www.tbyc.org • Edition 10 • Spring 2014
Mike Thomason Commodore I often wonder what really happens to these Newsbuoy magazines when they land on our doormats. Perhaps proud parents looking for pictures of their offspring, or just consigned to the magazine rack to be read on the odd rainy day; those historians amongst us will no doubt carefully file them away for future generations to review the past development and achievements of this great club. Whatever destiny awaits your Newsbuoy, inside this edition are a couple of flyers to pin to your notice board covering Sara’s social events as well as the Cadet and Pico activities under the watchful guidance and leadership of Mark and Tim. So before consigning the magazine to a dusty drawer, do please pin up those flyers. I am delighted to introduce our new General Committee members for 2014. Paul Morgan has taken up office as Vice Commodore, Nick Cotgrove has taken over my previous role as Sail Training Officer – Nick was with me at the start of the sail training in 2004 and certainly knows what it is all about. Sara Speller is back for her third shot as Social Representative so expect to receive constant badgering about supporting the social events. Tony Padbury has stepped down as Hon Secretary having completed three years in keeping the General Committee to order and I am pleased to welcome Margaret Kennedy on board as our new Hon Secretary. It is great to have a General Committee where everyone is involved with the on-water side of the club. On the sailing Committee, John Laliberte has taken on the role as boat park rep, and has been busy retagging our dinghy and catamaran trolleys in readiness for the coming season. Trolley tagging is essential, so we know who owns what and most importantly, just in case we find the odd trolley on the beach at the end of a days sailing. 2013 ended on a high note as Scott put on his first big event with the Xmas Ball which went very well and as with any event there is always the fine tuning to be learnt for the future. New Year’s Eve and the New Year’s Day Brunch were sellout events and I must thank my fellow General Committee members for volunteering to serve, wash up, clear and wait on the tables.
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What’s planned for 2014? For the past few years we have invested heavily on the sailing side of the club which is great news, and has provided up to date on-water facilities. The attention this year whilst not to neglect the sailing is to spend a little more time and money on the club house. For starters Nick Elmore set the ball rolling back in October with the task of the complete rewire of the club house. What should have been a four-week job has turned out to be 12 weeks, but at least it is finished. Fortunately Nick negotiated a fixed price contract and despite some dispute and haggling with the contractors we paid as per the contract and pre agreed deviations. The standard of work is excellent and a huge thanks to Derek Wellings and Steve Hopper who both kept a good watch on cabling and switch gear used in the rewire. The task now is to bring the clubhouse back into a good presentable order – but where to start? For one there is little point in having the clubhouse redecorated whilst we have leaking balconies and damp walls, so the starting point is to make the club watertight. Roof, gutters, downpipes and drain overhaul, balconies relaid and potentially new balcony railings and then the ceiling in both bars to consider. But there is another hidden asset or actually a liability – the hot air heating system which needs some attention. The heating system is a little old and may actually need replacing. The rewire brought to light that a lot of heat is actually being pumped straight into the loft through broken ductwork. So this year club funds will be spent on putting a lot of the hidden infrastructure right. The ladies’ changing rooms and showers need addressing, and Alex Volokhov has come up with some fabulous wow-factor computer design images, some of which are in this publication. This is an ambitious project and the next stage is to obtain quotes for these improvements. Thanks to Toby Speller for putting together the club programme. This is never an easy task, especially trying to slot in the various race and trophy series often around inconvenient tides. If only we had an outer Thames barrier - which may well happen one day - 11 o’clock starts every weekend and midweek races every
week. One can wish, although we should be grateful for what we already have. This brings me on to the proposed flood defences including the proposed flood gate which our local Council seem intent to impose upon us. Some will say flooding from the sea can not happen along our foreshore, others will say it can with the right atmospheric conditions. Recent news reports demonstrates the devastation that can be caused by the combined power of water, gravity and wind. The Sea is a powerful force and we are all taught to respect the sea and to look at the side of caution. The council engineers have provided site plans which show the proposed realignment of the western part of the seawall to be in line with the eastern part. The present east-west gap is maintained and the width at the top of the cobbled ramp is slightly increased due to this realignment. The site plan also shows the proposed sliding flood gate and associated sea wall will be no more than one metre in height off the existing promenade level and the proposed gate will retract on the southern side of the proposed western wall. With the existing flood risk assessment, it is highly unlikely that the sliding gate would ever need to be shut. Work on the proposed sea defences is due to start in Oct / Nov 2014. With the forthcoming spring elections, there is the real possibility depending on the view of the local electorate that the sea defence scheme and the flood gate may not actually go ahead. Your General Committee are in negotiation with the Council and working on the basis that if these proposals do go ahead we achieve what is best for the Club and will oppose any sea defence works which may hinder or restrict our access to our slipway and to the cobbled ramp and beach. During the last two weeks of January, the Council contractors have at our request recycled a considerable tonnage of sand onto the upper part
