Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
Rollesby Broad Sailing Club Newsletter
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
From the Editor Contents take this opportunity to say a From the Editor 2 big thank you to Rollesby Useful contacts 2 Broad Sailing Club‟s
members for being so From the Commodore 3 friendly and welcoming to me for my short time with the Sailing Scrawl 4
club. I have loved every The Rules and Me 5 minute of sailing here and I shall be sure to spread the Wednesday Evening word all sailors down south Sailing 7
about how wonderful a club it Solo Open 8 is. I am sure I shall stay in touch and will try to visit if I‟m Try out a Solo 9 in Norfolk on a Sunday. I would also like to thank Liz The Rules and Me 2 10
so much for her wonderful Hypothermia 12 Welcome to the October cooking on a Sunday, you do 2009 edition of Mainsheet. It a great job Liz and make From the Committee 14 is packed full of interesting sure I have a decent meal Recent Recruits to articles about the past once a week! Rollesby 15 season. Despite the weed causing minor problems I wish everyone the very best 3 Rollesby Men during the start of the for the future and Happy in a Boat 16 summer there has been Sailing! Club Clothing 18 some great events at the club including the Solo and Amy Adams
Phantom open. Wednesday Club Contact Details evening racing has proved a Clubhouse Phone Number 01493 730109 hit this year and members of our club have been Website www.rbsc.org.uk promoting the name of Useful email Contacts: Rollesby at events Commodore?! throughout the county and country. [email protected]
[email protected] Look out in this edition for dates of the forthcoming [email protected] AGM and winter dinner. Also the double hander regatta on [email protected] st the 1 November. [email protected]
I shall be standing down as [email protected]
publicity officer this Autumn 2
as I am returning to Kent and Safety and Child Protection: [email protected]
tidal waters! I would like to Page
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
From the stored in the boat shed. The out with jobs around the site, „green plastic safety boat‟ it keeps our costs down and Commodore… now has a smaller lighter your subscriptions lower. outboard, so that it maybe Please help if you can. I launched and retrieved have been thinking about safely. having a „boat jumble sale‟ at the club on that day, it would A commitment made at the be open to club members AGM was to provide more only. Let me know or Martin club boats and we now have Cornwell what you think of a club „Solo‟ single hander the idea. available for hire at £5 per day. Finally just a reminder we The summer season is all to can sail everyday until the quickly drawing to a close I am pleased to report that 31st October, then Sundays and it is a time to reflect on our membership has only from the 1st November to what happened over the increased this year, thanks 31st March. Although Sunday year. must go to Hilary and is a „race day‟, if you feel like Bernard O'Donnell for all a social sail please come We replaced the old style their sterling work. A special down, give it a try. showers with new instant thank you, to Amy Adams, showers to provide hot water our Publicity Officer, who is Tony Gibbs only when you need it and as leaving the club shortly and Commodore a bonus it should save the moving to Kent. We need a club some money. Also hot member to replace Amy, if water, at last, in the anybody is interested please washbasins both ladies and contact me or Martin gents. Cornwell.
th All the sails, rudders etc, for Saturday 7 November is the the club boats, are now club „Workday‟, by helping
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
Sailing Scrawl sneaked an event in before regular turnouts of 10 boats the weed took over to and most people picking up complete the first ever the pursuit starting system. Norfolk Solo Weekend with Despite some trouble with his Hickling taking place the day navigation Tony Ingram won before (results elsewhere in from Amy on count back and this mainsheet). Dave Salmon would have pressed them both if he The A fleet has continued to hadn‟t worked his laser just a grow with 38 different helms bit too hard. Next year the taking part in at least one series will run for a slightly race in the Spring series, 31 longer season but I‟ll be in the Whit series which was looking for help in the race As I sit and write this it‟s the the most dramatically weed box! start of September and back hit and already 30 in the to school this week, where Summer series which is only Series Winners did the summer go? At least halfway through as I write. Spring it has been warm and there‟s The B fleet however has A AM & PM John Saddington been plenty of wind, of struggled to resurface this B AM & PM Ian Hansen course summer doesn‟t finish summer, notably Daniel Bull at Rollesby until the end of in his topper has often been Whit September so I can still look showing considerable A AM Ian Ayres forward to a few sails in endurance but with too often B AM John Ayres shorts before checking the no one to compete against. PM A & B No qualifiers condition of my drysuit!
