Text Just Received from the Commodore. What can it Mean?

"Splashed out on three beach balls. Summer of fun ahead..."

News...News...News...

Dear All,

I know many of you have photos but thought you may be interested in this.

My husband Angus is a professional photographer and took a photo of the
Wylde Swan  as we were arriving back in Ullapool in full sail. He is
offering a mounted print  9" by 6" in mounted A4 -normal price is £14.50
but he is selling for £9.50 if anyone is interested. You can see it on his
web site;


http://www.highlandpix.co.uk/


Best Wishes,

Jill Bruce


Hi

Just to let you know that Gairloch Boat Club will be holding its Big Boat  race on Saturday July 7th this year. All sailing yachts welcome. We will be having the usual evening event at The Shieling in Gairloch - order from the menu so that you can eat what you want - and presentation followed by general get together/sing along on the comfy sofas afterwards. Moorings usually available on the pontoons at Gairloch or in Shieldaig Bay. Course in Flowerdale Bay - really good day last year. Look forward to seeing as many of you as possible. Details can be obtained from Martin Rowe - 01445  731193 or Peter MacDonald - 01445 712209.

Jane Rowe
Secretary - Gairloch Boat Club

Saturday Flying Fifteen Sessions

Flushed from the enthusiasm yesterday at the Saturday race, and the excellent get together afterwards at the Club, there was general concensus that we should move to Saturday sailing with start time usual 2.30.

Plan is we will have a get together afterwards at the club from 4pm-ish. There will be refreshments available, and the occasional BBQ !

Any comments welcomed... Also please note that it is intended that all club events and news will be updated via the blog and the Calendar (see links top right). Any member of the club can add comments to the blog** or events to the calendar!


Regards

John Osborne

** You need a Google account. If not, then email comments to me (adrianmorgan@viking-boats.com) and I will post on blog

Jill's Birthday Party...

... passed off in fine style, a day earlier due to inclemency of weather. You had to be there.

And here she is; doesn't look a day older than 35, does she?

Rules

Paul found this cheerful rules test game:


http://game.finckh.net/indexe.htm

Most interesting. And if two boats collide, and there is damage, then BOTH boats are disqualified, which emphasises the most important rule of all: avoid collisions at all costs, even f you are in the right.

STOP PRESS...

Jill's BBQ is off, due to stress of weather, but there are moves to do something informal on Saturday after FF racing at 2pm.

All FF crew most welcome. We will try and get everyone aboard for ome not-too-serious racing to mark Jill's 50th birthday..

Also, two new oars arrived from Collars yesterday to be trialled on Loki.

Suggest use them at Nos 2 and 3, the longest positions. The oars are 13ft, but I need your feedback before going back to Collars for two more.

These can be any size from around 11ft 6in upwards. These are free, but two more would set us back around £100 each (a bargain), but we need to make sure they work before specifying length.

Psssssst! Jill's Birthday BBQ...

...is on the 13th May (that's next Sunday). Not to be missed.

See post passim for details

Strimmer Extraordinary...

Thanks to Chris, the members of the RLBSC can stagger down the slipway without, er, slipping. Heroic work with the strimmer, for which we are all grateful. Luckily someone was able to capture the man at work (visor down please Chris next time...)

If the council had half his sense of responsibility, as owners of the pier, they would have set one of their orange-suited operators on the job, as they are obliged to. Alas, no sign of any interest in either strimming the pier or, more importantly, shoring up the crumbling face.

Is this a scandal, or is this a scandal?

FF Cup Race number 1...

...is on Sunday 13th May which is also my 50th Birthday so what better way to celebrate and mark the start of the new exciting FF season 2012 than with a sailing club bar b que. We have invited the Ullapool Coastal rowing club to join with us - so apologies if you get two email invitations.

 

We will be selling burgers and sausages and hot dogs etc as a fund raiser for the club and I will provide some wine, beer and soft drinks. Kicking off quite early after the race about 4.00/4.30 time.

 

Please can you RSVP to Donald and me so we have an idea of how many people to cater for. Also let us know if you can contribute a salad or any side dishes or sweet after thought. 

 

Look forward to seeing you there,

 

Best Wishes,

 

Jill

LBSC to St Kilda

Hestur Launched

Dan and soon to be Charlotte Johnson (nee Watters) launched their schooner today at Ullapool Pier, with well wishers, friends and relatives aplenty.