of the TBYC beach. This has reinstated the raised platform of sand that is so vital to our daily activities by maintaining a respectable dry area between High Water Springs and the sea wall. Our local Council are very supportive of TBYC and the sporting facility which we offer to our local and wider community. A new initiative this year is the introduction of the Members Skills List on the club website. Any full member can promote their individual skills/business for the benefit of club members. Full details can be viewed on the website. On the sailing side, which is after all what we are all about, we have had a record entry for the winter and Icicle series with great prizes to be won. Rewind back to January 2013, where we were taking half an hour to clear the snow and ice off our covers before we could even think about pulling a sail up. The main season is nearly upon us. There is still time to check out what needs replacing and fixing before the Warm Up Race on 30th March. Please remember our nearest chandler TCS has relocated back to Grays. End of an era - from the early days of Shoreline under the management of Gordon Sanders and now we find ourselves having to make a slightly longer dash to Boatacs in Westcliff for that urgently-needed halyard. Many of our sailors, cadets and adults are on the campaign trail and touring this year for which we wish them continued success with their endeavours. New volunteers are always needed for the on water side to help out with the race officering and support boats. If you are not listed for duties in the club programme and would like to step up to the challenge of learning new skills with race officering or support boats (full training will be provided) then please chat to any member of the General or Sailing Committees.
Your Committee Commodore Mike Thomason Vice Commodore Paul Morgan Rear Commodore Racing Jeremy Sandford Rear Commodore Cruising Derek Wellings Treasurer Ian Murdoch Cadet Rep • Mark Petty-Mayor House Rep • Rob Bailey Sail Training Officer • Nick Cotgrove Social Rep • Sara Speller Sailing Secretary • Tony Byrne Membership Officer • Will Daly Honorary Secretary • Margaret Kennedy Secretary • Janet Willsmer Dinghy Park Rep • John Laliberte Support Boats – Ribs • Tony Clark Support Boats – Displacement • Toby Speller Foiling Moths • Kyle Stoneham Fast Cats • Struan Wallace Lasers • Rick Paxman & Wes Absolom Slow Cats • Steve Healy & Paul Morgan Sandhoppers • Mark Robinson Picos • Tim Allard
MADE IN
ESSEX
TBYC Magazine is made in Essex by Estuarine Design. www.madeinessex.co.uk Please send all articles, photos and contributions to tbyc@madeinessex.co.uk Back issues are available to download at http://issuu.com/tbyc © Thorpe Bay Yacht Club 2014. All rights reserved.
Happy Sailing Mike Thomason
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Back in the winter of 2008, TBYC was approached by Jason Curtis of Fair Havens Hospices, who had an idea of raising essential funding for the hospices by holding a long distance open water swimming event in the summer. He came to us as he had little knowledge regarding the byelaws of the river, and was looking for guidance in starting this event. Toby Speller and I met with Jason in the Clubhouse and listened to his idea. He wanted to organise a swim across the Thames from Southend to Allhallows. “No,” I said, “the Port of London Authority would not allow swimmers to cross a busy shipping lane.” “Alright then, what about from the pier head to shore, Jubilee Beach?” “Sorry Jason, the Corporation has a byelaw prohibiting people from jumping off the pier.” “Can we swim along the foreshore then, from Jubilee Beach to the beach just to the west of the groyne by TBYC?” “Yup, you can do that, but include the Pier and Foreshore Department in your plans at all times - and beware of Club sailing!”
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And so began our involvement with Fair Havens for all but one of their Great Pier Swims on the east side of the Pier; always subject to Club sailing and approval by both Sailing and General
Committee, and we would supply a Rib. In the summer of 2013, the Great Pier Swim moved to the west side of the Pier, where there are fewer moored boats.
This year’s event was held on Sunday 12th January, with a water temperature of 6C and air temperature just above freezing, wind SE force 3-4. Brrr, indeed! We again supplied two Ribs, Toby in Tornado (Seasafe 5) with Suzanne Hellier as crew and me in Olympia with Jeremy Sandford (Rear Commodore Sailing) and Lewis Brake. Another fine amount of £5,000 is on course to be raised for the charity. As with any event, a full From this came an idea from a friend and thorough risk assessment is of Penny Allard. He wanted to carried out by Jason and his team to celebrate his 40th in a special way - ensure the event is as safe as is raising funds for a charity by doing possible. something different, a swim in midwinter in just your swimmers - no TBYC benefits from this as well. It is wet or dry suits allowed! Brrr! So a good public relations exercise for with friends willing to participate, us, puts us in the press and Jason Penny’s friend and co. approached ensures that we (and all the other Fair Havens. Fair Havens organisations that help with these approached us for the usual Rib events) are mentioned in dispatches. support and the Dare to Dip event Sponsorship for this event was was born. The first of these events supplied by Ocean Beach with safety was held was in March 2013, for cover provided by ourselves, which we supplied two Ribs, Martin Chalkwell Lifeguards and St. John’s Swindon in his own and Toby and I Ambulance. in “Olympia” and £5,000 was raised. Tony Twoflags The swim now starts at Chalkwell by the Crow Stone, passes through the Pier and finishes at Jubilee Beach. In the past couple of years it has been recognised by the Amateur Swimming Association as an Open Water Event, and raises many thousands of pounds for the charity, with over £175,000 raised to date and some 200 to 300 swimmers, both amateur and experienced, taking part every year.