Should we consider changing Wednesday Rollesby has enjoyed a busy the break point between Tony Ingram summer on the water despite fleets? The A fleet starts get the weed encroaching and a particularly crowded in the Ian Ayres severely diminished sailing winter should we have a area for six weeks or so in single handed start and a June and July there was multisail start instead? Or
always a hard core of club should we encourage less members out on the water on confident racers to join the B DON’T FORGET! Saturdays, Sundays, fleet in faster boats until they Mondays and Wednesdays – become competitive there?
we were definitely making Both these options would 1st November - Double the most of the weather….. involve slightly more work for Handed Regatta
the race officers but should A calm sunny Phantom open give a bit more spread / 20th November - Club kicked off the summer space around the broad. – let Dinner season with their “Chutney me know what you think! Challenge”, the Bitterns at the whit regatta and
The Wednesday evening
4 completed the longest Eels personal handicap racing
Foot race they could worked well this year with
Page remember and the Solo‟s just
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
The Rules and me (Part 1 – enable me to avoid cross- have read any of Patrick The Learning Curve) country runs during the O‟Brian‟s novels set during Easter term. the Napoleonic Wars will A little while ago, whilst know it as:- Having the rounding Buoy 6 in close The first rule of schoolboy weather gage. company with another boat, sailing was:- Stay upwind the helmsman of that boat, a of the opposition. Once the But life moved on. respected club stalwart, was initial fascination of making a Schooldays passed. (I hope heard by the whole Broad (if few bits of wood and cloth you‟ve got the time for all not the whole village of and string propel one this.) Later in the 1960s I Rollesby) to enquire whether effortlessly across a foreign found myself by fluke and I had ever heard of the element had worn off, sailing happenstance a member of a Racing Rules. I think I became simply a matter of minor college in an ancient detected a note of chasing after other boats University. I joined the exasperation Cruising Club in his voice. (my But it was a underlining). fair question, One day, an requiring an acquaintance honest sidled up to me answer. It was and enquired if I just that then would help him was not the out by crewing time to give it. for him at a forthcoming My event on appreciation of Grafham Water. the importance My local pond! of the Racing He was reading Rules has, I veterinary confess, been science I a little slow in coming. armed with water pistols. remember, a shy, quiet, Swallows and Amazons by unassuming, studious fellow. I learnt to sail in the early Arthur Ransome was He seemed to know an awful 1960s when I was a required reading, the Harry lot about everything, and this schoolboy, still in short Potter of its day. I am included boats. trousers even during the ashamed to relate, Conversations about bitterest of winters. I was schoolboys being tensions and tuning and trim required to engage in sport. schoolboys, our water pistols went completely over my Sailing enabled me to avoid were invariably topped up head. having my neck broken on with a little urine. Thus, it the Rugby field during the was important to be upwind So it was that I found myself Michaelmas term and to have firing downwind rather than match-racing against the
my teeth removed by cricket the other way round. The rule other ancient University. 5 balls in the summer term. itself has a long and Four boats per race, two of
Unfortunately it did not illustrious history. Those who theirs and two of ours. The Page
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
aim was not to be last. It did come up to me and thump observed when racing, I had not matter if you came first me on the back and not had a very good second or third, you lost if congratulate me on my grounding. The learning your boat was fourth. Pretty “Blue”. Which leads me to curve has been a long, slow simple. Suddenly I the third rule:- It’s not the and painful one. discovered I was in a winning, but the taking Never mind. The first rule different world. There was part. I ought in all honesty everyone learns is the such a lot of shouting. And in say that when this took place Starboard Rule. It‟s a pretty three races we came home sailing was not a “blue” sport, simple rule when explained fourth in each one. It was not nor even a “half blue” one, on a blackboard or with that we were not sailing fast, but that does not in any way diagrams, but utterly or that our boats were diminish the importance of impossible to work out in the different. It was just that we the rule. The next year, heat of the moment. were not able to sail in the sailing was taken a little direction that we needed to. more seriously and was Am I on starboard tack? Like a croquet ball, we found made a “half-blue” sport, with Starboard means right (as in ourselves not only off the all that that entailed in terms left, not as in correct: I am lawn, but in the flower bed of training and selection and always on the correct tack). and in the vegetable patch trials, and presumably a Which is my right? (Always beyond that. And this, I learning of the Rules. I would had a little trouble with that whisper, was all done by the not know, as no further one). Is my mainsail out on other side‟s boats applying invitations came my way. the left as the boat moves the Rules. forward? Yes, I‟m on So you can no doubt see, starboard. I‟ve right of way, The only Rule I really those of you with a greater excellent. So shout, loud and remember from that time, familiarity with the Racing clear. “Starboard”... was to shout “Mast abeam” Rules than I have, that when as often and as frequently as I came to join a real sailing Actually, it is not all right. one could. This seemed to club, and was made aware Before committing voice to mean: “Stop it now, you that there were niceties to be the wind, it is also necessary ********. Sail somewhere else. Don‟t keep getting in my way”. It is a rule that seems to have been accidentally omitted by the printers from recent editions of the Racing Rules. When I try shouting it on Rollesby Broad, I get either a blank look, or a rather rude reply.
