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Commodore's Notes

This has been a busy period for the Club. A very successful series of training courses organised by Keith has resulted in more members and a fleet of Oppies and Toppers at lunch time on sunny Sundays. The Streaker Open attracted fourteen visitors including four from Jersey. Jack Turnbull finished a commendable fourth and took the prize for top junior. Congratulations to Hilary and her several helpers on a colourful float at the Venetian Fête. Membership enquiries have been received as a result. The Fun Day was a great success with a large number of small bodies (and a few big ones) experiencing much enjoyment and varying degrees of wetness.

At this stage in the Club it is known that one Committee member will not be seeking re-election. Our thanks to Linda for all her work behind the scenes including re-establishing the Club website. Of course we will be looking for someone to come into the Committee, so if anyone fancies a go there is plenty of time to think about it and discuss what is involved with current or former members.

Still on the question of volunteering, race officer duties should be shared among all those sailing in a series but have recently been relying heavily on those nursing injuries - to whom we are all grateful. The duty list on the board is often not completed in advance as it ideally should be. It is better to put your name on the list in advance and then bring your kit in case someone does turn up who prefers to do race officer or safety boat duty. 

Family Barn Dance     Sat., 10 November To round off the year, we have arranged another Barn Dance with the Vagabonds again but this time at Lyminge Village Hall which should give us more space.        A change of format for the food as we shall not be using the kitchen. Please bring your own plates, cutlery and glasses as well as your own food and drink which will be kept on your table.       We would like raffle prizes again - one per smallish group or more for larger groups. Tickets will be £5 and free for under 16s. The tickets will be available from Marion or Hilary at the Club soon.	R U OnBoard? The RYA has launched their 'OnBoard' programme, aimed at encouraging children into sailing at grass roots level. The scheme has been successfully running in other parts of the country for several years and has been recently launched in East Kent. Our local OnBoard Development Officer is Stuart Bishop, who some of you may remember, learned to sail at Redoubt as a Scout. Stuart is now an RYA Community Sailing Coach.        Next year, Redoubt will be running OnBoard taster sessions for local schools linked with a new children's club to encourage them to continue sailing and develop their skills. To deliver the OnBoard programme the RYA is supporting local volunteers to
Adult Sailing Course     13th & 14th October Due to popular demand, Keith is putting on a course in October. At the last count most of the places were taken.	assist club instructors. If you would like to help as a volunteer, train as an assistant instructor or be a safety boat driver, then please contact Keith or see the information on the Club notice board.
Discount Vouchers Cancelled These tickets were particularly useful for the Fun Day or when family were visiting and wanted to sail. Unfortunately Paul Nickolls' sister has seen fit to cancel the discount vouchers. As far as she is concerned, the Club had had too many. She believes, erroneously, that they were intended only for fishermen and not sailors. Any members still holding vouchers will be unable to use them.	Club Website Linda King is maintaining the site and articles, boat sale notices etc can be emailed to her at Redoubtsc@ frithcc.demon.co.uk otherwise pass them on to a Committee member for her. She would like photos and these can be given to her or to a Committee member on a CD. Linda will also be including some of the newsletters. If there is something that you particularly do not want on the website please let her know.

 

Spring 2007 Sailing Courses 26 children took to the water in May for the annual Junior Learn to Sail course.. The first Saturday was a pleasant F2-3 and the children learnt to sail in Oppies and Toppers covering tacking, gybing and sailing triangles. The second Saturday was very windy (too windy to sail) and the children learnt knots, sailing theory, paddling and capsize for those that wanted to. A good time was had by all and the children gained:- 20 x Bronze Awards, 3 x Silver Awards, 3 x Stage 2. May and June saw the Adult Level Training Courses, with the first day being a nice F3-4, with some students advancing straight to the capsize practical in their first session! The second day had variable winds and was very wet. The final day was sunny with a F3 sea breeze filling in. In total 9 x Level 1 and 10 x Level 2 certificates were awarded.

