Ahoy! August 2010

Social Scene

We kicked off summer in style last month, firstly with the Independence Day party and, most recently, the fabulous Fun Race, party and live band. Summer is still with us and the social scene remains hot! hot!! hot!!!

In mid-August we have a special Airbourne party in the club house. There will be yummy food, possibly a hog roast, and music to bop the night away. Check out the club noticeboards and the mid-month newsflash for full details nearer the time.

Then at the end of August we have our annual sailing and partying extravaganza with the brilliant RNLI Regatta, which promises to be even bigger and better than before. We are also holding the Commodore’s Cup/Beneteau Regatta on the Friday before, with dancing to the ever-popular live band Stray Dogs, so this will be a real bonanza weekend. Could this be the start of a new “Eastbourne Week”??

The complete social programme is here.

Come Dine with Us

We are delighted to welcome Jake who has taken over the galley as our new cook. The Bistro is now open every Friday and Saturday night 1900-2100 with a great selection of dishes.

The popular Sunday carvery continues with a choice of succulent roasts and all the trimmings for just £6.50. Meals are served from 1230 to 1400 every Sunday.

On Wednesday race nights we are serving our ‘one-dish suppers’ – hot and tasty food for £6 per plate, available from 1900 till late when the racers get back in. This week’s dish (28 July) is chicken breast with bacon. We’ll publish the menus for the month in the next racing bulletin and on posters in the club house.

Remember, when dining it’s always best to book in advance either at the bar or by phoning the club on 01323 470888 as this helps us to cater for enough people– but please come and enjoy!

Here is this month's menu.

Cruise News

Last month saw seven SHYC sailing yachts leaving the familiarity of Sovereign Harbour on the long summer cruise – and what a success that was!
Asterie, Aventura, Calypso, Equinox, Jachoby, Lady Anne and Rushcutter headed west for the first foray with the natives at Gun Wharf, meeting up with Kis at Gosport, then across the channel in convoy to Cherbourg - a cracking sail and a well-deserved rest to sample French cuisine and the shops.

A sail past Alderney was an exciting first experience of the Alderney Race for some, then a long weekend spent in St Peter Port, Guernsey, with the highlight of a walk around Herm and a strong resolution to return in 2011 and anchor off Shell Bay.

The return passage through the Race was smooth and a great sail. Asterie and Calypso were drawn by the views to sail west to Alderney then continue to St Vaast and Fecamps. The remainder of the fleet headed back to Cherbourg to revisit their favourite restaurant then, lured by the tranquillity of the Beaulieu River, sailed back across the channel.

The whole trip was fantastic, the weather was kind, plans were met and there was much partying in cockpits on the pontoons. For one new member, Terri Phillips, this was a virgin channel crossing, returning in a pea-souper across the Chichester Bar … and she’s still eager to go out again!

But it was not all plain sailing and seamanship was tested when, a few miles outside of Fecamps and in the middle of a fog bank, Calypso’s propeller spun off. The Heroes Award goes to Jeremy and crew on Asterie who, in a rather surreal moment, silently emerged through the fog to escort Calypso safely into harbour, then towed her the whole way back across the channel. The two boats arrived safely home to be greeted with a warm welcome by their fellow cruisers on hand to grab the warps.

A gold star goes to Chris Thorpe who, as skipper of the lead boat Calypso, co-ordinated the whole trip. Despite one lost propeller, it was a great summer cruise. Roll on next summer!

Looking Ahead

For anyone who is keen to cruise in company, the next cruise fleet outing is to St Valery en Caux over the weekend of 20-22 August. Calypso is again the lead boat so, if anyone is interested and wants more details, please contact Chris Thorpe on 07921 291927.

Talking of long-distance sailing, club members Andy Malin and Sara Jackson are now on the hard slog back to the UK after a year or so cruising in the Mediterranean on their yacht, Limbara. They are due back in the UK by the end of August and you can check out their travels on their updated website at www.limbara.co.uk.

The complete crusing programme is here.

Race Report

Here’s a message from Bob Jackson, Race Captain: “Well done and thank you to everyone who took part in the recent Fun Race. If you missed it, check out the photo gallery on the website

Once again the weather was fine, the wind was warm and the sun shone, which was good news as it helped to dry out those crew members participating in skimpy fancy dress against a choppy 20 knot south-westerly. With half the stalwarts of last year away, either cruising, on hols, racing or injured, this year saw five boats taking part with some very interesting themes, and there was the usual fun and frolics in the lock which attracted a large crowd and much laughter all round.

Despite valiant efforts from 'The Tarts and their Pimp' on Red Machine, 'Combat Kings' on Pleiades, 'Clowns' on Nimrod, and 'Pirates of the Hawaiian’ on White Rose, the Speedos won best costumer for Leopard with their YMCA look. Leopard also completed their win on the water. According to post race reports, the difficulties of laddered fishnet stockings on Red Machine and grass skirts getting tangled in winches on White Rose impaired their racing performance against Rob's minimalist outfit which helped Leopard slip into the lead!

Fundraising this year was helped by the donation of a barrel of beer (thanks Brian Annett!) and we raised £450 towards SHYC funds and our race buoy maintenance. Our 'name the racing buoy' raffle was won by Ken Parsons and aptly renamed 'Red Machine' for the next 12 months. Now all we need is a volunteer to change the name!