A little later when news of our ignominious defeat was
published, I was staggered to 6 find that all the sporting
heroes of my college would Page
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
to work out which tack the for paper. My latest someone a ****?” other boat is on. I have found innovation is to have a this easiest to do, by turning bulldog clip attached to the “Yes, you...” my whole body, or at least boom in which to clip the my head, so that it is pointing pad. The only problem is that (To be continued, when you in the same direction as the when we go about, it tends to have the time) helmsman of the other boat. catch in the top of my life Then it is possible to go jacket. But I am working on it. Anonymous through the same sequence of questions as you have just So picture this. A typical Wednesday Evening gone through for your own Sunday. There we are, on a Sailing boat. Meanwhile the crew broad reach, the sun shining, wonders what the hell is boom out to the left, yes, This year Ian Ayres arranged going on and suddenly, definitely on starboard tack. Wednesday Evening pursuit people are shouting at you All is right with the world. racing throughout the from all directions at once. That boat on our left, he summer months. It was a seems to be getting close. great success (for results And it is all very well if you “Starboard!” I bellow, with all read Ian‟s Sailing Scrawl) can work these things out in the confidence and and very good fun. It is your head. I have always arrogance of being not only hoped that it will run again found it helps to jot things on the right but also in the next year and it would be down on a piece of paper as right. great to see some more you work out a problem. If boats. The pursuit system you make a mistake you can “You‟re windward boat!” works by the slowest boats pick up where you went comes back. starting first and the fastest wrong without having to start last. This means it is perfect all over again. But the trouble Yes, that too, I have the for those who are less with sailing is, where do you weather-gage. But quite how confident racing and also for put the pencil? I suppose he worked that out without a those wanting some mid we‟ve all admired the way water pistol I cannot say. So week racing practice. I would that Derek Page tucks his be it! Windward boat as well, like to take this opportunity to half-smoked Hamlet behind but starboard is surely thanks Ian on behalf of all his ear when racing. I think enough. those who raced on a there may be something Wednesday for organising wrong with the shape of my “Starboard!” I bellow again. the racing, setting great ears. My stubby little pencil courses and running the keeps falling out. At least a “You‟re windward boat, you starts. Thank you! pencil floats. Actually, when ****!” comes the reply. you have seen me sailing round and round in circles, His language leaves they‟re not penalty turns. I something to be desired. Upcoming events am not admitting I have done After all this is supposed to anything wrong, I am just be a friendly club. It is time to 15th October - AGM trying to retrieve my pencil. consult my trusted crew. 7
And then there is the need “Dave, did you hear him call Page
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
Rollesby Broad Sailing win races 2 and 3. Maskell last race result, Ayres won Club Solo Open - 14th June was second in both with first Norfolk boat, Northmore 2009 Roger Wilson (RBSC) giving first over 60 and Dave close chase in race 2. The Murphy (HBSC) the Light drifting and random local competition was hotting endurance award. All winds was the forecast and up in race 3, with Ayres, competitors who started at first race initial conditions for Wilson and Bob Hawkins least 6 of the 7 races and the Rollesby Broad Sailing (RBSC) all leading at various stayed for the prize giving Club Solo Open; very quickly points and finishing as above received a bottle of „local the wind settled into a good spread over very few brew‟ for their endeavors force 3 with steady direction seconds. over the weekend. and lead to some sparkling sailing for the remaining Greg Northmore (HBSC) lead Rollesby Solo Open three races. Travelling race 4 early on but could not 1. Mark Maskell KGSC visitors as might be expected match the Maskell and 2. Dan Goodman KSC showed a narrow but Goodman for pace, the latter 3. Ian Ayres RBSC decisive edge over the bulk recovered from a poor first 4. Roger Wilson RBSC of the