Throughout the junior and adult training courses, Julian, Rob, Jack and Lawrence assisted the instructors and together with a previous evening session at Folkestone Yacht Club they all passed their Assistant Instructor qualifications. Congratulations! Due to the number of children and adults on the training courses there were a large number of people helping. I would like to say thanks to Mike, Charlie, Hilary, Rob, Julian, Lawrence, Jack and in particular Tracy and Dave for running the sessions when I was tied up with our RYA Inspection. Also to Marion, the tea bar staff and all the other helpers.                                                         Keith Macey   Thanks are also due to Keith for all his work in preparing for the courses.   Ed.

 Wednesday Evenings

Only three qualified this year and entrants were down. There were 5 races with 3 to qualify. There has been some discussion as to whether holding the races in the afternoon would improve numbers.

1	Ian Hodge	Splash      1755	2.25
2	Mike Smailes	Streaker   1476	6
3	John Burrell	Laser        40609	11

Fun Day                                        August Bank Holiday Monday

Pursuit Race

It was a lovely sunny day with a westerly breeze about F3 which increased as the sea breeze filled in. Mike Smailes ran the race and had set a good course with nice long legs (no pun intended). The Toppers, mainly novices, set off first followed 7 minutes later by the Streakers who soon overhauled them. The 3 Streakers kept ahead with Keith in the lead  until the last lap when Lawrence and Dave overtook Hilary who had begun to drop back.

1	Keith Macey	Streaker
2	Jack Turnbull	Streaker
3	Dave Turnbull	RS300
4	Lawrence Andrews	Laser

Mike and Marion had set up the barbecue and soon the chefs were at work cooking for their friends and family.

The Fun & Games

There were loads of children and Gemma and Lawrence captained the two teams. One team appeared to be trailing badly after the first game of tag and the shuttle relay but with Julian cheering them on they made a miraculous recovery during the second relay and the Topper polo. It all ended in an honourable draw and the wetter the participants the happier they were. Many thanks to Keith for arranging and running the games. Something to think about: there was some suggestion of holding another Fun Day earlier in the season perhaps on the Whitsun Bank Holiday.

 Streaker Southern Area Nationals                            18 August

The Club hosted this event on a beautiful sunny day but there was quite a stiff south westerly backing to southerly F4 - 5 forecast. There was a great buzz about the Club as 19 Streakers prepared for the fray. There could have been two more if the wind had been easier. The 4 boats from Jersey moved into production line mode -4 masts, 4 booms etc from their quadruple stacker. Caroline Hodge collected the fees, Ian and Julian manned the Committee and safety boats aided by Marian and Hilary and Tony Russell was an unflappable race officer.

In Race 1 there had to be a General recall as everyone was bunching up to the Committee boat and several were over the line before the gun. Ian Bradley (1619), John Burgoine (1528) and Jonny Shuster were first off the line. John Burgoine in his distinctive yellow decked boat retired half way through the race with a broken shroud. Graham who had broken his tiller in a capsize generously lent him one. The race split into three groups: the three leaders, then a pack of six and finally the rest. Ian Bradley opened up the lead from Jonny Shuster in the final laps and lapped the tail enders. Jack was third and Dave Turnbull in Marian's boat seventh. In the lunch break he made more adjustments to the rigging but it was very noticeable that the leading boats could all point higher.

After lunch (fish and chips collected by Caroline and Colin), 14 boats sailed the 2nd race. Jonny Shuster closely followed by Ian Bradley and John Burgoine led the field. There was some healthy competition between Dave and Jack but Jack had pulled ahead to 4th on the 2nd lap with Dave lying 5th and they held these positions until the end. Ian Bradley gradually wore down Jonny Shuster but Jonny held on to finish 1st, with Ian 2nd and John Burgoine 3rd.

There was a very thrilling start to the 3rd race with Dave, spotting an opening at the windward end of the line, getting away cleanly on port closely followed by Jack ahead of the rest. The lack of pointing told and he had dropped to 2nd at the end of the first lap and 5th after the 2nd lap with Jack lying 6th. By now the wind had freshened considerably and the two 8 stone girls were having to work very hard. One invariably capsized at the gybe mark at 5. Ian Bradley was 1st again, Jonny Shuster 2nd and John Burgoine 3rd.

