At this year’s AGM Steve Hunt was re-elected Commodore for his second year in office. For the full list of council members click here. It will be noted that we still need someone to be responsible for the running of the bar. If you’re interested please contact the Commodore.

Some proposals by the Hon Sailing Secretary generated much discussion. Firstly, a proposal to adopt the usual 5-4-1-0 start sequence for club racing was rejected by those present. When Roy advised that it was proposed to move the committee boat to the starboard end of the line, there was much concern raised from the floor, but in the end it was agreed to trial it for 10 weeks in the new season. Finally, consideration has been given to revise the scoring system for the championship, as the present system of giving points relative to the number of starters in the series seemed to give a significant advantage to those doing well in long series. Three options were put forward – status quo, increase the points in weekend series by the number of starters in that series, and thirdly revert to the low points scoring system. When voted on by members the scoring was very close 8-9-7 (or thereabouts!), so for next season the championship scoring will be revised for weekend series to increase the number of points by the number of starters in that series.

The treasurer’s proposal to raise subscriptions in line with inflation, again raised interesting discussion, driven by those stalwarts – our Hon Auditor(!), and Ian MacPherson. When finally voted on the following subscriptions were approved for the new season

Ordinary �143
Family �65
Junior �30
Country �69
Life �57
Affiliated �58
Senior �100

The training report was given by Nigel Lewis, and advised members of the success of the current regime. Members were reminded to register their interest for training prior to the new season to ensure a place would be available.

Under any other business, members were advised of issues regarding the number of non-sailing visitors entering the grounds. Whilst not wishing to discourage genuine visitors it was felt appropriate to for council to consider some for of gate management system.

The Commodore outlined recent discussions with neighbouring residents and their concerns over some of our operations. Discussions are ongoing to address the issues amicably where considered appropriate.

Finally, the Hon Auditor raised concerns about a missing wheel from his road trailer. All was well when it was reported that it had just been borrowed, albeit without asking!

The meeting closed at approx 1630hrs

Unfortunately, today was boatman Josh’s last day at the club before he goes and gets a proper job with the big boys! He’s been with us a couple of years, and he’ll be missed by one and all.

How many lakes in the Lake District? Find out if the BBC Two QI panel know with this link http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo/noise/?programme=qi (select Ep10 – Alan Davies)

Yes Toggle has reached one of those key milestones in life. Three score year and ten I hear you ask – No. The first half century – surprisingly no! It had to be the big 40 – many congratulations. At that age can he stand the pace of Nick Smith’s wild stag party? Only time will tell.

Well by Tog’s account at least – yes he rose to the challenge and survived all the stag parties to the end. Not sure whether that means he was last one standing!

I’m aware that some of you have been following the race on the website and have even contributed.

I thought it worth putting down how I feel and sharing it while it’s fresh. So thanks for your interest and support. Toni forwarded them via e mail .

We sailed an Ocean; no we raced an Ocean – big difference. 4,800 miles in 31 days. We came 2nd in race 1 and 4th in race 2. Are we happy with that? No we had great ambitions in La Rochelle to win the leg. However, a disastrous trip through the Canaries found the biggest hole in the Atlantic Ocean and we emerged 10th, with a record low run for 24 hrs of 9 miles. So to climb back to 4th felt good, particularly as we beat Hull & Humber (Dumb & Dumber to us !) We emerged relatively intact with only our mid range spinnaker damaged (damaged when we crash gybed and broke the preventer – a section 5 m X 2m went missing!). I hasten to add that this was the other watch – it was 2.30 am and I was asleep at the time. Other yachts had a RNLI evacuation at Lands End by the Falmouth lifeboat – it was too rough for the sea King, one dislocated shoulder, one leg caught up in a spinnaker sheet with rope burns that turned bad and series of stitches and bruises. As well as 6 blown out kites in the fleet , two spinnaker poles have been broken in broaches or gybes and a jockey pole bent.

So have I enjoyed it? Far too small a word for the totality of the experience. It has been a test, physically, mentally & socially. No one who has not encountered the foredeck of a large yacht during a racing sail change can understand the sheer physical brutality of it. In the dark, with the boat pitching, trying so hard to keep one hand for the boat and one for the job, it makes me feel every day of my age! Mentally racing the boat is relentless. 24 hrs a day trimming sails, changing sails and 3hr watches in the night & 4 hrs in the day test ones endurance and patience. Sometimes we were sailing best course downwind for days and life becomes repetitive.

I have to say the scenery gets a bit samey ( I spy with my little eye something beginning with S) However, the biggest test has been socially. God knows I’m not a difficult man to get along with ( I can hear the chorus , thank you !) Remember the boat was called Liverpool and was crewed by a significant number of scousers. It felt a lot like big brother at times and Toni will attest to the fact that I demanded daily emails from her and the boys to bring something into my claustrophobic world. But don’t get the impression it was bad – I feel I’ve been tested and passed, The highs have been extraordinary. Being at the top of an 85 ft mast while we’re sailing, uncrossing halyards and checking for chafe: helming downwind with a following sea – surfing at nearly 20 knots: being the no 1 upwind helmsman, being on for the first spell of the watch to set the standards of course, average and top speed: dolphins torpedoing down to the boat in phosphorescent trails: being hit by flying fish : the feeling of a supportive watch – all these and more are memorable. But for me it’s back to cruising. Roller reefing sails, lazy jacks and autopilots will be even more appreciated. When we parked for 48 hrs in the Canaries the skipper asked me �”Well Pete – from your experience what would you do to make this boat go faster” I answered without hesitation ” I’d switch the f*****g engine on ! “There are not enough restaurants in an ocean to make me do it again, however, as Robin Knox Johnson said in his address before the start ” for the rest of your life what will separate you from the average man is that you have sailed an Ocean” I’ll stick with that-it’s an achievement and I’m proud I’ve done it. You just may hear me talk about it every now and then and as I said at the beginning – thanks for your support – it’s meant a lot.

Pete

Just received these photos of a long term project by Trustee Graham Kirkpatrick that was finally completed earlier this year. Obviously still drawn by the Flying 15s which he sailed for many years, he can be seen crossing the part of the fleet at the FF Nationals at Largs! Could there be a push to launch it at Bass?!