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NewssheetMarch 2006 |
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NewssheetMarch 2006 |
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I am privileged to have been elected Commodore of one of the best Sailing Clubs in the country and feel very optimistic about the future.
The upstairs of the club has been refurbished and we are about to start on the downstairs area, so in the next few months, the clubhouse will look better than it ever has. The thanks of the entire membership must go to all who have helped or are about to help.
In order to take Carrickfergus Sailing Club even further, we need all of the membership to pull in the same direction for the benefit of the Club, by using the facilities (bar & catering), supporting Club functions, helping out where required, by promoting the Club to friends and by making sure that everyone who should be a member actually is (crew etc.).
There is much work to be done in the coming months - both on and off the water (clubhouse, battery, committee boats, safety boats etc.), so if anyone can help out in any way,or if you know of someone who would like to join to become involved in any of the activities, please contact a member of the Committee.
I wish you all the best and fair winds for the season ahead and dont forget about the fitting out dinner on 1st April.
Drew McClenaghan
By now you will be thinking of the season ahead and planning your sailing activities. Again this year there is a comprehensive programme of events planned both in the club and throughout the lough. Many of you will be also be planning events further afield.
This was Carrick’s second year of chairing the Belfast Lough Yachting Conference. This body has representatives from all of the nine clubs in and around Belfast Lough and its main roles are to co-ordinate club regattas and to update boat lists for the clubs. The conference programme booklets are being prepared at present and should be available in the club shortly.
The regatta dates are:
3rd June – County Antrim Boat Club (Whitehead)
17th June – Cockle Island Boat Club
24th June – Royal Ulster Yacht Club
1st July – Holywood Yacht Club
29th/30th July – East Antrim Boat Club (Larne)
5th August - Ballyholme Yacht Club
10th August – Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
19th August – Carrickfergus Sailing Club
26th August – Donaghadee Sailing Club
The format for all regattas has become a traditional part of boating life in Belfast Lough. All visitors from other Lough clubs to the hosting Club, whether they are racing or not, are welcome to afternoon tea and prizegiving at the conclusion of the days events.
So, come along bring you guests and have a great day out.
The Club sailing programme for 2006 is:
Sun 2 April – Sun 30 April - Spring Series
Tue 2 May – Tue 4 July - Tuesday Series
Thur 4 May – Thu 6 July - Thursday Series
Sat 13 May – Sun 14 May - Flying Fifteen Northern Championships
Sat 20 May – Sun 21 May - Mid Lough Open
Sat 3 June – Sun 4 June – Ruffian Northern Ireland Championships
Fri 7 July – Sun 9 July – J24 Irish National Championships
Tue 25 July – Thur 31 August - Late Series
Sun 13 August – Menagerie Race
Saturday 19 August - Carrickfergus Regatta
Sat 19 Aug – Sun 20 Aug – Castle Cup
Sat 26 Aug – Sun 27 Aug – Glenarm Weekend
Sat 2 Sept – Sun 3 Sept – Lipton Cup
Tue 5 Sept – Ladies Race
Sun 10 Sept – Sun 22 Oct – Autumn Series
Sun 6 Nov – Sun 11 Dec – Frosty Series
Due to the lack of numbers in some classes we used combined starts last season i.e. IRC, PY and Whitesail starting together; Flying Fifteen and Squibs starting together five minutes later; and Ruffians starting a further five minutes later. This worked well and created interesting starts and shortened the starting sequence and gave boats longer on the water.
We propose to use the combined start sequences again this year.
Volunteers are required to help out on the Committee boat and Safety boats for the special events throughout the year. If you wish to help please contact Jim Shields or Rory Moore. If we can get sufficient interest we will organize a Race Officers Training Course in the club.
It is club policy that all crew members on boats participating in the Summer Points Series must be members of Carrickfergus Sailing Club.
The reasons for requiring “active” participants to join are simple. Firstly, the “Points Series” is a series of races organized by the club for the enjoyment of it’s members. Entry to the races is free, but there are associated costs e.g.prizes, fuel etc which are borne by the general club membership. Secondly, the club is continually trying to improve club facilities and boating activities for the benefit of everyone and this cannot be done unless all “active” sailors contribute.
The club committee would ask owners/skippers to ensure that all regular crew are fully paid up members of CSC. New participants are warmly welcomed and positively encouraged however if they wish to continue with regular racing they will be required to join the club.
Jim Shields
Charges for 2006 are only 66p/sq.ft./year, using the maximum rectangled area used.
Remember to protect adjacent boats when working on your own as there is an INSURANCE claim pending, regarding carry over from one boat to another.
All boats require insurance cover to use this storage facility.
Have you checked your guard rail and fittings lately ? Last autumn one helm did a back flip when a lashing failed. Very wet and very cold !!!