fleet who came either mark 980 degrees of turns in 5. Greg Northmore HBSC from RBSC‟s growing fleet or total! But could not catch nearby Hickling Broad. Maskell whose win was the Norfolk Solo Weekend deciding factor in the overall 1. Mark Maskell KGSC Mark Maskell from King result. Ayres too got past 2. Dan Goodman KSC George won the first race Northmore to secure third 3. & 1st Norfolk Ian Ayres narrowly from Dan Goodman overall. RBSC of Kingsmead with Ian Ayres 60 + Greg Northmore HBSC (RBSC) leading the local The results were combined Endurance Dave Murphy entry a mere boat length with the Hickling Broad open HBSC behind! The more settled from the day before to secure conditions which the arrived the Norfolk Solo Champion. Ian Ayres suited Goodman and he Maskell again won from showed great consistency to Goodman by virtue of that
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
The Rules and Me (Part 2 – would be a very interesting A dysfunctional group for those studying relationship) memory loss, lucid intervals, dementia and the like. (I I shall shortly be parting with would have said simply a treasured book from my Alzheimer‟s disease, but I private library. wasn‟t sure how to spell it.) Anyway this particular type of occurs. memory loss also afflicts For Sale: One copy of younger sailors. “Racing Rules 2005-8”, Quite frankly, who needs to
absolutely pristine condition. know any more? We have all But seriously now, I wonder, Any reasonable offer encountered those tiresome in my typically humble and considered. Will exchange individuals (fortunately not modest way, whether a few for Racing Rules 2009... members of RSBC) who little suggestions wouldn‟t seem to know an awful lot of improve things considerably. But before parting with my rules. It doesn‟t seem to copy I thought I would take a make them happier human little peek inside, but beings. However, I don‟t 1 “Right of Way” and “Give carefully so as not to affect think I have ever Way” boats that pristine condition. There, encountered someone who I When I have taken the in an introductory paragraph have been confident knows trouble to flick through a was all I needed to know: every rule. After all, have book of Rules I have often you ever seen a boat racing been impressed with the “Anyone who races sailing round with a yellow flag simplicity of the pictures and boats needs to know flying? Thought not. Read diagrams. These helpfully something about the rules. Rule 44.3. (2005-8 Edition). show the boats marked To begin with you need to I‟ve got a copy if you need prominently as the “Right of know only enough to get your one, any reasonable offer Way Boat” and the “Give boat around the course considered. Way Boat”. I assume that without fouling other boats...” somewhere there is a rule The main problem with which reads “Before racing So be it. That suits me. I people who profess to know begins every boat must be have never thought it the Racing Rules is that their marked with the correct necessary to know more than knowledge seems to be designation, whether as is absolutely essential. I variable. They may make it “Right of Way” boat or must not foul other boats. I clear that they know and “Give Way” boat. Either can say with absolute understand a particular confidence that I have never rule on one occasion. felt the slightest inclination to However on another foul another boat. But if that‟s occasion, sometimes very the rule I will make sure that shortly afterwards, they Dave, my trusted crew, who have a completely vacant just happens to own a dog, look and not the slightest brings with him a stock of
10 knowledge of that same those little plastic bags that rule. I am sure that those
are used whenever fouling who go racing sailboats Page
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
