Hi everyone,
It’s been another busy week at Horning Sailing Club, with activities back in full swing. Last Saturday we enjoyed a great Sundown Series and even welcomed a family visiting from Australia to try sailing, following the Arthur Ransome storybooks. Sunday was Club racing on the river (read the report here) and Monday night we enjoyed paddleboarding on a very peaceful evening. On Wednesday we welcomed the Royal Yachting Association’s regional team to use our facilities for a meeting, and last night (Thursday) training continued. This weekend we see a work party take place tomorrow morning (Saturday) from 10am – please give a hand if you can, followed by the Sundown Series at 4pm, and a Downriver Race to Thurne on Sunday - The OOD is Kim West. As usual, if you wish to take part in the Downriver, please could you email racing@horning-sailing.club On Monday, we also have a paddleboarding session at 6pm, and on Wednesday will welcome children from Ukraine to try sailing. Thursday sees training continue.
Commodore’s Update
This is my first report since Horning week, as I was away. Firstly, a massive thank you to all our members who stepped forward to help in all areas; without this help we could not run the Regatta Week. It would be good to see many more members coming forward to help to take the pressure off the regular volunteers, we all have to do our bit.
I thoroughly enjoyed our Regatta Week, with long hours each day. Many hours went into organising the event. I have received many thanks from members who had a thoroughly enjoyable time, hope you all enjoyed your week, whether sailing, watching the racing or attending the socials. We were blessed with very good weather- plenty of hot sunshine, with strong winds at the start changing to light wind towards the end of the week. The weekend racing was brought onto the river due to the extensive weed on the Broad & the safety concerns from this, but members enjoyed being able to see all racing - with a twist, the cruiser fleet had their races down to Ranworth & back.
It was great to see a wealth of sail on the water in all fleets, with a few incidents along the way. Again, it was a spectacle to see novice sailors & juniors in keelboats doing so well. We had a variety of events after sailing which were enjoyed by members, with something different on Saturday evening before the films of yesteryear, Andrew Bond gave a talk about the book “Call Yourself a sailor” and also his research about a distant relation being part of “HMS Victory”, Nelson’s ship.
My thanks to Snowflakes & NBYC who ran the line Tuesday & Wednesday respectively.
Thursday was our Horning Town Day, my sincere thanks to Karen & Alastair Fields who were our Presidents for the day, this also being Karen’s 40th Horning week making it even more special, a great day with the presentation of the spoons & trophies.
On Friday we saw the usual water frolics enjoyed by all, beware where you stood or you got soaked by water bombs or pistols.
All week Peter & myself were helped by Bob & Holly, their help was invaluable & certainly took pressure off of us, my sincere thanks to them.
I am sure all members would like to give a big thank you to Vikki & her galley team for the excellent array of food they provided for us during the week, also the lunches for our guests, “Well Done team”.
My thanks to Terry Bailey, who at short notice installed fans into the galley at the start of Horning week, making it more comfortable for all working there.
Members would have seen our 5 new recycled plastic benches & our new marquee which have received a big thumbs up from our members.
I will shortly advise members of the revised date for Commodore’s Day, as I had to postpone it due to attending the ITCA Topper Nationals with Abbey. It would be great to see you there for some fun, watch this space for new date.
Following the finish of a long week at the Club, it was an early start down to Weymouth & Portland sailing Academy where my daughter Abbey represented HSC in the ITCA Topper Nationals, with myself on duty all week on the Pin End / Finish Boat. The sailors & course staff were on the water for up to 6 hours a day, with temperatures +30 degrees each day.
I was proud as Dad & Commodore of HSC, of how well Abbey did, in qualifiers & the National final, where in Silver fleet she came 26th, she was 21st but all races each day could not take place due to lack of wind. Well done to Abbey & all other sailors - it was a great but hard week.
On Friday I attended my son William’s Sovereigns Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy, where he became an Army Officer - now First Lieutenant in the 1st Rifles, it doesn’t seem long ago he started his training with the Training Centre. William would like to thank all who wished him well in his success.
I would like to hear from members if they would like the End of Season to revert to an old tradition of a Ball or Dinner Dance, it would need to be well attended for it to take place. Email or speak to me.
That’s all for now
Take care, keep safe & see you soon.
Will – Commodore HSC
commodore@horning-sailing.club
Rear Commodore’s 8 Knot
This Saturday we are back on schedule with our work parties as listed in the White Book. We need to do some gardening (weeding and grass cutting) and some of you may have noticed a wonky bit of staging around the front of the Training Centre shed. This may require some basic carpentry skills to put some sound wood in place. There will also be a requirement for a small team to cross the river to cut grass around the pens and moorings. I noticed yesterday that we still have one of the barbeques that needs cleaning, so that is going to take some soap and scrubbing. Enough work to keep several people occupied for a morning, so please come and help if you can, the weather forecast is looking good.
Peter – Rear Commodore HSC
Rear-commodore@horning-sailing.club
President’s Day in Horning Week
We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made President’s Day so enjoyable for us both. We had so many offers of help from so many different people which made the day go so smoothly and allowed us the privilege of socialising. The day would not be possible without the support of all of those who contributed, attended or supported this in some way, and even the weather supported us!
We are very grateful for all of this support and help and would just like to say thank you once again.
Best Wishes
Alastair and Karen Fields
HSC 200 Club
The results of the July draw are on the notice board in the Clubhouse. If you would like to join the 200 Club the new application forms are on the notice board on the back wall of the Clubhouse.
Any queries? I can be contacted on 01603 466535 or email me at joan324butcher@btinternet.com. Alternatively you can speak to Will.
Oops! As you may have realised, the 200 Club AGM did not happen last Sunday. I assumed that sailing would finish around 4.30pm, but as the last race did not happen sailing finished much earlier than I had expected and just about everyone had left by the time I arrived at the Clubhouse. So going forward I need to allow for such things to happen.
I have rearranged our 200 Club AGM for Sunday 11th September. The meeting will be after the end of sailing, which can be from 3.30 pm onwards.
Joan Butcher
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See you soon,
Holly