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A chain letter I really can’t believe, nor can I quite fathom, that in the two years I’ve been treasurer, TBYC has spent a cable less than £2,000 on chain... chain! - a total of two thousand pounds in that time on chunks of metal, meshed together, that are largely unseen for fifteen hours a day. Where is it? Where does it all go? We are chained together, with the Clubhouse, with the Boat Park and with the common interest of enjoying sailing, being blown along with the wind and the tide, in an enjoyable but competitive environment, east of the Pier. I have been amazed, in my time as a member, how the seasons show us the way. The Cruisers empty the boat park, the Sandhoppers show us their skirts – and are whisked away to their moorings, the tidying up of the winter’s débris – a chain gang of earnest volunteers... the arrival of more of the younger folks, Picos, Dinghies and fast Catamarans. It all happens in a seamless ballet (let’s face it, no-one cocks a snook to the backroom boys that make this all happen - yet without their work, we are all unshackled!) Last year, all this was much harder to achieve. Who could have known that the average temperature in the UK in March 2013 was 2.2 degrees and that resin polymers won’t chain together and set at this low temperature. Working in the boat park in a raging blizzard became the norm, but it had to be done to maintain a correct place
Fields to the east of Thorpe Bay from the south-west, 1931, showing the Mason’s boat yard
in the chain of events. A link to the past that astonished me - in compiling a submission for yet another Sport England lottery grant, this time to renovate the Bosun’s Hut and race control box, combined with work on the flood defence proposals - was that the original building on the Bosun’s Hut site was ”Mason’s Boat Yard”. A wooden structure at right angles to the beach and apparently, with a slipway 45° to the shore, pointing into the South Westerlies - I never knew... What I do know is that, as TBYC members, we are linked together to enjoy the facilities, comfort and experience from what TBYC offers us collectively – a chain reaction for the good of all! Ian Murdoch Now please send this to five of your sailing buddies…
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I am glad there is already a stable General Committee as I enter my first term as Vice Commodore. I was soon to find out how many members had done it previously and how many issues have to be dealt with. Looking at the current status of the bar showed that Martin had built and left a good base to start from, although it hasn't been a relaxed first months with staff changes and the required interviews of prospective employees. Lorraine left us as Bar Manager, after many good years and will be missed by many, although some people do still see her as she now works in another local club. Donna, who has been working as our other permanent bar employee has now moved up to the role, as Lorraine had done previously. This also gave us a point to assess how we can ensure a better working coverage of permanent staff and therefore have been employing to put two Bar Supervisors in place covering the same hours as was previously completed by one person. This gives us many benefits. The first person to join us has been Natalie (happy to be known as Nat) who will meet more members as we head into the spring. The quality of wines changes every year and therefore we will probably see some alterations to the wine list in 2014. I hope to arrange another Wine Tasting Evening, an event which has previously been very successful. This will ensure by blind tasting that our expected quality and variation is available. In the restaurant, Scott has continued to build on his excellent Friday Night Dining and Sunday Carvery. A request from him would be to please book early so he is able to plan the catering well. We are all glad that
the kitchen is now open more hours than it has for a while, although during the last few month the winter quiet period has meant variations of the lunchtime menu. This will return to normal as there is an increase in members using and helping sustain the facility. You may soon see an advertorial that we have placed in the Thorpe Bay Oracle which hopefully will increase the membership and the use of the restaurant. Recently I purchased a TBYC Souvenir Programme from the 1968 Little Americas Cup, an event that we held for many years. From this, I was introduced to years of archives that the club holds. I am sure that many of you are as interested as myself in the detail. I would like to be able to make some copies available on the website, but also have an evening where I can lay it all out and members can peruse and reminisce over the past. It may give us a few ideas for the future. One good thing about being Vice Commodore is that I now get to select the guest beer (I will let others also have this honour!) Not suggesting any alternatives to visiting the club, my first choice has been selected from experiences of home brewing, and we now have on the pumps an excellent pint called Woodfordes Wherry.
