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Monday 29 November 2010

Froestbite racing stopped by early extreme weather!

Hoping against all the odds keen Frostbiters arrived ready for an afternoon of racing and jacket potatoes only to be met by a frozen Tarn.

Not to be deterred John began breaking up the ice with his bare hands.  The plan was to clear a hole that was big enough for a boat to be launched into and then the boat could be used to break up the ice. But it was to no avail as the ice was 3/4" inch thick! 







In true Yeadon Sailing Club spirit cheerfulness prevailed and members spent the time chatting, packing up boats and walking around the frozen Tarn before saying their good byes and going home for an afternoon in front of the fire.



Saturday 20 November 2010

Sailing Secretary's Report (From Newsletter)

By the time you read this we will have finished our summer series and plunged headlong into the icy waters of the Frostbite. Those of us hardy enough!
In terms of activity on the water the season has been mixed: Wednesday and Sunday being slightly down on recent years. Saturday is slightly up. Full graphs will be circulated for your confusion at the AGM. Similarly the Laser, Streaker and National 12 open meetings were well attended but disappointingly few Topper, Mirror and Solo sailors visited.
We will hold a Fleet Captains brainstorming meeting sometime in December so if you have any ideas that might help get the numbers up let me know. (Or if you would be prepared to act as Fleet Captain...)
Thanks are due both to non-racers who turned up to do their AOOD duty and to the frequent-racers who stood in when there was a gap that needed filling. I hope that 'first time' race officers witnessed how non-intimidating the racing is at Yeadon and will consider taking part themselves sometime in the future.

Patrick Gaunt Hon. Sailing Sec.

Wednesday 17 November 2010

Club Survey 2010 - Please take part

We would welcome your input to help your club grow from strength to strength.

Please take part in the club survey... follow the link below, you could win a prize!

Launch Survey >

Tuesday 9 November 2010

A message from your commodore (Autumn 2010 Newsletter)

Another summer's sailing season is nearly over with just a few weekends left before we start our 'Frostbite' season on 7th November.
Each year I promise myself I will do each and every single frostbite race, and each and every year so far, I've missed more than I've attended, however, this year I have set myself a target to miss only two - one Sunday because I am acting in a play and have a dress rehearsal that day, and the other Sunday is reserved for that one day, I don't know exactly when it will be, but it will be the same day when it is really, really cold, possibly even raining, with no wind.
There may be fog and Mrs Kennedy will have found a dozen jobs for me to do at home, jobs that I can normally put off, but won't because I'd rather do the DIY than squeeze my rather large body into my shrunken wet and clammy wetsuit. Then slide my frozen sail onto my frozen mast, drag my frosty boat down to the water, crunching over the frozen grass and tarmac.
Finally breaking the ice on the tarn so I can launch my boat onto the windless calm frozen water of Yeadon Tarn to once again be beaten into last place by people who are much older than me.
I know I must be mad, but somehow, just writing about it, seeing it down on paper (or on the screen) I'm starting to think that sailing on such a day won't be all that bad. In fact, it could be a lot of fun. This year I've had a great time at Yeadon Sailing Club. although, I haven't raced as often as I would like, I have done quite a lot of sailing, and watched a lot more.
The Tuesday night sessions have been great fun this year. We seem to have a lot more adults taking part than in previous years, and there seems to be more people taking part overall. I especially enjoy taking people out who have never sailed before. Sometimes, they get really scared and scream a lot, but the kids are usually a lot more relaxed and just enjoy the thrill of being pushed along by the wind blowing through the sails.
We bought a new training boat this year and called it 'Free Spirit' in memory and celebration of a dear friend who passed away in early June. Yvonne McInnes had been a member of Yeadon Sailing Club for many years and will be sadly missed by her many friends.
I sailed 'Free Spirit' a few weeks after she arrived and found her to be great fun. I know that we will all receive a lot of pleasure from seeing her take onboard new and existing members all of whom are keen to learn how to sail and then to improve their sailing skills by sailing in her during the coming years.
Quite a few of our Junior sailors have been doing rather well this year and I must congratulate them all on their wonderful achievements and wish them well for all their future events especially the boys who will shortly be setting off for Australia (more elsewhere in this publication).
It has been a terrific year for me as Commodore of Yeadon Sailing Club. We have a wonderful little club, but it still takes a lot of organising, and we couldn't do it without our Committee who have all been a tremendous help this year. My thanks go out to all our com-mittee members (too many to name here) and to the many ordinary members who tirelessly give up their time.
My personal thanks must also go to David Statman for being a wonderful role model, great storyteller, and a great friend who wasn't feeling well one day and I somehow managed to beat him.
David also happened to be the person who took my son and I out on a boat on the Open Day way back in 2001. If it wasn't for David we wouldn't have joined, and I would have missed out on so much. So thanks David you're a star - and see you at the Frostbite - the DIY can wait.

Gerard Kennedy
Laser

Monday 1 November 2010

Laying up supper tickets on sale!

Tickets for the social event of the year are now on sale.

Saturday 4th December 2010

7pm - Welcome
7.15pm - 2010 Prize-giving
8.15pm - Sumpstuous buffet served by Cranberries of Adel
9.30pm - An evening of family entertainment with the Rear Commodore

Yarnbury Rugby Club, Brownberrie Lane, Horsforth

Great Company ... Great Food ... Great Time

Ticket: Adults £12, Children £6, Family £30


Call for New Committee Members

Would you like to contribute to the running and continual development of the club, then why not become a committee member?

We are looking for keen and enthusiastic club members to spare a little extra time and help out with the running of the club. Committee members are voted in to post on the committee and are asked to attend monthly meetings, and attend club organised events.

Its an excellent opportunity to put something back in to your club and the experience can help enhance an individuals personal development and look good on their CV.

If you are interested in joining the committee at the up coming AGM then contact the club secretary at the following address:

Greetings from Keith Wear, former Commodore 1975

An ex YSC commodore from 1975 called into the club to wish the YSC and its members well. Keith Wear sailed Heron 108 Fidget which he is pleased to see is still at the club.

Keith now lives in North Lincolnshire and if any old friends would like to get in contact, please email Tim Burnett at the link below.

Keith's eldest son, Peter, now lives in France on the Riviera and Phillip lives in Lincolnshire.
webmaster@yeadonsailingclub.co.uk