Thanks again to all involved: Graham Trott for his race officer stuff, Mark Robbo and Paul Want for a fantastic barbecue, Elaine and the back room boys for work in the bar and kitchen, Hazel and Taryn for organising the Racquets who gave us great live music, and of course to everyone who participated. Bob.”

Looking Ahead

What a fantastic month is in store for the racing fleet with Cowes Week 31 July - 7 August, Wednesday evening racing on 4, 11, 18 and 25 August, two offshore races on Saturday/Sunday 21/22 August, the Commodore Cup and Beneteau Regatta on Friday 27th and of course three full days of racing in the RNLI Regatta. Phew!

As well as the drinking, eating and partying every evening, breakfast bacon butties will be available from the race office each morning of the Commodore’s Cup and RNLI race days.

The racing section on our website is excellent so check out all the details there. Our webmaster, Kevin Fearn, has also been doing great things with a dedicated RNLI Regatta website, which is packed full of stuff. Visit this great new site at www.eastbournernliregatta.org.uk

The RNLI Regatta is great fun both for the regular racers and other sailing crews who don’t usually race but want to have some fun around the cans. If you’re not racing but still want a slice of the action, we welcome volunteers to help with spotting etc on the committee boat. Full training will be provided, you will be working as a part of a friendly team and it’s a great way to be involved. Please contact either Taryn Gordon or Lisa Lott .

Lisa is in the process of taking over from Taryn as secretary to the racing committee. I am sure the whole racing community will join me in thanking Taryn for all her hard work and brilliant communications over the past year or so.

Bits and Pieces

New club flyer

We’re producing a new promotional flyer to be given out by Premier Marinas to visiting yachtsmen and to be distributed to every harbour home via the residents’ newsletter, Waterlines. I’ve got a small supply for any club members who would like to hand these out to friends, neighbouring boats on your pontoon etc. This would be very helpful so, if you would like a few, please let me know.

Radio Airbourne

Airbourne fans can tune into Radio Airbourne every day for a week from midnight on Monday 9 August to hear great music, topical interviews and live flight commentary. Our very own DJ, Jonathan will be on air every morning from 1000, so why not phone in for a special request?

Last year, with help from Calypso and Flipper, Jonathan (Eastbourne’s answer to Tony Blackburn) launched ‘Pirate Radio Airbourne’, broadcasting live from the bay. Skippers and weather permitting, we’re hoping for more offshore broadcasting this time. And I’m looking forward to a cameo role as ‘Ali Traffic’, with jam-busting reports on the park ‘n’ ride. If I see you on the prom, you may get to go on air too!

Pretty in pink

Ryan Page (as in Russell and Gabbie) is raising money for the RNLI regatta fund by dyeing his hair bubblegum pink. This should be quite a sight and very brave for a 17-year old cool dude! Ryan is looking for sponsors, however small, so please give him a call on 07742 055121.

Update on Baby Oliver

Here’s positive news of baby Oliver from proud dad, Marky Allison:

Dear all. Here’s a quick update on little Oliver and wow, what an update! We came up to Great Ormond Street Hospital last week expecting to prepare Oliver for his impending chemotherapy. We met the bone marrow transplant chief who wanted a chat regarding Oliver’s treatment.

He has now advised on a rather nice and indeed unexpected change of plan. Due to a slight bit of damage to Oliver’s left lung during the recent initial infection, chemotherapy would be a bit risky as the lung damage would definitely cause difficulty during proceedings and it did not sound good to go down this road.

So, without missing a beat, the consultant advised we are not going to give him chemotherapy but instead infuse the cells this Thursday and send us home on SATURDAY......."YOU WHAT?" I cried. So no stay for three months as expected, and my missus may have over-packed. Oliver will still be monitored once a week back here at Great Ormond Street to keep an eye on him.

There is a chance that he may suffer from graft-versus-host syndrome, which is when your body's cells fights the new ones implanted, but this is an acceptable risk given the options and, as Oliver is now in himself still very well and strong, it looks very positive. No chemotherapy means removing all the other risks and side effects that come with it. It was the worst part for us and there is no guarantee; we may yet have to come back and go through it all as originally planned if the transplant does not take.

Now, to say this is experimental is rather an understatement. To give a child with X-gamma chain deficiency an unrelated donor’s umbilical cord without conditioning (chemo) is rare. In fact Oliver will be only the second child ever at this hospital to try this method so it’s cutting edge Jedi medicine. He does have fluffy ears and little whiskers and looks like a guinea pig, so fair enough.

Thursday looms so please wish us luck with it all and we hope to see you all soon.

Love Mark, Vic and Poorly Oliver x

And Finally

Here’s an item for harbour residents who get miffed when they see abandoned trolleys lying about. Asda has a new trolley collection service, ‘Trolley Wise’. The driver is called Tony, and you can call him on 07930 662042 to tell him where the trolleys can be found. So now you know … just wheel your shopping home in a trolley, then call Tony!! Sorry - I don’t think he does pontoon pick-ups.

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That’s it for this month. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Alison x

News and other contributions to membership@shyc.co.uk