this is a rule that is the same penalty regardless start line, but clearly the start completely ignored at line is in the wrong place. If it Rollesby or I don‟t get up (Oh, all right. If you kill was where it should be I‟d early enough on Sundays. By someone or sink their boat, have been safely behind it...” the time I get to Rollesby you ought to retire, but that is someone has already entirely voluntary.) Otherwise Or: “I‟m very sorry I hit the handed out the day‟s it is two turns, regardless. I buoy, but my mummy didn‟t designations. Leastways mean, is that fair? Shouldn‟t love me enough when I was that is what I can only there be a sliding scale of a baby”. assume. Perhaps we could penalties. An absolute have stickers to attach discharge when the other Or: “Yes, I know you were on prominently to our boats. It boat says: “Oh, don‟t worry”. starboard but I was on the would save a lot of trouble. A conditional discharge when port last night and had more they say “You naughty boy, than I realised, or perhaps it 2.Penalty Turns we‟ll let you off this time, but was spiked, Anyway it was On those very rare occasions don‟t do it again.” A totally out of character...” when I have found myself suspended penalty would be transgressing a particular fun to watch. And how about Or: “I‟m sorry I hit your boat rule, I have of course a community punishment? that hard. It was just that a immediately accepted that I That could involve the red mist descended over my must do my penalty turns. I miscreant having to wait near eyes. I was sorely provoked have also always accepted the slipways and assist all by that smug grin on your the principle of “zero Wayfarer owners to pull their face. It was really your tolerance”. Not for me the boats out of the water, and fault...” innocent question: “Did I hit while they‟re about it, pack that buoy?” or some similar up the sails as well. Or: “Yes, I know I tacked in enquiry. What has seemed to your water. I now see the me unfair is the “one size fits 3. The Plea in mitigation error of my ways, but I have all” principle. I mean, Where is the opportunity to been very depressed. whether it is a terrible plead mitigation? You know Making me do turns would offence, with a lot of fouling, the sort of thing:- simply make me more or just the teensiest little depressed and even more whoopsie, is it fair to suffer “Yes, I know I‟m over the likely to tack in other‟s waters ...” In Magistrates Courts up and down the country, the Magistrates always retire to consider their verdicts and sentences. Why shouldn‟t this apply in sailing? I propose the rule:- Any boat calling on another to do penalty turns and being
met with a plea in 11 mitigation must
immediately retire. Page
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
4. Evidence before Protest Hypothermia heart rate Committees The dread of every OOD is Following on from the article and blood pressure. the PROTEST. In any other on 'Hypothermia and Winter real life situation, the Sailing' in the February This is known as cold shock interference with witnesses edition of mainsheet I would and can kill within 3 - 5 would not be allowed. When like to provide all members minutes of immersion. it comes to a protest, it‟s a with more information on the free for all. Witnesses can be dangers of immersion in cold Short term immersion - If collected, cajoled, water. the person remains in the persuaded, threatened, water after the cold shock reminded of things they may Hypothermia is often effects have subsided (and not have seen. And what‟s to perceived to be the greatest they are still alive) their stop bribery or even torture? threat to life in situations physical performance In the end, no one knows where a person is immersed deteriorates leading to an what happened. And that is in 'cold' water. Unfortunately inability to swim or even to before the real argument this is not the case, there are hold onto an upturned boat begins, when everyone other physiological effects or rescue line. reaches for the Rule Book. that are more immediately But why isn‟t evidence given life threatening and can This can lead to death by on oath? If the threat of cause death long before the drowning within 30 minutes eternal damnation and Hell‟s effects of hypothermia are of immersion. Fire doesn‟t hang over the felt. head of a witness, what Long term immersion - The chance is there that he will There are four stages effects of hypothermia are tell the truth? experienced by people who felt after 30 minutes of are suddenly immersed in immersion. Actually, forget that. If we cold water. These are: were afraid of eternal Post immersion - After damnation and Hell‟s Fire we Initial Immersion - The rescue a person is still wouldn‟t be racing and body responds to immersion vulnerable and can die from enjoying ourselves by fouling with a collapse in arterial other boats on a Sunday, a large involuntary pressure and subsequent would we ? gasp followed by cardiac arrest. hyperventilation, Anonymous Note that cold water is a massive increase in defined as water at 15 deg C or below. How often does the temperature of The Broads rise above this?
