Sailing Events
SAILING PROGRAMME for 2008
Social Events
Social Programme 2008
Bar Opening Hours:
Wednesday 19.30-23.00
Friday 18.00-21.00
Sunday 12.00-15.00
Duty Man Roster
Your News & Views
Please send your stories, opinions and photos to the webeditor
18 Feb 05
Update
Working Parties
This Sunday 20 Feb is the last working party and is for all fleets. A great deal of work has been tackled already but there is still a great deal of work to do and the start of the sailing season is just around the corner. The club thrives on the good will and hard work of its members. Willing volunteers are needed now more than ever. Get behind your Fleet Captains and be there at 08:30 for briefing.
The Dart Open, UKIDA Grand Prix Round 1
Easter Weekend Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March the DSC plays host to this National Event. Running over 2 days instead of 3 as in the past due to unlucky tide times, all the fun, buzz and vibe will be concentrated and condensed. Come and join in. Easter Monday 28 March will provide Fun Races for all boats. Entertainment is planned for the Saturday night starting at 20:00 with a Disco, late bar and a great band 'Rust' making their debut at DSC. Entry will be £6.00 at the door with the usual concession for competitors.
Boat park Warning
Our neighbours the Golf Club are in the process of improving their security along their perimeter adjacent to our boat park. Work has started by thinning the fir trees to allow the planting of a hedge barrier. This boundary has been used as a thoroughfare by pedestrian traffic for some time. This fact may have contributed to theft of small items from boats along that line. The DSC supports this work but there is a down side for us as the line of trees did provide a valuable windbreak against storms and bad weather from the NW. There will of course be a period of time when there is reduced cover whilst the new hedge becomes established. DSC is in discussion with the Golf Club to represent our interests. Meanwhile please be advised that your boat in the boat park will need a substantial tie down and the mast may need to be dropped even during the March to October window.
News
Animal has a new 'Beast Master', Adrian M will be taking the helm this year and will I am sure maintain Animal's reputation.
Wildlife Drama
I witnessed a drama in my front garden last week. There was a great commotion as a murder of crows cawed maniacally from the copse of trees overlooking my garden. I looked out and saw a Hawk pinning a pigeon to my lawn, with my own morbid curiosity I would like to have seen the strike. Had the Hawk bombed the poor victim out of the sky in a power dive, or had this predator pounced at ground level in sneak attack? The Hawk proceeded to feast defending its prey from the barracking of the crows. I know enough to know it was a pigeon for sure and it was a Hawk, but I don't know which type? Not much larger than the pigeon itself, any twitchers out there willing to identify this bird? Answers to the Editor please. I left the creature to finish its meal in peace and 3 hours later had the delightful task of removing the remaining pigeon carcass for disposal. So what has all this got to do with sailing? Well pondering as I do I could not help but to make the connection with the coming sailing season. Will I sail like a pigeon, timidly waiting to be someone's lunch, or will I sail like a crow, vocal, noisy, pushy and brash staying in the safety of the pack or will I sail like a Hawk effective and deadly? What bird will you be this season?
So why did a bird of prey choose my urban garden for it's endeavour? Well apparently they had banned 'All Kestrel manoeuvres in the Park'…. Many sailing boat names are taken from the bird kingdom. The Falcon, Kestrel and Hawk to name a few, there are no records of successful designs being called the 'Crow' or the 'Widgeon'. Aerodynamic principals spring from the study of birds in flight. The shape of our sails mimic the shape of a bird's wing held vertically. I have certainly managed the flapping but not yet the grace and elegance of true flight.
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