The final results were:                                          Boat builder

                                                                         & composition

1	Ian Bradley	1619	Ouse Amateur	Butler wood
2	Jonny Shuster	176	Deben Yacht Club	Restored by Dave Shuster
3	John Burgoine	1528	Tamworth	Speed foam sandwich
4	Jack Turnbull  1st Junior	1478	Redoubt	Cory
10	Cathie Shuster   1st Lady	1591	Deben Yacht Club	Butler composite

The top boats, except for Jack, were using sails made by Dan Rimmer for Sail Register. Congratulations to Jack for his excellent result in this his first year of sailing the Streaker.

Streaker Nationals at Filey                              24th and 25th June

Dave drove Keith and Jack to Yorkshire towing their boats in the double trailer. Wind conditions were very erratic from nothing Saturday morning, although there was a hailstorm, to force 4 Sunday afternoon with a lumpy sea. 53 boats took part. Lauren Mead was sailing Dave Butler's best boat (1618) whilst he sailed the dinghy (1518) he normally hires out to her. In the fifth race they arrived together at a mark, were left suspended after a wave and she was unable to take avoiding action and holed Dave's boat. They both retired. Lauren came 13th. I know Keith was disappointed that he was unable to beat her as in the past but he was lacking race practice because of the training courses and Lauren  was sailing a state of the art Streaker with championship sails. Results were:

1. Stephen Cockerill  2. Tom Gillard   3. Ian Bradley   6. Jonny Shuster   21.  Alan Simmons 29. Keith Macey  53. John Burgoine (only one race).

Miracle Championships

Tracy and Gemma Amos have been campaigning the Miracle championships this year.

Midland Area    Foremark Reservoir, Derbyshire       16 & 17 June

A fleet of 20 Miracles took to the water. Two races were held on the Saturday in light, flukey winds and only one Miracle finished the second race within the time limit. Conditions were marginally better on Sunday with a reasonable breeze to start with which lessened as the day went on. Racing was extremely close and on several occasions, Bounty took the lead only to lose it again. In the last race, Tracy and Gemma worked their way up from fourth place to first only to be overtaken just before the finish. They returned home in jubliant mood  having taken second place overall.

 Southern Area                    Margate                        21 & 22 July

Tracy and Gemma pulled off four wins out of five races to take the title for the second year in a row. Racing in force 4 to 5 south west winds and a lumpy sea on the Saturday, Bounty won the first of two back-to-back races by five minutes and the second by two minutes.

Conditions were different again on Sunday when racing was postponed following a thunderstorm, heavy rain and a strong wind. The weather was far from ideal with an easterly wind gusting to F6, but despite a nasty sea, Bounty again led the fleet home. Like many of the boats, Bounty gave the 4th race a miss and after lunch the wind had dropped to F2 - 3 and conditions were ideal. Tracy and Gemma were again victorious in a much closer race and the title was theirs.

 National Championships Beaumaris, Anglesey 12th - 17th August

The Royal  Anglesey Yacht Club hosted this event in strong winds F4 - 5 gusting 6 and nasty seas. Of the 31 competitors a lot were well-known top helms both from the Miracle class and other classes. Eleven races were sailed , including a practice race. Tracy and Gemma in "Bounty" were the lightest pair on the water and  one of the only two pairs of female helm and crew. There were other female helms and a lot of female crews.

Racing was extremely close at the top end of the fleet and the duo are to be congratulated on having no gear failure and only one capsize when avoiding another capsized dinghy in front of them. Capsizes, boat damage and gear failure were numerous throughout the week. Of the 10 points races, two discards were allowed and all of Bounty's results to be counted were in the top 10 with 2 fourth positions, 2 fifths, a seventh, an eighth and 2 ninths. They were 4th in the practice race.

Tracy's and Gemma's reward for this demanding week was 6th place overall, the presentation of the Miracle Class Association Trophy for the 1st Lady Helm and a new trophy for the first parent and child pair not winning one of the 10 points races.

Cruising Norfolk Broads  20-23 June 2007

Scooby Doo, Kettle & Snoo Rule The Broads!

