www.tbyc.org • Edition 1

I would like to start myarticle by sharing anexperience that I had at theclub over the last couple ofmonths. After somedeliberating we decided toget ourselves a Dart 15 andjoin the Sprint class.

My maiden sail with Mollywas not so successful andresulted in a tow back to thebeach. A little dejected, wewashed the boat down anddecided to call it a day. Backin the dinghy park, many ofthe other Dart sailorsoffered help and advicewith Andrew Hannahtaking time out to help mewith the rigging. Next timeout was fantastic and Ireturned to the beach witha massive smile. I had joineda section that was full ofenthusiasm to help newDart sailors get the mostfrom their membership atTBYC.

It was this experience thatmade we want to standagain for MembershipOfficer at TBYC. This is a

relatively new role to thegeneral committee; the firsttwo years have beenfocused on getting newmembers to join. For 2010 Iwant to bring in a little ofwhat I experienced with theDarts, helping new andexisting members tointegrate into the club andto get the most from yourmembership.

Whether you are a newmember or have been herefor several years we want tomake sure that 2010 givesyou the full opportunity toget involved in your club.Whether it is through sailtraining, cadet week, clubracing, safety boat cover orrace officers or just meetingother members in theclubhouse both the GeneralCommittee, SailingCommittee and I am here tohelp.

Our drive for new memberswill continue in 2010.Alongside this we are goingto introduce a quarterlynew members evening

inviting members that havejoined in the last year tomeet with other newmembers and those on theclub’s committees. We alsoplan to hold an introductionday to the dinghy classesand cruisers to help newand existing membersdevelop their sailing andget involved in the classeswe have at TBYC.

I also need your help. If youhave recently joined TBYC Ineed to know if we aremeeting your expectationsand what areas you thinkwe can help with orimprove. Please phone oremail me, in full confidence,so that we can worktowards ensuring you getthe most from your club.

I look forward to hearingfrom you and seeing youout on the water in 2010.

Shaun ChristianMembership OfficerEmail: sdlchristian@aol.comMobile: 07881 501675

TBYC Membership £1,500 • Family £2,500

New Committee for 2010. Follow the changes…

What I Enjoy

The break of day. The tranquility on the mud. The first car arriving.Dinghies uncovered. Catamarans wheeled out. First sail being hoisted.Bosun rowing to Polly. First cruiser slipping its mooring. More carsarriving. The day unfolding. Kitchen is open. Bar is serving. Bicycleswheel in. Skateboards whiz by. The Cadets have arrived. Game of poolwith a bacon roll. The beach is full of boats. Ribs are being launched.Race Officer on the horn. Flags aloft. Laughter on the slipway.Sandhoppers uncover. Blue sails are raised. Car park is full. Sixty boatsprowl the start line. Sail training underway. The experienced are teaching,and the novices are learning. Race has started. Concentration on full.Only one winner. Who is it to be? Back in the clubhouse with theconfidence of a pint. Lunches are served. How lucky are we?

Was this a special Saturday? No, it’s every Saturday.

The boats are away. The cars are gone. The washing up is done. Theshutters come down. The lights go out.

The greatest thing of all is that there is always Sunday to do it all again…

What is most astonishing, is that membership is only 10% of what its truevalue should be at the top of the page. Why?

From the founding years, TBYC has benefitted from a membership thathave given more than they have taken, year in year out, with only theodd blip. Fantastic.

We, as the new committee for 2010, will follow that legacy to ensure themembers, our local community and sailing have an asset and anopportunity of which to be very proud, today, tomorrow and for futuregenerations.

Changes have started with mindset and enthusiasm. Enjoy the ride.

Peter ThompsonCommodore, TBYC

Another season of action packed sailing is only weeks away forthe Sandhopper fleet.

Lift-in this year is on Saturday March 27th, so I am sure that as youvisit TBYC you will see many owners and crew busy, fairing thebottoms of their boats and doing everything possible to getevery ounce of speed they can this year.