BAR HIRE Hire the main Bar for £100 or the Commodore Bar for £75 per afternoon or evening session. The Sail Training Room can also be hired for a charge of £50 per day or evening session. Scott can take catering booking on 07763 511657. The club can be contacted on 01702 587563, and I can be contacted on 07741 201052.
BAR & KITCHEN OPENING TIMES FOR 2014 Monday Club is closed all day except for Bank Holidays, which will be Sunday hours Tuesdays/Wednesdays Bar 11am–3pm & 7pm–11pm Kitchen 11.30am-2.30pm Thursday Bar 11am–3pm & 5pm–11pm Kitchen 11:30am–2:30pm, 5.30pm–8pm Friday Bar 11am–3pm & 5pm–11pm Kitchen 11:30am–2.30pm, 7pm–9pm
I welcome comments and suggestions about the bar and catering. Please talk or leave me a message and we will see what we can do.
Saturday Bar 11am–11pm Kitchen 9am–6pm
Paul Morgan paul@moreair.co.uk
Sunday Bar 11am–7pm (9pm in Summer) Kitchen 9am–6pm
Don’t forget - 2014 subscriptions are now due!
Kitchen opening times will be extended during the sailing season to encompass sailing times.
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My last article included an appeal to ‘sprinters’ to qualify for the winter series (no DNC’s to count.) I’m delighted to say that twelve boats achieved this by starting at least four of the six races. So well done to Chris Tillyer, Jenny Ball (Marconi), Steve ‘bit on the side’ Healy (more on this below), Colin Rigg (excellent 4th), the Sverdloff triplets – Gary, Gerald & Keith, Alan Grant, Paul Morgan, Nick Cotgrove, Stefan Smith and Mike Taylor. An excellent achievement in some tough weather conditions. The winter series was also notable for the 25 cats that took part in the series, including 17 for one race - a superb turnout and proof if any were needed that we’re not just fair weather sailors. But that’s all in the past and we’re not ones to dwell on former glories. Onwards and upwards, I say, to: The Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace on 1st/2nd March; come and see us on the ‘15 stand; The Spring Sprint Dinner at TBYC Clubhouse on 8th March;
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Marconi SC for the first TT event of the year on 12th13th April; North Devon Yacht Club for the Sport nationals on 6th-8th June; The Sprint 15 nationals here at TBYC on 12th-14th July. If you’ve not been to the open at Marconi, I can thoroughly recommend it. There will be three races on the Saturday followed by a long distance race on the Sunday. It’s a great club, great fun and Daren Fitchew will probably organise an armada to sail round (he’s got previous on this!) Steve Healy enquired if I fancied dusting off the trapeze harness, ironing the wrinkles out of the jib, re-attaching a miscellany of wires and sheets to the boat and sailing a series in ‘Sport’ mode. If you’ve been trapezing, you know what a hoot it is! On windy days when you’re quietly praying to the race office to end the race after 45 minutes, you’ll instead be hoping he keeps it going for at least a couple of hours. The sensation when you get out on the wire, fly a hull and slice through waves upwind is unbeatable, so why not join Steve and me ‘on the side’ for the spring series, which by the way takes us
almost up to the Sport nationals in early June. This could be a great target to aim for. Paul Morgan put out a request for people to help out with organising the Nationals. I think he’s looking for a few more volunteers (willing or otherwise!) to come forward before we start making arrangements. Please do let him know you can help out. Many hands, etc... Also for the Nationals, the association has a sponsor willing to provide embroidered caps if we provide a design. How about doodling something and letting me know? It would also be great to organise a design for club polo/tee shirts or similar at the same time. Gary Burrows
Here we are in 2014, a new year and new challenges... The Cruising Section’s challenge will be to continue to alter and adapt to the new format we now find ourselves in. This may impose some restrictions on our operating ability, but with goodwill and determination this too is just another part of the challenge. There is no doubt that the rallies last year were smaller than usual, but good sailing and good fun was at the top of the menu and all those that participated immersed themselves in that challenge, and we will continue to take up the cudgels this year.
Things can get interesting going into Bradwell...
There is a full programme of events being planned for the coming winter nights, ranging from presentations through meals to quizzes – hopefully, something for everyone. The Cruiser Section Committee are always happy to listen to ideas and hopefully turn them into a really good evening. During these winter nights we can dream and plan for those warm summer days (let us hope we do not have to dream too hard) when sailing takes centre stage. A full diary of rallies is being planned and in addition, sail days are again planned again for this year. Again, your ideas for rally venues are welcome.
...and also when waiting for the tide into Conyer Creek! This sequence shows Thames Barge "Mirosa" cutting things fine whilst tacking her way upstream in the Swale.