Some members of the intrepid Canterbury Cruising Club, or Courageous Cruisers & Cyclists, took to the water for another memorable Norfolk Broads jolly. This year we avoided the hectic May Bank holiday and went for a Wednesday to Saturday in June, so there was a tiny fraction of the people and boats we normally encounter and no racing keel yachts or nearby (static) beer tent.

On the first day we sailed to Ranworth Broad - 3 in Alan’s Otter (Alan, Tony B and myself), and 3 in Tony G’s Pacer (Tony G, Derek and Mike).  Phil Rutt could not get to us till the evening due to work commitments. Thanks to Tony G’s clever adaptation of the rigging for the Otter’s wrong size jib, and the Otter’s crew bailing due to a small leak, we had a lovely day’s sail with a reasonable but fickle breeze and intermittent sunshine. We even managed to cast off and avoid the warden heading for us to charge £3.50 a mooring for our brief stand up picnic lunch - the fees were more than our snack was worth!

On day 2 we sailed to South Walsham Broad and its adjoining nature reserve  - Alan and I in the Otter, Tony B with Tony G in the Pacer and Derek and Mike with Phil in the GP14 - complete with Honda outboard in case it was needed. We again had decent weather and a good breeze, and had an excellent day’s sail, with no need for the engine.  With our many tacks and gybes and mini races, the taunts and near misses with each other and other boats, it made for the usual exciting sailing, with lovely peaceful interludes drifting among the reeds - sometimes literally - admiring the beautiful surroundings when becalmed. On our evening cycle outings we came across several quaint and unusual flint-walled churches, some with a thatched roof and/or hexagonal tower - set amidst wonderfully scenic villages and countryside.

The camp site was as good as always, and launching was much easier without the 2 willow trees to ensnare our masts - they had been cut down as they were rotten. The usual arousing 3.45am dawn chorus in the nearby hedgerows was again much appreciated (!). We just had light rain showers overnight and occasional sunshine and overcast skies in the day - completely different from Glastonbury - and a good time was had by all.

With thanks on behalf of us all to Tony Gilbert for arranging another delightful trip.

                                                                                                                                                Lilian. 

Venetian Fête We did advertise the Club and celebrate its 40th Anniversary with a float. My simple idea of a Martello Tower with cannon atop surrounded by our training dinghies dressed overall with bunting and lights had many hurdles to overcome on the way. Marion made the splendid bunting before Christmas. I had meant to look out for white LED lights in the after Christmas sales but preoccupation with the Barn Dance put it out of my mind. I wasted a lot of time and energy searching before discovering that Rob and Chris had a garage full of lights left by the previous owner. Graham Browning's creation of Martello Tower, cannon muzzles and field gun was a work of art but then we hit another snag. Who had the artistic talent to make a flat board look like a round brick fort? With Lilian's help we twisted Colin's arm and he moved up from watercolours to theatre scenery! I could not find 4 inch high lower case letters for the web address and in the end made my own stencil. Ian and Caroline helped me put the tower in place Sunday afternoon. Ian fixed on very efficient guy ropes as high winds were forecast.

Now enter Keith and Jack without whose help the venture would have foundered. Tuesday evening they brought two Toppers and an Oppie from the Club. Keith took Wednesday off from work and with Jack's assistance we put up the masts, fixed on three sets of rope lights attached to a generator and festooned the bunting. At 3pm I collected the rowing boat for towing aided by Paul Ridley driving his Dad's inflatable. I met the float team at 6pm: Ellie, Mack and James crewing, Keith giving the commands, Jack holding the reins, Rob rowing and Hilary and Paul as steersmen. Chris was looking after their new puppy. We unfurled the sails, set the crew at the tillers and moved off with the daylight procession at about 6.45pm, Rob and Jack doing a splendid job rowing and keeping us on course. There was a spectacular firework display paid for by Roger de Hahn before the illuminated procession. At the end Dave Turnbull, Keith and Jack whipped off the lights, generator, tillers and oars and the Turnbull family, Keith and I returned Thursday evening to remove the tower and the boats. Many thanks to all who helped and were so generous with their time and expertise.                                          Hilary Pittock

FAMILY BARN DANCE

The Vagabonds Band

Sat 10 November 2007

7.30 - 11.30pm

Lyminge Village Hall

 

Commodore's Notes                                               by Ian Hodge

New sailing year, new locks on the gates and they seem to be working much better than the old ones. The weather too has been great, including sunshine for virtually the whole of Easter, which probably accounted for the good turnout.

