Very best wishes and Christmas greetings to all!

Please note that the water level is close to the boat house door. It looks as though the store under the race office has already been flooded, and there are boats in the back field that are in danger of sinking.

If your boat is still at the club, get it checked out

We are delighted to reveal that Bass Week has been NOMINATED in this year�s Yachts & Yachting Awards.

Now you will all appreciate that second best is not our way (just think of the rewarding efforts put into, not only Bass Week but, NSSA Youth Regatta, and GP14 end of year Regatta to name but three events), so please put a little bit of effort into voting for us!

A full list of nominees can be found on the Yachts and Yachting website and voting is now open and will remain so until Friday 13th December.

It�s a close run thing in each of the categories so please do everything you can to encourage other members, visitors and fans to vote. To be in with the best chance of winning your category, please make use of the following:

� Vote for us at http://www.yachtsandyachting.co.uk/awards2014/
� Tweet your nomination! The shortened link for the above webpage is http://bit.ly/181wn6i
� The hashtag to use is #YYAwards when mentioning the awards on twitter

At the 62nd Annual General Meeting held in the Clubhouse on Sunday 1st December 2013 there was some healthy discussions surrounding the various reports and proposed rule changes.

The main points that were agreed:

• Subscriptions to rise by approx 2% from 1st January
• Payment of subscriptions by instalments has been formalised with introduction of direct debits
• Associate membership category withdrawn
• Rule regarding supervision of Junior members during training courses has been amended, but details will be appropriately defined by use of Bye-Laws

Prior to all that the following members were elected on to Council.

Commodore – Andy Smith
Vice-Commodore – Mark Somerville
Secretary – Pauline Nicholson
Treasurer – William Carruthers
Sailing Secretary – Jon Denwood
Rear Commodore – Stephen Kirkpatrick
Asst Sailing Secretary – Lezli-Ann Pearson
Bar – Eric/Tania Guillois
Boats & Buoys – Phil Davenport
Galley – Lucy Thomas
Grounds & Jetties – Mike Cowan
House – Alan Jones
Membership – Dave Lawson
PRO – Robin Dawson
Training – Neil Garrison
Safety – Peter Ballard
Social – Claire Duncan

Fleet Captains
Flying 15 – Graham Kirkpatrick
GP14 – Mike Fairlamb
Mirror – Mik Chappell
Handicap – Phil Davenport/Peter Ballard
Topper/Laser – Neil Garrison

After the main business of the meeting there was an open discussion with a focus on whether personal handicap racing encourages sailing or not.

This year’s prize giving was held at the Castle Inn where 70 members and guests togged up and enjoyed a three course dinner. Did the training officer really try to set the evening alight with some fire raising?

Commodore Andy Smith opted to use technology for a poetically linked photo montage in his speech before proposing a toast to the club.

Apologies if the video format does not suit your browser.

His wife Emma then presented the numerous trophies to this year’s prize winners. Some of the interesting awards were

– Mik Chappell was represented with his lifetime commitment medal that he received from HRH The Princess Royal
– Kayla received a fridge magnet as the ‘token’ prize from the Jubilee Sailing Trust
– AJ won an hours family swim at the Calvert Trust for winning his ’round the laker’

Dancing to a live band then followed for the rest of the evening.

Prize winners 2013 (apologies for some picture quality)
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MIK Chappell normally seeks publicity for Bassenthwaite Sailing Club, but found himself in the spotlight when he was presented with one of the RYA�s most prestigious honours.

He received the RYA Lifetime Award from Princess Anne, president of the RYA, at the organisation�s annual volunteer awards ceremony held in London. �I was very honoured,� said Mik.

A total of 43 voluntary awards were presented to winners from across the UK. Mik was nominated for the award by members of Bassenthwaite Sailing Club and was selected as a winner for being an ambassador for sailing over 25 years.

He started sailing with the club in 1979 and represented it in numerous regional and national sailing events. He served as rear, vice and commodore between 2003 and 2008.

Mainly, though, his work with the club has focused on obtaining publicity through local media. That is something he has extended to another club of which he is a member, Whitehaven Sailing and Boating Association. At Bassenthwaite he has also edited the club magazine.

Mik has also been Mirror fleet captain since 2003 and the continued success of the Mirror fleet at Bassenthwaite is testament to his commitment and hard work.

Mik�s vision for the future of the club and the sport of sailing has focused on training � he was a crucial part of the team that achieved RYA training centre and champion club status. In the club�s recommendation for the award Mik is described as a �willing horse�, leading by example, and a �doer� � always the first to offer help and advice and invariably the first to arrive and the last to leave the club.

He has influenced on-water safety by encouraging members and staff to enhance their powerboat and safety boat skills.

Sarah Treseder, RYA chief executive, said: �The RYA is delighted to make this award in recognition of Mike�s enthusiasm, promotion of our sport and many years� contribution to the north west region�s boating scene.

�The 43 RYA winners are an inspiration to us all and it is my pleasure to recognise and celebrate their hard work and dedication.�

Mik and the other RYA award winners enjoyed a celebratory lunch in the presence of Princess Anne, and were presented with a commemorative medallion and certificate.

Any guesses as to why there wasn’t any sailing today?

Would have been a shame to disturb such a stunning view!

Bassenthwaite Sailing Club has been awarded a �500 grant from Skipton Building Society who run an annual grant scheme for sports clubs called the Skipton Big160.

Clubs wishing to apply for grants have to prepare a grant submission which is used to select a shortlist. Shortlisted Clubs have the details of the grant application put on the Skiptonbig160 website and members of the public are invited to vote for their favourite club. If you were one of those voting for us, thank you!

Our grant application for �500 to buy waterproof tops to lend to anyone doing sailing training was one of those selected.

The waterproofs will be available to lend out when the season starts again next Easter.

I see the lake levels are rising again and the boat has moved. Thank you and anyone else involved for looking after us while we swan around in foreign parts.

Weather here is just about perfect � not too hot and a bit of a breeze although we are walking not sailing. Can’t say I’m looking forward to getting back to more ‘interesting’ Cumbrian weather.

See you next weekend � hope it’s sailable.

Cheers

Jack

With British Summer Time ending tonight, the clocks will go back one hour. Plan something useful to do with that extra hour – As the lake is already very high, the forecast for heavy and significant rainfall over the next week is almost certain to cause flooding on the foreshore, so please consider protecting your boat by moving it to higher ground. Don’t just leave it for others to sort once the inevitable happens.

Thank you