Subscribe to the Calendar

You can now subscribe to the events calendar easily by clicking on the link in the Events menu on the website. This will then allow you to save an ics file to your device. You can then import this to your calendar app and you will see all the SBSC events in your calendar. It will also update if there are any changes to the calendar.

First Aid Course

There is a first aid course scheduled for Tuesday, April 2nd. There are 12 places, available to all members but club instructors will be given first priority. The cost is £30 each and instructors costs will be reimbursed. To sign up please go to webcollect where it is listed as a course. Franscesca, our bookings manager will then sign you on. If you get any difficulties please contact her at training@suttonbinghamsc.net

Sailing Arrangements over the Christmas Holidays

24th Dec Christmas Eve
No Sailing
26th Dec Boxing Day
COLD TURKEY RACE
One race starting 11.30, prizes for best decorated boat, helm, crew etc.
Volunteers required for OODs and Race Officer. Mince Pies, nibbles, soft drinks available.
31st Dec New Year’s Eve.
Sailing planned however we will need OODs and RO.
As most of the membership have carried out their duties, volunteers are required.
7th January, 2024
If you are rejoining for another year sailing at Sutton Bingham the Dutyman roster is now available for you to put your name down. We have an RO for the 7th. OODs and Galley required.
May I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2024.
Nigel Leveridge
Commodore

RNLI Pursuit & Roger’s Race

Last Sunday…yeah sorry it’s taken a while, but it was windy and the body still aches and all that.

In the morning there was a gentle F2-3 and blazing sunshine greeting the competitors. While the clouds started to form, the windy slowly built to a good F3-4 for the start of the PY based race. The wind increased even more throughout to gusting F5 and it was these conditions that saw the ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) of Matt West harry the leading pack of Andrew Frost (Aero 7), Chris Jones (Aero 7), Rich Cumberbatch (Phantom) & Ian Jay (K1). While the leaders fought amongst themselves Matt kept the speed on and despite the wind easing for the last lap was still close enough to take the trophy. Frostie was 2nd from a fast (?) charging Ian who overtook Chris on PY by 2 seconds. Fair to say he was lucky because if the wind had stayed up Chris would have got a deserved 3rd, but it was not to be.

The RNLI pursuit started early for Olly Wilson in his ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7) who made the most of the clear wind he doesn’t normally get when starting in a PY race with everyone else on the line. Last to go was Rich in the Phantom and he was someone else who enjoyed not having other boats around him off the start. Ian in the K1 started just 1 minute ahead of the Aeros and benefited from Frostie getting it all wrong with a gust tipping him in on the start. Other than Frostie, the other Aero’s never really closed in on Ian who slowly pulled in the boats ahead. With about 20 mins to go Ian was on Howard Frears (Streaker) transom to only drop the tiller extension at the gybe at number 1 and do a pirouette, safe to say the keel on the K1 probably stopping him from swimming. It didn’t hold him up for too long overtaking Howard in a massive gust just before number 2. With one lap to go Frostie had already overtaken the remaining boats and was closing in on Ian, leading to the K1 starting to cover tack the faster Aero. A slight gust pulled Ian away from Frostie coming away from number 8 and it was this that made the difference as the boats downwind were very similar in pace. There was 1/4 of a beat upwind left with Ian matching Frostie tack for tack before the finishing signal ended it, just in Ian’s favour. As a pursuit should, the finishers were within a whisker of each other.

A huge thanks to Pat Jones running the races aided by James Harcourt, Sandy Lavelle & Steve Joyce running the safety boats and Hugh Tetlow providing the refreshments.

Ian Jay (K1) & Andrew Frost (Aero) (photo by Wendy Jackson)
Olly Wilson & Howard Frear (photo by Wendy Jackson)
Arty shot (photo by Wendy Jackson)

This is a reminder about the Club’s Annual Social & Prize-giving event, which is being held at the George Reynold’s Centre in Crewkerne on Friday, 10 November from 7.00 pm. This is an attractive and modern facility, with ample free parking including the Lidl and Waitrose car parks, both of which are only two minutes’ walk from the venue.

The choice of food is:

– chilli con carne, or chicken casserole, or

– vegetable & lentil cottage pie (vegetarian- or vegan if requested)

all served with crusty bread and green salad;

This will be followed by chilled lemon flan, or peach and pineapple crumble (vegetarian).

Soft drinks will be provided, but please bring your own alcoholic drink, if that is your preference.

Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for young people under 18. You can pay in advance or on the night. Please let me (scurs@btinternet.com) or Merv (mervynclark10@gmail.com) know if you want tickets and your choice of food.

I hope you will support the Club at this event and look forward to meeting you there.

Best wishes

Nigel Leveridge

Commodore

Summers over….officially

Sunday was the end of the Summer Racing Series and  Thursday was the last of this year’s Evening sailing series.  Thanks to everyone who took their turn to Race Officer and carry out OOD duties.

Due to our reduced membership we no longer have sufficient members to be OODs on Saturdays until next May (your Committee will decide whether we have enough members  to cover April when we know how many have renewed).  
Members may still sail on a Saturday but you will have to bring your own safety boat crew so you could join up with friends for the day.
Sundays will still be open for casual sailing and racing.  For those you who still haven’t done your required number of duties, please see the Dutyman program on the website and volunteer.  I note several members who the Committee allocated duties have not confirmed their duty which they should do as soon as possible.  You will be receiving automatic reminders by email.