After the christening came the big moment as Hestur was lowered gently into Loch Broom.

 

Many hands made light work of stepping the masts.

Then it was time to celebrate, down at the club

After a shakedown cruise to Tanera Mor.Dan and Charlotte will be taking the LBSC pennant to the far reaches of the globe.

Fair winds Dan and Charlotte. Godspeed Hestur...

LBSC CALENDAR

Shona has put together a nifty calendar for the skiff and also the sailing schedule so rowers and sailors can book their fun weeks, nay months in advance.

No password is needed, just click on the link.

Here's the link  CALENDAR

or you can paste this into your browser

http://www.my.calendars.net/lokirowing

It looks like this:

Have you Changed your Standing Order Yet?

MEMBERSHIP FEES

Search your hearts, or more to the point, your bank statements. 

With apologies to the majority of members who have responded to the new fee structure, voted in unanimously at the EGM, by altering their standing orders, some have yet to do so.

Those yet to react should study the revised membership classes (below) and decide which suits them best, bearing in mind that use of all the club boats is now free.

This makes those headline figures look very attractive.

For example, a family using one or more of the boats in 2011 would have paid £98.50 (now £90)

A single member using a club Flying Fifteen, for example, in 2011 would have paid £57.50 (now £50)

2012 RATES

Class of Membership		Cost
Family	With sailing children in full time education	90
	With no sailing children	65
	Senior	55
Single		50
Concessions	Senior, Student, income support	40
Junior		25
Honorary		0

 

2011 RATES

	2011
	Direct	S/O
Family	£40	£38.50
Single	£29	£27.50
Senior and Student	£25	£24
Day Membership	£5.0

Use of Flying Fifteens, Skiffs and Picos

	Use of one Asset	Use of one or more asset
One person	£30	£45
Family	£45	£60
Day fee	£7.5	£7.5

The new membership secretary, Rona Johnson, will get to grips with the task of updating the records, once she's finished an urgent writing job.

Interim payments (pending change of standing orders) to LBSC, c/o John Coe, treasurer john.coe@talktalk.net

28 Charles Street Inverness IV2 3AH

AGM Minutes, 2012 Programme and Commodore's Report

Loch Broom Sailing Club

AGM 7 April 2012 Royal Hotel 6.30pm

Minutes

Present:  Paul Copestake, Robert White, John Osborne , John Coe, Jill Bruce, Bobby Osborne, Andy Reeve, Will Copestake, Adrian Morgan, Donald Buchanan, Kate Copestake, John McRae, Sandy Osborne, Ruby Coe, Sue Evans, Fraser Fotheringham, Jason Leon, Alex Fotheringham, Shona Osborne, Alec Reilly, Julia Ridgman, Robin Campbell

Apologies: Stuart and Susie Anderson, Paul Driver, Gilly Meighan

Minutes of  AGM/EGM

Minutes of AGM 26 March 2011 were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting . Proposed/seconded: Robin/ Donald

Minutes of  EGM 4 February 2012 were approved. Sandy/Jason

 

Commodore’s Report

(a full transcript is appended and can be found on the blog www.lochbroomsailingclub.blogspot.com

·        A successful year, with lots of sailing.   “The challenge of the committee is to ensure that all voices are heard and that we can offer the full range of activities for all members to pick and mix as they choose.”

·        Regattas brought together all classes successfully. A small flotilla made it to the Orkneys and club members ventured as far afield as Jan Meyen and the Summer Isles.

·        Flying Fifteens were most active, with four private and three club boats afloat at times and often racing as a fleet, with nine afloat for the new season.

·        Loki was launched and enjoyed throughout the season, scoring notable successes at the Ullapool regatta with three medals won.

·        Major improvements to the club house, with a shed built, drying room  and hatch driven through from kitchen to club room, which will now be a dry room, and other modifications.

 

Treasurer’s Report

The treasurer John Coe reported that the club made a loss of around £2,000 in 2011, mostly down to the cost of the RIB repair and club refurbishments which will add to the capital value of the club’s assets.

An EGM in February was called (the first ever) to introduce a surer basis for collecting fees and a simplified fee structure which should yield £2,830 in 2012, as against around £2,000.

