Newsletter August 31st 2102
Newsletter – August 31st
Nearly the end of the so called summer and still it is wet and windy! Despite the weather we have been out sailing regularly but obviously it has not been encouraging the less hardy to join us out on the water. Also there have been so many water based events to distract. One of the club’s 420’s has been damaged and is awaiting repair, also we still haven’t been able to get a sixth sail from Schull, but the other 5 are serviceable thanks to Colm and Micael’s efforts. Paraic and Micael have regularly sailed their own 420 and would be delighted if more of you could find an old one somewhere and join them to make a fleet of 420s regularly sailing. The army has moved it’s sailing club to Galway beside us in the GOSC – they have a fleet of Topaz dinghys, as does Bow Waves, so if some of you could invest in a Topaz we could rapidly have a good fleet of Topaz dinghys too. The army have kindly offered us the use of their white course markers. We are still working on ideas for the younger children – Optimists? Laser Bug? To make a childrens fleet work well it does need the support and enthusiasm of the parents , perhaps those of you with children in the 8-12 range would like to get together to discuss how we can develop a fleet for them. Do contact me (Nancy) roenancy9@gmail.com and we can arrange a meeting.
The club has been thanked by the ISA Accessible sailing organisers for the help we provided during Volvo week – despite the weather some 120 disabled sailers were taken out on the bay. Thanks to John McCole, John Hendley, Colm McIntyre, and Paraic O’Fahartha who manned the club boats as escort along with yours truly and Tim. Our Sea Scout members Fionn, Ciaran, Seamus, Eamonn et al were fully occupied all week doing mammoth work taking literally hundreds of youngsters out on the water in Lough Atalia.
Dinghy Park: The new dinghy park close to the beach is finished and in use. If you have paid your boat park fees you are asked to store your boat there. Please note: No empty trailers or unused boats to be stored either there or in the GOSC yard. We were given a generous grant of €1000 from Failte Ireland West which has helped us to pay off a sizeable amount of the €4500 cost of the fencing to the Harbour Company. Many thanks to Failte Ireland West! Also we have been awarded another grant of €1000 from Veolia as nominated by Lorraine McCole – many thanks Lorraine! and Veolia.
Last Saturday was the Cong-Galway race and again the club rib was out as support boat with the Delahunty family. Paraic and Micael sailed their 420 and came 2nd on the 2nd leg from Killybeg to Dangan – well done. Commiserations to John H whose boat had a meeting with the notorious rocks of the Corrib – we hope to see them back on the water very soon.
Yesterday evening was a gem of an evening- sunshine and a moon!- and the sailing was excellent. The Roe family provided the safety and race officer boats, and the army joined us to sail two fun races. Three of our young sailers and new member Stephen were out in the 420s and Colm and Micael in the GP. It was dusk as we packed up which emphasised that to sail on Thursday evenings in September we must start promptly at 6pm.
The new safety boat and race officer rotas will be sent to you shortly – please make a note of when you are listed and be sure to turn up or arrange a substitute.
Anybody wishing to do a powerboat level 2 course or powerboat level 3 (safety boat) course please let me know and we will try to arrange courses this autumn. The more people do it, the more safety boat crews we can call on.
Best wishes to John Hendley and Theresa – getting married tomorrow, and congratulations to Michael Fitzsimons and family on the birth of Alanna on 10th August.
Good sailing – Nancy
PS. Club Hoodies are available from me for €30 – I usually have them in the van.