Calling all women and girl sailors!!
We need your help to improve women’s participation at Draycote!!!
Please help us by completing this short survey to help us to understand what we can do to make our club more attractive and welcoming to women sailors.
Thank you.
Caroline Noel
The summer season is just about to get underway and we have a month coming up filled with activities to get you back on the water.
First of all, thank you to all those who have successfully renewed their membership using the new Webcollect system. If you have not yet renewed can you please do so as soon as possible. If you are having any difficulties at all, please call 01788 811153 during office hours (9:30-2:30) or 01788 814418. If you have lost all the paperwork, don’t worry, just start the process by clicking here.
Visiting Events
It has been great to see the Club being used so much over the winter with visiting fleets having open events and training sessions. Not many clubs can say that their busiest month is January! However, the next full weekend open meeting is now not until September, so there is no excuse for members not to make use of the full expanse of water throughout the summer!
Summer Racing
We are back to 3 races on a Sunday (plus the early morning warm-up race), with the 3rd race being the new format Windward/Leeward. More information here.
Get Racing and Refresher Weekend
Here are two initiatives to get newcomers to sailing and racing into the swing of things:
The successful Wednesday evening racing starts again on 6th April. Don’t forget: The start times for the first two Wednesdays is 6:30, then 7pm until the last 2 Wednesdays when it’s back to 6.30pm.
The bar will be open from 6:30pm onwards and a new, fresh format to providing an evening meal will be available for just £5. It will be a varied self service menu each week with a choice of mash, chips and vegetables such as sausages, gourmet burgers, BBQ and curry nights . Please note there will be no need to book.
Women Sailing
A new initiative for this year is to encourage more participation from women and girls. Caroline Noel is hoping to strengthen the network of the club’s women members around common interests which may not necessarily be all about sailing, but include social aspects and other activities, e.g. cycling and walking. She will shortly be sending out a survey form to all women and girls on the membership list to ascertain levels of interest. If you do not receive one, please contact the office.
OOD Refresher Training – Sunday 3rd April 3.30pm
In case you missed it, here’s a second chance to run through the process of being on the OOD team helping to run the club’s racing. Jeremy Atkins, Commodore, will make it all seem very clear and easy, from setting courses to running the sequence.
Forthcoming Events
The Club has the following events coming up:
3 April – OOD Refresher Training; Get Racing
6 April – Wednesday Evening Racing starts
9 April – Solo Spring Championships
23/24 April – Refresher weekend
Spring is here so enjoy the lighter evenings and have fun on the water.
Kind regards
Andrea
Andrea Halliman
DWSC Club Administrator
Here is your latest update on what has, and what is happening at the Club over the next few weeks.
Sunday Summer Series
It’s that exciting time of year with Spring on its way and the clocks going forward at the end of the month that reminds us all that the Sunday Summer Series is about to begin. It all starts on Sunday 27th March 2016.
The 3rd race of the Summer Series this year is going to be a pure Windward Leeward course. This is the opportunity all you W/L enthusiasts have been waiting for — a clear W/L course without the encumbrance of round-the-cans sailors coming at you at funny angles and blocking your path to the leeward mark!
This course is obviously also suitable for other types of boats besides those flying asymmetric kites. It gives the opportunity for racing that can be more tactical than the round-the-cans fare and is more typical of the kind of courses provided on the open circuit. Sailors from the other fleets have already said they will give it a go, so hopefully we can start to get some decent turnouts for the 3rd race again.
Everything else about the 3rd Race stays the same: (one) Mass start, timed finish for handicap results and the race will be approximately 50 minutes.
More details to follow in the OOD instructions for the summer.
Wednesday Evening Series
Time to get organised in the week and join in the Wednesday evening club racing which starts on 6th April 2016.
Get Racing (for Novices and Juniors)
This programme starts again on Sunday 3rd April 2016.
OOD Training
Two dates have been scheduled to hold the OOD training which includes information about the new windward / leeward 3rd race. The training will take place on Wednesday 16th March at 7:30pm and Sunday 3rd April at 3:30pm.
News from February
Affiliates Day – Our affiliated groups attended the Club for an update on how the Club is performing and also to review and discuss the process for renewal of membership this coming year. A really useful and positive afternoon had by all.
Laser 4.7 Open – Although a breezy weekend there was some great sailing on the water with 34 boats from all over the country competing.
Membership Renewal
This month you will receive an e-mail about renewing your membership which will be available online. There will be a set of instructions available and help in the clubhouse every weekend from 12th March to 3rd April, or during the week through the Waterside Reception. Those paying by Direct Debit will have to set up a new Direct Debit. It will be slightly painful this first time, but thereafter it will give both the members and the Club great efficiency benefits.
Forthcoming Events – Lets see what’s on:
4 March Fireball, Solo and Laser fleets prizegiving – 7 for 7:30pm start
5/6 March Optimist Zone training
12/13 March 29er training
19/20 March 420 Open meeting *
Monday 28 March RNLI Lifeboat Pursuit race – 11:00am start
* Some parking restrictions may be in operation.
Lots going on so enjoy your time at the Club and on the water!!
Windward/Leeward the way to go for 3rd Race on Sunday
The 3rd race of the Summer Series this year is going to be a pure Windward Leeward course. This is the opportunity all you W/L enthusiasts have been waiting for — a clear W/L course without the encumbrance of round-the-cans sailors coming at you at funny angles and blocking your path to the leeward mark!
This course is obviously also suitable for other types of boats besides those flying asymmetric kites. It gives the opportunity for racing that can be more tactical than the round-the-cans fare and is more typical of the kind of courses provided on the open circuit. Sailors from the other fleets have already said they will give it a go, so hopefully we can start to get some decent turnouts for the 3rd race again.
Everything else about the 3rd Race stays the same: (one) Mass start, timed finish for handicap results and the race will be approximately 50 minutes.
More details to follow in the OOD instructions for the summer.
If you haven’t yet booked your place for the Fireball, Solo and Laser Fleets Prize giving on Friday 4 March 2016 then don’t forget you need to book by the 26th February. Payment secures your place!!
Contact Helen Salisbury, Fireball Fleet Captain at DWSC via email: salisburyhelenb@yahoo.co.uk or text 07837 410575.
You can also pass your booking form to Fleet members Bob Morris, Paul Roe or Mike Deane
Or Jon Hughes, Solo Fleet Captain jdfhughes@talktalk.net or Marcellus Pryor, Laser Fleet Captain marcellus@livetheseason.com
How do you book your place for the Fireball, Solo and Laser Fleets Prize giving?
Contact Helen Salisbury, Fireball Fleet Captain at DWSC via email: salisburyhelenb@yahoo.co.uk or text 07837 410575.
Bookings to be made by Friday 26 February 2016 with payment of £15 per person to secure your place.
You can also pass your booking form to Fleet members Bob Morris, Paul Roe or Mike Deane
Or Jon Hughes, Solo Fleet Captain jdfhughes@talktalk.net or Marcellus Pryor, Laser Fleet Captain marcellus@livetheseason.com