One lifejacket cylinder unscrewed completely and 4 others required to be tightened.
Another one was found to be corroded and although there is not a great volume of air there is a high pressure and these could explode. It could bust your bra -- but the gas is more likely to leak out unknowingly.
QUESTION Which side is the ‘ pull toggle ‘ on your lifejacket.
Top marks if you get it correct in two. Sam Penney
Friday 17th March - St Patricks’ Day
Bar Promotion – Irish Cocktail Hour 8 – 9.30pm!
Leap’n Leprechauns, Black Velvet and pints of Guinness – all £1.50
Music by RHYME & REASON from 10pm Late Licence
Cover Charge £2.00 per head + free Ballot Ticket
From the Dining Room – Bar Snacks usual + Linda’s Paddy’s Day Special
Meal for 2 + Bottle of Wine £26.00
Sunday 19th March Tsunami Thank You Roundup
Photographs and DVD from 3.00pm
Tuesday 21st March Brainstorming
See note below*
Thursday 23rd March The Peggy Bawn
Another interesting talk, about the tradition of boat building in Carrickfergus
and the restoration of the ‘Peggy Bawn’
Starting time 7.30pm
26th March Mothering Sunday
Sunday Lunch from 1300 – early booking recommended
Saturday 1st April Fitting Out Dinner
An evening to celebrate the approaching sailing season
Open to ALL members – yes ladies, that means you too!
5 Course Meal £17.50
After-Dinner Port and Guest Speaker, Bob Harper
05 April R. N. L. I. Meeting
Come along and see how you can help your favourite charity 7.30pm
Sunday 9th April Irish Boat Jumble
Bargains galore, boat gear, clothing, footwear etc. etc. etc.
There will be late licences on Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday with the usual craic
Free entry to Club members
www.boatjumbleassociation.co.uk
17th April Easter Monday Children’s Party
For Easter Bonnets and Easter Bunnies. Fancy Dress optional
Fun and games for the young and young at heart!
Egg rolling contest and Treasure Hunt - Starting 1500 - More details later.
29th April -Murder Mystery Evening - Details later
6th May - Wine & Cheese - Details later
20th May - May Ball - Details later
The Clubhouse is available for Members private functions. All bookings should be made by completing the appropriate form, available from the bar. All requests for functions must be passed by the Management Committee and there is a cover charge of £35, payable on receipt of confirmation of the booking. The applicant will be held responsible for any damage caused during an event and will be charged accordingly.
The Bar is now opening from 12.00 noon until 6.00pm on each Monday.
Tea, coffee and biscuits available.
Newspapers and board games.
And, of course, erudite conversation. J
Every Wednesday Evening
A very sociable evening
Have some fun learning to dance
Waltz, Quickstep, Cha Cha Cha, Jive etc.
Every Wednesday at 8.15pm
Couples only
Contact Linton or Amy 028 9037 0638
Every Thursday at 8.30 sharp
We have questions to suit all brains !
General Knowledege - Television - Music
Pictures - Current Affairs - Sport
Cinema - and much much more...
Only £1 per head. CASH PRIZES !
The development team has started to reorganise the ground floor area of the clubhouse. The office is being relocated and a dining room is being planned.
All members, social as well as sailing are invited to join the committee on Tuesday evening 21 March 2006 at 7.30pm in the clubhouse for a brainstorming session on development.
Come along and share your ideas. It could be a lively evening.
Bob Harper - Development Team.
In the near future the Management Committee will make a decision about the best way to manage the new gate control system. All paid up members should by now have received their cards.
In the meantime members of the travelling community have been seen in Carrickfergus on what was believed to be a reconnaissance. As a result the gates were immediately closed.
There are a few outstanding issues and these will be discussed by the Committee
I am building up an email list of members who are happy to have newssheets and other information in electronic form. So far about 80 members have signed up. I know that many of you are registered on the website but this will be a separate list. All messages will be sent out in what is called a Blind Copy so that your email address can not be seen by others. Please send me an email, with your name if your address does not identify you easily, to: - robert.logan@carrickfergussc.org
The plan is to provide wireless broadband access within the club. By default the terminals will just be cycling through a set of web pages; things like the current results from racing, posters for upcoming events, random pictures that have been taken over the years, current weather forecast, results from other sports that members follow. This cycle may be made more specific during sailing events to just be weather, results and pictures for the event in question. If anyone has any ideas for a page to include in this cycle please suggest them. The terminals will also be able to be used for normal internet access; i.e checking web based email, and general surfing. There will also be a server machine on the network to prevent inappropriate content being viewed.
On the wireless side of things, anyone with a wireless enable laptop or PDA will be able to use the network for internet access and appropriate security measures will be in place to prevent unauthorised access. Steve Atkinson
