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CentreBoard

August 2004

The Newsletter of Spinnaker Club, Ringwood

www.spinnakerclub.co.uk

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Bar problems

I would dearly like someone to share the Bar Duty with me on a regular basis.

Ideally I would like someone to share on a 50/50 basis so that at least some evenings I can sit down with everyone for a chat and meal at a reasonable time. It can be as late as 9:45 when people are already on their way home and I still have to restock the fridge, close up, etc. Also I need holiday cover and I must know who is responsible for the bar when I am away.

In the past people have kindly jumped in to help on an ad hoc basis, but from a Club point of view it is not a good idea to have too many people involved, sometimes only for a few minutes. The Club needs somebody who is prepared to commit themselves to Bar Duty on agreed dates. I know that there are members out there who would prefer not to sail and who would find running the bar an enjoyable and social routine. Please come forward so that I can have some time off!

Borrowing

Recently the Main Committee has had a number of complaints from members that gear from their boats has been “borrowed” and not returned!

There is nothing more frustrating than arriving at the Lake to find you can’t sail because you have no boom, dagger board or perhaps most frustrating of all no *%$$£! bungs.

If this happens to you don’t acquire the bits from the boat next door. It just makes matters worse.

Remember taking something from another boat without the owner’s permission is theft.

While taking your bungs out is probably good practice, leaving all your equipment lying around the boat after you have gone home not only makes the dinghy park look scruffy, but is just asking for it to grow legs and walk away.

Parking

Each summer brings back a perennial problem with car parking at Spinnaker.

Many instances of cars being blocked in, or more frustratingly boats being inaccessible, have created the rantings of many an unfortunate person anxious to go sailing, or just trying to go home!

This problem normally typically arises during the Sunday morning Oppy training. Can you PLEASE avoid parking in front of the Fireflys, as frequently they are being used from 11:00 a.m. onwards?

Please use the main car park if the small car park next to the clubhouse and Oppies is full. All main Committee members have been asked to monitor and request appropriate re-parking of any “illegally” parked cars.

Brian Watkins

Vehicle owners also run a risk of damage as sailors try to cross full car parks towards slips or pontoons. If gusty it can be tricky to walk the dinghy on its trolley, while keeping the rig pointing downwind. So also be wary of parking too close to accesses for dinghies to the lake. Many, many apologies to the person whose van my Firefly inadvertently broached against after a tiring Wednesday evening race! Ed.

More Tall Ships

In last September’s CentreBoard I told you about my experiences of the 2003 Tall Ships Race in the Baltic.

Before leaving Sixth Form College recently I was selected to receive the Peter Symonds’ Sports Colours award for my overall achievements as participant in organising the college’s tall ships team for that year.

Last month I was invited to assist with the College’s team for the 2004 Race. I crewed on the delivery leg from Ipswich to Antwerp. We explored the Belgian coast and the inland seas of the Netherlands. It was really great fun.

I thoroughly recommend the tall ships experience to anyone who has the chance and wants to improve their team skills. You will have an unforgettable time among people of similar ages, from all sorts of backgrounds and countries.