The ability of a person to survive the effects of cold
shock is severely affected by 12 their
Age Page
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
Weight Hypothermia is not From RBSC’s Committee the, immediate, major Physical fitness danger to a capsized sailor Overall health I have seen rescue boat Proper clothing (dry crews concentrating more on suits) should be worn the recovery / righting of a by everybody sailing dinghy and very little on the on cold water physical state of the sailors Rescue boat crews in the water. This is generally not a problem in the summer must assess the condition of anyone Vacancies on the months but can be Committee!!! dangerous in early Spring, one in the water and
late Autumn and of course consider their safety Ever fancied being on the Winter. This can be above the need to committee at RBSC? Would compounded by the recover or right the you like to have an input into insistence of a sailor who boat. how the club is run? Well this says they are ok when they This is only a summary of the might be your chance! Two are really concerned about major points concerned with fantastic positions are up for damage to their boat or not sudden immersion in cold grabs this winter: wishing to be disqualified if water but I hope it has
they accept help from the provided useful information OOD DUTY ROTA rescue boat. One of the that may save someone‟s Want to pick the best duty symptoms of cold water life. day yourself? Good with immersion is irrationality computers? Well this could and argumentativity. Mark Popay be the jobs for you. RBSC is
looking for a new member on In summary: - the committee to organise the OOD duty rota. This may require some knowledge of whos who in the club.
PUBLICITY OFFICER Want to fill the next Mainsheet with pictures of yourself? Like making pretty posters on your computer? If so this is the perfect role for you. Again basic computer skills needed for producing two editions of Mainsheet each year plus a number of
posters and email updates of 13 what is happening.
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
If you are interested in either Advanced Notice the club house. Especially as of the above roles please our members are not allowed contact any member of the As a trial this year during to use canoes on the site at committee (see page 2 for the frostbite series (Dec / all!!! The Committee agreed contact details) or have an Jan) we will be operating a to let the trips continue this informal chat on a Sunday for single hander and multi year although only four trips more details on what is sail start rather than the were agreed, with all the required of each position. usual A and B fleet. same provisions. I understand there have been Training Sessions Fleet will be amalgamated some issues on some of the agreed dates although when if there is less than % I was on site I did not see RBSC committee are also boats for either start so gathering interest as to any problems occur. If you fleet sizes remain training sessions for next have any comments before reasonable. year. The committee are any request is considered
trying to identify what training next year please let me know Average lap times will be needs there are within the by Email, incidentally our club so as to assess whether used for those in danger of request for further sailing running a programme of having marathon length was not agreed!! training days would be races - further notes issued affective. What we are nearer the time. The aquatic plants (or weed looking to find out is what year following an approach to us) were discussed at a sorts of training people would from the conservation rep for recent meeting with the like (ie race training, the broad, Hannah Grey. The Water Company, following a beginners training, how to request was that a number of letter sent by the Committee clinics) and whether there trips, operated by the Canoe to the Broads Authority. The are any club members who Man on behalf of the Broads situation is that the weed is would be happy to help to Authority, be allowed to start rare and as the broad is an provide this training. If from our slipways. The SSSI and covered by EU training sessions were to be Committee eventually conservation safeguards any held there would need to be agreed, it was thought it may action taken to cut or reduce a minimum number of help in our request to extend the growth must be covered attendees for them to go winter sailing, although we by impact assessments. In ahead and enough helpers. stressed we did not want to fact if any action taken is So please let the committee be involved in looking after likely to have any damaging know your opinions on this anyone taking part, nor that effects it will not be allowed. matter. anyone should remain on the So it appears we have to live site while the canoes were with it but hope it is not as Canoeists and Aquatic away on the trips. We also bad in future years, although plants pointed out that they should the Water Company did cover those taking part for acknowledge that sailing on Just a few words about a insurance and have a risk other parts of the broad (the couple of issues that I assessment in place and to Eels Foot) outside our lease
appreciate have been giving ensure those on the trips agreement will be 14 concerns this year. Firstly the behaved appropriately while considered. The plants have
canoeists, these started last on site and should not use increased following removal Page
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
of certain fish which has that there is never time. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY allowed water fleas to However, a short twenty
increase and eat the algae, th years later when the children 4 Oct Club Autumn so improving the water clarity became old enough, a Regatta which lets sunlight into the reason/excuse for daddy to
broad and the plants to grow. th learn to sail came about. 15 Oct Club AGM Samuel reached 8 years old
At the same meeting the club st and he was old enough to 1 Nov Double Handed house project was discussed, enrol at NSSA at Fi lby, and Regatta especially since the planning proceeded to have a great
application made three years th time learning to capsize an 7 Nov Club Work Day ago has lapsed. The oppie.
situation is that the funding th 20 Nov Annual Dinner has been included in the next
five year capital spending th 6 Dec Club Frostbite budget which has to be Regatta agreed with the Water
Regulator, who may allow all st 1 Jan New Year Open the expenditure or just some.
