for a very difficult chop in the bay, big enough and steep enough to turn it into a publishable article that encourage pitch poling for the unwary on the run! Afloat reads well) On day four we could hardly see the Mount for rain. In typical laid back fashion we A word about photographs: arrived well after the briefing, at which the day had apparently been cancelled by a We are very fortunate in that we have show of hands (these youngsters!). So Simon and I got on our bikes and rode the coast several members who take photos to coast trail in the rain from Portreath to Devoran, where there is a very welcoming Spring 2010 of club activities on a regular basis pub. The landlord threw the doors open despite the two of us being covered from including at least one professional sports head to toe in mud and grit! A couple of jars by the open fire (in August!) was just right photographer who very generously for the ride back. allows us to use her material free of Very light winds on day five gave Barrington the jitters, but we only managed one race, charge. The quality from all involved is and he pulled a fifth out of the bag by assuming that the course would be shortened as of a very high standard as I hope you will we ran down the outer loop to the leeward gate. The starboard gate was favoured and have seen. 27 with the fleet keeping to the right, Simon went left and rejoiced as the ‘S’ flag went up. If you have photos you would like The wind came back on day 6 and gave us the best sailing of the week. So Barrington published they will be gratefully received held on to second overall, but he was not the only Weir Wood man in the prizes as the but do make sure that they are of a high accompanying photo shows. Jon Emmett achieved second overall in the radial fleet. resolution. Generally we have trouble My two were first Grand Master and third in the bronze fleet. I know what you are publishing photos from mobile phones. thinking – just how many Grand Masters actually take part in the UK Nationals, and The images just aren’t good enough. are there any prizes lower than third bronze? Still, nice to be on the podium! Youth And Oppy News Congratulations to all our Youth who have done so well in their recent exams. The hard work paid off. And good luck to those who are now off to their next stage either to college or to Uni. Sasha is off to Plumpton College to do an Outdoor Activities Course (I wish I was 17 again!) and Stephan is going to a college in Horsham to do an amazing collection of subjects (No more coasting Steph!) After spending the summer away at various sailing holiday resorts Alexei and Amy are both off to Swansea to read Mechanical Engineering and geography respectively. (I wonder why? Could it be the location or the academic standard?) and Flo is off to Durham to read Geography (although she may change her mind and do English.) And with Alexei going we are left without a Youth Rep. We need an elected representative from you young folk or a volunteer. Otherwise we will resort to tha age old sea custom of the Press gang. Sunday afternoon sailing has continues as usual. There has also been a training day. See following photos. And Saturday afternoon racing training has also run through the summer.

Oppy Cobnor 2010

Millie Hopkins (Age 10) On the 22nd and 23rd of May some of Weir Wood Oppy Club went down to Cobnor in Chichester for the first time since it was refurbished and extended. This time 5 of us took our Oppies down with us to have experience of tidal sailing and to have training near the sea. On Saturday Jacob, David, Emma, Fiona and Millie went out in Oppies while everyone else sailed Bosuns. In the morning we sailed near Hayling Island where the oppies were set the task of sailing round a nearby buoy, which at the time seemed impossible because there was barely any wind so we kept on drifting backwards. Finally we gave up and ate lunch at East Head . After lunch we went to Birdham where we discovered millions of jelly fish swimming around in the water. Once we were all safely back on shore one of the Cobnor instructors came over to show us how to use the rock climbing wall, this was an opportunity we had never been given at Cobnor before. On Sunday we sailed bosuns and went to East Head for lunch and to play around in the sand. In the afternoon we went back with the instructors so we could trapeze . Spring 2010 Overall it was a fun and exciting experience. Emma tells us about the fun had by all at Oppy Cobnor Another great Oppy Cobnor has been and gone! What fantastic weather! This year for the first time some

