Happy New Sailing Year!

Winter Programme

The winter programme is taking shape. The first item for your diary is a cracker.

On Tuesday 17th Feb we are returning to Ardross Hall when Donald MacKenzie will tell all about the Commodores Cup. For those not in the know, this is an international team racing event in keel boats on the Solent. Donald will spill the beans on the Scottish Team entry and particularly Team Aurora on which Donald crewed. Time 7.30. Refreshments laid on!

Don’t miss this one

Subscriptions
If you haven’t already done so then this is the time to renew your subscription. Attached with this message is a renewal form. Please fill it in and send your money to Andrew Pennington. The subscription year starts January 1st and we ask for all subs to be in for 31st January. Please!

Member survey
If you have ideas as to how to improve the club then this is one way for you to let the Committee know. The form is attached so fill it in and send it to Ian. In addition Ian has provided two “Proposition” books for the club house so that at any time of the year you can note your suggestions. No, it’s not that kind of proposition dear!

Simon’s 505
Simon Pearse is selling his International Five-O-Five. It’s not my habit to promote the sale of members’ boats [however if you cross my palm with silver I might be persuaded]. However this is a fine example of a simply fabulous class. Designed by John Westell in 1954 as the “Coronet”, it is a boat which was miles ahead of its time, was the for-runner to the modern skiffs and is still modern by their standards. Somebody needs this boat. Simon is at pearse_simon@yahoo.co.uk. 

Programme
2015’s exciting Programme and handbook is nearing completion. It will be worth the wait

Other Stuff
There is an Officer of the Day seminar at Helesburgh S C 31st Jan & 1st Feb. Contact Tim Ellis at tim.ellis@ryascotland.org.uk

Cromarty Firth Port Revision Order by Global Energy. A letter was lodged with Transport Scotland seeking assurances relating to navigational issues. We await a response through the “Consultation Process”

Invergordon Boating Club Winter Event

Sailing for Scotland

Every two years teams from around the World meet at Cowes to compete in the most prestigious Team 
Racing event – the Commodores Cup. Donald MacKenzie was there and will tell all

 Ardross Community Hall

17th February 2015 7.30

Everybody welcome

As already publicised – we want to make a real effort to join in this celebration of the life of the Olympic Medallist Andrew Simpson. The racing takes place on Sunday 21st September. The club has registered its participation. You now have to enter via the web site [and make a contribution]. And at the end of it all there will be a winner from the thousands entered. It could be you!

Foulis

Last year’s cruise and race back was such a success that it is to be repeated. Look out your tide tables now. Date Sunday 7th. Put it in your diary.

Also, Barts Bash on the 21st. More detail in another post.

Albacore Nationals

Paul and Finlay with Jacqui as team support are off to the Nationals at Poole in Dorset. I envy them as, from my memories of 40 years ago, Parkstone Yacht Club is a truly wonderful institution.

Loch Morlich

9th and 10th is one for the travelling dinghies

 

Lochcarron / Albacore Traveller

16th and 17th is another

 

RNLI Pennant / Pursuit

Will be good for a laugh and takes place on Sunday 24th. Watch out for details.

Commodores Cup

Taking place in the Solent [darn sarf] this international team racing event in keel-boats has concluded. Team Scotland, with Donald Mackenzie on board Aurora came 6th out of 9 teams. They were beaten by France by 0.5 of a point out of 457. Ouch! And, possibly even more painful, by 9 points by Team GBR Red – on which were crewing Donald’s sons Duncan and Euan. Well done all. More news of this later.

Cruise Ireland

Our bold boys [Stuart, Chris, Phil and Tom] are back from their trip on the west coast. They have achieved their aim of going intercontinental – they hit Ireland and have returned with tales of fine harbours and the legendary black stuff. More news of that later too.

Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy

Neil Cormack and Dave Allan crewed by Terry and Vlad went all the way down to Ullswater to compete against 200 others in this classic event amongst stunning Lakeland scenery. They report variable conditions and results of 95th [Neil] and 119th Dave.

 

CBC Reg

Cromarty Boat Club’s annual keel-boat regatta attracted a fair turnout. IBC’s John Prentice on Circe took the Copeland Cup with Rhythm n’ Blue second.

 

Murray Clan

Last Sunday I was down at the Club and spied strangers. I found myself talking to Colin Murray and son Ollie. I had only known Colin previously through the pages of “A Century of Sail”. He is a legend in British yachting having won sideboards full of trophies. He is that rarest of breads – the Professional Yachtsman. I was fascinated to hear that he is part of Sir Peter Harrison’s team doing transatlantic races and helming classic 6 meter yachts. It puts what we do into perspective. Good luck with your future ventures Colin and Ollie 

A dedicated team have now brought the outside of our lovely club house up to pristine condition. Thanks to all who slaved away. But especially to Andrew Murray who was the driving [literally] force behind it.

On Thursday a group of club stalwarts assembled and tackled the painting of the outside of the club. They made tremendous progress. But it will take one or two more sessions to see the job complete.
The next painting session will be on Thursday 17th July at 6pm. Come and help out. The crack is good too. You know you want to.

Bart’s Bash is a global sailing race and fundraising event at your local sailing club on Sunday 21 September 2014. Bart’s Bash will be joining together thousands of worldwide sailors in a race to set a new Guinness World Record, raise money for charity, inspire the next generation and remember Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, Gold & Silver Olympic medallist and America’s Cup sailor.
Invergodon Boating Club is one of the venues where the racing will take place. The club will be organising a race on that day and the results will go into the pot with all the results from around the world and overall results will be calculated.
To enter you need to go to the Bart’s Bash website: http://www.bartsbash.co.uk/ where you can register and get details of how to help raise funds for The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.
Notice of race is at the following link
http://www.bartsbash.co.uk/sites/default/files/pictures/BB_NoR.pdf
Invergordon Boating Club are determined to make a big contribution to this event so put it in your diary and register your entry.

Please could everyone give as much publicity to this event as possible? The poster is available to download in the Documents section if you wish to print it out and pin it up in as many places as possible.