In any case we need to th 7 Feb Club Winter consider a more cost Regatta effective plan based more on The following year, as a
replacing the existing th complete novice, I registered 28 March Club Work Day building with something for the adult course, and
similar but more modern and proceeded to have a great
energy efficient and more time learning to capsize a suitable to the clubs needs. Recent Recruits to wayfarer. And then we were More on that next year as the Rollesby ready to join a club and start to find out what sailing was Water Companies funding issues are resolved. In response to an appeal for really about. articles for the Mainsheet, I We looked around, and were Martin Cornwell thought it may be of interest leaving it late in the year, but Hon Secretary to hear of the experiences of then by chance we came some recent recruits. across an open day at Unfortunately it is a little Rollesby. Everyone seemed
rushed and a bit too basic to friendly, they sailed all year, If in the future you win critical acclaim, I wanted and there was no chance of would like to receive an to get across our being mowed down by the electronic copy (.pdf) of experiences at Rollesby. pleasure boats in the rest of Mainsheet please let the Broads when we loose editor know at I always wanted to sail. But control, and founder in irons [email protected] only when I moved to Norfolk at regular intervals. So we not only will this help I thought that the opportunity applied to join, and the environment but you
of living near the Broads was amazingly, they accepted us: 15
will get a full colour too good to miss. I say “when we were official sailors! copy! We started to turn up on I moved”, but the reality is
Page Saturdays and practice in the
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
club boats. This was Sam‟s financially from any that Rollesby has been the chance to practice sailing sponsorship, from that day best place to learn. We have and capsize drills. we became known “Team found everyone very friendly Fatface”. and very informative and the We even started to race atmosphere is always open then, and after a number of and positive. For the future attempts we achieved our we intend to develop our first goal of finishing a race:- techniques, and intend to does everybody start here? more than just finish a race, Meanwhile, Jasmine reached so once we get the hang of 8 years old, and could not the kite, there will be trophies miss out. So off to Filby to on the Winfield sideboard!
learn to capsize... Also with our new addition, Ben, born this year, I see a new sailing dynasty coming to the fore in the next few years, maybe focusing on the Olympics, or Americas cup, or even the Eelsfoot race at a push.
Andrew Winfield She was then in a position to
sail her new acquisition, a wooden oppie who, in homage to the children‟s favourite book, was christened Titmouse. In 2009 team Fatface expanded their occasional racing program to include Wednesday night racing, which as far as I can tell we were consistent in finishing . Next we had to get our own This was on the basis that if boat. After a lot of searching you are still going after an the internet and magazines, hour then you have finished:- 3 Rollesby Men in a Boat being prepared to travel vast Now that‟s more like it. distances to claim our prize, Jasmine, Samuel, and myself we found a suitable would like to thank all at candidate for sale Rollesby for encouraging our at...Rollesby. The deal was initiation into dinghy sailing, done and we became the and we look forward to the
owners of a RS Feva XL. progressing within the club. 16 Although we can assure the We have immensely enjoyed
club that we are not gaining our sailing and we have feel Page
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
The original idea was to take this effortlessly but whilst family incidentally used to three of Rollesby‟s Solo accustomed to paddling sail at Rollesby) overhauled sailors out of their modern thanks to frequent Eels Foot us. high tech all epoxy speed races, dropping and then re- machines and see how they stepping and a 18 ft solid The order in which you would fare sailing all together Columbian Pine mast with choose to navigate your in a 75 year old Y&BOD 279 sq ft of sail proved at passage to each of the (Yare & Bure One Design) little more challenging than distance mark is up to each over a 24 hour period. And simply sleeving a sail over a competitor and here lays the so it was that Bob Hawkins, couple of aluminium poles. attraction of the race. The Ian Ayres and myself key to success is to take into decided to try our luck in this There were about 150 entries considerations prevailing years 3 Rivers Race. Like all in this year‟s race. With so wind strength, direction and good plans they tide to ensure that you started to fall apart reach the Lower Bure