by Simon Hinnigan

On March the 18^th we heard the sad news that Don Cannon had passed away.  Without Don we may not have had Bowmoor SC.  John has kindly written a brief account of the enormous legacy that Don left for every member of Bowmoor SC.  Perri, Don’s daughter, has let us know funeral arrangements for April 8^th at 11am, please let John or me know if you are planning to attend so that we can give Perri a sense of numbers.  Details are on the Bowmoor Sailing Facebook.

Tom Whittingham is supporting a charity creating emergency stretchers for Ukraine, details below.

This weekend we'll be hosting the Laser and Byte Open on Saturday 23rd, racing will start around midday after which we'll restrict access to the racing area.

Finally, a reminder not to drive on the grass, its far too wet.  Members have got stuck this year, certainly not the first but hopefully the last.  We’re reposting John’s entertaining efforts to rescue one member with a tail of two car’s, one Land Rover and the tractor in February 2016. The moral of his story is perfect:

• Bowmoor members really are the nicest and friendliest bunch of people that you are likely to meet.
• Do not under any circumstances drive a vehicle into the dinghy park until the ground is much, much drier…  You have been warned.

See you at the club!

In November 2008, BBC TV West cameras came to Bowmoor Sailing Club, to film and interview Club President, Don Cannon upon his nomination for the BBC ‘Unsung Hero 2008 Award’.  More from John below.

From John Banbrook

It is with deep sadness that we learned yesterday that Don Cannon has passed away.  His daughter, Perri, posted a moving tribute on the Bowmoor FaceBook page and there are many lovely comments from Bowmoor members past and present.  Don quite simply was the Godfather of Bowmoor and there may not even have been a club without his determination, leadership and persuasive skills.  Back in 1975, he scrambled through the hedge off the Dudgrove lane with a colleague to be confronted by a very large stretch of water.  At that time, Don was a member of Horcott Sailing Club, situated on a small lake near Fairford and desperate for a larger lake to be able to grow the club.  After negotiations with the owner, The Coln Gravel Company, a deal was struck and Horcott SC moved to the new Bowmoor lake on a long lease together with Claydon Pike Sailing Club and the RAF Sailing Club from Somerford Keynes; the RAF contributing a temporary clubhouse which had a bar (sound familiar?).  A little while later Keynes Park Sailing Club also merged and Bowmoor Sailing Club was then fully established on the ‘old lake’.  Under Don’s leadership as Commodore, the Club thrived and grew.

Around 2005, Don was advised by our Landlords, then Hanson, that they were going to develop the land around Bowmoor lake. Don and his committee put a proposal to their Board that we vacated the lease on the old lake and moved across to a newly dug lake where we are now. The Board of Hanson agreed to this. They also agreed to transfer Freehold ownership both of the lake and land at no cost to the Club. The rest is now history and Don was pivotal in establishing the Club that we all know, love and enjoy today.

More than this, Don was a very capable and competitive sailor and never happier than when he was racing his Fireball and latterly RS400, blasting across the lake, spinnaker flying.  He was also immensely proud of the achievements of Bowmoor sailors through the years; for a small pond in the Cotswolds, we have certainly turned-out more than our fair share of National and European Champions in many classes.

Don’s achievements did not go unrecognised.  In 2006, he was recognised with a Community Award by the RYA for his commitment to sailing over many years and in 2008, he was presented with the BBC West Sports Award for Unsung Hero at the BBC Sports Personality Awards, receiving his prize from Olympian Tom Daley.

Past Commodore, Club President and quite simply an inspiration to generations of Bowmoor sailors.  We will continue to benefit from his legacy for many years to come – a job well done, a race he led from the gun.  Carpe Ventum – ‘Seize the Breeze’….

From Tom Whittingham

If in the course of a Spring clean or pre-season preparation you have old sails to get rid of, please donate them to a good cause.  We will collect up the sails and they will go to Ukraine where they will be turned into emergency stretchers.  Drop them off in the Clubhouse with a label stating 'For Ukraine'.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin!  Last Tuesday, I received an email from a kindly member who had taken a couple of photographs of boats that had been blown over during Storm Imogen’s passing the previous day.  One of the boats could be identified and the photo was quickly emailed to the member to warn him that his boat had ‘capsized’ in the dinghy park.  Late that evening, the member replied to tell me that he was going straight to the Club to resolve the misfortune.  Even later that evening, I receive an ‘apologetic’ phone call advising that the member had got his car stuck at the far end of the dinghy park whilst using his head lights to illuminate his working area.  Feeling sorry for the member stuck at the Club in the dark and very late in the evening, I offered my help.

 So, half an hour later, how we both laughed when both of our cars were stuck at the far end of the dinghy park.  The member was now feeling a little embarrassed having caused the problem and I was feeling a little stupid for making a tricky problem a little trickier.  It was now very late and very dark…

 Bowmoor is a particularly friendly Club and after a short call, another member arrived in a Land Rover to help.  I always understood that the definition of stupidity was doing the same thing 3 times and expecting a different outcome!  But this was a Land Rover, what could possibly go wrong?  Apparently, vehicles without off-road tyres really can get stuck in a wet field even if they do have 4-wheel drive and a low ratio gearbox.  Definition of stupidity proven! After much digging, heaving, pushing and perhaps a little ‘colourful’ language, we got the Land Rover free and the owner very kindly took the first 2 muppets members home, leaving our cars in the dinghy park overnight.  Arriving home close to midnight, Mrs Banbrook initially did not share the funny-side as she opened the front door to find me covered in mud from head to foot without our car on the driveway… 

Early the next morning, an ex-Bowmoor member and local farmer arrived with a rather large tractor to extract our 2 cars.

Saturday 23rd March
Laser/Byte Open - Restricted Access, see RO
Sunday 24th March
11:30 - Icicle Series Ends
13:30 - Frostbite Series Ends
Sunday 31st March
Easter Sunday, Beryl Edmunds Cup
3 Races, BST Begins
Monday 1st April
Team Racing
April 2nd to 5th
Introduction to Sailing – Adult Level 1 & 2

The full calendar is published on bowmoor.com/calendar/