The manning of Polly has become an issue over the last year. Fewer Cruisers on the moorings means fewer duties available to man Polly, which may mean old ideas being scrapped and a new way of operating Polly found. We will not know the full answer until the current round of membership and mooring renewals has been complete, but I am sure we will need to look at new ways the duty is to be carried out, and with the current criteria for duty being having lifted out at TBYC and/or having a mooring at TBYC we will need to rely on the goodwill of members to volunteer for the vacant slots that will almost certainly occur. Derek Wellings
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I’m looking forward to a brilliant 2014 sailing season, which started for me by winning the Frozen sheets on my A-Class. It’s been a long time since a fast cat captain reported in the magazine and I will try to keep you all up to date on coming events. This time last year we had a real mixed bag of weather. The high winds and snow kept many of us off the water until the spring and summer series. Only the diehards and lunatics need apply to sail a fast cat in really windy conditions - and that’s where Jeremy and Julian on their Hurricane, Weird Fish, excel. They won the Nore race, Class One multihull in 2012 and again in 2013, and keep on winning various races at the club. The selection of Hurricanes, A-classes, Spitfires, Dave King’s Tornado or Dave White’s F18 make for close racing, and I’m sure if any member or cadet fancied sailing on one of these fast multihulls, it can be organized and put a smile on your face. I know Dave White is looking for a crew to sail his F18 at TBYC this year, so don’t miss out on an opportunity to sail and learn with one of the top UK F18 sailors.
Last year, due to work obligations Dave spent more time sailing at F18 events. He writes: “Last year was quite a good year sailing wise; I mostly remember it been windy at nearly every event! The first event was Datchet, were Paul and I came sixth (the less said about that event the better, I think - I managed to sink an A-Class... oops!) The next one was Eurocat, where we came fourteenth out of 67 boats, which was quite a good achievement; we were the fourth GB boat and our best result was a sixth in one race! Next up was the Minnis Bay cat open, where we came third. Then it was the Worlds in Grossetto, Italy, where we came 54th out of 81 boats in the gold fleet. That was a really good event, and a fantastic place to sail! After that we did the nationals at Weymouth where we came third - that was a windy one - and the last event was the Weston Cat Open where we came fourth. It was a good year but looking at that list now I think I need to get a few more events in this year! So the plan is do as much as I can, and this is the schedule so far! I think it would be good idea to mention the F18 Worlds, which this year is been held at Ballyholme YC, which is where Adam and I delaminated your hurricane mainsail! It’s the closest the Worlds will be to home for a while, and as it’s a UK event we have an unlimited slot allocation, whereas we normally only get about 10 to 15 for a normal Worlds. So if anyone is interested in sailing at the Worlds then this is the year to try it (see panel, left) There are a lot of boat charters available for brand new boats and there are a lot for sale at the moment. See you down the club very soon!” Dave
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Last year I changed my A-class to the Grey DNA, which you see out on the water most weekends, unless I’m off at Aclass events around the UK or Europe. The boat was bought to sail at the Europeans in Barcelona; sailing against 110 worldwide competitors was a real eye opener. The start line alone was several hundred metres long and one mistake put you at the back of the fleet. If truth be told, on the very first start of this weeklong championship in Spain I managed to get a black flag. Just too keen, but I have learnt my lesson. In the end I finished mid-fleet but really need more time on the water and from that event realized I had the wrong sail for my weight and mast configuration. The A-class is like the F1 of catamarans and the wrong engine or in my case, helm. Makes the boat go slow. I have a pretty packed programme this year, starting at the RYA Dinghy show on the first weekend of March at Ally Pally. As Chairman of the BACCA, I have managed to get hold of a Foiling DNA boat, to show where the future of catamaran sailing is going. Then see the list of UK A-Class opens I’m looking to compete in!
Hurricane sailors: the future looks bright as the class keeps getting strong support with a regular turn out of three or four boats and soon Simon Steptoe is looking to join in the class racing now that he has sold the Narca 20. The UK Hurricane Association has put together a programme of events around the UK which cross over with many other Catamaran classes. If anybody fancies doubling up, let me know. The event schedule is listed below. As you can see, the reason fast cat captains don’t appear much in the magazine is that we are busy working hard to afford our amazing sport, or off sailing! Look forward to seeing you all on the water in 2014. Struan Wallace Fast cat captain PS I know where there’s a lovely White DNA A-class for sale, ask John Glynn, it’s in the boat park close to his new Vision A-Class.
