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.

This weekend’s working party had Keith Thomas recording the events with his own asides.

Stephen Kirkpatrick shows concentration putting the barrow
in the hole instead of the concrete. Toggle tells him off and
and Scumper obviously is keeping well clear

Neil, Alan and Andy Smith busy with cement mixer

Andy T and Phil show serious concentration whilst digging the holes

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped this weekend to repaint much of the clubhouse. A massive amount has been achieved.

For those who weren’t able to come along, please don’t feel guilty as another day will be arranged in the next few weeks to finish a few things off, followed by an outside working party before the start of the season.

Watch this space for arrangements.

Thanks once again.

Stephen

Mike Turner has finished gathering the sponsor monies for his recent swim and is delighted to announce a total of �803 has been collected in aid of the Bedford Oncology Unit. This amount will be increased by the tax man through gift aid declarations.

Mike wishes to reiterate his heart felt thanks for everyone’s sterling efforts (seems the wrong way round!) in enabling such a great donation to be possible.