Afloat of the Oppy Club racers brought down their Oppies to gain some experience sailing on the sea ready for the Nationals in Weymouth. Five of us (Fiona, Jacob, David, Millie and me) spent Saturday looking at tides and 28 how to prevent our boats being stopped in the waves; a flat bow doesn’t help too much! Hopefully with a few more coastal open meetings we will have mastered the technique of sailing on the sea in our Oppies. On the way back in from a long day of sailing, there were hundreds of jellyfish and some of us decided to collect them in our bailers.!! Jelly good fun!! On Sunday everyone was in Bosuns. We sailed over to East Head and went swimming in the sea before lunch. When we finally went back out everybody was completely soaked. It seemed to take forever to sail back in to Cobnor. In next no time we were on our way home and looking forward to the next one! Thanks to everyone who helped to make the weekend so enjoyable. To see photos of Cobnor go to Allan Jones’ Web Site on Flickr. for making sure everything works and it does, Tim and Carole Taylor for, amongst other things, creating great food at camp and Pete Clifton for heading up camp and ‘volunteering’ to be race officer at the Open Meeting! That is it from me. See you on the water! Read on to see some of the things our sailors have been up to during the season so far: The Final Race – Spring Series The final race of the series took place as part of the highly successful Open Day. Light conditions greeted the fleet of almost 20 boats for race 8 of the series. From the start it was a battle between Fiona Harrington, Emma Baker ! Mark Harrington and David Haw, Fiona having to beat Emma to clinch the series. By the windward mark Fiona led, closely followed by Emma with George Blatchford and Jacob Hamilton hot on their heels. Fiona managed to hold off Emma for the first Optimist Report lap and on the beat of lap 2. However, shifty condition at the leeward mark near buoy 2 and good anticipation from Mark Harrington Flotilla Leader Emma meant that the lead changed, with Fiona having to I am pleased to report that the Weir Wood Oppy fleet is tack to make the mark. Emma capitalised on the situation building real momentum, reflected in part by the length of to increase her lead to finish a comfortable 1st with Fiona this article covering the huge range of activities our sailors 2nd and George 3rd. Exciting stuff and well done to Emma and parents have been involved with in the last 6 months. and Fiona who finished the series with a tie, with David rd3 . The high point of the year for me (so far) was watching Great conditions at Grafham 14 and 15 May Jacob Hamilton in the Nationals approaching the windward mark on PORT (how many times have we been through Just a handful of some 320 took to the water at Grafham that?!) with the whole of the Junior Nationals fleet (only for the Inland Championships, where 7 WWSC sailors about 80 boats) approaching on starboard. Sitting in the competed with the top sailors in the country. This was the rib I THOUGHT (no I did not shout but it was tempting) first major event of the year and the first time for many TACK……and he did, to round in 1st place - brilliant! of us at the reservoir; it’s big! Day 1 saw light conditions and in the main fleet Emma Baker and Fiona Harrington There has been loads going on and although we will be found themselves in the same flight but didn’t see too addressing how to get more beginners staying with us much of each other amongst some 120 boats in each race longer term, together with a range of other development start. By the end of day 1 they were lying half way up the ideas, the commitment and dedication from sailors and bottom half. David Haw and Jacob Hamilton were sailing parents is beginning to show through. At the time of well too and again after the 3 races for day 1 were in Afloat writing we are right in the middle of zone selection so similar positions. In the more compact regatta fleet Caitlin good luck to our sailors in those forthcoming events. Our Hamilton, Amy Bennett and Georgia Baker put in some Open Meeting takes place mid September, about 80 boats good performances against a fleet of 85! Back on shore entered to date, and is one of the SE zone qualifying events. the WWSC parent team was busily sorted the regatta

