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Your News & Views
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28 October 2008
Cruising Season Review
Dear all,
Another year seems to have flown past and the end of the (official) cruising season is upon us.
As you probably know I took charge of the cruising / Wayfarer section in sad circumstances following Doug Reeson's sudden illness - his absence has left a big hole in the fleet (and the club generally), but I am pleased that we have managed to keep the fleet growing and active and build on all the hard work and enthusiasm which Doug put into it.
The weather (and to a degree the tides) haven't really been on our side this year, but some interesting sailing has been had nonetheless. To my knowledge (and with apologies if I have missed any great achievements) the 2008 season has seen fleet members cruising in such varied locations as the Mersey, Anglesey, Porthmerion, Windermere and braving the early season storms overnight at Hilbre Island! Not to mention the local cruises to Hilbre, Flint, Bagillt and (most of the way) to Sheldrakes.
We have also participated in some of the Dinghy Cruising Association Northwest rallies, which I would highly recommend and we will be continuing this next season as well as organising our own joint event with the DCA (see more below). They offer some great opportunities to cruise further afield in company - including a rally in the Farne Islands which is high on my list for next year.
We have seen a good number of boats out from time to time, but other weekends when numbers have been lower (quite possibly due to weather), but everyone I have seen on the water has enjoyed their sailing. For anyone who hasn't had the boat on the water quite as much as they would like this year maybe now is the time for an early new year's resolution! Maybe to get out for some early season sailing, join in with the racing, or maybe an attempt on the DSC record for the trip from the Club to Beaumaris pier (details on the website).
To whet your appetite for next season (which will come around quickly although it seems a long way off) the weekend of 20/21 June 2009 is the proposed date for the joint rally with the DCA which we are aiming to hold at the club (subject to confirmation of dates at the DCA planning meet in February) which should give everyone scope for a full day's cruise in company over two tides on the Saturday or the opportunity to try sleeping aboard if your boat is set up for it. It would be great to see loads of support for this from the Dee sailors!
Next season is also the centenary of the club so there are other great events in the pipeline - more details in due course.
In the meantime if anyone has any comments, suggestions or feedback from this season's sailing (or good pictures or cruise reports) then please send them on to me. Hopefully any interesting reports / photos may find their way into our fleet report in the next edition of Mainsheet. Any ideas for next year would also be most welcome.
For those of you who have boats at the club, don't forget that the winter storms are probably not far over the horizon so now is the time to consider lowering masts, organising tie-downs etc. if your boat is going to stay at the club over the winter.
Finally, now that the weather is a bit nippy for cruising, Peter, Rob and I are intending to enter the rough and tumble of the autumn race series on 16 November. Hopefully if any of the other monohull sailors are braving the weather we should be able to give them some competition and see how the Wayfarer matches up against the more racey monos (the Phatmons and the Soslows?). Would be great to see some other Wayfarers / cruising boats joining in with racing - if nothing else it is a good way to get a sail now that weather and available daylight make cruising difficult and a great way to meet some other members of the club outside the fleet. If you are worried about being the slowest or most incompetent on the water then don't worry - we will selflessly be taking on that role to save you from any potential embarrassment!
Hopefully see some of you on the water soon and I will be in touch about next season's events and programme when details are available.
Cheers,
Jon Bloor
Tell us what you think - your comments, contributions and photos are very welcome.
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