All members will receive this year’s Duty Request Form shortly along with their membership renewal pack. It is important that you let us know the dates when you will be free to help at the club. Please return your form with your membership fee and we’ll do the rest.

We’ve added some information about duties to [...]]]>

All members will receive this year’s Duty Request Form shortly along with their membership renewal pack. It is important that you let us know the dates when you will be free to help at the club. Please return your form with your membership fee and we’ll do the rest.

We’ve added some information about duties to the website. Read on to learn more.

We’ve added a ‘Duties’ section to the website where you can find out more information about your duty and, if you lose it, a copy of the duty request form you can download and print. Also, we’ve produced a guide to help you complete it

**NEW FOR 2010** You can now apply for your duty online via our Online Duty Request Form. It’s simple to use and is very similar to the paper version. The only difference is that you will need to complete one form for each member of your family. Please add the family name in the comments so we can group you together.

Perhaps more importantly, we need people to turn-out and undertake a duty in the Icicle Series, between now and the end of March. Please click here to see the current duty list. If you want to volunteer please email duty@swsc.org.uk.

Members were treated with a choice of [...]]]> For many, the Christmas Dinner was the highlight of the last day of the Autumn Series. Sarah Norman laid on a full 3 course dinner for the whole club after racing had finished. Nigel Denchfield has provided some photographs of proceedings and they’ve been placed in the website gallery.

Members were treated with a choice of Soup or Prawn Cocktail for starters; Turkey, Beef or Nut-Roast for main-course; and Christmas Pudding or Gateaux for Pudding. All washed down with Coffee or Tea.

The club-house was looking very festive with crackers, party-popers and a wonderful table decoration. Musical accompaniment was provided by Robin Hall with his keyboards and a selection of Christmas hits while dinner was served.

After the meal, Nigel and Ruth Ivory presented Harry Janes with the trophies he was unable to collect at the Laying Up Supper. Notable amongst these was the well deserved Triard Trophy. This year a new stainless steel sculpture was awarded now that the old ‘capsized Cadet’ trophy had been retired.

Also receiving well deserved awards were the Galley staff: Sarah Norman along with Linzy and Rosie Norman. All the members of the sailing section gave generously in thanks for all the wonderful meals Sarah has made since she took over the Galley in February. Sarah received flowers, chocolates and champaign; Linzy Champaign and Chocolates; and Rosie Chocolates and a VW Campervan Moneybox.

Sarah takes a break from the Galley for Christmas but will be back in the new year. Details will be on the website shortly.

The SWSC Virtual Skipper Cup!!

It all takes place on the evening of Wednesday 9th December at 7.00pm. Race against 5 other competitors in a virtual sailing world on board [...]]]> Continuing this Winter’s series of social evenings, why not come along to what we believe is going to be the most hotly contested sailing event of the year!

The SWSC Virtual Skipper Cup!!

It all takes place on the evening of Wednesday 9th December at 7.00pm.

Race against 5 other competitors in a virtual sailing world on board one of 6 computers.
Heats will take place to see who will be crowned SWSC Virtual Skipper Champion 2009!

All computers will be linked so you can race each other, projectors will mean that spectators can watch the action as it happens.

If you don’t fancy racing, then come along and have a flutter, fun betting will be taking place on each race with prizes for non racers as well.

So do not forget, put it in your diary – Wednesday evening, on the 9th December – Virtual Skipper Night.

The racing gets underway at 7:00pm no wet gear necessary.
Sarah will be providing he usual excellent galley service and we would ask that you let her know that you are coming along. And of course the bar will be open

After three long hours, a time of 1m 59s was posted by Steve [...]]]> The winter series of Wednesday evening social evenings continued with an evening of fun and games in a Sailing Simulator. With Sarah providing the evening meal the twenty-one members had a go at posting a fast lap time on the virtual trapezoid course.

After three long hours, a time of 1m 59s was posted by Steve Ivory on his second attempt and he took home the bottle of Champaign. The full results are available in the 2009 results page.

The next evening will take place on Wednesday 9th December with an ‘online’ Virtual Skipper tournament.

The sailing simulator is essentially a computer connected to a large boat cockpit mounted on a cradle. The cradle tilts the cockpit simulating the heel of a boat when the sail is powered up. The helm is then forced to hike-out to counteract the heeling moment to get more speed. With a tiller, tiller extension and centre mainsheet you’re quickly whisked away from the clubhouse into the virtual sailing area displayed on the screen.

A big turnout meant limited time for each member to get to grips with the controls before going on and attempting the trapezoid course and posting a time on the top-gear leader board.

First to have a go was Simon Witham posting a time of 2 minutes 28 seconds, but as the first go in a ‘just powered-up’ simulator Simon was to post a better time of 2 minutes 12 seconds later in the evening.

Karl Pountney had the second go. He seemed a little more at ease with the controls with the tacks and gybes looking a little too much like the land-drills practiced on his recent instructor’s course. On the ‘b’ of bang, Karl was straight off the line and quickly made his way past the guide-boat on the screen and on to the downwind legs. A quick time of 2 minutes 5 seconds would stand unbeaten right up until dinner was served when Jon Hand managed a time of 2 minutes dead on his third or fourth try.

Later in the evening Simon Miles was to post a time of 2 minutes 1 second taking the lead in the first attempt leader board. Sue Howcroft came close with 2:08 and Steve Mills was close behind with 2:09.

As the evening drew to a close, Steve Ivory and Andy Gregory managed to squeeze in a second attempt at the top time. Andy managed 2 minutes 8 seconds falling short of the target of 2 minutes, however Steve Ivory posted 1 minute 59 seconds to take the champaign prize and climb to the top of the leader board.

With no more time for additional attempts, that was it.

Virtual Sailing returns on December 9th with a virtual skipper competition courtesy of Tim Robins and Gerry Howcroft.

If you are interested, please get in touch with John directly.

Between now and March 31st next year we plan to hold a monthly social evening at the club house. Each month’s evening is themed and a number of members are [...]]]> With the evenings getting darker Wednesday night sailing has come to an end. It’s been an enjoyable summer made memorable by a fine galley service throughout.

Between now and March 31st next year we plan to hold a monthly social evening at the club house. Each month’s evening is themed and a number of members are taking turns to host the event along with a galley service. The first evening is Wednesday 14th October from 7pm and will be a Quiz Night organised by Dave Grummitt, Peter Billington and John Williamson.

Read on for details of the other evenings in the series.