BRISTOL SAILING ASSOCIATION

Newsletter February 2016

Contacts:Kath Liddiard (Commodore)01443 227928

Jock Playle (Secretary)0117 973 8855

Becky Goddard (Treasurer) 01749 346818

Future Trips

1.1Gordon Ogden and Chris Watts will skipper both PYC yachts, Spellbinder and Quartette, for a midweek sail on March 7th – 9th. This is now fully booked.

1.2Alan Howells will skipper a long weekend (to include the Friday) trip from Plymouth on the weekend before Easter, that is Friday March 18 to Sunday 20th. There is one place available for this, at a cost of £129.50 for the three days plus a berth on board overnight on the Thursday ready for handover at 09.00 on Friday.

1.3Alan will also be skippering a long trip requested by some members from June 7th – 25th, from Plymouth to the French Biscay coast. The intention is to sail direct to the Ile de Ré, returning via various ports in south Brittany. This is fully booked. The cost is £578 per person, with the final payment of £478 due by May 6th. Those going may opt to pay by monthly instalments if they wish – please let us know.

News and Notices

2.1RNLI Lifejacket Clinic.

At the February meeting we had a RNLI lifejacket clinic presented by Gary Bressingham, a RNLI Community Safety Adviser. Gary started by demonstrating the regular checks and maintenance which should be carried out then checked individually lifejackets brought by members. This proved very successful, as we just managed to complete the checks by the end of the meeting (including the complete boat’s set brought by Ian Collins!). It proved worthwhile, as some defects were found, including several loose gas cylinders.

2.2Racing Opportunity.

Sue Fowle has details of an organisation, the Yacht Racing Syndicate, which participates in Sunsail’s Solent race series sailing Match First 40s from Port Solent. There are eight regattas in the series. A berth costs £140 for Friday – Sunday, with two races each day on Saturday and Sunday. The boats race with a crew of up to 12, with berths for 8 overnight. Details are on the website www.yacht-racing-syndicate.com or you may contact the Treasurer Chris Hutton-Ashkenny, email hutash@globalnet.co.uk .Sue has taken part last year, and booked for this year.

2.3First Aid

Those members who gained their RYA First Aid at Sea certificates at our last training session in 2013 will need to renew them by May 26th this year. It is hoped that we can repeat the arrangement with Brian Howell, who carried out the session on board Sabrina on a Sunday, at an extremely good cost (£25 in 2013, compared to the commercial rate of about £75). Will those who wish to renew their certificates please let Jock know (tel. 0117 973 8855, email jockplayle3@waitrose.com and give preferred date(s) in May – Sundays 8th, 15th, or 22nd (not the 1st or 29th, which are Bank Holiday Weekends). If an earlier date in April is preferred please give this. Don’t forget that a valid certificate is required to maintain a Yachtmaster certificate, and for those who are PYC skippers.

3.Recent Trips

At the February meeting Phil Steele gave two reports of sailing Quartette, Jane’s Christmas Party weekend in December, and the midweek January Sails Trip.

Trip on Quartette, skippered by Phil Steele

************************************************************

Trip on Quartette, skippered by Phil Steele

Bsa Feb 2016 1