Lots of sets of new sails have also been ordered so PeterBlomfield is going to be very busy measuring them in the club.It’s great to watch this measuring craft and one I wouldencourage you to come and watch whilst having a beer. Rumourhas it that a new Sandhopper has been ordered. Is it yours? Wehave no idea who it is or from which club, so answers on apostcard please!

The national championships will be hosted again in September2010 at TBYC. The 2009 event was a huge success, in which arecord 29 yachts competed. I am sure that we will beat thatrecord and the competition will be even closer as the boats, sailsand skillset gets better and better.

During the summer we also have two Sandhopper opens; one atMaylandsea Bay Yacht Club and one here at Thorpe Bay. Keepyour eye on the TBYC web site for more details. We will also beholding some midweek all day cruisesaround the estuary. Thesewill be fun days that I’m sure will involve a trip ashore to find awatering hole. You will more than likely spot the Sandhoppercrew at the club. They will no doubt be seen in their newpersonalised polo shirts. If you would like to know more aboutthe class or would like to have a test sail, then please let us know.

During the year there will be evening talks on sail trim, weatherreading, boat speed, and so on, again keep your eye on the TBYCweb site and on the club noticeboards with the dates and times.Hopefully David Johnson will give another talk on boat repairs.His recent one at the cruiser evening was fantastic and I havenever seen a man so enthusiastic about his craft. David, thesooner the better for us!

The annual Sandhopper quiz night will take place on the 29th ofJanuary, so book your table early with either Alix Dell or TonyPadbury as this is such a popular event .

For more details of forthcoming events keep your eye on theTBYC web site and here in your new-look newsletter. If youwould like more information on Sandhoppers, please visit ourother web site at www.sandhopper.org.uk.

Happy Christmas to you all, and we wish you all safe, excitingsailing for the New Year.

Barry Duce

I am thrilled to have taken on the role of Cadet Representativefor 2009-2010.

Our regular Thursday Cadet nights are a great way for newmembers to meet other cadets and get to know if anyone islooking for a crew if they do not already have a boat. We canalways try to find someone for you to sail with. Although itmay be a bit chilly for some of you, we do have a number ofcadets sailing in the Winter and Icicle series currently and Iknow they are really enjoying it.

Many of you are looking forward to warmer and lighter days.We have regular sail training opportunities and the Pico seriesto look forward to. Last year Alex Farrall (pictured) becamethe Pico National Champion 2009 - at age 13 this was anoutstanding achievement. Over Christmas 2009, another ofour cadets, Alex Warrington will be competing in the CadetWorld Championships in Argentina.

At TBYC cadets are welcome to sail (as manyalready do) in the Saturday and Sunday series andwe have cadet trophies - the Walley and Eyre Cupsand the Rebellious Bowl.

Looking forward to the “Main Event” - Cadet Week2010 - will be held from Monday 26th July to Friday30th July. This is the high point of the Cadetcalendar and a great deal of fun is to be had by all.All ages and abilities are catered for from absolutebeginners to National Champions! There is a nichefor everyone and daily sailing activities build onconfidence and experience and lunch/dinner andevening entertainments are included in the price.Letters will be sent to all cadets in March invitingthem to take part.

Finally, Kylie Jenkins (Social Secretary) and I arehoping to put together a range of social events thisyear for the cadets. If you have any ideas aboutanything you would like to do, please let us know andwe will do our best to get it organised for you.

Sue Hadley

Firstly, Happy New Year!

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Kylie, daughter of Tom Jenkins. Dad has beena member of the club since the dawn of time,so I have been down there since I arrived onearth! I have grown up at the club, learnt to sail there (OK, so still learning!), partied there

and even worked behind the bar, so I feel I am fullyequipped to take over the role as social secretary for2010 and make it a fun a year as possible!