This fee now entitles members to use all the club assets with no further payment, and represents a significant saving to some categories of membership, notably actively engaged families.

Some members had yet to “upgrade” their standing orders, and were urged to do so.

Jason suggested that greater casual use of the club and assets might be encouraged with a standing advert in the Ullapool News. And a notice on the club wall to that effect.

A system for collecting casual fees, and bar receipts, was needed – possibly using the old slot in the counter, with a padlocked door.

In principle income generated by a class should be put down to that class. In general there should be more accountability to establish if classes “pay their way”.

In the bank: £5,202, with more income due from members late in upgrading their subs.

Proposed/seconded: Donald/Alex

 

Election of committee

Commodore: John Osborne (Paul Copetake/ Robin Campbell)

Vice Commodore: Paul Copestake (John Osborne/ Robert White)

Secretary: Adrian Morgan (Paul Copestake/Robert White)

Treasurer: John Coe (John Osborne/Adrian Morgan)

Membership Secretary: Rona Johnson (Johns Coe/ Sue Evans)

Committee: Robert White, Sue Evans, Jill Bruce, Paul Driver, Bobby Osborne, Seamus Nairn, Sandy Osborne, Robin Campbell, Donald Buchanan, Mike Connor, Chris Steventon, Gilly Meighan, Sue Evans (plus club officers)

 

Constitution changes

Technical changes to the constitution, regarding the new fee structure, were approved unanimously.

 

2012 Season

A full programme is appended and can also be found on the blog. Note the monthly trophy races, which will be conducted with all the rigour of the RYA rules (as applied by Race Officer John Coe)

 

Other business

John Coe handed out Smartie boxes in which members are encouraged to save 20p pieces for the club, an idea that was considered excellent, initially nutritious and latterly lucrative...

Meeting closed 7.20pm 


Loch Broom Sailing Club   Commodore’s Report  2011

In 2011 LBSC has been very busy, with a lot of activity at the sailing club both on and off the water.  In a small place like Ullapool, there will always be some concern that such diversity stretches both our human and financial resources; move on! Debate as to what the club does is healthy because energy breeds enthusiasm; of course amongst this vitality, the challenge for the committee is to ensure that all voices are heard and that we can offer the full range of activities for all members to pick and mix as they choose.   The club now has a blog managed by our secretary, Adrian, a great resource for posting news; http://lochbroomsailingclub.blogspot.co.uk/, it is updated regularly

Regattas,

The club regatta in August was a success bringing together flying fifteen, Pico and Cruiser activity. Loch Broom also hosted other water based events; the Tall Ships organised by the Harbour in July was a great event as were the skiff regattas at Coigach and Ullapool.

Cruising

A small flotilla made it to Orkney and I made it back from Sweden. There were many trips to the Summer Isles, notably in July with a memorable race around the Tanera Beg.  Club members joined Tim Loftus successfully reaching Jan Mayer in the Arctic, nothing in comparison to the extremes faced in the September storm cruise!

Picos

Generation two grow in confidence and we held a second training week.  This was led by an RYA senior instructor CarolAnn MacKay and supported by Paul D, Beth and Emma: By borrowing boats from Loch Carron we saw  almost 20 kids achieve certificates at various levels.  CarolAnn was able to also squeeze some powerboat training which complements the training others had taken at Channory in Fortrose. Beth has also gone on to acquire her instructor’s certificate.  Activity was maintained after the training and there is a good core of youths that will enable events to continue in 2012.

Flying fifteens

An extremely energetic and enthusiastic sector, afloat first and hauled out last there were 7 boats on the water with regular racing on Thursday evening and Saturday Afternoon.  Starting is much improved as is our knowledge of racing rules and fine tweaks to keep boats with a competitive edge!   The Regatta included a 15 taster session which has hooked in new enthusiasts – 2012 will see 9 boats afloat and the prospect of a formal race series and introduction of Donald’s Ladder!’