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tbycsocial Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas break; the Club was certainly buzzing during that period. So lovely to see such a positive, busy atmosphere! I took over as Social Secretary in November of last year and well and truly hit the ground running, with the Christmas Ball, New Year party and New Year's Day Brunch on the go. For those who are relatively new to the club and don't already know me, I have been a member for over 15 years now and this is my 3rd stint in this particular role. I never learn! I have a great Social Committee to support me this year, with members from many different sections of the Club to ensure that we try to cater to all tastes and pockets. These are Sharon Hadley, Alix Dell, Theresa Ryall, Penny Allard, Barbara HervĂŠ, Gaynor Thompson and Fiona Strachwitz. I would just like to thank these ladies for their help and enthusiasm in advance. If any members have a suggestion for an event, or any comments to make, please feel free to speak to one of these ladies or myself direct.
nights in December (Mexican) and it was a great success with a brilliant atmosphere and many sombreros! Where Friday nights fall on mid-week sailing dates, we are putting on something called the Hungry Sailor so that everyone can join in. Food on these nights will be something like a curry or fish & chips. It will be available from 7.00pm until late so that spectators can eat whilst watching the sailing, and then those 'hungry sailors' can finish the evening with a hearty meal as they come off the water.
We have a really fantastic programme of events planned for you this year, which are detailed in this newsletter and on the panel opposite. Also, don't forget that on Thursdays (cadet night) food is now available from 5.00pm to accommodate In addition, the increasingly popular, reinvigorated those with younger children. All sections of the Club Friday night dining has really taken off in a big way are welcome, not just cadets. and Scott and I have decided to give these some structure for the coming year. Roughly once a As ever, all events will be advertised on the Club month there will be a fine dining night with an ĂĄ la website and on posters around the Clubhouse. The carte menu and once a month a themed food night only change this year, due to increasing pressure on with a slightly cheaper fixed price format. The only the bar and office staff, is that ticketed events will be change we've had to make is to hold the one handled by myself or one of the Social Committee. scheduled for 28th February instead on 27th Details of how to purchase will be advertised for February as the RNLI have their annual each individual event, but you will still be able to pay dinner on the Friday night in the Club by cash, cheque, card at the bar or bank transfer. 12 house. We held the first of the theme
I hope you will enjoy the exciting, sociable year we have planned and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible with your party hats on! Sara Speller Social Secretary
Margaret Kennedy writes: “I thought you might like to include this etching I made of waves, inspired by the recent storms, and thought you might like it for the magazine.�
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We start the season as we ended the last wet and windy. However the conditions have not put off TBYC dinghy and cat sailors, with great turnouts for the winter and icicle series which have provided competitive racing and great sailing on some beautiful winter days. Unfortunately, conditions have put off my Hurricane maintenance programme, and with an ever-lengthening list of gel coat repairs it is going to be a busy end to March (nearly as busy as owning a Sandhopper!) but at least the gel coat will be paid for by the lasers who continue to park across the start line on port! This year we have put together a busy programme for all to enjoy. We start the season with a warm up race on March 29th followed by the Spencer cup on the Sunday. The spring series then starts on the Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend in April. On the last weekend of each month we have included last year’s popular addition of a weekend mini series. We have kept the format from last season and these events will comprise of four races over two days with an informal social event on the Saturday evening. Points from each day of the weekend series will also form part of the Spring points series. Competition for silverware traditionally draws the biggest crowds, whether it's the pot hunters after the cup or sailors relishing the excitement of 40 boat starts and large fleets. Last year we introduced Trophy Winner polo shirts, and this year
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we are doing the same: recognising the achievement of winning a trophy not only with the prestigious awarding of the trophy at prizegiving, but giving each winner a one off personalised TBYC trophy winners’ polo shirt. There are twelve members proudly sporting dark blue 2013 trophy series shirts with the trophy image on the back, so if you see them around - they are the guys to beat! The courses and starts for this season remain unchanged, as do the main classes, however we have decided to join the Windward Leeward Cats and Monos together to increase the numbers and competition within the class. The Fast and Slow Monos, Slow Cats and Sandhoppers will continue to take their course from the four marks displayed on the rear of the Committee Boat and race a trapezoid course, with the Sandhoppers doing the first and last of the four marks. The Windward Leeward class will race around the two marks displayed on the front of the Committee Boat. Trophy races will be a mass start, racing the usual trapezoid course displayed on the rear of the Committee boat. The TBYC sail training programme has been the starting point for many of the club’s active sailing and racing members and has been for ten years by Mike Thomason. With Mike now Commodore this year, Nick Cotgrove has stepped up to run the training programme that has long been admired by other sailing clubs and the RYA. Nick will start the year with the first stage two course at the start of April, a chance for all those members who have been practising since stage 1 last year to progress further before the summer arrives. Then, at the end of April, it's the
return of stage 1, when those new to the sport get the finest introduction to sailing they can when Nick and his loyal team of helpers answer the first question of ‘will it be cold?’ with a unanimous ‘no - of course not!’ The Pico series, run by Tim Allard and the Feva Training run by Nick Alston both return this year with the first series starting with the main points racing in April. Mums and Dads, it's time to see if the kids’ wetsuits still fit, visit Wetsuit Outlet and prepare to race, because cadets this year will be busier than ever. There will be lots of volunteers needed to help run the Pico events, so get involved and talk to Tim. There will be something for everyone from organising trolleys on the beach to assisting the race officer with running the race from the race box. Race officer training will be available for those willing to help, so just give your names to Tim. We have a full fleet of displacement and Ribs to provide safety cover for our busy schedule, thanks goes to Toby Speller and Tony Clarke and their helpers for all their hard work this winter to ensure we start the season up to speed, which with Tony at the helm of Olympia is pretty fast! Our fleet of safety boats and willing TBYC volunteers will be stretched to the limit again with the club putting on the Open Club Regatta on 3rd – 5th May, the Sandhopper Nationals on 28th/29th of June and the Sprint Nationals on 12th – 14th July, so put the dates in your diaries and be part of it. Happy sailing, Jeremy Sandford Rear Commodore Racing
The electricians are finally finished and our rewire is now complete. A big thank you to Nick Elmore, Paul Morgan, Mike Thomason and also Alan Burrell who with Mike’s help re-plastered the ceiling in the men’s changing rooms.
