by Tom Whittingham

This is a new experience for me as we move to a different newsletter tool that is now part of our website. The move has been been precipitated by Mailchimp altering the terms of our account. It also coincides with me recovering control of my Bowmoor email address! Apologies to those who have had very late replies to emails sent to the commodore.

At the weekend we hosted the Supernova event that attracted 30 competitors and the feedback was resoundingly positive.  Please see the report below. This event coincided with the  Dinghy Show at which I met numerous Club members many of whom came away with lighter wallets. The wind stayed northerly and tricky on Sunday which made for an exhausting two races. The race team were afloat in the committee boat to set a good starting line and a chance of having a long first beat. There was some close quarter racing from start to finish in both races. Typically, the sun came out once we had finished.

This year camp will be between 31st May and 2nd June, followed by the YOO Youth Regatta on 3rd June. There are a range of groups for youths and adults, including a double-handed RS Feva group for the first time. There will be follow-on training for all youth sailors from the range of spring coaching available. 

This year camp will see the return of hoodies, tuck shop and pizza. There will also be a range of new activities for everyone.

Bookings close on 15th March, and can be made through the club website. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Charlie (charlie.s@bowmoor.com).

We were very disappointed to find someone had brought 4 cardboard boxes that had contained Ikea Bookshelves to the Club and stuffed them in our recycling bin. They had not even been collapsed.   As a commercial site, we pay for waste disposal and recycling.  That means someone took the effort to bring rubbish to the Club when we all have free cardboard recycling from home!

In the Club guidelines we ask you to take your rubbish home, not bring it here so we can pay to dispose of it.

Saturday saw the Supernova fleet return to Bowmoor for their annual Winter Championship having missed last years event due to storm Eunice. Thirty competitors from as far apart as Bolton, Olton, Shoreham and Roadford faced fresh Northerly winds gusting into the mid 20’s and air temperature of 5C.

Expert course setting by Dave Lynall and his team provided exciting racing with the strong Cotswold SC entry in 1st and 2nd place by lunchtime followed by Bolton and Chelmarsh sailors. In the third race Cotswold took the top three places which also secured them the same overall result. Bowmoor’s own Chris Hobbs finished a worthy 12th place among some stiff competition.       

Overall Prizes: 

1st - Cliff Milliner

2nd - Will Gifford

3rd - Gavin Young 

1st Silver Fleet - Iain Barlow

1st Bronze Fleet - Andrew Gould

During the prize giving Paul Undrell, also from Cotswold SC, was presented the Traveler Open Series Trophy for 2022. 

The 2023 training programme is now published an open for bookings!

Powerboat Level 2

These courses are proving popular and filling up fast:

1-2 April - 1 space left

RYA First Aid

There are 4 spaces left on the next RYA First Aid course on Saturday 8th April

RYA Marine Radio (SRC) 

The Marine VHF course on 15th April is now fully booked. 

The next course will take place on Saturday 6th May.

Saturday 4th March
09:00 - Youth Training
Sunday 5th March   
09:00 - Youth Training
11:30 - Handicap Races 
13:30 - Handicap Races
Saturday 11th March
09:00 - Race Coach Training
Sunday 12th March   
09:00 - Race Coach Training
11:30 - Handicap Races 
13:30 - Handicap Races
Saturday 18th March
10:00 - University Windsurfing Event
Sunday 19th March   
10:30 - Handicap Races, Back to Back
11:30 - Handicap Races
13:00 - University Windsurfing Event Finals

Saturday 25th March
11:00 - Byte and Laser Open (Lake Closed)

Sunday 26th March
11:30 - Handicap Races 
13:30 - Handicap Races