So now is the time to christen those brand spankingnew diaries and calendars with a whole host of socialevents at TBYC in 2010. There will be everything fromquiz nights, family days, hog roasts, Halloween parties,BBQs - as well as much more to be announced as theyear progresses.

For the football fans of the club, we will be showing allof the England matches with the kitchen open for anhour before and an hour after for food. The first matchkicks off on Saturday June 12th at 7pm (TBC). The finalwill also be shown regardless of England actuallygetting through… or not!

The main focus and theme throughout 2010 will be funand affordable, in that order. We are lucky to havesome great facilities in our club and I fully intend to putthem to good use. Some important dates for thisyear's social calendar are printed on the back page foreasy reference.

After the success of the hog roast last year we havedecided to hold it again but this time at Easter, Jo'schocolate fountain will also be in full flow! Somethingnew for 2010 will be the Caribbean Party. After visitingthe Caribbean in 2009, I wanted to bring a little bit ofthe fun (and of course, the rum) back to TBYC. If theweather in July is kind to us, there will be a BBQ out onthe balcony with traditional Caribbean favourites suchas jerk chicken and rum punch by the gallon! I do hopeto see you all there! I am also hoping to run somemore cadet-focused events throughout the year andwould love to hear their ideas!

If you happen to know any budding comedians,quizmasters, bands, DJs, in fact any forms ofentertainment, I would love to have yourrecommendations and their contact details please!

I also have an appeal to anyone who would like to bea part of the social committee for next year, I'm hopingmembers from each section would like to get involvedand put their ideas forward. However, if time is aconstraint but you have any ideas for events, please dolet me know. Drop me an email atkylievjenkins@googlemail.com or give me a bell on07734 904824. However, if it is before the January 25th2010, I will be in Australia, so please don't think I amignoring you!

Kylie

It is with some great pride that I amable to write this to you as the ViceCommodore of Thorpe Bay YachtClub. I have been a member of thisgreat club for 34 years, which givesme a good insight into the way theclub has been run.

There is much to do, and I amcommitted through the team wenow have on the General Committeeto get it done. We hope to improveall areas of the club that serve itsmembers, especially the Bar andCatering.

We are currently about to undertakea review of all the drinks we sell, andsee if it’s what you like to drink, andwhere you like to drink it. I will beholding a wine-tasting night early inthe New Year to rewrite our wine list,which is in need of updating. Watchthe noticeboards and website forfurther details. I would advise

anybody who likes wine - or who hasan opinion about wine - come alongand enjoy a glass or two with friendsin a friendly environment.

Jo of AfForderble Catering is nowcommitted to opening every Fridaynight with the normal menu, as wellas a fine dining menu once a monthon a trial basis. Food is available atthe club every day except Monday.Jo will now be advertising on thenoticeboards and through thewebsite. Also you can ring her on07500 878249 for information andbookings.

The club is a fantastic place to use.Why not have your party orcelebration at the Yacht Club, bringall your friends and have a privateparty? Hold a disco, host a band, orenhance your party with a dinner orbuffet. Corporate functions, privatemeetings and individuals are all

welcome. I have listed below therates for your club. Call our clubsecretary Lorraine on 01702 587563for bookings and availability. We arenow taking bookings for the SailTraining Room at the back of theclub for meetings or training sessions.It has a whiteboard, a projector andcan be laid out in boardroom orclassroom style.

If anyone has any suggestions for theNew Year at the club, please feel freeto contact me – the happier themembers, the better the club.Thorpe Bay Yacht Club looks forwardwelcoming you all very soon.

Have a great Christmas and a goodsailing new year.

Nick Elmore – Vice Commodore 07702 299555

Function Hire ratesfor weddings, anniversaries,birthday parties etc

Main Bar £75 per afternoon or evening session

Commodore’s Bar £50 per afternoon or evening session.

Sail Training Room £ 30 per day or evening session

2009 has been another good year, with 89 courses completed.Congratulations to everyone who has taken part.