Oppy Camp went very well with a new location for the fleet trolleys into numerical order (kept us out of the bar Spring 2010 camp site, lots of singing (some even in tune!) and a tidy I suppose!). Day 2 saw near perfect conditions with winds profit into the bargain. We are working closely with Chris up to about 18knots and blue skies.It was great seeing Hopkins and Allan Jones to best develop our 8-18 year olds, them all out there and our sailors reveled in the conditions and the imminent Volvo Champion Club accreditation, improving their race results from day 1 to get close to the with associated funding, will be very beneficial for our top half and Emma managed a 45th in one of the races. sailors. We have a strong foundation for our sailors and, Well done! All of the children came off the water with with the continued support of our club, we will be able to smiles on their faces having really enjoyed the racing and 29 build on this and give our young sailors even more great gaining valuable big fleet experience which they can build opportunities. A huge thank you to the Oppy Parent Team on. Once the discard had been taken into account Emma and all the other parents involved in our various activities, reached 134 out of 220, excellent, Jacob, Fiona and David in particular Richard Baker for all his hard work and input - 168, 186 and 193 respectively all of their results amongst and for organising Oppy Camp with the support of his the other sailors who are in the SE Zone squads! A great wife Pauline, John Hamilton for always having the right bit weekend and looking forward to the next one. of kit to get anyones boat up and running, Richard Haw ! Mark races the Optimist

Tide, tide more tide, more wind and yet more tide at Royal Lymington Open! David with a 34th in one race and Jacob with a 20th on the Sunday (out of 85 entered) and some good consistency Three of ours racers had a real experience last weekend at from Emma put our sailors deep within the results of the Lymington. With the usual 100 plus boats on the start line SE Zone Squad overall. Great to see they are moving on up. in strong spring tides this was a challenge for Emma, David and Fiona. Being their first outing in the Solent, it took Summer Series - New names at the top. The final race of them a while to get the hang of why they weren’t making the series took place before lunch on the ‘Oppy Madness’ progress on the windward mark! Emma got the message day in blustery conditions. Good sailing from Emma, early on to get top half results in the first 2 races. Fiona and Jacob and David gave them top 3. They were joined by a David started to climb up the fleet of National and Squad new face an elderly gent aka Oppy Flotilla Leader. Good sailors in light North Westerly’s. A real steep learning concentration from Mark at the start saw him 3rd to the curve from day 1. Day 2 saw very different conditions with windward mark but by lap 2 almost the whole of the fleet South Westerlies up to 20 knots against a building spring had shown him how to sail an Optimist properly and he tide creating the most exciting sailing our three have ever had to settle for 8th (much more coaching required)! Well seen in Oppies. Pleased to see Emma and David right on done to Millie Hopkins with great consistency throughout the line and winning their first black flags: well done! In the series to win overall, closely followed by Chris Taylor race 3 David got a fantastic start up in the top ten but was and Amy Bennett. Great to see new names at the top. Spring 2010 hit by another boat on the reach causing him to capsize Saturday 17 July Great Fun had by all at ‘Oppy and unfortunately marking the end of his day. Emma and Madness’. many others were beginning to find the conditions a bit too The afternoon of fun started at 2pm and the children had much and after capsize number 3 decided to call it a day. a great time with an adventure over to the other side of the Afloat Fiona really came into her own in the conditions improving lake 2 and 3 up on Toppers, followed by a slalom course her results through the day with no capsizes and a very and capsizing event. Well done to Cameron on discovering 30 creditable 60th in the final race; well done! There’s still lots that a Topper mast is in 2 parts! And thanks to Richard to do, however. This fleet is strong and very experienced Haw for the gentle push given to our flotilla leader from but our guys really enjoyed it and learnt loads and will set the side of the rib! It all ended with how many can you get them up well for the Nationals in July. on a Topper (I think we can get more than that). This was Excellent WWSC results at Hayling Island Open. followed by a BBQ and time to relax. Thanks to everyone The travelling team of David Haw, Emma Baker, Georgia who helped during the day one minute the place was chaos Baker and Jacob Hamilton had a fantastic weekend at the next it was completely clear! We are planning a similar Hayling Island. A number of really strong results from event early in the autumn. ! Oppy Nationals

