Last summer the Met office spoke of a Bar-b-que summer. Well, it may not have filled every evening with the smell of wood smoke and burnt sausages, but I do recall a good number of excellent sailing and motor boating days and hopefully 2010 will prove to be even better.
For many years the cruising committee has worked hard to create a programme with something to appeal to all our boating members. There is now a web of regular popular events occupying slots in the calendar which ebb and flow with the drift of the tides; everyone is aware of the movement of Easter but we cannot find a high water time, on a weekend, to allow us to book a late autumn Newtown Creek anchorage in the style of last year. However this does permit us to look at inserting other events such as the Right Royal Rally and the Poole race/rally.
Our year commences with three frost bite rallies. The destinations are all on the mainland and are all accessible by road if the weather is inclement or if the lock gates are closed. The dates have been selected in conjunction with the racing programme so each one offers an opportunity for all club members to attend. What better way to start the year, meet and greet friends old and new, and begin to plan your season.
Our man overboard day has moved to mid-May. This is a real “hands on” day and a rare opportunity to exercise your equipment and crew. The event is led by our trainers with the aim of improving everybody’s skills. Timed to be before the main summer cruises this is definitely one day to put in your diary now.
This is a rest year for the Deauville Sea Horse Rally but there are still opportunities for “going foreign” with the club. The St Vaast rally is the first event that takes us across the channel and for some marks the beginning of a long cruise. The Ladies who Launch will add to our numbers in France. Our main summer cruise will start later and the plan is to use a series of designated ports as rendezvous so that boats may join and leave according to their own timetables and weather constraints.
One change that excites me is the development of our tri club rallies. To solve a calendar problem the Royal Naval & Royal Albert suggested that we join them for a Sunday carvery lunch rather than an evening dinner . If this idea is well supported then perhaps the way forward for these three events is for them to become lunches rather than dinners.
The pages in the Cruising Section offer a brief overview of our programme. Please join us at the Briefing Supper on Friday March 20 to express your views.
The Flag officers and the cruising committee hope that you are blessed with a successful season.
Brian Hinde
Captain of Cruising