Bartley Sailing Club Blog

Just a reminder that we shall have  24 Toppers arriving this Sunday for a training day. They will be on the water for about 4 hours from roughly 10.30 onwards with 3 RYA / ITCA Coaches. We shall be using 4 rescue boats for the training, and club racing may be on a reduced area of the reservoir depending on the exercises taking place. 

The following week we have a similar number returning for the Topper Open meeting. Cruising, SUP, and radio boating can all take place concurrently but it is unlikely that we can run club racing due to the number of boats attending. If you are on the water please keep clear of racing boats.

Please extend a warm welcome to any visitors - this is the first time in many years that Bartley has run Topper training and a Topper Open and we are hoping that it is the beginning of promoting the class at the club as a pathway for our K2O juniors. There are still a few places left for the Open meeting so if you know any club Topper sailors who have not signed up please encourage them to do so.

Note to visitors - if you wish to leave your Topper at Bartley for the week to save transporting it both weekends just let me know on  

Sunday looked a bit damp and overcast so you could understand if our visitors from Trimpley SC had decided to stay in bed, but the great news was that they turned out in force with 5 GP14s, 4 Lasers, and a K1 to enjoy 4 coached races and a debrief in the sunshine at the end of the day. Thanks to all who helped out on the day and to our visitors for packing their boats up and making the journey. It was great to meet you all.

Please welcome our visiting sailors from Trimpley this Sunday. They usually have a club weekend away at Plas Menai but for obvious reasons couldn't go this year so Bartley is the substitute (well Frankley Beeches almost looks like a welsh mountain and the water comes from Wales). Many of you will know the Trimpley sailors from the Open circuit or mid-week sailing so please extend a warm welcome. Hope you all have a great day!

It is with great sadness that I share the news of Derek's passing in the early hours of this morning. Derek was Commodore of the sailing club from 2007 to 2012 and a regular sailor in his Solo and RS400. He initiated and completed many club improvement projects and was a well known and much loved member of our club, we shall miss him. Our thoughts are with his wife Christine and the family at this sad time. If you wish to send a message of condolence to the family please send to Guy Mason on email address  and he will pass them on.

The Unknown Shore.

Sometime at eve when the tide is low,
I shall slip my moorings and sail away,
With no response to a friendly hail,
In the silent hush of the twilight pale,
When the night stoops down to embrace the day
And the voices call in the water's flow.

Sometime at eve when the tide is low,
I shall slip my moorings and sail away.
Through purple shadows that darkly trail
O'er the ebbing tide of the unknown sea,
And a ripple of waters to tell the tale
Of a lonely voyager, sailing away
To mystic isles, where at anchor lay
The craft of those who had sailed before
O'er the unknown sea to the unknown shore.

A few who have watched me sail away
Will miss my craft from the busy bay;
Some friendly barques were anchored near,
Some loving souls that my heart held dear
In silent sorrow will drop a tear;
But I shall have peacefully furled my sail
In mooring sheltered from the storm and gale,
And greeted friends who had sailed before
O'er the unknown sea to the unknown shore.

(Elizabeth Clark Hardy)

There will be a few of you who don't read the communications and will be late to the start line on Saturday / Sunday. Lets just say I have done the best I can - this is the routine until either Covid guidance changes again or Spring arrives!  The Autumn race series is up and running - ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has been a quieter year than normal for competitions but the good news is that the Regional Junior Championship fleets are going ahead at Draycote this Saturday. This annual event is for Midland youth sailors to compete and practice their skills. Last year we won and achieved 2nd in the Feva class. This year our travelling juniors are now classed as youth sailors so we are fielding a much reduced fleet until the next generation join the party!

In the Topper Class Millie is representing Bartley in a fleet of 39, and new member Finley is dropping out of his Laser 4.7 and getting back in his Optimist for the event with 21 signed on in this class. The weather looks lively so the racing should be great. Best of luck to both competitors.

As you will know from the news we all need to play our part in tackling the Covid 19 pandemic. The changes laid out by the government affect us as follows:

1) Everyone on site MUST sign in. Sailing Members need to leave name, phone number, and sail number on the signing on sheet so we can get in touch. Non-members must sign in at Tilly's to provide name and contact details. For Group Members and non-sailing water sports (SUP, Kayak, and Radio Boaters etc...) please sign in either at OOD hut or Tilly's so we know you are on site.

2) We will start the Autumn sailing race programme on Saturday. You will be required to sign on for the races so we can collect  details for track and trace as well as processing the results. Cruising boats MUST also sign on at the OOD hut. The race series and cruising is an organised sporting event. Bartley SC is the organising authority. Spectators are not participants in the sporting event and the rule of 6 applies when onshore.

3) There shall be NO gathering at the OOD hut when signing on. Please queue at a social distance and follow the 1 way system shown below around the OOD hut. The OOD can delay the start of the race if this takes a little more time than usual. Please be patient..

4) The club has a Covid-19 QR code which will be displayed around the site. When the NHS COVID-19 APP is live all visitors will be able, and are encouraged to register their presence on site using this App.

We continue to monitor the government requirements and the RYA interpretation of the guidance to ensure compliance. The current status with the galley and level to which we can open the clubhouse remains unchanged at this time. The Galley operates as both takeaway and table service. Screens have recently been erected as an extra level of protection. Tilly's will continue to review guidance and update their operating procedures as required.

All members have their part to play in controlling the spread of the virus so please do not come to the club if you are symptomatic, and please make the new protocols your routine so we can all enjoy our exercise on the water.

Unfortunately the RYA OnBoard event has been cancelled this weekend. The K2O team will be in touch with the club Level 2 sailors as there is now opportunity to run a morning session for this group.

Thanks to all who attended the AGM and adhered to the Covid 19 protocols. We reviewed the club financial statements and club report and then voted in the following committee with effect from 1st October 2020:

Commodore Simon Hardiman

Vice Commodore Nigel Hudson

Rear Commodore David Jones

Hon Secretary Hugo Russell

Hon Treasurer Chris Bownes

Committee members:

Ben Julian SUP Club Interests

Benn Freeman ASF Interests

Jennifer Foort Marketing and Membership

Kerry Webb Training Centre Principal

Steve Ward Facilities Management

Tony Cliff Financial support to the Treasurer

Thanks were given to Caroline Whitehouse for her club leadership through some pretty tough times, and to Tony Cliff for his considerable efforts in the Treasurer role whilst working 60 hour weeks in his day job.

Guy Mason was awarded an honorary membership for 16 years service on the Committee at Bartley.