by Tom Whittingham

We hosted the Comet Championship and Byte Inlands at the weekend comprising 38 dinghies and managed to get all five races in over the two days.  Well done Matt Banbrook and the race team for delivering the series across good racecourses.  There were some epic battles in both fleets;  Jackie Stagg was our top Comet helm at 7th and Caroline Doran at 14th; in Bytes Esther Heathcote came 3rd, with Alex Davies in 5th and Mattherw English 6th and if you want to see the results, follow the link for Comet or Byte. 

Ther is a slight change to the sailing programme – we will continue to run the third race on Sundays as an Introduction to Racing up to and including the 15^th October.  It’s then the Commodore’s and Coln Cup on the 22^nd and then Otters and Sprints followed by the Halloween party on the 28^th October.     

We have the first of the winter storms inbound.  If you have not checked your boat is secure - now is the time to do it!

It became apparent at the weekend that we had a rat problem in and around the Clubhouse.  We have called in professional assistance, but we all need to do better at hygiene within the clubhouse.  Please do not put any food waste in the internal bins – that includes dirty wrappers and half eaten items.  They must go in the blue bin outside food.  If you spill or drop anything it must be picked up/wiped up.  Please ensure you do not leave food out in the Clubhouse; it needs to be in a fridge or solid container.   All food left within the Clubhouse after weekends will be thrown out.

Do you recognise any of the boats pictured? The Topper is in P28, the Tera in E30 and the Opp in Rack 10 and the canoe in CR7.   None of these boats has paid storage or a readable sticker.  This is the final formal notice before they are disposed of.   

 On Tuesday 17th October, Cotswold Lakes Trust staff, trustees and volunteers are going to be doing a sponsored team challenge across the Cotswold Water Park from Riverside Park, across to the Western side as far as Neigh Bridge and back to finish at the Visitor Centre. The challenge will take the form of a relay and we will be incorporating walking, running, cycling and as many water activities as we can fit in.

The purpose of the day is to raise match funding through sponsorship (one joint JustGiving page) to unlock pots of Entrust funding that is becoming available to us.

Click here to DONATE

The Thames Valley ILCA grand prix series recommenced after the Summer holiday break in September with 2 meetings, firstly at Frensham Pond and then at Datchet Water this weekend for the penultimate round.  Neil Crosby went into them with a virtually unassailable lead in the series, with wins at Haversham and Littleton and podium finishes at Papercourt and Island Barn.  He made sure of the title at Frensham winning all three races in light and variable winds.

Neil and Richard Lymposs travelled to Datchet on Saturday. In a breeze that built during the day, Neil ruined a first race second place with an OCS and then a major capsize when lying second in the third race.  However, Richard sailed much better competing for the open win with local sailor Paul Robinson, winning one race and second in two others. This wasn’t quite enough for the win, finishing second overall. Richard has now also qualified for the Thames Valley grand prix with seconds at Datchet and Haversham, a third at Welsh Harp and a fifth at Island Barn. With only one more round to go this result might have secured second overall in the series depending on what happens at the final event in a couple of weeks at Queen Mary..

Saturday 30th September

09:00 - RYA Dinghy Course-Level 2, RYA Powerboat Course-Level 2, UWE Windsurfing

Sunday 1st October

09:00 - RYA Dinghy Course-Level 2, RYA Powerboat Course-Level 2, UWE Windsurfing

11:30 - Handicap Races 

13:30 - Handicap Races

15:15 - Introduction to Racing

Saturday 7th September

11:00 - Cruising Saturday, Ladies who Launch, Just Sail

Sunday 8th October

11:30 - Handicap Races 

13:30 - Handicap Races

15:15 - Introduction to Racing

Sunday 15th October

11:30 - Handicap Races 

13:30 - Handicap Races

15:15 - Introduction to Racing

Sunday 22nd October

11:30 - Commodore's and Coln Cups  

13:30 - Commodore's and Coln Cups

15:15 - Commodore's and Coln Cups

Saturday 28th October

10:00 - Youth & Family: Otters
13:30 - Youth & Family: Autumn Sprint

18:00 - Halloween Party