NEWS !
RYA CLUB OF THE YEAR
Spinnaker Club were finalists in the RYA Dinghy Club of the Year Competition with the prize giving held at the Dinghy Show Alexandra Palace over the weekend of the 6th and 7th March. Many of you will know that the RYA Dinghy Show is the premier event held specifically for dinghies and their sailors. All major dinghy classes, associations and manufacturers are represented at the show together with the normal associated clothing companies and chandleries.
We were 1 of 5 finalists chosen by an RYA judging panel tasked with finding the most successful and deserving Club over the proceeding year. The Club believed it had a great opportunity to win following our strenuous efforts to increase community awareness, broaden our membership through the Open Day held over the May Bank Holiday Monday and by the extensive training courses run by our Training Manager Graham Stones.
The RYA were also impressed by the Club running successful and well supported Optimist and Topper groups as well as Spinnaker Pirates (an after school club for children), Club sailing on Monday nights and ladies sailing on Tuesday. Sailability like many of our associated groups have also contributed massively towards widening the appeal of sailing and have significantly increased participation in all sorts of areas throughout the Club.
As part of the celebrations of being nominated we were invited to the Prize Giving lunch hosted by the RYA at Alexandra Palace. We were fortunate enough to be sitting on the table with Sarah Treseder, the RYA’s new Chief Executive, as well as Andy Hooper the Regional Development Officer and Mike Wigley the RYA Honorary Treasurer.
At 4.30pm RYA mounted plaques were awarded to the 5 finalists on the main stage. Unfortunately Spinnaker did not win the overall prize but listening to the achievements of the other finalists it was clear that competition for the main prize was very strong. The Club can be very proud of its achievements and that we were selected in the final 5 out of the whole country.
My thanks are extended to all the Club’s Committees and Members who have contributed towards the success of the Club during the preceding year. I am positive that we will build on this success and hopefully next year we may even achieve our ultimate aim of being ‘Dinghy Club of the Year’.
Peter May
Commodore
New Racing Rules
Some information on the new racing rules is available here for download.
Dogs at Spinnaker
Rule 15 of the Clubs rules and regulations is quite clear and concise. It states that “All dogs must be on a lead and under control at all times on the club premises. Dogs, except assistance dogs, are not permitted under any circumstances in the area bounded by the slipways adjacent to the clubhouse, the waterfront in front of the clubhouse and the perimeter fence behind the clubhouse. Clearing of any dog fouling is the controlling member’s responsibility.”
This rule applies at all times and like all club rules if breached could result in disciplinary measures been taken against offending members. This may seem draconian but like all the Club rules is intended for the safety of all the members of Spinnaker Club.
H J Morris
Club Commodore.
Supervision of Juniors at Spinnaker Club
I am writing to you all as the Main Committee and I feel it is very important that we protect the safety of all members, particularly the youngest ones.
Please may I remind you that children below the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult member of the Club at all times. The degree of supervision needed will vary from child to child. It may be appropriate for an older child to be supervised by an adult out sailing on the lake, but for younger children much closer supervision will be needed. At some training events the organiser will assume responsibility, but unless this is explicitly stated you must assume responsibility. In particular it should be noted that for Sunday morning Oppy/Topper Coaching children DO require adult supervision.
May I also remind you that our rules clearly state that buoyancy aids must be worn on the pontoons and in the vicinity of the water at all times by juniors. I would suggest that this is a sensible precaution for adults as well.
I hope that this letter doesn’t come across as another nag, but it must be remembered that all water sports are potentially dangerous. No-one wants to have a tragedy at the lake.
Please have a great summer enjoying and improving your sailing at Spinnaker Club.
Yours sincerely
HJ Morris
Commodore Spinnaker Club
The Galley
The galley may be used by members outside of when any catering is arranged, however recently some members have been abusing this privilege and leaving the galley in a very messy state. This means that when the caterers arrive they have to spend ages cleaning the galley before they can get on and serve any food. Please be reminded that if you use any equipment in the galley that you wash up after yourselves and put everything away where you found it. This also includes bring in any mugs which have been used outside the club.
Litter
We have more than enough rubbish bins in and around the club house, please ensure that your litter makes it into one of them.
Security
It is everyone’s responsibly to ensure that the club house is secure when you leave. The cleaners arrived this morning to find that the front door or the club house was still wedged open from yesterday. This is unacceptable. Please ensure that you secure the club house and gates if you are the last to leave. If you are unsure if you are the last, lock them anyway.
Boat hire
This is an honesty system which some members have been abusing lately. Please remember that if you hire a club boat you must pay the hire charge. We don’t charge a lot for the hire; however this money goes towards the upkeep and maintenance of the boats. Without it there would not be any club boats for you to hire.
