Weymouth
Sailing
Club

Winter weather has put a dampener on club activities with members unable to get down to the club and the usually popular Sunday racing cancelled.

Nevertheless, despite treacherous ice on the harbourside, club members joined the Commodore, Mark Bugler, for a glass of festive punch on Saturday 18 December.  Traditionally this occasion is used to select a photograph for the front page of the new Handbook.  This year there were a record 20 entries submitted.

Winning entry was from Iain Jones with his photograph of Merlin Rockets sailing in the Bay during this year's Dinghy Regatta and was taken by Steve Bell from fotoboat.com

Weymouth usually avoids the worst of the chilly winter weather but today the harbourside was covered in snow and provided this picturesque view of the boats stored in the yard.

The snow was a welcome respite from the biting north-easterlies which have been whistling down the harbour over the last few days. 

Despite freezing arctic conditions sailing continues up until Boxing Day and the club records large turn-outs for the winter open series.

Members and friends celebrated the first wines of the new 2010 season with a Beaujolais Nouveau Evening on Friday 19 November.  The clubroom was decorated with French flags and bunting and a delicious French-style menu was produced by chefs Peter and Ali Barlow and served on bistro tables.

There was a plethora of striped Breton shirts, berets, moustaches and French maids, but Peter Jackson won the best dressed Frenchman for his portrayal of a very authentic French impressionist artist.

Photo: Member Ernie Lee enjoying the evening.

The club was graced with the presence of the president of Yachting New Zealand Jan Dawson on a flying visit to the club before heading out to Athens for an ISAF conference. Whilst at the club she had the chance to view our facilities, meet with a few of the people that had made her team so welcome earlier in the year, present the trophies for the autumn series and draw the raffle prizes for the YOB's draw.

Weekend sailing continues with Sunday races being particularly well supported.  Some dinghies have continued to sail an autumn Saturday series for the first time and the yard has been crowded with cruiser lift-outs.  The bar and galley are kept very busy with sailors and supporters alike. 

The season progresses with the Class Annual Meetings.  Friday nights will continue to be the night for dining.  Details of galley opening is listed every week on the noticeboard or keep an eye on the web Calendar.

Social event coming up in November is the Beaujolais Nouveau Night.   Beaujolais Nouveau Booking form

 WSC hosted the Squib South Coast Championships over the weekend of the 18th/19th September with 31 visitors and 23 local Squibs taking part, including 9 of the first 11 at this year's National Championships in Ireland.  In contrast to the Weymouth traffic chaos, Alan McDine's planning, two cranes and plenty of helpers launched all the visitors on Friday afternoon with time to spare, and they were towed to their berths in the Cove by the club rib.   

Once a year the Squib fleet has a variation to the traditional 'triangle and sausage' course and races The Great Circle Race.  The trophy race involves sailing around all of the inner marks in the Bay.  This year, in a brisk northerly breeze, the trophy was won by Mike and Penny Fenwick in Ghost Rider with Mark and Rima Bugler in Saskia V in second and Ernie Lee and Steve Fraser in Jubilation in third place.

The club played host to BBC radio Solents H2O show which was broadcast live from the club Friday night. Sir Robin Knox Johnston and Shelly Jory Leigh presented the show from the comfort of the settee at the back of the club.

Sir Robin interviewed club Commodore Mark Bugler live on air along with New Zealand team manager Jez Fanstone and international coach and author Jon Emmett.  Other articles included the Weymouth Lifeboat with club member Tye Shuttleworth which were pre-recorded earlier in the day.