Skiff

2011 marks the arrival of Coastal Rowing in Ullapool in a big way.  The sailing club launched Loki at Easter and it has been used regularly ever since.  The club also entered a formal agreement allowing Ullapool Coastal Rowing to use the club as a base for their activities.  With their two boats (Ulla and the schools boat Cul Mor) and Coigach Lass in Achiltibuie; Loch Broom is now a focal point for the revival of coastal rowing.  Loki and crews acquitted themselves with honour at the local Coigach and Ullapool regattas.  The pattern is set for 2012

Clubhouse

With all the increased use the clubhouse was showing its limitations and it was clear that it needed sprucing up.  A new shed has been constructed that allows the old store to be used as a changing area. In turn this means that the main room can be declared a dry zone!  It has been redecorated to high standard and after a spell of destruction a new bar has been created linking the main room to the Kitchen.  Opened in style with a massive curry party – a human density normally the reserve of the saloon of Eileen Dubh!

There is a lot of promise that 2012 will continue to be as busy as ever.  In February we had an EGM (first ever?) to amend the clubs payments to facilitate use by club members of club boats.  We have also identified club champions for each of key activities; John Osborne (Cruising), Adrian Morgan (Flying Fifteens), Paul Driver (Picos) and Paul and Kate Copestake (Skiff). 

2011 achieved a lot, but there is room for improvement; perhaps mostly being organised with our programme of events and inducting new members into the full range of club activities.  Both are signs of growth, which is positive and as the signs of spring are all around (feverish activity on boats ashore and the smell of anti-fouling);  I am looking forward to a full and exciting season afloat!

Paul Copestake 7^th April 2012

2012 timetable
7th April	Easter Saturday - Agm
21st April	OK tides for launching Cruisers,
22nd April	Launch of Flying Fifteens, first race on the 22nd April.
5th May	Spring tides, Good date for launching Cruisers.
12th May	Pico Shakedown!
13th May	FF Cup Race number 1 (sponsored by Jill) – spring BBQ
19th and 20th May	Overnight Tanera Cruise,  Coigach Skiff Regatta.
25th to 28th May	4 day shakedown cruise
10th June	FF Cup Race number  2
22nd June to 1st July	8 Day summer cruise.
2nd to 6th July	Pico Week
9th to 14th July	Maritime festival Stornoway.
22nd July	FF Cup Race number  3
late July	Summer Isles Cruise?
11th and 12th August	Ullapool Skiff Regatta
18th and 19th August	LBSC Regatta, this is the weekend after the school starts. Includes FF Cup Race no 4
21st September	Loopallu
23rd September	Final FF Cup Race
Late September	Storm Cruise
Mid October	Agreed haul-out weekend

This in addition to regular  events which include:

Flying fifteeens – wednesday or thursday evening and sunday lunchtime

Skiffs – saturday morning

Pico – to be agreed

RLBSC Elects New Barman (and Commodore)

At a packed meeting of the RLBSC, held at the Royal Hotel, members voted unanimously to appoint John Osborne as their first ever honorary barman [at least that's what it says in the Hon Sec's notes]. The role will mainly entail serving "refreshments" at the new hole in the wall facility in the club room.

Duties will include keeping riff raff away, listening to interminable theories about skiff oars and gear ratios from the former commodore, deciphering Donald's jokes and other duties beyond the call, such as happily making do with a Tennents** while his elder brother necks the last remaining can of Stella (see photo).

Indeed a ready smile in such situations and an outgoing personality were some of the points the members took into consideration before making their choice.

In addition, and in the absence of any other suitable  candidates, John was elected Commodore, smoothed no doubt by the liquid inducements flowing so liberally prior to the meeting at the Royal's bar thanks to a seemingly bottomless Osborne war chest. 

NB It has been pointed out that it is a can of McEwans that John has selflessly chosen so that his brother may enjoy the more sophisticated brew. But that is all set to change once Johno gets his hands on the reins of power...

AGM TONIGHT!

Lochbroom Sailing Club

Annual General Meeting

6:30pm Saturday 7^th April 2012

Royal Hotel, Ullapool

AGENDA

1                 Apologies for absence

2                 Minutes of previous AGM  (27^th March 2011)

3                 Minutes of EGM

4                 Commodores report

5                 Treasurers report

6                 Committee to stand down (chair to outgoing vice commodore)

7                 Election of Committee

·                Commodore

·                Vice Commodore

·                Secretary

·                Treasurer

·                Committee members

8                 Amendment to the constitution -

9                 Proposals for 2012 season

10               AOB