Arun Yacht Club Weekly Briefing 19 September 2018 From the Commodore, Phil Turnbull Last weekend we had a fantastic turn-out from AYC and AYAC for the Annual Bart's Bash, the weather was perfect and the Race Officer did a superb job of setting the course for both cruisers and dinghies to have a great race. From the Rear Commodore, Alistair Tyrrell Bart's Bash on Saturday was a great success for the fifth year, we had a good fleet of almost 30 boats at sea including our friends from AYAC. Conditions were great for the cruisers though maybe a little challenging for the dinghies. What a great day it was. Thanks to Jack and Paisley for organising the event, to the safety team from both clubs, and all the sailors who took part in such good spirits. More detail including our informal results and medal winners, and a link to the Bart's Bash official leader board, can be seen on the Bart's Bash website. There's a good set of photos on Facebook in the members' area. This is all for charity so do go online to www.bartsbash.com and donate if you haven't already! On Sunday a much lower turnout of just three dinghies went to sea for the first of the Shelley Salver Series... maybe everyone was tired from Saturday? On Thursday 20 September we have a dinghy pen working party from around 5.00 p.m. or earlier if you can get here. If you have a dinghy in the pen it's probably got grass and weeds growing under or around or through it so do come down and move it out so you can clear your space. Some helpful volunteer members have been keeping the central areas mowed but we haven't had the resources to pull each individual boat out this year so your space will need your attention! Notwithstanding the weather forecast, if conditions are suitable, looking ahead this weekend on Saturday we have the Black Rabbit Run up the river to Arundel and beyond. This is an annual event and is usually one of the best days of the year. We rarely benefit from the right tidal conditions which is why the race is a bit later in the calendar than usual. To take part in your dinghy you must be at the club, ready and afloat by 10.00 a.m. with your mast down; we can't be late or we will miss the tide window! We've invited AYAC people to join us so please make them feel welcome if you see them. The club's RIBs will tow all the dinghies upriver to Arundel just above the northernmost road bridge and we'll all end up on the bank somewhere north of the riverside tea room. After rigging the dinghies there will be a race by sail up the river ending up at the Black Rabbit pub around lunchtime, we'll have about an hour there for refreshment then we will form up again and race back down to Arundel. After the race as the tide ebbs ever faster we will de-mast the dinghies on the riverbank, form up into a tow and shoot back down the river to the clubhouse. Families and other spectators are welcome to meet the boats near the tea room probably around 11.00 a.m. or at the pub at lunchtime!
On Sunday the cruisers have a Len Nolan Series handicap race in the morning, with a race start at 10.30 p.m. sailors will be back in time for Sunday lunch so why not give it a go if you have a cruiser or ask around for a crewing place if you haven't! Galley This week our bar and galley will be open as usual on Tuesday lunchtime, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for lunch and dinner, and for Sunday lunch so pop down and have a drink on the terrace while the sun goes down and try a bite from our menu. On Friday the club's Happy Hour runs from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. and our first Quiz night with Quiz Master David Gates will follow, so come on, put a team together - the sign-up sheet is in the club house. Our full menu will be available that evening with last food orders at 8.45 p.m. Sunday Roast this week is a huge leg of pork with all the trimmings so booking is highly recommended. Our Sunday lunch is very popular so please make sure that you reserve your table with Sarah in the office on 01903 716016. Annual General Meeting Notice of the 63rd Annual General Meeting of Arun Yacht Club has now been sent by email, and by post to those who do not have email addresses. This notice has also been pinned to the notice board in the clubhouse together with a supply of forms on which you can nominate members of the Management Committee and others. Please ensure these are completed and returned to the Secretary by Friday 19 October 2018. Tall Ships Youth Trust Meeting at Arun Yacht Club on Thursday 27 September at 7.00 p.m. The meeting will be led by Mark Whipple, one of the Trustees of the Trust. Most AYC members will be aware of the work of the Trust over the last 50 or so years and its ships, most notably the Sir Winston Churchill, Malcolm Miller, Prince William and Stavros Niarchos not forgetting the four 72 foot ex-bt round the world yachts that are currently in commission. The primary purpose of the meeting is to update supporters of the Trust about its work and its plans for the future - including a forthcoming appeal for a new tall ship. Whilst existing local supporters have been invited to the meeting it is open to any member of the Club who may wish to attend and find out about the current work of the trust and the excellent work it does with (often disadvantaged) youth. Needless to say, Cadets will be very welcome to attend. Help wanted by Arun Shipyard It would appear that three youths were up to no good in the Arun Shipyard earlier this month. It would be nice to identify them. Although they are all wearing crash helmets as is pointed out one of them is fairly distinctive and somebody may know him. The video took some time to download on my system so please check with Sarah in the office you want to check the footage out. If you feel able to help identify any of these youths I am sure Mr Boyce would be most grateful. Please respond directly to him if you can assist.