Sail Training is open to all members of the Club from all sectionsfrom total novice (never been on the water) to the moreexperienced. It is not necessary to own a boat to enrol for thesecourses as the Club owns 6 Oppies, 3 Picos and 2 rowing tenderswhich have exclusive priority on the sail training days.

Everyone starts at Stage 1, regardless of experience, as the coursecovers a lot of detail with how to look after yourself and how tostay safe in the worst possible circumstances through to racing as acrew. Cadets start off in Oppies and adults in Picos. The course cantake up to 4 days depending on previous experience. There is alsoan additional Stage 1 course run during the annual cadet week.Stage 2 is a big jump with a steep learning curve. This involvescompetent helming in Picos and learning how to tack and gybewith complete control as well as racing as helm. The content of thiscourse is quite extensive and takes 3 – 4 days to complete. At Stage3, the real fun begins, with more advanced seamanship and boathandling techniques in Picos and learning how to trapeze on catsfrom Sprints to Hurricanes. The four day course also covers ribtraining, displacement training and a day as a race officer'sassistant. Log books are issued for each stage and these areaccepted by the Scout Association for the water sports badges andas part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

Our Sail Training programme is only successful through thededicated commitment and enthusiasm of the Club Instructorswho give up their own sailing time to make it all happen. This is anappropriate time to thank our 2009 instructors of Shaun Christian,Simon Bown, Chris Pimm, Gregg Tidd, Nick Elmore, HowardWarrington, Nick Cotgrove and Paul White as well as our juniorinstructors Alex Farrall, Alex Gibson, Jonny Snow, Alex Hadley,William Arney and Max Duce.

To enrol for the sail training in 2010, just send me an email. We donot set a lower age limit – just the enthusiasm to be on (and in) thewater are the only requirements to learn a new lifelong skill. TheClub is always looking for volunteers to instruct the sail trainingcourses. If you have the skills, lots of patience with the ability toteach and would like to explore this further, then give me a call.

For 2010, we are looking at a new initiative of introducing a ClubRib and Displacement course to act as a steeping stone to the RYApowerboat courses. The idea here is to allow more parentvolunteers and cadets to have a taster session in handling oursupport boats. More details on this topic will follow in the nextedition of this magazine. Mike Thomason

I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas carols withthe Rayleigh Brass Band. We thanked them for anenjoyable evening. I’d also like to thank everyonewho brought in plates of Christmas fare. The CruiserSection Nibbles evening was well attended andhope all enjoyed yourselves,with the Spicy Captain’sRum Punch and Cocktails.

Now the festive season is over, and the new Cruisingseason starts in April. Your new Committee areworking very hard on your behalf to make this clubthe premier club on the North Thames coastline,starting with a new glossy magazine to keep you allinspired and informed of what the Club has to offer.

Polly needs a makeover, and so do at least twodinghies, so a working party could do this in a coupleof weekends. If you have spare time, please give mea call.

Wayne, the Vice Cruiser Captain, has designed anew Polly roster for bosun’s duties on it. You willfind your name along the top and dates down theside. Just add your cross on the date you can cover.We need Polly covered for 60 days, so please try tocover at least two duties each.

The mooring and root check will take place onSaturday March 20th. If you need a root dug, pleasecontact Peter Mehner (Moorings Officer) well inadvance - please do not leave it to the last minute.Peter has all the information on root, chains,shackles, fees etc.

The Cruiser Lift-In will be on Saturday 10th April,and I will inform of your duties nearer the time.The Sailing Programme this season should havesomething for everyone to get you out on thewater and having fun. There’ll be something onapproximately once a fortnight, with six races, fourshort trips, one long day and a weekend. There arealso eight or nine rallies, on weekends and bankholidays. On the rallies, other suggestions haveincluded a barbeque, a fishing competition and a“Ladies on the Helm” Fun Day. It’s up to you,though, to let me know what floats your boat!

