Club Improvements
Solar Panels
As the busy summer training season comes to a close we can turn to jobs and tasks around the Club. The big project for this winter will be the installation of around 80 solar panels on the Clubhouse roof to help minimise the impact of rising energy costs. Subject to the required surveys and applications being processed, we hope they will be installed in December or January. Calculations show that they will generate enough electricity to cover our weekend usage when the Club is busiest. We’ll monitor them closely to see if they generate surplus energy that can be stored to supply power through the quieter week days.
Weather Station
We think you’ll all be thrilled to hear that a brand new weather station is being installed imminently. Matt has ordered the required parts and hopefully this will be up and running in the next couple of weeks. Hooray!
Open Meetings
We are now heading in to the Open Meeting season and there are some weekends that will be busy. All dates have been put on the website calendar, and are below too for you.
We try to strike a careful balance of prioritising Members and club racing, while also bringing in vital additional income for the Club both from the event itself, increased catering and bar income, and also as promotion for the Club as a whole to attract new members.
Early entry for the Blaze & RS300 has closed with 38 entries, and late entry closes on the 29th September.
The Fireball Inlands and 505 Open entry is open until 5th October.
(Entry for the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash will open in October. Keep your eyes peeled for this announcement.)
Draycote Academy
Our Academy training programme with Steve Irish is getting under way again for this winter and we have added Fevas to the group this year. Everyone sailing with the Academy needs to be a Club member so it’s a great way to bring new people in. We’re also now seeing the fruits that training with the Academy brings as many of them have travelled to National and World champs and come away with great success.
Celebrating Club Success Stories
To celebrate the many achievements of our members this year (both adults and juniors), Jeremy Atkins and Paula Irish are asking for your reports from events to create a bumper Unshackled magazine. There are around 50 members who have taken part in World Champs who have been emailed for reports. Please do get these back to us asap with photos so you can be included.