Hello all! I hope you have all enjoyed the recent cold snap with the snow and, for many of us, a few days off work and school (writes Rosie Mammatt)! However, as I sit outside writing this, with glorious sunshine, tweety birds and spring in the air, I think about the up and coming sailing season we have to look forward to. Our first races of the year are on April 8, starting at 10.30. This Sunday (April 1) at 10.30, there is a dinghy park clean up and race briefing, so please try to attend. As well as the sailors, the rowers are hoping to be back out on the water during the Easter holidays and they will be hosting their league race later in April where everyone will be hoping to win some trophies! Local legend has it that a cold winter gives way to a hot summer, so let’s hope that is the case this year!

Whilst most of us sailors have been hibernating for the winter months, some in the club are more hardy. During the weekend of February 24, Aled, one of our junior sailors, was competing in the National Topper Championships in Weymouth. He had two firsts, a third and a sixth out of a fleet of 144 boats, which left him placed an impressive second place overall. A huge well done to Aled for that excellent result!

Preparations for Coppet Week are well underway down the the club. Thirty-five people have already signed up for the annual event however there are still 40 more places to fill. The early bird price discount will be ending on April 1, so get your forms in soon!

Even with no sailing, the club has been a hive of activity over the past few months. Volunteers from both the sailing and rowing clubs have been busy redecorating the clubhouse ready for the new season. They have painted, sanded, filled, glossed and caulked their way through the clubhouse and it is safe to say that once they are finished, it is going to look fresh and lovely! A huge thank you to all who stayed after the rowing safety briefing last Saturday to help out; it is amazing how much you got done! There is going to be another decorating session after the dinghy park clean up on Sunday so if you are attending and are able to stay and help, come down in painting kit and lend a hand!

That’s all for now folks, so I’ll see you in a few weeks!