I wish you all a safe season. Come andjoin us,shake out your sails andhave some fun with theCruisers. Bob Crane

Welcome to the leastinteresting section of themagazine - the part you flickpast without reading thedetail, the section that meansnothing to you - until, that is,we arrive at the AGM inNovember.

Those of you present at theAGM in November shouldrecall that I openly admittedthat because I work in thefinancial services sector that Iam probably viewed by mostas one of a large group ofsocial pariahs takingadvantage of the Great Britishtaxpayer! I have grown usedto that popular misconceptionover the years as well ashaving grown used to the factthat as a Sandhopper owner, Isail one of the slowest boatson the race track which, if youdecide to overtake us toleeward, our sails have the

same effect as a medium sizedblock of flats on the smallerdinghies.

Anyway, that is my personalintroduction out of the way.For those of you who didn'tknow me before, I have beena member of the club since Iwas 11 and have grown upsailing at TBYC. You mayquestion whether I really havegrown up yet, but the reason Iam a member of this club is togo sailing. Here comes theless interesting part, but pleasestick with me for two moreparagraphs.

We are very fortunate to havesome of the best sailingfacilities on the east coast ofthe country. The club hasgrown exponentially over thelast 10 years and with thatgrowth comes a responsibilityof the general committee to

ensure we manage the club onbehalf of the membersprudently. I will be workingwith the whole committee thisyear and in particular withPeter Thompson and NickElmore to plan what weshould be able to spend thiscoming year to keep the clubmoving forwards, to ensurethat with the wholecommittee we control theexpenditure of the club duringthe year and most importantlythat we understand everypayment that is made by theclub before it is signed by acombination of two of thethree of us.

As I write this article we havebeen in our new roles for aweek. Our first generalcommittee meeting is to beheld in the clubhouse in lessthan 24 hours and I have a firstset of financial reports andforecasts to discuss with therest of the committee. I hopethat in the next edition I willbe able to start sharing ourplans for expenditure over thecoming year so that you canunderstand which of the largeprojects that we all want tosee happen at the club in thecoming year can be affordedand on what timescale.

Cheers! (Paul S160 - Nemesis)

Treasurer's Scribbling

Hello again, everyone. Hope you had a great festivetime and are looking forward to another excitingyear of sailing.

If last year was anything to go by, then another crop ofwinners will emerge - but will the list be as long? AlexFarrall, Kyle Stoneham, Oli Herve, Peter Thompson,Steve Hopper, Nick Elmore and David White not tomention the adventures of Alex Warringtonwho at thetime of writing is preparing to head off to Argentina.Notice that doing well at Thorpe Bay can lead toNational and International events all over the world. Butyou can only do well if you get out there and take part!

We are looking to arrange another Race PreparationEvening sometime in the early spring, this will include arun through of the Race Officer procedures and it ishighly recommended that anyone interested inlearning more about being a Race Officer or raceprocedures in general should make a point of comingdown for the evening. Also if you are interested in beinga Race Officer then we hope to run “mentoringsessions” where you will accompany an RO out on thewater for a club race and see exactly what goes on. Itwould be great to see some non-sailing parentswho fancy taking a more active role in theclub get involved in race managementwhich is vital to the long term success ofclub racing. If this interests you, thenplease contact myself or Chris Boshier formore details.

There will be some major changes to the way clubracing is run this year, if you glance around you beforethe start you may notice an extra buoy out there.Hopefully this will not be a surprise to you as of courseyou will have read the sailing instructions and be fullyaware that there is a shorter course for the slowerhandicap fleets to sail, this should give some good closequarter sailing action.

If you fancy getting in some pre-season training, thenwhy not get involved in the remaining Icicle Series? Justenrol and get stuck in, that way you will hit the springseason in tip top condition.

So come on folks, make this the season when yourracing steps up a gear, astound all your mates and leavethem in your wake! Make Barry eat your dust! Prove toSam that Solos can cope with more than F2! ShowAndrew that Sprints can start on time! Display to Christhat Hurricanes can be controlled at speed! Task Robinwith getting more than 3 Lasers out!

