RUNSWICK BAY BEACH & SAILING CLUB

Newsletter May 2007

COMMODORES WELCOME

Dear Member,

It seems like only last week that I was asked to write the Commodores Welcome. So much has happened in the last few weeks I hardly know where to begin.

Firstly, a very very big thank you to everyone who has helped to get the club ready for the new season, we have taken on some immense tasks which part way through I was beginning to wonder if we had bitten off more than we could chew.

· The showers and changing rooms have been in the main, completely redecorated.

· The Bar has been completely refitted and redecorated.

· The clubhouse is in the process of being redecorated, with new flooring being sponsored by Calvert's carpets.

· The new race / safety boat is now in operation.

We have a new race boat helm, Steve Mellalieu, and several new members. If you see Steve or any of the new members about, please introduce yourself and make them feel welcome.

We have had a great start to the racing. May 6th saw five Darts racing and with a very fresh wind, saw several catamarans revealing parts that don't normally see the sun. Last weekend we again had six Darts' on the water, but this time we were joined by four dinghies, a great show and I am pleased to see more people using the club facilities. Remember the club have three Pico's which are free to use for members. They have all been prepared for the season and are ready to sail.

We are shortly going to be in receipt of a new tractor for launching and retrieving, this tractor is far newer than any of the old tractors you are familiar with. Please speak to one of the committee for instructions on how to use it as it is slightly different being a diesel engine.

Due to several factors Commodores Day has been changed to the following weekend Sunday July 15th. Please amend your sailing programmes accordingly.

I will take this opportunity to mention the Commodores Ball; this is to be held on Saturday the 14th July at the clubhouse and an adjoining marquee. It will be a very special evening, and the clubhouse will look spectacular please try to make up a table and support the club.

Tickets are only £30.00 each which will just cover our costs. Further information is available in this newsletter.

Once again I look forward to meeting you down at the club and hope that we have more great weather, more great sailing and a great season.

Kind regards,

Mick Singleton.

Commodore RBBSC

Mon - Fri (9am -6pm) Mobile 07788 725523

Evenings & Weekends Home 01653 628138

Email micksingleton@f2s.com

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES

14th June - RBBSC Golf Trophy

14th July - Commodore's Candlelight Ball

15th July - Commodore's Day

11th August - RNLI Sail to Staithes

8th & 9th Sept Regatta Weekend

First Sunday June, July, August & Sept Sail training Days.

Commodore's Candlelight Ball.

It has been a good number of years since a big social event has happened at the club house and here it is. Attached is the formal announcement. Due to this it has been decided to change the date of Commodore's Day to the 15th July, and use the marquee to serve Commodore's tea. Please make an effort to attend Commodore's day and if possible the Ball, Tickets are only £30 a head, tables for ten, so get friends and family to make up a table. Numbers may be limited. There will be a live band and Disco to follow. The meal will be a Hog roast. The plan is to decorate the club with fairy lights to create a magical atmosphere and a very special evening so get your tickets before they sell out.

Newsletters.

Newsletters will be sent out via email and posting via the web site. Please ensure that your email address is correct on the subs form or "paper mail" if you still wish to receive by post.

HOUSE COMMITTEE

The working days this year have been well attended and a great deal of work put in. If you did not manage to come down and do a bit you could always come down early on a Sunday and cut the grass at the club or boat park.

What has been done, changing rooms walls boarded and painted, the gents shower heads replaced, sinks with hot and cold water and the floors painted.

With the planned Commodore's Ball on the 14th July the club house needs to tided up and the Bar has been completely stripped and rebuilt, work is ongoing in the lounge to redecorate in a 'New England' style, this will involve not only painting the ceiling and walls but new flooring is being put down and all the seats are to be recovered. If you wish to help please get in touch.

Club House Locks

Due to a break in earlier in the year new locks have had to be fitted, these are not Padlocks but Deadlocks and have new keys, these will be issued to full members only on receipt of this year's subs. Please ensure that doors are Locked if you are the last to leave.

Wanted

If you have any News, Announcements, Articles or Adverts, which you would like to include in the newsletter, please can you let me know. I will be only too glad to include them.

Let me know your views on the newsletter.

Dart Training

The Dart Training Weekend on the 12th & 13th May was a great success with a number of new members coming down, Saturday covered a brief introduction in the club house then 2 hours in the boat park looking at the maintenance of the boat, items to look out for which may need replacing. Following this we started to rig a boat and covered all aspects of rigging. Finally we got a boat with the sail up and examined the effects of the sheets, downhaul etc on the shape of the sail and what it should look like. It was nearly 4pm when 3 boats got out onto the water to put into practice some of what had been discussed in the boat park. Sunday saw 6 Darts compete in two short races.

RBBSC Junior & Youth Training

Ben Willis has now put together a brief and application form (attached) to cover the sail training. Should you or any cadets wish to participate then please get your application in. Places are limited and will be on a first come first served basis.

Race Results

The sailing this year has got off to a great start and while the first Sunday only saw one race 5 Darts where out. The following two Sundays there where 6 Darts and a number of dinghies on the water, racing in 2 back to back races. The website will be updated with the results soon.

RNLI Day at Runswick Bay Sailing club stall

The sailing club stall will be trying as usual to raise as much money as possible for the RNLI on the Saturday morning of the 11th August. As in previous years, our stall is really three stalls in one and will be manned as ever by the Wrights, Vaughan's, Newboulds, and Ruby Middleton. We normally raise approximately £250 but we are low on items to sell this year so any contributions will be most welcome. We are looking for small quality items - CD's, DVD's Videos, paperbacks, costume jewellery, jigsaws, unwanted presents, etc... etc.. If you can contribute please leave with Peter Wright at Tekton 46 Ellerby Lane,Runswick Bay or at the Clubhouse.

Club Tractors

Please note that the club now has the use of a more modern tractor, this is to replace the Ford and ensure that should the fergi's not start that we have a tractor that does. It starts via a Key which is held in the club house, and needs both gearlevers to be in neutral before it will start. Note that it has a handbrake and reverse is to the left and forward. This tractor must not go into the sea at all and should be parked up in the boat park after use. The Little Fergi does have a tendency to get stuck in gear, please move the gear lever with care. Should this happen, drive into the boat park, stop the tractor and then try to ease the gear lever back into the gear it was last in.

4 X 4 on the Beach

Just a little reminder that 4 X 4's are not supposed to be used on the beach with out a permit. Please respect this and only use one if you need to and remove once finished.

Lark For Sale

The club has a Lark for sale, This boat was kindly donated to the club by a long standing member but due to lack of use it has been decided to sell it. It will need some work to enable it to be used again but comes with a full set of sails (including a spinnaker) and trailer. The Hull is fibreglass and in good condition. A bargain at £500. Contact any committee member.

Carey Films Limited

The week following May Day saw the club house transformed into a film set. Carey Films had approached the club to see if they could use the club house to create a beach house for the film. A lot of effort was put in supporting the film crew in moving equipment along the beach on Monday while filming was taking place on the cliff top. I will say that I have never seen so much gear piled on the floor of the club. We left them to get on with the filming over the next few days and hope to see the finished short film some time in the summer. For more information look at www.careyfilms.com.

Help on Race boat - Are you somebody who could spare a Sunday afternoon and would like to get out onto the water? The race boat needs an assistant. Contact Mick Singleton, Mike Shingler or Chris Smith if you could. Even if it is just one.