Weekly Club News - 3rd October 2023
Published 12:25 on 3 Oct 2023
When Do We Have To Wear Wetsuits?
Many of us have noticed the recent cooler temperatures, and more unsettled weather. This weekend one of the questions our team were asked was, "When do we have to wear a wetsuit/drysuit?" The answer is from 1st November all users of dinghies, kayaks, canoes, windsurfers, paddleboards and wings must wear a minimum of a wetsuit or drysuit plus a buoyancy aid. This rule is in effect every year from 1st November to 31st March.
While that is the rule we strongly advise members to consider whether wetsuits/drysuits are required at this time of year, and this decision should include considerations such as: your personal limitations, the prevailing weather on the day, the likelihood of you entering the water and the water temperature.
Twisted Tube and Firefly Open Meeting!
Our annual Firefly weekend is just over 1 month away! Two days of action packed Firefly sailing including the Twisted Tube Random Pairs Team Racing on the Saturday and Firefly Open Meeting on the Sunday!
Club boats are available to hire (2 are already booked) and entries are filling up fast.
Twisted Tube - 4th November
Firefly Open Meeting - 5th November
Invasive Species!
You may have noticed the new sign at the southern entrance to the club regarding the presence of invasive species in the lake! The prevalent form of weed in the lake is an invasive species, and crayfish have now been identified in several other lakes with the Blashford area.
Spinnaker Sailing Club is working with Wessex Water, Natural England and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to manage this situation including our ongoing weed removal works, and the planning of a new washdown station for craft leaving the site.
To support us in this work can we please ask all users of Spinnaker Sailing Club to wash all craft before removing them from the site, this will prevent any invasive species being transferred from our lake to other sites, even a small piece of weed on your trolley could pose a threat to another ecosystem! Likewise if you have taken your dinghy, windsurfer, paddleboard or kayak to another location, please wash it there before you leave the site you have visited!
Club Boat Hire - Winter Hours
As we approach the winter the times our club dinghies, kayaks and paddleboards are available to hire will reduce.
In October hire will be available 7 days a week, but we may have to finish hiring craft earlier than 5pm as the evenings become darker.
Through November and December club equipment will be available to hire 5 days a week, Sunday to Thursday, from 9am to 4pm. No club equipment will be available to hire from 22nd December to 2nd January.
In January, February and March equipment will be available to hire Monday to Thursday each week, as well as on Sundays when club racing is running.
From 1st April 2024 hire will return to 7-days a week 9am to 5pm.
Good Luck Team Byte!
This weekend Duncan and Kirsten Glen will be competing in the Endeavour Trophy at the Royal Corinthian yacht Club! For those of you who haven't heard of this event before it is an invitation-only event for national champions in recognised classes. Following Duncan's victory at the Byte National Championships this year he has been invited for the second year in a row, this year with his daughter Kirsten crewing for him. Racing is in RS 200s (a boat Duncan regularly races at Parkstone Yacht Club).
Good luck!
Last updated 09:41 on 20 December 2023