See you on the water,

Chris

After all, they're basic, very hard work andslow!

I bought my first Laser - 56258 - in 1976, andI'm now sailing my 7th - 195815, and whileI have owned loads of different dinghiesand cats in between, I keep coming back tothe Laser. I wouldn't have returned ifnothing had changed since it began 40years ago, but a process of slowly evolvingthe equipment has meant that to sail aLaser in 2009 is very different from the 1976experience.

An instantly and easily adjustable rigmeans that you can switch from poweredup to de-powered in seconds, which isgreat in a brisk offshore wind, butsomething that the Laser sailor could onlydream about in those olden days. It's notjust the equipment either. While hiking aLaser hard will only ever be enjoyed bytrue masochists, a good pair of hikingshorts removes much of the pain!

OK, they are still relatively slow, butbecause they are simple and the startingprice for a second hand boat is c.£500 thereis no realistic barrier to buying one, and ifyou buy sensibly you will get your money

back at sale time too.

At Thorpe Bay we have lots of adults from20 to over 50 racing with the standard rig,a number of cadets using the 4.7 and in2010 I expect to see some Radials too. Thatis the beauty of the Laser: a one-design hullwith three rigs that cater for young /slightly built to older and fairly porky - nonames necessary, you know who you are!

We sail Lasers because the racing is closeand exciting, what you get out is inproportion to the effort you put in. We cando a dozen tacks in the time it takes a cat

or skiff to do one. We sail all year roundand some of our best racing is during thewinter months when we haven't got thosepesky Sandhoppers in the way.

If you have a Laser already but don't sail itas much as you used to, remember whyyou bought it in the first place and join uson the water soon. If you are interestedbut don't have a boat, talk to me soon andI'll arrange a demonstration and buyingtips.

Robin Foster-TaylorClass Captain • laser@1st.com

Hello from the Bahamas!

Plenty going on out here to keep us busyin the dinghy park all day. Gear tomaintain, new rudder and daggerboardgaskets, new sails to test and plenty ofboathandling practice in whats beenchampagne sailing for the last four days!Hands are a little broken right now.Everything is feeling good for the buildup to the worlds. Amazing to be in thisposition with great kit to swap andchoose between for the big event.

The last few months have been a totalwhirlwind for me. Since the 49erWorlds at Lake Garda at the end of

July,mywhole49er

Olympic campaign has seen someserious changes.

Firstly, a new helm, changing back to myformer helmsman Paul Brotherton,super keen to get back on the helm itwas a decision which puts us back in thehunt for 2012 selection. Our first eventafter 2 weeks sailing together, theEuropean championships, went verywell, finishing with a silver medal. Nextbig change was the introduction of thenew hulls and wings from Ovington.This came with a few new designteething problems and boat sorting in ashort 2 week window before the boatswere loaded into a container and sentto the Bahamas.

So we're now in the Bahamas in themiddle of our final two-week venuetraining period with the British squadbefore flying home for Christmas.

The venue seems pretty amazingso far, all inclusiveaccommodation makes living outhere pretty easy. The boats arejust outside the apartment

window only a stone’s throw away fromthe water.

As lovely as the venue is, the focus is allthere. The World Championships start onthe 4th of January and the results arewhat everyone will be looking at. Pauland I have set some high targets, oneswhich we run are whole campaign by.The results from this worlds will stand foralmost 2 years as the next 49er Worldsisn't until December 2011.

Seven more intense days of training to goand then bring on the Worlds! TheBahamas is a little laid back, and as aresult the internet is a little hit and miss.I'll endeavour to keep our websiteupdated. Check out our blog page atwww.gbr49er.com.

Have a great Christmas!

Mark Asquith

You can also follow Mark & Paul's progress from 4th January at www.49erworlds.org.

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