You may have noticed that the sailing programme has been uploaded to DutyMan, and those with allocated duties will have received notification. This all leads to the start of the 2013 sailing season which is so nearly upon us.

There is a rigging and tuning day on Sat 23 March, and the first race on Sun 24 March. Handbooks will be winging there way to your doorsteps in the next few days.

Time to dust down the boat cover, take the boat out of storage, and get it ready for another season.

See you there!

The training that will be provided for new and existing members in 2013 will follow the RYA National Training schemes for adults and youths. Following our own review, and advice from the RYA, we will be providing courses that last for 10 weeks. They will include 3 or 4 weekends and will be interspaced by 7 Tues/Thurs evening �supported racing� sessions so that pupils put into practice what they have learned.
Youths starting training with no experience
-10 week course
-Start on Saturday 13 April
-Complete the first 3 RYA levels between April and late June.
-Complete Level 4 and Start Racing between late August and October.

We are aware that there are some youths who have already made progress through the RYA schemes. These pupils will be able to either complete the full course or join the course at their current level. They will be encouraged to attend all the Tuesday Evening �Supported Racing� sessions as this will lead into the Start Racing Course.

Adults starting with no experience
-10 week course
-Start on Saturday 6 April
-Complete the first 2 RYA Levels between April and mid June.
-Complete Level 4 and Start Racing between late August and October.

We hope to run a further two courses (subject to demand and instructor availability) starting on Saturday 1 June and Saturday 8 June. These courses would run until the 18 July.
It is recognised that sailors may miss a couple of the evening sessions due to holidays, etc. This isn�t a problem but we recommend attending all of the planned weekend sessions.
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Bass Sailing Club is always particularly interested in attracting new members and sailors. In order to actively promote the club and its training to prospective members it is proposed to hold a Club Open Weekend over the Easter Holiday with a �welcome desk� and taster sessions. Please come along and help out on the day in any way you can � a friendly face or a trip out in a boat with a competent sailor will go a long way to showcasing our great club. Please bring along any friends or work colleagues who may be interested in trying sailing � they can even bring their tent and camp on Saturday night for the usual charge if you want to show them the social side too.

Please respond ASAP to Neil Garrison ([email protected]) to express your interest, providing name(s), ages and any previous sailing experience / RYA certification.

Just a reminder that your help would be appreciated this weekend 9/10 March for the working parties to prepare the clubhouse and grounds for the new season.

10am start each day

Ethan Dawson came 4th at a Topper NW traveller yesterday at Chester Sailing Club. In a total of 22 boats, the three ahead of him were all national squad sailors

To all members and rescue boat crew

There is going to be training for the use of the defibrillator that we now own. The training will be conducted by Ralph Palmer of the Northwest Ambulance Service, it will be held on Saturday 16 March at 10am in the club house and is expected to take 3 hours.

I would like as many people to come as possible and you don’t need to have an up-to date first aid, so if you can come, please let me know by email to peter.ballard2@ntlworld .com by 7 March please.

Many thanks

Peter Ballard
Safety Officer

With the sailing season a matter of weeks away, it’s time to get prepared. Yes you need to start that winter maintenance on your boat, and hunt out that sailing gear which has mysteriously shrunk through lack of use, but spare a thought for the committee chairs that have to prepare the clubhouse and grounds, a somewhat mammoth task. Those tasks are so much more achievable in bite size chunks, so that’s where your helping hand would be greatly appreciated.

On the weekend 9/10 March working parties are being held at the club to get the club and grounds ready. Please set one, or both, of the days aside to help Alan and Toggle. The more that turn up, the easier it will be. We would much prefer that there are too many helpers (is that possible?) rather than not enough.

Please come down from 11 am and bring your sandwiches. Alan and Toggle will be forever grateful, there’ll be soup and cake to keep your energy up and you’ll go home feeling deservedly righteous!

Please put the dates in your diary, and come down to help out.