There has been no rest for the RS Feva Fleet this winter. Sam Laliberte and Jacob Allard, and Millie and Vicki Little have continued to race, fine-tuning their skills ready for the coming months. The rest of the fleet have joined them at our Cadet Evening Training sessions covering Fleet and Team Racing skills; tactics, tuning and even some navigation. Their participation is a credit to them and you cannot get a more friendly and enthusiastic bunch! While looking forward to next youngsters. You will love sailing season, in addition to the TBYC the RS Feva and are most programme of races, we have welcome to join in the many the opportunity to attend the organised events and activities. RS Feva National Championships at Weymouth this year, maybe a Furthermore, I wish to extend local Open meeting, two British the RS Feva training to all Cadets Schools Team Racing from about 11 years old, Championships (Thames Valley including those in other classes and Midlands) and a friendly (e.g. in your Pico etc.), who are team racing match against Eton fairly proficient sailors, to attend College (if there is any such and benefit from our Cadet thing as friendly!) We also have Evening training sessions and eight dates in the programme on-the-water training, as where we have a dedicated rib published in the 2014 for some focused programme. If you have any training/racing. questions, please do not hesitate to call me on 01268 774604, chat The RS Feva is an ideal class for 11 to me at the club or contact me to 16 year olds. We are on the e-mail address below. committed to developing the fleet at TBYC with training and Nick Alston support, and hope to be joined RS Feva Fleet Officer this year by more keen nickalston@icloud.com
We are hoping to upgrade the warm air heating boilers subject to quotes, as they are very old and inefficient, I hope to start getting these by the end of the month. At the moment we are receiving quotes for the balcony flat roof replacement. We are also looking into modernising the ladies’ changing area due to the damp problem, and as you can see from Alex Volokhov’s CGI pictures, the plans are looking great!
Please, everyone - be aware we are on a water meter and the bills we are receiving are huge! We are hoping that everyone could be a little more water-conscious and turn off any taps or showers that are left on. The key code for the backdoor is going to be changed on 1st March 2014. The first work party this year is going to be on the 9th March at 10am, and I hope everyone will be able to come along, as many hands make light work. Rob Bailey House Representative
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Great news - the forecast for 2014 is fantastic, with perfect wind conditions, warm sunny weather and only the odd shower (which will always be at night!) The traditional Sandhopper Quiz night on 25th Jan normally marks the beginning of a flurry of activity in the boat park leading up to the Lift-In on Sunday 23rd March. And with the predicted exceptionally mild weather will provide perfect conditions for painting, epoxying, anti-fouling and just doing stuff on our boats to ensure a sleek, preened race tuned fleet are afloat for the warm-up race on Saturday 29th March. Of course, all this work on your boat takes it out of you so Janet will be organising the Lift-In Supper on Saturday 22nd March to ensure we are all fully nourished, ready for that first race.