The training courses set up by Keith for this year have generated much interest. Heartening for Keith as he spent much time (and missed out on the Easter series) preparing the boats. The junior course is full and the adult courses getting that way. Let's hope numbers of the newly qualified sailors follow on by joining the Redoubt.

Nothing much to report on Martello Lakes - work is now expected to start in the latter half of this year.

Training Courses                                               by Keith Macey

The Junior Learn to Sail course scheduled for the first two Saturdays in May is now fully booked with a record number of children attending (23 with 6 on the waiting list). Extra Oppies have been hired in for use with the Club's own Oppies and Toppers.

The Adult Level 1 & 2 courses are almost fully booked, so please return your booking form if interested, as there are only a few places left. (Level 1 Sat 26 May, Level 2 Sundays 27 May & 10 Jun)

Many thanks to everyone who has helped getting the equipment ready for the forthcoming courses.

Boat Hire

A reminder to all new members or any members without boats, that the Club's training boats - Optimists, Toppers, Mirror and Laser are available for hire when the Club is open - £2.50 per half day session for juniors and £3.50 per half day session for adults.

August Bank Holiday Fun Day                     Monday, 27 August

11am Pursuit Race, Barbecue – own food, 1.10pm Games. Approximate timings.

Hythe Venetian Fête                                Wednesday, 15 August

We have booked our float, submitted a title for the entry and are now planning. The floats are 16 ft by 8 ft, the weight limit is 30cwt and maximum height 10 ft. We would like youngsters in wetsuits and buoyancy aids aboard We can have 2 steersmen and need people who can row to tow the float. Arthur suggests dragging a bucket behind to keep the float in line. My idea had been to have the scouts rowing as a team but Mark Botting, the organiser, thought the boat might be too large. I have still to check.

Streaker Open Meeting                             Saturday, 18th August

The Southern Championship will be held at the Redoubt. We have the largest fleet of Streakers in the South.

Family Barn Dance                                  Saturday, 10 November

Lyminge Village Hall 7.30 to 11.30pm. Vagabonds Band. A change of format - own food, drink, glasses, cutlery and crockery this time at your table. See some of Linda's pictures from 6 Jan at the end.

Kent Schools Sailing Association

Jack Turnbull, in his Streaker, attended the Opening Splash at the Wilsonian Sailing Club on the Medway on 21st April. Light fickle winds prevailed and as the wind had not come through in the morning, the first race was cancelled. Three races were scheduled for the afternoon but after the second the wind vanished - very difficult when you have a tide to contend with as well. Jack distinguished himself by coming third overall in a fleet of 24 boats - very well done!

The Redoubt used to host the Topper Team racing but as Nickolls Quarries Leisure has doubled the fee and was not prepared to make a reduction the KSSA have found another venue.

Frostbite Series 2007

There were 22 entries and 13 qualifiers.

1	Tracy & Gemma Amos	Miracle 3692	3.75
2	Keith Macey	Streaker 1479	5.31
3	Alan Baker	Laser      172695	12.75
4	Lawrence Andrews	Laser Radial  21	13.75

Easter Series 2007

There were 21 entries and 13 qualifiers.

1	Tony Distefano	Streaker   1384	2.25
2	Dave Turnbull	RS300        397	5.75
3	Mike Smailes	Streaker   1476	6.00
4	Dave Pescod	Laser      172694	10.00
5	Lawrence Andrews	Laser radial  21	11.00
6	Jack Turnbull	Streaker   1478	13.00

Annual General Meeting - 14th March

Ian Hodge in his Commodore's report summarised the Club's year. Generally, the weather had been poor for sailing with lower than normal numbers qualifying for the race series. The Fun Day on August Bank Holiday was enjoyed by all despite the sudden storm at the start of the games.

The high spots of the season were the RYA Lifetime Commitment Award to Mike Smailes following the Club's recommendation and Keith Macey taking on the Club's Principal of the Training Establishment following Mike's request to stand down after 40 years of service.

