Bartley Sailing Club Blog

Don't forget that it is the Annual General Meeting at 10.00 this Saturday morning followed by a Q&A session with the Club Committee. If you wish to know more about the running of the club this is the event to attend.

The AGM is followed by the End of Series Regatta. This is a 'stand alone' regatta of 2 Pursuit races both of which count. The first race is at 12.30 and the second at 14.30.

At roughly 16.30 there will be tea and some cakes in the club house whilst the prizes are awarded for the Regatta and for the Winter series races.

As always there are the perpetual cups for the series winners, regatta winner, Junior series and regatta winner, and Novice series and regatta winner, with wine for the top 3 overall, the coverted 'Bartley Winner' mugs for the top 3 per fleet, and some extra goodies as hand outs. But remember; you have to be there to collect your prize or it gets recycled for next time!

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

If you have held a Level 2 powerboat certificate for at least a year, you are eligible to take the safety boat drivers course.

The course is designed to teach you how to assist or perform rescues of various craft e.g. single and double hand dinghy, canoes and wind surfers.

Dave Jones has one course for 2019, taking place on 6^th and 28^th April and currently has two vacant places. The cost is just £30 for club members, none members can be considered if holding a valid certificate.

If you want to book or know more, please contact Dave at or on the following numbers: Land: 01216025328 or Mob:  07887406585

On a separate but linked note - congratulations to our new Powerboat level 2 graduates who had to battle the choppy conditions at the weekend to gain their certification - this group really had to earn their award!

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Foort

Thanks to Steve Watson for running an engaging and thought provoking session on how to use the rules to competitive advantage.

The evening started out with the basics and then gradually added complexity with lots of scenarios explained from our enquiring members. The 'dark rule' was of particular interest as were the subtle but important interpretations of 'proper course' (fastest route around the course which is not necessarily the most direct) and rights at the leeward mark for a boat on port who has water over a starboard boat meaning they must go directly to the mark and not have any right to take a wide line. The 3 boat length rule also received a lot of interrogation as to the zone relative to a boats transom.

The feedback from those who I spoke to was very positive and I was very pleased to see so many club members supporting the event. If you have any thoughts as to further sessions you would be interested in then please let me know on . For info I am just working on some OOD training to ensure consitency there - more on this in the comming months...

Some more photos of the evening from Jennifer Foort:

The crowds assemble!

Contemplating being called a GP sailor and having a small boat...

What 3 boat lengths look like

What do you do if you are boat number 5?

Don't forget to attend on Wednesday evening to brush up on the rules of sailing and how to use them to your advantage. This is a free event for members and promises to be a great evening. We hope to see you there.

Photo courtesy of Supernova Association

Congratulations to Mike Gibson for his 1st Master and 4th overall placing in the Supernova Winter Championships at Bowmoor SC last weekend in a fleet of 36. Garry Butterfield also put in a strong result coming in 7th to take the 2nd Master position in the fleet. A great start to what will surely be another great year for the Bartley Supernovas.

Dear members,

I've attempted to email our accounts out to you this evening. As with most databases, I'm going to work on the assumption that not everyones details are correct or upto date.

If you haven't received a copy of the accounts, I've pinned a copy to the noticeboard at the club. If you would like your own copy, please send me an email to , and I'll send a copy.

In the meantime, I do hope that we'll see you at our AGM on 16th March.

Kind regards,

Tony Cliff

With the AGM fast approaching Bartley S.C. Committee would like to draw to the attention of members the following from the 'Rules of Association' should any member wish to put themselves forward for a position on the committee:

In accordance with rule 2.4.3 the Committee’s nominations for Flag Officers, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Members shall be placed on the Club Notice from this Saturday (21 days prior to the AGM on the 16th March).

If a member wishes to fulfil a role on Main Committee, in whichever capacity, then you will need to send your nomination in writing (not email) to the Honorary Secretary with the signatures of the nominee, proposer and seconder, and must be received by the Secretary no later than 7 days prior to the AGM.

Such nominations shall then be added to the notice board. 

In case of query please contact Guy Mason,

Thanks 

Main Committee

19 boats turned out for the final Bartley Bear Sprints in perfect force 4 to 5 conditions that challenged fitness as much as tactics. With each race lasting just a single 8 minute lap the beat was as critical to securing a place as downwind control was critical to keeping it!

With the wind strength so high the 4.7s and Radial were really in the mix with the second race recording first to last place in less than a minute for the entire fleet. This was great practice for the 4 Youth / Junior sailors who put in a masterclass of high wind sailing with a massive grin factor.

At the front of the fleet the competition was fierce with mistakes penalised heavily by the chasing pack. Simon took the first 2 races, then Ed Higson found his form to push through with dad Jeremy and Robin Pitt hot on his heels. Visitor James Dalby was right up there but got caught out by the black flag and a knock down in a squally gust to drop his overall score. In the 4.7s Harrison, Megan and Josh traded places in the morning session, but it was Harrison who pulled ahead as a clear winner when the wind built further in the afternoon. 

A fantastic lunch at the Galley set the sailors up for the final 5 races. Ed Higson traded places with Sam Knight who made us all eat humble pie as he zipped around the course with a flat boat carrying half the weight of most of us - how does he do it? As the sailors tired the race course became a graveyard of pirouetting Lasers with masts slamming to windward as the gusts caught those napping on the run.

At the end of the day the body was weary, the clothes were drenched, the grins were big, and the tea and cake was just what we all needed!

Massive thanks to Jeremy for organising the 4 events this winter and providing the Imperial Mounts so we can film where we are going wrong! Thanks also to all those who have supported the sprints and made them such a success.

Overall Winner                         Simon Hardiman

Most 'first to windward mark'    Ed Higson

First 4.7                                    Harrison Allen

The winning trophy

Ed gets a prize for winning the race to the windward mark on the most occasions

Megan and Josh get their 4.7 prizes whilst Harrison dashes off to a party!

With the success of the sprint racing next on the agenda is slalom racing, but before we can get this exciting format up and running we need about 300m of chain to attach Bouys to. Needs to be metal and plated so it doesn't rust - can come in different lengths and sizes as we can shackle them together, plus we must be able to carry it in the rescue boat so nothing that would anchor a cruise ship!

Any donations greatfully received. Just bring along and leave neatly by the clubhouse side wall facing the storage container and we will do the rest.

Thanks in advance to any members who can help out.

3 Different winners, 3 very different days of racing so far. The grand finale is this Sunday with a great forecast.

So book your Imperial Mount with Jeremy Higson, turn up for the 10.30 briefing, then get that laser (or similar single hander) out there to flex those start line muscles.

Free to club members, £5 to visitors. Look forward to seeing you at the weekend.