soon after our entry distance mark at low had been accepted. water. This year it was A mix up with Bob‟s positioned at the hectic social Stracey Arms and with calendar meant that a low water predicted to he was unable to be 2.30 pm we didn‟t make it but luckily believe we could reach Stuart Highfield (we the Lower Bure will get him in a Solo distance mark before one day!) was up for the tide would turn. Our the challenge and race strategy was then agreed to step in as third Ian and Stuart on the helm to complete both the short member of the crew at the at Thurne Mouth legs (River Ant and South last moment. Walsham Broad) before many boats on the narrow heading down to Thurne For those unfamiliar with the piece of river the start was Mouth and then up to 3 Rivers Race the start is at very congested and we Hickling Broad. As Stuart Horning and the course received a nasty whack even was quick to point out we involves navigating 3 before the race had started. should have properly separate rivers (Bure, Ant With sinking hearts we realised our strategy was and Thurne) with distance examined the damage but flawed when we got to marks set at Ludham Bridge, thankfully it was only Thurne Mouth where just South Walsham Broad, the superficial and we were able ahead of us race favourite Lower Bure and Hickling to continue with the race. As Chris Bunn in his Y&BOD Broad. Of course there is the we got away from Horning turned towards Acle and the small matter of negotiating 3 lower street we found Lower Bure buoy. bridges (twice) which ourselves setting the early Undeterred we pressed on to involves dropping your rig, pace and held the lead until Hickling.
breaking out the paddles and we reached Ludham Bridge 17 paddling like mad. The slick where local hot shot and race At this point we were having
crews seem to be able to do favourite Chris Bunn (who‟s an absolute cracking race. Page
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Mainsheet – Oct 2009 Edition
The sun was out and we progress we tacked forward have not put them off were steaming along in a and backwards across the volunteering again next steady force 3-4 north same part of the river for a year… easterly broad reach all the couple of hours before way from Thurne Mouth to deciding to moor up to an overhanging tree and wait for Potter Heigham. With the the wind to return. spectators shouting encouragement from their We eventually finished at 4 vantage points high up on am in the morning, the last ½ the bridges and freshly mile taking almost 5 hrs to
cooked fish and chips complete. Our frustration was skillfully dropped to us by compounded by the fact that Race completed, Breakfast all the other Y&BOD‟s which in the clubhouse at 5am. Ian‟s wife Sharon as we went under Potter Bridge our we had done so well to stay Roger Wilson spirits were high……. How it in front of during the race was all to change later that were now all in the same evening…….. predicament, congregated in the same bend of river and All continued to go well. At 8 we were all to end up pm we were back at Thurne finishing within about 10 CLUB CLOTHING Mouth having successfully minutes of each other. All completed all legs of the that is apart the lead Y&BOD RBSC has a new clothing course and negotiated all the who being just ½ mile in front provider. Through their bridges. The boat and the of us had managed to finish website it is possible to crew were all holding before the wind disappeared choose any item of clothing together well and we were and so ended up some 5hrs they sell and have the RBSC starting to think we may even ahead of us on corrected logo placed on it. To access get back to the finish line at time. We ended up 3rd th this website visit Horning in time to make last Y&BOD and 37 overall but it www.rbsc.org.uk click on the orders in the Swan Inn. Alas could have been so much club clothing link and below it wasn‟t to be. better if we could have just the sewyourgear link is got across that finish line another click on this and you As we continued back up the before the wind will be taken to world leisure river towards Horning Ferry disappeared…..but then that wear website. the wind started to drop until is the magic for this unique
at 11.00 pm, when we were sailing race…….every year th within about ½ mile of the we end up saying “if only…..” 7 November - Work Day
finish line, it disappeared completely. Now in Horning My thanks to Ian and Stuart Lower Street, in the dark, for being mad enough to My thanks go to all who have surrounded by trees and with share a boat with me for 16 contributed to this edition of
the tide starting to ebb we hrs and race all night, only to mainsheet. 18 began to drift backwards. In end up finishing in same
a futile attempt to make place as we started. I hope I The Editor Page
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