Or should you? You may have noticed lots of activity on the webcam as boats took to the water this weekend. No, the season has not started yet, but several sailors decided that it would be useful to get some practice in. Word has it that the commodore has been practising some racing over recent weeks – looking at his results he needed it!
The Dinghy Sailing Show 2008 – Alexandra Palace, London
Chris Tooley and I were invited to attend the dinghy show by the NSSA last weekend. We drove down on Friday night and stayed two nights (expenses paid!). We took the Mount Haes trophy we won at the Youth Regatta held at Plymouth last July and spent some time on the stand talking to visitors.
We arrived at Alexandra Palace for the opening of the show on Saturday morning and saw Ben Ainslie when he cut the ribbon. (He’s a lot smaller than he looks in pictures) There were talks from loads of top sailors including Paul Goodison, GBR Olympic laser sailor. There was loads to do, looking around all of the stands, wishing you could afford all the shiny boats, collecting freebies and getting a bit over-competitive at the model boat pool.
We had a great time and would definitely recommend going.
Sam.
Star of the Big Screen
You just can’t take some people anywhere. Never heard anyone describe Bridget as a shrinking violet, so no surprise when she was at a recent Westlife concert she spotted Ginge on the big screen she leant (well dived) across and waved like fury. Don’t think there’s any truth in the rumour that she ‘flashed’ the camera, but who knows 🙂
Controversy
The Leap Year Quiz night started with the usual banter. Why hadn’t William booked meals for Bridget and Ginge, and why hadn’t he told Dee that the questions were based on Leap Years?! Is he really on the blue WKD?
Anyway, the quiz master and his glamorous assistant had prepared a wonderful hotpot (yes, that’s the one without the crust for those Lancastrians reading this!) for the two dozen contestants. In fact it was believed that the Fantastic Four were ringers, as they were such good friends of the quiz master.
Anyway, proceedings got underway, and yes there was a rowdy table – none other than Bridget’s Brood (surely her school kids would have had detention for such behaviour?!). It started with repeated requests for the questions to be read out again (No that wasn’t because William was searching for answers on his phone, there was just too much gabbing by the women), and continued to the answer stage when they repeatedly roared as they supposedly had the right answer. That attitude did eventually spread across the other teams, as they secured another point.
When it was all over, there was a countdown from 70 (the maximum score), and it seemed like an eternity before the winners were identified – the Fantastic Four with 54 points. Fix I hear you cry (as did all the other teams). The answer paper was submitted for checking, only to find that they couldn’t add up! So the countdown continued and at 48 (whose age is that you ask?!), Bridget’s Brood gave another roar. The paper was checked and they were declared winners. They were just awarded the wine (as if Bridget hadn’t had enough by then!)- Kayla had left the half eaten box of Chocs at home (joke!).
Sorry you all missed out on a good night, but you were invited!
Starting the Cobra!
Instead of a Mirror, Toddy has been building a Cobra this winter. Check out when he started it for the first time!
Winter Walk
The first social of the year comprised a walk around the Wythop area for over 20 members. Despite a poor forecast, the weather was a little mizzly at times, and slightly muddy underfoot for a short while, but everyone made it to the end and returned to the club for some of Kayla’s homemade soup.
The next event is the Leap Year Quiz on 23 February with a tatie pot supper. Miss it miss out!
Winter Wonderland
The recent rain has lifted the lake level again. Well at least the camping field is getting a good watering! The top panorama is a view that we should be rightly proud of. How many other club’s benefit from such views?
Christmas Spirit
As the end of the year approaches, the last party of the season, and probably most well attended(!) took place in the clubhouse last weekend – The Christmas Party! – there was a buffet, plenty of games, some dancing and then someone noticed Santa! He had to leave his sleigh across the lake but hitched a lift from the club dory and some not so little helpers!
He led the singing of some Christmas carols, handed out presents to all the children and then went on his merry way (merry being the operative word after yet another glass of sherry!)
In the News
Find out what you may not have known about long standing club member Ian Macpherson from a recent local newspaper article WHATEVER FLOATS HIS BOAT
Hang ‘Em High
Have we had some members mis-behaving? Is it to do with getting out those Christmas baubles and keeping them out of reach of the family pet?
No, it’s related to another addition to the Preston / Kirkpatrick family! ‘Barley Wine‘ has been carefully looked after by hanging high in a tree to dry out whilst waiting for a new owner to give it love & attention. Trustee Graham Kirkpatrick’s favourite son-in-law, Ian, has long had a vision of him making a come back to the world of 15’s. There is now a serious risk that Graham could be seen on Bass, and on the Classic FF circuit, with Ian next year! ‘Barley Wine’ is now at the Preston’s rest home for old boats. Two old codgers in an old boat! Competing again against Alan & Keith. The mind boggles!