webpage hosted by
Transouth Translators Ltd

CentreBoard

November 2004

The Newsletter of Spinnaker Club, Ringwood

www.spinnakerclub.co.uk

click here
for previous
issues

Foot Trophy

The Foot Trophy was won by Spinnaker!

Spinnaker All Stars, Steve Tylecote, Nigel Wakefield and David Ellis beat West Kirby in the best of 3 Final. The event was held on the Welsh Harp in London on 3 November.

Our Spinnaker Youths had a bad start with Matt Rawlings having to send his boat home via the AA when his trailer gave up the ghost on the way up - Tip: spare wheel and greased bearings work well. Chris managed to organise them a spare Castaways boat.

Spinnaker All Stars won the trophy with West Kirby second, F Club 6 third and Royal Thames fourth. Spinnaker All Stars won the first round robin convincingly with no losses, getting ready for the next worlds. West Kirby surprised everyone by winning the Gold League. They then beat F6 I think to get into then finals, but Spinnaker beat them 2-0.

While the semis and final was going on they also had the 'Gnurns' Trophy fleet race around the lake with total team points counting. Seven teams in all took part with me leading the fleet round a series of buoys covering half the lake.

Matt won the race in Footsie the borrowed Castaways boat, closely followed by a Southampton Uni boat with Joe crewing. Our Spinnaker 'Youths' were unlucky, they missed the Gnurns trophy by one point to Thamesis. This was a very fine effort as the Thamesis team is made up of mega stars from the 70/80s, Will Henderson & Co.

Firefly gardener

My wife Diana has got herself through to the final of the BBC Gardener of the year competition.

The BBC has selected 5 couples who will have to build a small garden 4m x 5m from scratch at the Birmingham Botanic Gardens in early September.

This is being televised and the TV programme will be shown on BBC2 on Friday evening, 10 December. (May possibly move to 17 December; check your TV guide nearer the time)

Suggestions box

Members can now post any Club related suggestions, ideas or comments in the box kept by the bar.
The Sailing Committee has undertaken to consider the contents of the box at each meeting, normally held once a month.
This innovation has already produced several useful points for discussion.
The Suggestions Box could be of particular interest to those who benefit from Spinnaker Lake and Club facilities during the week when possibly there are Club officials present. Keep them coming! Ed

Spinnaker windsurfers

Ian and Avril Gibbons have been selected for the RYA South West Windsurfing Zone Squad.

The first reward for a summer of practising and competitions is a weekend of training at Roadford in December.

About three years ago Ian joined the Bishop Wordsworth School sailing club and learned to sail in Bosuns. Having mastered these battleships Ian wanted a sportier little number. So Alan Copestake found him a second hand Topper.

A few sailing lessons later plus Topper and beginners race training on Saturdays Ian and now Avril were both sailing competently at Blashford.

Now the story takes a turn. Ian and Avril took a junior windsurfing course at Calshot Activity Centre. Despite the heavy winds they both excelled. This was the decisive moment that made my think we are onto something here.

In 2004 we travelled the length and breadth of England in search of windsurfing glory. After two days competing at the Windsurfing Inland Championships Rutland Water, Avril became Junior Girl Inland National Champion. A few months later, Avril even beat Ian to the windward buoy in one race at the RYA Zone Squad trails, held at Datchet.

During 2004 Ian and Avril were also sponsored by Bob Allinson of Specialised Sailing, in Fawley. Bob has sailed National 12s and Enterprises at Spinnaker.

Picture: Avril begging for RYA biscuits at Farmoor