Great time at the Nationals in Weymouth and some morning we did training and then we came in for lunch. good results. After lunch we went out again and did racing. We were 2nd In the last week in July seven of our intrepid sailors took start behind the regatta racing fleet. It was really windy and part in the largest nationals event for any class. The I had to hike a lot. On Thursday we did a sail away day and conditions throughout the week were perfect with 10 - 15 we dressed up as pirates and we went to Castle Cove and knots SW most of the time and sunshine every day apart had lunch on the beach. On Friday there wasn’t so much from one. The sailors were spread amongst the 5 fleets and wind, we went out and did some racing and we didn’t come this was the first nationals for all of them. The youngest in in for lunch!” the Regatta Starter fleet Louise Harrington had a great time meeting new friends and singing, oh and a bit of sailing. This is what she thought “I felt a bit nervous at the start as this was my first

Nationals and I didn’t know any of the children in my Afloat fleet. The coaches helping were very funny and I soon made new friends and really enjoyed my time on the water. Our caravan was very nice and we had lots of barbeques with

the others from Weir Wood. I won a sailing bag at the prize Spring 2010 giving for being Cool as a Cucumber. I am looking forward Q Team Oppy Nationals to the next one”. We had 3 sailors in the Regatta Coached fleet, Caitlin Hamilton who scored a 4th in one of the races and Amy Bennett who sailed really well all week in a fleet of over 80 boats! 31 This is what Georgia Baker said about the event “On Saturday we arrived to a scene of mayhem, which was good because my boat is called Mayhem! Nearly 500 boats were arriving. I was in the regatta coached fleet and there were 82 boats. On Sunday we had our first briefing we were split into groups of 7 or 8 with one coach. My coach was called Dan and we called him Dan the doughnut. Each Meanwhile in the Main Fleet Junior Emma Baker and Jacob “What a week in Weymouth the Oppy Nationals have been! Hamilton sailed well in the qualifying section but just Perfect winds and the rain holding off until the very last missed out on Gold Fleet. However, once in the Silver Fleet evening so it was sun, sun, sun all the way. On Sunday all of they notched up some fantastic results with a 6th from the main fleet got into the world records book for the highest Emma in one race and 11th overall and Jacob (best moment number of boats tacking on the whistle, smashing the old of the week for the flotilla leader seeing Jacob leading the record by over 100 boats. It was nice on Tuesday for the fleet of almost 80 at the first windward mark) finishing 3rd Commodore Simon and his son Rory to come all the way to in one race and 22nd overall. Here’s Emma’s take on things Weymouth to see how we were all doing. With such a huge number of boats it was such a great atmosphere. I’d like to “Everyone arrived on Saturday morning to a very busy thank WWSC for letting us use the club safety boats and a boat park. We unloaded all of the boats and the 2 ribs the big, big thank you to all the parents for taking us there and club had kindly let us use for support. Then rigged and all their support”. changed to go out to do some last minute training before the main event. We launched and went out for about 3 Off the water a great time was had by all. The BBC was hours. Saturday night we had an early night ready for the interviewing many of Olympic stars who were there most practice race the next day. We woke up bright and early of the week. Ben Ainslie made an appearance on the start on Sunday morning to find a good steady breeze of about line in his Finn (not your best start Ben!), autographs 8knts. At 12:45 the 2 main fleets launched for the practice were signed for the children and we all went along to the race. Throughout the event we had fantastic wind ranging Sarah Ayton and Saskia Clarke talk one evening. All in all from 8-20 knots. The venue was great and they organised a superb week which the children really enjoyed and look some brilliant entertainment for the evenings. We all had forward to seeing more of us there in Pwllheli, North Wales a chance to see Ben Ainslie and I was very pleased to talk same time next year. to double gold medallist Sarah Ayton and her 470 crew An Excellent Oppy Camp – Here’s what some of the Saskia Clark. Ben Ainslie even joined in one of our starts in children thought: his Fin.,Maybe he misses one of the toughest and crowded start lines around! We even had a successful attempt to get Yun Shin IOCA Grade 2 “I had lots of fun at Oppy camp. into the Guiness Book of Records for the most boats tacking It was very good. I made new friends and improved a lot on simultaneously on the whistle!” my sailing. We did team games, watched movies and lots more. Some days there was wind and other days there was Meanwhile in the Main Senior Fleet David Haw was finding hardly any. On the final day we did the regatta. Everyone it a bit more challenging up against some of the top sailors did really well in the regatta. In grades 1&2 race Maddy in the world including Spain (overall winners) and the US. came first, then me and then Sophie. In grades 3&4 race David stuck at it all through the week, finished every race Georgia came first, then Chris and I can’t remember who with a good number of boats behind him. Over to came third. In the toppers race Emma came first, then Jacob, you David and then David. After the regatta there was the prize giving. A lot of children got prizes and also adults. The furthest to travelto camp were children from South Korea! 12 hours away from England by plane. I think everyone past their The arrives at Oppy Camp S grade. Afterwards we had some food. Then we had to put away our tents” Rhiannon Deeming IOCA Grade 3 “I missed the first 2 days of Oppy camp, but when I was there it was great. I Spring 2010 wasn’t there for the walk but apparently it was terrible and lasted for 3 hours, but they did have hot chocolate when they got back. I arrived on the second night, and we watched the film ‘UP’ and had popcorn and hot chocolate! On the