Lost and found Prescription sunglasses Please look out for a pair of prescription sunglasses which have been left in the clubhouse. If you have inadvertently picked them up please can you drop them back to the Secretary. Laptop and case Contact the office on 01903 716016 if you have mislaid your laptop in a blue Carlton International laptop case. Sarah has been holding it for over a week now! Dates for your Diaries Saturday 22 September After the Up and Down River Race, it's Evie Penberthy's birthday party from 5.30 p.m. until 7.30 p.m.. Following at 8.00 p.m. until late is Linda's party, with DJ Des and a buffet. All are welcome. Friday 28 September Come to the club for the Members' Meeting to find out what the Management Committee and I have been doing since we last met at the end of June. Saturday 20 October There's a slight change to the programme for this Trafalgar Weekender. There will be four races spread over both Saturday and Sunday with our Trafalgar Banquet on the Saturday night with Nelsonian dishes and lashings of port! Tickets are now on sale at the bar at just 22 each. Saturday 27 October Littlehampton Town will be holding its Annual Bonfire and Fireworks. Come and watch the display from the clubhouse over supper. Saturday 10 November Arun Yacht Club will be hosting its own Annual Firework Party. Be there for 6.00 p.m. for the best display on the river. Saturday 17 November The Commodore cordially invites you to Arun Yacht Club's Annual Dinner Dance. New frocks and tuxedos at the ready please! Sunday 18 November Our 63rd Annual General Meeting of Arun Yacht Club will be held in the clubhouse starting at 3.00 p.m. Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 December The Cadetmas Christmas dinner and Christmas dinghy and cruiser prize-giving. Monday 31 December We are having a New Year's Eve party too, with great food and drink, music and dancing to bring in 2019. More information will be available nearer the time. Christmas is coming This year Arun yacht Club is offering Christmas Lunches and Dinners for corporate and noncorporate celebrations throughout December. Please contact the Secretary for full details of our Christmas Menu.
Your club needs you! We're approaching 400 members now so the club is buzzing with activity and in good financial shape. However, it only works because a small number of volunteers put time into running the place. I need more of you to be involved please. Pretty much everything that needs doing at the club is reliant on a member volunteer to do it. As a management team we will discuss this further with the membership at the AGM in November but now would be a good time for volunteers to step forward. Please contact Sarah in the office if you would like to join in! We're all unpaid and do this in our own time but it is fun and satisfying. In particular I need: More directors for the management committee I have five elected members of which only two are standing for re-election and three co-opted at present. I need people with time they can give, and skills in a range of business orientated functions as you would expect from an organisation of this size. If you've been a club member for more than 2 years you are eligible to stand for election at the AGM and we'd love to have you on board. Note the 2 year membership requirement does not apply to any of the volunteer roles below. A project team As you will have seen from the strategy document, and can I remind you to give us your comments on the document which you can view on our website. We have a number of small to medium scale projects coming up, such as clubhouse improvement and expansion, landscaping on the shoreside, and possible expansion and repair of wooden structures on the river. Members with planning, engineering or building skills are needed to form a team to make these things happen. I am not asking you to do the building just to effectively coordinate as professionals A social committee Currently all the social events in the clubhouse are organised by the Commodore and I am busy with my own full-time day job as well as my commodore responsibilities. Members seem to like our events programme but this can only be delivered if people help, by managing the events diary, planning and ordering the catering supplies, running the house duty rota, even basic things like arranging the furniture and tidying up afterwards. Basically, I need some help so come on volunteer! A sailing committee They organise the regular club sailing calendar, the duty teams, the special sailing events such as regattas, administration of the trophies, maintenance of the club's motor vessels, the marks and ground tackle, the dinghy pen layout, everything we do on the water apart from the training programme. A training committee to coordinate the training offer at the club. A cruiser committee to pull together the 2019 club cruising programme, work with the cruiser owners to see where they'd like to go, and organise the berthing and restaurant bookings at the destination port(s). A berth holders' group to look after and make small repairs to the pontoons, the power and water connections, to organise major repairs when needed, and keep the woodwork clean and in good order - all in support of the berthing master (who's also an unpaid volunteer).
Once again, if you want this club to continue to be a success and to be fun and busy, please do step forward and volunteer to do what needs to be done! Arun yacht Club and I need you! Thank you and have a great weekend. From the Training Director, Mark Nicholls Powerboat Level 2 Course - 27-28 October 2018 180 for members This two-day entry level course provides the skills and background knowledge needed to drive a powerboat and is the basis of the international Certificate of Competence. It focuses on low speed close quarters handling, man overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at planing speed, and collision regulations (there's no getting in the water for this course!) From the Club Secretary, Sarah Mole The Office Please note that I will be out of the office on Friday 21 September. Crane-out - Saturday 24 November 2018 There are two spaces left on the crane-out list before the reserve list is set up! If you are intending to have your boat pulled out of the water for the winter, please add your name to the list ASAP, or give me a call in the office (01903 716016) and I'll happily add your name. Pilates Janet Greenfield will be holding her usual Pilates class on Friday in the clubhouse starting at 10.00 a.m. Just 5 per session. Ladies' Book Club The next get-together will be on Wednesday 3 October at Sue's in Rustington. Please contact Jenny at jennyl7827@gmail.com beforehand if you'd like more information. The club is currently reading 'The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared' by Jonas Jonassen.