The Barn Dance, marking the start of the Club's 40th year, was a great success and he thanked Hilary Pittock, Marion Smailes and all their helpers. This year's Annual Dinner was well received and thanks were due to Alan Baker who made most of the arrangements and Marian Clarke who obtained the raffle prizes.

He also thanked and expressed his appreciation to Dave Pescod, the Club's treasurer, who was standing down from office having completed his four year stint. Bob Luckhurst was elected as the new treasurer. Mike Smailes stood down from the committee after 40years unbroken service and was thanked for his commitment to the Club, to the training and to the committee. The committee for 2007 were elected as follows: Ian Hodge Commodore, Arthur King Secretary, Bob Luckhurst Treasurer, Derek Furminger Sailing Secretary, Colin Howard Membership Secretary, Alan Baker, Keith Macey, John Peach, Dave Pescod and Hilary Pittock. Linda King was co-opted as minuting secretary.

Under Any Other Business the rule changes were approved. A proposal was made to change the quorum for an AGM to 20% of the membership rather than a fixed number.

The purchase of a lighter rescue boat was suggested as the current one is very heavy. Rob Purvis offered to look into the matter and report back to the committee.

Annual Dinner/ Prize Giving - 10 March

Alan Baker organised a much cosier venue for us this year at The Stade Court Hotel in Hythe. We were seated at round tables of ten. As before, the dinner was a choice of hot and cold buffet with a vegetarian option - plenty there for second helpings. Again we could have done with another vegetable besides the potatoes. Our table nearly missed out on the dessert as people assumed the quantities were as generous as for the first course.

Then followed the prizegiving before exercising at the disco. Some (the younger generation) had put in their requests before proceedings started and were soon gyrating to the beat. Marian Clarke had a struggle procuring raffle prizes from local companies this year and we thank her for organising it.

Distribution of Prizes and Trophies

Burgess Rose Bowl - Frostbite	Chris Shelton	Winter pm  Shield	Tracy & Gemma Amos
Spring am Trophy	Dave Turnbull	Frostbite Cup	Jack Turnbull
Redoubt Shield - Spring series	Keith Macey	Spring am Mug	Jack Turnbull
Midsummer Mug - Wed Eve	Keith Macey	Redoubt Shield (slow)	Derek Furminger
Surrenden Cup - Summer am	Keith Macey	Streaker Trophy	Mike Smailes
Channel Cup - Summer pm	Keith Macey	Laser Shield	Lawrence Andrews
Redoubt Cup - Winter am	Lawrence Andrews	Bob Young Barometer	Hilary Pittock

 

	Frostbite		Wednesday Evenings
1	Chris Shelton     Phantom	1	Keith Macey      Streaker
2	Tracy & Gemma Amos   Miracle	2	Bob Luckhurst & Caroline Hodge
3	Dave Turnbull        Blaze
4	Keith Macey       Streaker
	Spring am		Spring pm
1	Dave Turnbull       Blaze	1	Keith Macey     Streaker
2	Keith Macey       Streaker	2	Tracy & Gemma Amos Miracle
3	Tracy & Gemma Amos   Miracle	3	Dave Turnbull        Blaze
4	Mike Smailes      Streaker	4	Tony Distefano   Streaker
	Summer am		Summer pm
1	Keith Macey       Streaker	1	Keith Macey   Streaker
2	Bob Luckhurst & Caroline Hodge  Scorpion	2	Tony Distefano  Streaker
3	Ian Hodge            Comet	3	Bob Luckhurst & Caroline Hodge
4	Tony Distefano  Streaker
	Winter am		Winter pm
1	Lawrence Andrews  Laser Radial	1	Tracy & Gemma Amos    Miracle
2	Dave Turnbull       Blaze	2=	Dave Pescod         Laser
3=	Mike Smailes      Streaker	2=	Lawrence Andrews   Laser Radial
3=	Ian Hodge            Splash

RYA OnBoard

This programme, through links to schools, youth groups, local sailing clubs and training centres, aims to introduce youngsters to sailing and windsurfing and so ensure the succession of th