Afloat 3rd day we went out on the water and I was learning to do roll tacks and had a race. We stopped for lunch (cheese 32 sandwiches and crisps) then we went back out and did more roll tacks before dinner. I love dinner. It’s always very nice. That night we all got into costume for the fancy dress contest and the egg-dropping contest where you had to cover your egg with the stuff on your table, and then the AIs chucked them off the balcony to see if they would break. On the 4th day we learnt to sail backwards which I liked. We did more roll tacks and had lunch then had a race with the grade 2’s (I’m in grade 3) before going in. Day 5 was the test Papercourt Open Meeting 4 September. which was good. We had lunch and then did the regatta Light winds greeted our 7 sailors amongst the 93 others which was fun. All the boats capsized at the end which was across 2 fleets and the wind remained fluky all day. This great. We packed up our boats and our tents and the day didn’t deter our guys and girls with Emma Baker posting ended with prize giving” a 6th in the first race! Fantastic. Lots of ‘huddles’ as Louise Fiona Harrington AI Grade 4 “Oppy camp was, once Harrington puts it at the marks with sometimes 40 boats again, a great success this year, and I hope everyone enjoyed rafted up and a good deal of pushing backwards from it as much as I did. It was a bit different for me this year as some of the other competitors. Louise reported that got a I was an AI (assistant instructor) and was teaching Grade gust she was very pleased to wave goodbye to one of these 4. We had a fantastic grade and they were all competent offenders! Elsewhere in the main fleet Chris Taylor was racers and we did racing that afternoon (as it is the Racing putting together some excellent results at his first external th Red award) and most of them got the hang of roll tacks event and finishing 34 overall, Yun Shin sporting his new th and gybes. We then debriefed them (using one of my many boat finished a creditable 44 and Georgia Baker won th teaching books) and then once we had all got changed, the perseverance prize to finish 56 . Meanwhile in the everyone went to have a really tasty dinner. (Thank-you, Regatta fleet George Blatchford was sailing really well and th Carol!) After dinner, we went for the usual long walk, concentrating in the challenging conditions to finish 18 nd through . This year, we broke another record overall; very good, and Louise finished 42 with Sophie th for the length of time it took us, this not being helped by us Dorrington 44 . Emma posted good consistency in her th getting lost. Huuuummm, I wonder who’s fault that was, final 2 races to finish 16 overall well up with National TIM! Our grade 4’s were doing brilliantly and Millie was Squad sailors Well done to all. doing especially well that day. Caitlin and Amy always Footnote from the Main Committee seemed to have a smile on their faces and that is always On behalf of the committee and all of our members we rewarding for an Instructor to see, so thanks guys! Chris want to say a big “Thank you” to the Oppy team for their and Freya were also doing great, and we were very pleased dedication, enthusiasm and patience in organizing the with their progress. That evening, some people went for a season, taking the children all over the place and summer very cold, but fun swim in Eva’s pool, so thank-you Eva for camp. Your efforts are certainly paying off. And of course a letting us use your pool Day 3. Embarrassment loomed big “thank you” to the children themselves. Your enjoyment of for me as my Dad decided to come as ‘The Penguin’ from the sport and smiley faces make it all worthwhile for all of us. Batman and was going round spaying us with water in a top Keep it up! hat and cloak in our briefing but did a very good job! Well done, Dad! I had decided to give Emma, David, Jacob and Isabella 200 points for their watches if they succeeded in getting Tim soaked! Unfortunately this plan had failed but at Lunch time (much to my joy) my lovely Grade 4’s covered Spring Series 2010 top 20 Tim in Make-Up, so I thought this was revenge enough! Rank Sail No Helm Name Nett That evening was dress up night and there were some great 1st GBR 5940 Emma Baker 8 costumes like Superwoman, Hercules, Gangster girl and 2nd GBR 5092 Fiona Harrington 8 Afloat boy and (my personal favourite), a Darlek! I was dressed 3rd GBR 5576 David Haw 14 up as Cat woman and was judged by some intimidating (if 4th GBR 3509 George Blatchford 20 not slightly boy orientated) judges and boys being boys, they 5th GBR 5955 Jacob Hamilton 21 chose David (AKA ‘Gangster Boy’) as the winner! Then after 6th GBR 5055 Georgia Baker 22 Spring 2010 going outside and throwing wrapped up eggs of the balcony, 7th GBR 3007 Millie Hopkins 26 everyone went to their cosy tents and went to sleep. The final 8th GBR 3496 Chris Taylor 30 Day came too soon, and after going to bed at 3 the previous 9th GBR 5066 Chris Ditcham 31 night/ morning, we were glad our Grades were going to be 10th GBR 4576 Lewis Johnston 43 assessed and graded this morning. After Rory and I had 11th GBR 7851 Yun Shin 43 helped our grade get rigged, we had to stay on shore while 12th GBR 5879 Caitlin Hamilton 64 Tim and Pete went out with our Grade. Rory and I then 13th GBR 5711 Amy Bennett 66 33 decided to have a race to the ribs and this ended up with me 14th GBR 4 Cameron Harris 74 slipping in a puddle and getting incredibly muddy; amusing 15th GBR 5278 Abigail Back 90 for some! Then in the afternoon we had the annual Regatta 16th GBR 3737 Sophie Dorrington 96 and well done to all the winners of the individual fleets! We 17th GBR 3982 Louise Harrington 100 really did have such a great week and a big thanks to all 18th GBR 3574 Maddie Aloof 105 involved” 19th GBR 5831 James Thorne-Large 113 20th GBR 5447 Hatty Cage 119 ! Matt and Annabels Wedding

