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November 2003
The Newsletter of Spinnaker Club, Ringwood
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November 2003 |
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The Newsletter of Spinnaker Club, Ringwood |
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Sailability |
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I hope that Spinnaker members are aware of the Sailability group operating from the Club. Our white pontoon stands out with its hoist facilities for lifting sailors from wheelchairs into the specially designed dinghies. One dinghy has electric joystick controls for steering and main sheet for sailors with little strength or movement. As we approach the close of the 2003 Sailability season, what a good year it has been, and not just the weather! In February we had an article in the Bournemouth Echo and a number of local newspapers to promote the group and to recruit more volunteers. This was a great success generating 27 new volunteers. Debbie Brown from RYA Sailability came to the lake and held a RYA session with Alan Copestake fully training 2 volunteers to operate the safety boat, plus approving 3 others to use the power boat. We were then able to extend Tuesday sessions from 14:00-16:60 to 10:00-17:00 and add Fridays sessions 10:00-16:00. This has meant that we are able to put our resources to greater use and cater for many more sailors with groups from disabled workshops, care centres, schools as well as many individuals. We now total over 40 sailors with many sailing both days and for longer periods.
On 14 April with my wife Sheila and son Martyn I attended the opening of the new RYA headquarters at Hamble by HRH Princess Royal. On speaking with the Princess I found that she was aware of Spinnaker Club, saying she had over flown over the lake in the past on her way into Hurn. She was also aware of the Club’s world class team racing achievements. Later that same evening with Sheila I attended a dinner of the New Forest Rotary, where using Mrs Rory Morrison's (a key volunteer and video enthusiast) excellent video of our activities, I gave a presentation about NF&DS and was presented with a generous donation which will cover running costs, i.e. rent, insurance and equipment testing for the 2004 season. 16 April saw us in Ringwood town centre with two dinghies on the first of a number of awareness / fundraising activities. The second was Bransgore Fun Day followed by Ferndown Carnival. 13 September found us at Appletree Court, Lyndhurst, the NFDC headquarters, attending a Disabled Awareness Day and fundraising using a hook-the-boat game, made by Harold one of our members. The following weekend we returned to Ringwood for the carnival with the afternoon on Bickerly Green, fundraising again with Harold's boats. We spent the evening with Bransgore Rotary in the procession with a dinghy on a float. My thanks to all who worked so hard to make all of these events so successful. We were able to purchase 10 new buoyancy aids this season. Also we were offered a GP by one of our new members, Mr Chris Moline, that he had sailed for years, but now sadly his disability prevents him from sailing it. The dinghy was collected by Windward, one of the disabled workshops that sail with us and specialize in boat repairs. They tidied it up and with Alan's help found a mast to replace the very old wooden one. Now this boat is in regular use and is a grand opportunity for Windward's lads to sail a boat they have worked on. We have been offered the chance to bid for a new Devon Lugger with trailer worth about £ 12,000 built by Honnor Marine of Haywood Lancashire and sponsored by an insurance company. This will be presented to a Sailability group at the 2004 London Boat Show. All we need to do is to prove we have a need for it. Since the boat will carry 6 in safety it would be useful for the groups of non sailors, leaving the rest of the fleet for those who can sail, so our name is down. On Saturday, 26 July again with a lot of help from Alan, RYA Sailability used the lake for a Southern area Deaf Sailing Day and this was a great success with just under 20 deaf sailors. On 29 July Clive Clifford, Chairman of RYA Sailability with the Chief Trustee of a large trust fund, visited the lake using us as an example of a successful Sailability group with good facilities, a youth membership and with RYA training available. With Oppy week in full swing and having explained that our members could attend the event they really saw youth and training in action. The gent was suitably impressed and RYA Sailability will receive a grant of which we may benefit in future.
Finally a big thanks to Alan for all his help too numerous to list and to Spinnaker our hosts. If anyone would like to sail with us or can spare some time to help with such tasks as taking fees, making tea, rigging boats, sailing with non sailors or operating the safety boat, please join us. Either visit the lake on one of our sailing sessions (times above) or ring me on 023 80867438. Eric Blyth |
