SAILING REPORT

We recently had an excellent turnout at the clubhouse for the presentation of the sail training awards and the dinghy racing prizes for the 2016 season.

The evening’s proceeding were started off with a brief introduction by our Commodore Martin who talked about the excellent season we have had both in dinghy racing and sail training

Our new sail training principal, Jo Musson, then presented the awards at the end of another productive season which has seen many new trainees both as dinghy sailors and powerboat drivers and it was great to see so many new and enthusiastic faces in the clubhouse.

All of the trainees have done really well this year passing their level 1 and 2 of either the youth stages or the National Sailing Scheme, many of them will be starting the next level in 2017 and if anyone else is interested in learning to sail next season, then contact us at [email protected]

Jo also made a presentation to our long-standing outgoing principal, Malcolm Williams, who is standing down after many years of sterling service to the club, so many thanks to Malcolm for all he has done over the years.

We then moved onto the dinghy racing prizes for this season presented by Paul Griffiths (dinghy captain) and Martin. Paul thanked all those who had taken part and also more importantly all those who had helped throughout the year both on and off the water, with a special presentation being made to Terry Cemm, who at 80 odd years young, has been a stalwart of the club whether it being in the Bosun’s Locker, around the clubhouse or on the water and we all appreciate what Terry has done for the club again this year.

The individual prize-winners were as follows: lady helm - Rosie Mammatt; lady competitor - Julia Griffiths; junior helm and first junior - Ben Roberts; most improved - Rosie; best newcomer - Emma; best novice - Sam Underwood.

Main series - silver fleet - Harry and Steve Hinksman for all three series.

Main series - gold fleet - warm-up - Ben Roberts; mid-season - James Hayden; late season - Simon Turnbull.

Overall positions: 6. and first silver fleet - Harry and Steve Hinksman (RS VISION); 5. and first over 60 - Keith Jones (RS AERO); 4. first team and first over 50 helm - Paul and Julia Griffiths (RS 200); 3. Ben Roberts (Laser Radial); 2. Simon Turnbull (Contender) on 36 points, and after one of the closest season’s racing we have had for some time, possibly ever also on 36 points, but winning on countback was Maurice Clarke in another Contender just retaining his title as overall club champion for 2016.

Maurice thanked all those who had helped to make it such a great season and an excellent social event was concluded with a fantastic buffet prepared by Nina and John Mammatt and their helpers.

On a sad note to finish off, the club was sorry to hear of the passing of Rob Chambers, husband of Sue (nee Groves), both long-standing supporters of the club and our thoughts are with Rob and Sue’s family at this time.

DIZZY RASCALS