Congratulations Member: ‘Yes. I hear you fine.’ Woman: ‘That’s good. I am at the shops now and found this First of all to Matt and Annabel on the occasion of their beautiful leather coat. It’s only £2,000. Is it OK if I buy it?’ wedding. We look forward to welcoming the next generation Member: ‘Of course. Go ahead if you like it that much.’ of sailors in due course. Woman: ‘I also stopped by the Lexus dealership and saw the Also to Bruce and Katie Ramshaw on the birth of their first new Models. I saw one I really liked.’ child, Harry “Chips” Ramshaw and of course congratulations Member: ‘How much?’ also to the proud grandparents, David and Miriam Woman: ‘£50,000’ Member: ‘OK, but for that price I want it with all the Overheard by the Editor on a Wednesday Night as options.’ he passed the Race Hut where the results were being Woman: ‘Great! Oh, and one more thing....the house I : computed wanted last year is back on the market. They’re asking “No,that’s not his Yardstick. That’s his sail number” £450000’ Member: ‘Well, then go ahead and give them an offer of Left behind £425000. They will probably take it. If not, we can go the The lost property pile in the men’s changing rooms is always extra £25000 thousand if it’s really a good deal.’ a revelation and mystery to me. How is it that the kids leave Woman: ‘OK. I’ll see you later! I love you so much!’ behind one sock, a pair of underpants and pairs of shoes. Member: ‘Bye! I love you, too.’ It seems that we more mature folk are not exempt. I hear The Member hangs up. The other guys in the locker room that one well known laser sailor excelled himself in this are staring at him in astonishment, mouths agape. Spring 2010

art at an open meeting in the summer. He drove off home He turns and asks: ‘Anyone know who this phone belongs and left his boat behind! Sounds like a bit of a “Steanior to?’ Moment.”