Check out our Youtube channel! www.youtube.com/sandh opper39
The 2014 Sandhopper Nationals will be held at TBYC on 28-29 June this year, with the usual Nationals dinner on the Saturday evening along with the usual banter and review of the first day. We are also planning two other Sandhopper racing weekends this year (with sponsorship from the Wetsuit Outlet and Primo) to provide more enjoyment and to ensure anyone missing out on the Nationals can still enjoy the “Nationals” experience – watch this space for more news on these soon. Of course all these activities will also be held in perfect weather conditions! This year will see the launch of “Primo”, the Sandhopper acquired by TBYC Sandhoppers last autumn. This will provide training opportunities for members that find the club Picos a little cramped and for anyone thinking of buying
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a Sandhopper it will give them the chance to sail or race one first. Of course the downside to this is that there may not be enough Sandhoppers to go round, with everyone wanting to buy one! So if you want to try a Sandhopper or would like to crew on one in the fleet, let me know ASAP so we can sort something out. You just need to make sure you have enough suntan cream for all that gorgeous weather! Sandhopper social nights will continue on the first Wednesday of the month and we plan to do a few more formal events this year covering the Rules of Racing, Sail Trim, weather etc and of course David Johnson’s ever popular Epoxy talk - if he can fit us in with his busy international schedule! If you would like to know more about Sandhoppers at TBYC, please visit our other web site at www.sandhopper.org.uk or give me a call. Happy New Year to all and I wish you an enjoyable 2014 sailing! Mark Robinson PS Has anyone found the instructions I mislaid for my weather forecasting seaweed? I’m pretty sure I’m reading it right but you never know…
Please note: Cadet evenings start at 1730hrs for food. Free sailing will start as soon as a rescue boat is on station at the slipway. All activities could be subject to change due to weather conditions. All clubhouse activities will start at approx 1900hrs. Mark Petty-Mayor TBYC Cadet Rep
Please check the main race programme for start times. Tim Allard
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A very happy new year to you all. As you will now all be aware, Mike has stepped effortlessly into his new role at the club, and I have taken on the sail training side of things for this period. The existing application form and general documentation framework that exist are excellent, fit for purpose, and I am now in possession of these. I intend to make no major changes to this blueprint; the aim of these three Start Sailing courses is to warmly welcome new members to the club, develop existing skills and ‘de-mystify’ sailing and related activity at TBYC. There are currently 25 candidates registered for level 1, and five for level 2. This number will increase over the next two or three months. Mike has held on to level 3 for the time being. Kind regards Nick Cotgrove Sail Training Officer
As I write this on a miserable wet January evening, it seems ages until there is a chance to go sailing again. However, many of you do sail throughout the year and the turnouts for the winter and icicle series continue to be strong. Fiona and I did get an opportunity to get out on the water for the Frozen Sheets, albeit in a Rib. We were so lucky to have a weather window which enabled a large fleet to have a great race. Well done Struan for winning, and a big thank you for all the members who assisted in the running of the event. Work continues on the winter maintenance of the two displacement safety boats, whilst the Committee Boat is safely ashore on Canvey. If you can assist in any way with the work on the club boats please contact Toby Speller or myself. There will also be some work parties prior to the season. The 2014 sailing programme is, I hope, in its final draft as I write this and once again a big thank you to Toby for all the hard work he puts into this. When you receive your copy please check your duties. If you are unable to cover those rostered please ask for swaps on Dutyman as early as possible. It does make the Duty Officer’s job a bit easier knowing that everything is covered. Enjoy sailing in 2014.
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Tony Byrne
PICOS Dear Teras, Oppies and Picos, I hope you have all had a great winter and you are looking forward to the new season. We have made the decision to return to the original name for the race series, so please do not be surprised to find Pico series in your programme for 2014. We continue to support all the ‘training’ boats at the club and we welcome boats with a handicap of 1300 (Pico) or slower. I plan to hold some basic boat set-up sessions on the green early on in the season, this will cover the sail controls and what they do; how to set the boat up for wind strength and sail settings for going round the course. These basic sessions will lead nicely into some on-water training. I plan to build confidence and get as many people sailing round a triangle course. Both sessions will act as a refresher for some, or a confidence booster for others. I hope these basic sessions will lead to a greater participation in the Pico series.
SLOW HANDICAP
For our more confident sailors, I will be working with some of the other fleet captains to establish a pathway plan to help develop sailing skills and make the next steps in sailing clear.
A total of 15 boats entered the Winter Series in the slow handicap fleet, 9 of which were Lasers.
See you all very soon. Tim Allard captainpicotbyc@gmail.com
CAPTION COMPETITION
Whose legs are these? Answers on a postcard to the usual address. Prize is a drink bought by the person who owns the legs.
The series was won by Kevin Iles in his Streaker with Laser sailors Doug and Nick Rivers tied on points after 6 races for joint second. Doug was the sole fleet representative at the Leigh-on-Sea Brass Monkey this year, where he sailed an almost flawless race which would have seen him on the podium had he not been OCS. The Laser class is the largest mono-hull fleet at the club and we are anticipating a couple of additional boats for the forthcoming season. We are having very close racing with no one winner every race, see the latest video. A good club Laser is available for use by anyone who may be interested in racing this great little one-design boat. The Solos and RS Fevas have also had some good turnouts during the season with close racing, but we are hoping that with better communication within the slow handicap fleet this season we will see numbers start to increase. Rick Paxman
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