Many congratulations to Sarah and Martin Wilkinson on the birth of their daughter Molly at 0529 today (29 November) who weighed in at 5lb 13oz. Hopefully they’ll remember that she’s wrapped in the spinnaker before it’s launched next season (Grand dad’s words not mine!). Mother, daughter, and new grandparents, Dave and Pauline, are doing well.

The final day of the season proved to be too windy to tempt anyone out to sail, so the Winter Trophy was won by� Joan/Jack Hardie on fleet handicap and Ethan Dawson, crewed by dad Robin, on personal handicap basis. Though windy, and a little threatening rain wise, it stayed dry for many boats to be packed away and removed from site.

For those that still have boats in the shore side boat park please be aware that the lake is high, and boats should be relocated to higher ground, or removed from site for the close season.

After lunch the 60th AGM was held.

In addition to his report, the Hon Sailing Secretary’s gave a summary of the recent questionnaire sent to all members. The consensus from the 67 replies received is that the current way the sailing programme is structured is generally acceptable.

Following completion of the audit, the accounts which have been slightly revised from those distributed to members, were considered and approved.

The following subscriptions were agreed for 2012.

The following members were elected on to Council.

Commodore – Stephen Kirkpatrick
Vice-Commodore – Andy Smith
Secretary – Pauline Nicholson
Treasurer – Neil Garrison
Sailing Secretary – Roy Blackburn
Rear Commodore – Dave Nicholson
Asst Sailing Secretary – Claire Duncan
Bar – Elaine Hunt
Boats & Buoys – Stephen Hunt
Galley – Becky Dawson
Grounds & Jetties – Mark Somerville
House – Alan Jones
Membership – Dave Lawson
PRO – Mik Chappell
Training – Emma Davenport
Safety – �Peter Ballard
Social – Andrea Kirkpatrick
Youth Squad – Des Wright

Fleet Captains
Flying 15 – Ian Preston
GP14 – Val Bell
Mirror – Mik Chappell
Handicap – Robin Dawson
Topper – Ethan Dawson

The Commodore thanked those members stepping down from council for all their hard work during their term of office.

The proposed rule change regarding life membership was approved following an amendment from the floor.

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting closed.

Further to the Club successfully nominating William Carruthers for an RYA Community Award (Lifetime Commitment) he has just been to the award ceremony in London which recognised the efforts of 48 people from around the country for their efforts in connection with our sport. President of the RYA, HRH The Princess Royal met and chatted with all concerned before a celebratory lunch, and then presented certificates and commemorative medallions.

One of our longest standing members, William joined the club with his parents in 1963. By 1968 he was regularly helping official starter Albert Bates, driving ‘Dorothy’ (the first committee boat), firing the starting cannons, and being flag man during Bass Week. This continued until he got his first GP in 1974.

In 1981 he joined the club’s Council, taking on a role of assistant treasurer, and then became treasurer a couple of years later, a role which he continued with to 1989 when he moved to Wales. Moving back to Cumbria a couple of years later, he again took on the treasurer role until becoming vice commodore in 1995, and commodore in 1997.

A notable point as commodore, apart from not having a vice commodore for 18 months(!), was negotiating with the National Park who challenged the validity of our long standing lease for the club. The outcome was a 25 year licence from 2000. Having spent many years resisting major expenditure, he successfully arranged for the replacement kitchen in stainless steel – still looking as sturdy as the day it was installed in 1998!

After completing three years as rear commodore, he again took on the role of treasurer until 2008, not that his involvement stopped there. Having set up the club’s website in 1998, he has continued to develop it including the addition of webcams, Dutyman, weather forecasts, and more recently Twitter feed.� His regular updates ensure people keep coming back to visit the site, especially during Bass Week and during open meetings, and this is shown by the total number of hits exceeding 200,000.

As if this wasn’t enough, he wrote and developed a results program that has been used for about 25 years, and so has often been found helping with the results. He has been a regular OD, helped out on the bar, and at social events on numerous occasions. Oh and he sails too!

Thank you for the recognition!

The November series failed to get off the ground this week. Clear skies all around;� a lack of wind to drive the turbines on Bothel;� wind on the coast; but in the micro climate that is Dubwath, there was low lying fog that was very slow to burn off. Though it did lift by Noon, and ripples filled a good proportion of the bay, it never seemed likely that it would fill in sufficiently to warrant a race, so after lunch the OD called racing off for the day. At least it created an opportunity to have a bit of a clear up after the bonfire night celebrations!Hope you’ve ordered your tickets for the dinner – especially if you’ve won a prize!

On the warmest October day of the year (what do you expect on 1st Oct?!), we concluded the Youth Squad season with a short series of races – 8 members turned up and, although the conditions were squally, they completed the races – with a few capsizes!

Results: Winner Ethan Dawson, 2nd Chantal Price, 3rd Tom Bainbridge, 4th Rowan Morgan

In photo – along the back: Imogen Barnfather, Tom Bainbridge, Rowan Morgan, Ethan Dawson, Chantal Price

Front: Hazel Newport, Harry Binns, Jamie Kerr

Congratulations to Herb Telford, our official starter, on his 80th birthday. He had an early celebration during Bass Week when he and wife Aileen were made honorary members.�Many happy returns!

As much as we all enjoy sailing, many of us do get up to other things in our lives. Ken Bell and his dog Spot (sure there’s a joke in there somewhere) are seen here winning best sheepdog at this weekend’s Loweswater Show. Congratulations!

One of our longest standing members, William Carruthers joined the club with his parents in 1963. By 1968 he was regularly helping official starter Albert Bates, driving ‘Dorothy’ (the first committee boat), firing the starting cannons, and being flag man during Bass Week. This continued until he got his first GP in 1974.

In 1981 he joined the club’s Council, taking on a role of assistant treasurer, and then became treasurer a couple of years later, a role which he continued with to 1989 when he moved to Wales. Moving back to Cumbria a couple of years later, he again took on the treasurer role until becoming vice commodore in 1995, and commodore in 1997.

A notable point as commodore, apart from not having a vice commodore for 18 months(!), was negotiating with the National Park who challenged the validity of our long standing lease for the club. The outcome was a 25 year licence from 2000. Having spent many years resisting major expenditure, he successfully arranged for the replacement kitchen in stainless steel – still looking as sturdy as the day it was installed in 1998!

After completing three years as rear commodore, he again took on the role of treasurer until 2008, not that his involvement stopped there. Having set up the club’s website in 1998, he has continued to develop it including the addition of webcams, Dutyman, weather forecasts, and more recently Twitter feed.� His regular updates ensure people keep coming back to visit the site, especially during Bass Week and during open meetings, and this is shown by the total number of hits exceeding 190,000.

As if this wasn’t enough, he wrote and developed a results program that has been used for about 25 years, and so has often been found helping with the results. He has been a regular OD, helped out on the bar, and at social events on numerous occasions. Oh and he sails too!

In recognition of his contribution, the Club has successfully nominated him for an RYA Community Award (Lifetime Commitment) and he has been invited to an award ceremony at RYA in London later in the year.

William was presented with a celebratory bottle of champagne by Commodore Stephen Kirkpatrick during Bass Week.

Thank you for the recognition!

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the sudden death of Alan Nicholson having suffered from an embolism.Our deepest sympathies go to Alan’s wife Jean, and his daughters Fiona and Julie, at this sad time.

Alan was a true gentleman and will be sadly missed by us all.

Alan’s funeral took place on Wednesday 1 June at Distington crematorium followed by a funeral tea at the Sailing Club.