Locker room phone Afloat Overheard by the Ed in the Men’s Changing Room. 34 A mobile phone on the bench rings and a well known Member engages the hands-free speaker function and begins to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen. Member: ‘Hello’ Woman on the other end: ‘Hi darling. It’s me. Are you at the club?’ Member: ‘Yes’ Woman; ‘The sound’s kind of muffled. Can you hear me okay?’ So I was getting into my car, and this bloke says to me 'Can Jokes! you give me a lift?' I said 'Sure, you look great, the world's your oyster, go for it..' Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. There are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my Sorry Folks but there was space mum or my Dad, or my older brother Colin, or my younger that needed filling and I had brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin. run out of sailing articles so Two fat blokes in a pub, one says to the other 'Your round.' The instead...... other one says 'So are you, you fat bastard!' Police arrested two kids yesterday, one was drinking battery acid, and the other was eating fireworks. They charged one and Two blondes walk into a building. You'd think at least one of let the other one off. them would have seen it. 'You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving Phone answering machine message “If you want to buy today. They left a little note on the windscreen. It said, 'Parking marijuana, press the hash key” Fine.' So that was nice.' I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I A man walked into the doctors, he said, 'I've hurt my arm in couldn't find any. several places' The doctor said, 'Well don't go there anymore' I went to the butchers the other day and I bet him 50 quid that Ireland's worst air disaster occurred early this morning when he couldn't reach the meat off the top shelf. He said, “No, the a small two-seater Cessna plane crashed into a cemetery. Irish steaks are too high.” search and rescue workers have recovered 1826 bodies so far My friend drowned in a bowl of muesli. A strong currant pulled and expect that number to climb as digging continues into him in. the night. A man came round in hospital after a serious accident. He shouted, 'Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!' The doctor replied, 'I know you can't, I've cut your arms off. Wanted I went to a seafood disco last week and pulled a muscle. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly. They lit a fire in the Membership Secretary craft, it sank, proving once and for all that you can't have your kayak and heat it. We need a new membership secretary. This post is ranked as a Club Official Our ice cream man was found lying on the floor of his van and automatically has a position on the covered with hundreds and thousands. Police say that he main committee. It is arguably one of topped himself. the most important jobs in the Club. Man goes to the doctor, with a strawberry growing out of his Attributes needed: Afloat head. Doc says 'I'll give you some cream to put on it.' ' Time (Workload peaks February to Doc I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home' ' April with annual renewals with input That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome. ' throughout the rest of the year.)

'Is it common?' Spring 2010 'It's not unusual.' Well organised, logical and patient A man takes his Rotteweiller to the vet. 'My dog is cross-eyed, Reasonably IT fluent though the is there anything you can do for him?' demands are no more than most folk 'Well,' said the vet, 'let's have a look at him' have these days So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then he checks (Club will provide necessary equipment his teeth. Finally, he says, if you don’t have it) 35 I'm going to have to put him down.' 'What? Because he's cross- eyed?' 'No, because he's really heavy' Able to attend main committee Guy goes into the doctor's. 'Doc, I've got a cricket ball stuck up meetings (about 4 a year) my bottom.' 'How's that?' For more information contact either 'Don't you start.' Lynn Sandhu (01293 419546) or the Commodore, Simon Davis. What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh. Concert Band's New Conductor rehearses in the wings

Copy date for next issue 31st December 2010

Editor: John Chisnall e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] Published by Weir Wood Sailing Club and Printed by Embassy Press (London) Limited