Loch Earn Sailing Club Breeze magazine/newsletter

The first fling is now passed and we are well on our way to preparing for the Brown Cup. Early indications from the entries received are that we are going to have an excellent turnout for the new format of two day coaching camp followed up on the Monday with the Brown Cup. Work is progressing well with the completion of upstairs and we should be in good shape for mid June.

With the upstairs nearing completion there is still the need to clear this area and have it free for use. To help with this can we request that members identify their personal items that have been stored up there and move them out of this area to leave it free for use. To help members with storage the Committee have agreed to replace the old green container with a new one. This will then provide a secure location for those who wish to leave sails at the club.

On a personal note I would like to offer a big thanks to Agnes Murray and her team of helpers for all of the hard work that has been ongoing during the winter to have us ready for sailing this year. The work on the trailer park is now complete and this now provides an area for the parking of trailers and indeed cars as we get busier over the coming months. It is very encouraging to see just how quickly this space has filled up already with trailers of members eager to get onto the water.

With the hard work behind us we can now look forward to a busy season on and off the water!

Well the Season is underway and we have had a fantastic start. The April series saw 6 races sailed with 17 competitors taking part.

1st Graham McCubbin Laser Radial 12 points.
2nd Andy McKeown Laser Radial 24 points.
3rd Paul Seamark Laser 25 points.

A big thank you to the Laser fleet for getting the sailing started early again this year. Martin Brown is also worthy of a mention as he has developed a great spreadsheet and is compiling the race results this year.

The First Fling had a 28 boat entry which considering very strong winds on the Saturday and the fuel crisis was a good turnout with really exciting sailing in the Westerly force 6-7 on Saturday. Our thanks go to Craig Moffett, who once again was Race Officer and to Neil, Merrick & Eamon who ran the rescue Boats. Jim Melville did an excellent job catering over the two days.

Centreboards: 9 entries
1st Europe 3 Gordon McGeorge
2nd Enterprise 22112 Charles Morrish and Alison
3rd Blaze 521 Mervin Wright

Laser: 7 entries
1st 171858 Ewan Paterson
2nd 173552 (Radial) Graham McCubbin
3rd 185613 Martin Brown

Keel Boats: 6 entries
1st Flying Fifteen 3831 Bobby Salmond and Pim
2nd First 21 9789T Alistair Campbell and Richard Marshall
3rd Ruffian 23 602 John McDonald and Agnes Murray

Tasar: 6 entries
1st 2803 Colin Tait and Calum
=2nd 1266 Graham Busby and Duncan
=2nd 2636 Kevan Gibb and Calum
4th 2503 Cammy Murray and Martin Marshall

This leads me on to the subject of running events. We rely heavily on volunteers to run these events and of late it has been the same old faces. We badly need some help and with this in mind, I will be putting up a form for the Final Fling on the notice board where we will be looking for the following positions to be filled.

This is the minimum required to run the Final Fling so please let’s have some volunteers or this event will revert back to a club members with guests as in recent years.

The Brown Cup is at the end of May and as I mentioned in the last issue we are running a training weekend prior to the Brown Cup on the Monday. Unfortunately after 4 years of sponsorship Skandia have changed their sponsorship portfolio and have have pulled out of this year’s event. This was no reflection on the club or the event but just down to a change in personnel.

We have rallied quickly and I am pleased to say that Subsea 7 and www.gforcesailing.com have provided some sponsorship towards this year’s event. We are actively pursuing sponsorship links for both this year and 2009.

I look forward to seeing you all on the water for yet another busy year at the club.

Training Week

This year our training week is 7th to 11th July (the first full week of July) and preparations are well underway. As you may be aware the application forms were available from the 1st of May and the places are filling quickly.

The plan this year is to run sailing during the day and in the evening we will be running powerboat and first aid courses. The sailing courses are available for anyone over the age of 8 and under the age of a very old person. The powerboat and first aid courses are open to any one over 16.

As during training week we are promoting good practices so I would be obliged if all members going on the jetties and afloat would ensure a buoyancy aid was worn. Also to improve the site security and safety can we make sure the gate is closed at all times, (except when passing through it!).

On the Wednesday evening we will also be having our BBQ, if anyone wishes to join us please let us know on or before Monday 7th July.

Future Plans

There is a plan to do a junior Powerboat course if there is a demand but that will be later in the year. If anyone is interested then drop me an e-mail.

…STOP PRESS…
LESC WILL be running Day Skipper and/or Yachtmaster theory courses during the off season. This is facilitated by Gordon McGeorge who has recently qualified as a yachtmaster instructor. Well done Gordon and watch this space for more details.

Many thanks go to Jim Melville for the hard work and long hours that he put in at the First Fling. His catering skills were much appreciated and going by the favourable comments about the food he will be a hard act to follow!!

Thanks also go to all those who gave up their time to come along to help at the recent Club Work Parties – you know who you are, and we couldn’t have done it without you.

Come along and join in the fun at Loch Earn Sailing Club’s Family Week – put the date in your diary now so you don’t miss out!

Last year the Pirates, armed with water bombs and water guns, took on the LESC Naval fleet and everyone was made to walk the plank! There was lots of sailing, singing in the Clubhouse, face painting, fishing, a treasure hunt, a trip to the jazz night for the adults and other stuff, and the week was rounded off with a special birthday party.

Who knows what will happen this year … ideas for new adventures gratefully received too…


(L) Some families presented their flags last year, and......................	(R) Yo ho me hearties, it's Keiran!

Membership Matters

Once again a big thank you is due to all members who have been so prompt and accurate with their subscription payments so far this season.

Those of you who have not yet paid and wish to continue their membership this year should be aware that this is a final reminder that all payments must be received by 1st June 2008. After that date, a list of the people who have not been in contact will be placed on the club notice board.

Margaret McDonald
Hon. Secretary

First Junior on the water 2008

Reminders

PLEASE TAKE CARE
There is a 5 mph restriction throughout the club grounds – there are many children of all ages playing on foot and on bikes – PLEASE WATCH YOUR SPEED!!!!!!

BINS
Can we please have your co-operation in keeping the clubhouse and grounds tidy. If the bins around the clubhouse are full\overflowing, there are big green bins at the gate for your rubbish and it would be even more helpful if you could remove the full black sacks and put them in the green bin. There are empty rubbish sacks in the kitchen.

WATER\ENERGY
We rely on parents to supervise their children when they use the club showers and toilets.

SECURITY
We rely on club members to ensure that everything is locked up and that lights etc. are switched off if they are going to be the last to leave. Please also keep the main gate shut (not necessarily locked if there are members on site) as this helps to deter unwanted visitors who “drop” in to have a look around and use our toilets. There are public toilets at the village and non-members should be re-directed there every time.

Please do not give the new gate lock number to non-members.

THE KITCHEN FRIDGE
Once again we have to remind members and their children to respect the property of those who store their food and drink in the club fridges. There have been thefts again, which is deeply regrettable in a club.

May 2008 Issue