New Season Starts

This Saturday, the 7th of November starts the new seasons Social Sailing and Racing Sessions.

Its going to be cold, round about 7-9 degrees C is expected with a little bit of rain too, so wrap up warm. Wind looks light so ideal for a first session racing against the rest of this years winter socialites ;-)

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Results will be published after the three races, which start with a brief outline from the "Racing Rules of Sailing" and rule discussion at 13:00 - this weeks ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012:

PART 2 - WHEN BOATS MEET

The rules of Part 2 apply between boats that are sailing in or near the racing area and intend to race, are racing, or have been racing. However, a boat not racing shall not be penalized for breaking one of these rules, except rule 23.1.

When a boat sailing under these rules meets a vessel that is not, she shall comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS) or government right-of-way rules. If the sailing instructions so state, the rules of Part 2 are replaced by the right-of-way rules of the IRPCAS or by government right-of-way rules.

SECTION A - RIGHT OF WAY:

A boat has right of way when another boat is required to keep clear of her. However, some rules in Sections B, C and D limit the actions of a right-of-way boat.

• 10 ON OPPOSITE TACKS
  When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.


• 11 ON THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPED
  When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.


• 12 ON THE SAME TACK, NOT OVERLAPPED
  When boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead.


• 13 WHILE TACKING
  After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course. During that time rules 10, 11 and 12 do not apply. If two boats are subject to this rule at the same time, the one on the other’s port side or the one astern shall keep clear.

New Season - Postponement

Unfortunately this years season is taking a bit more of a summer break than anticipated.

Due to other commitments on the lake the Winter Social Racing season, that was due to start this Saturday, (10th of October), is having to be postponed till the 7th of November.

This doesn't stop any of you eager beavers coming down for a sail round the lake, but it does mean that there will be no informal racing being run, and no results posted afterwards.

Keep an eye on the BLOG, or join the list of followers, and get set for winter....

Laser 12 Hour Race

No "Social Racing" this Saturday, as it will be the third Annual Laser 12 Hour Race.

Come down and watch, or enter, a team to sail round the marine lake between 08:00 and 20:00 this Saturday, the 25th of April 2009.

Further details from the event website.

Easter Bunny

This Saturday is the Saturday before Easter, there will be no Club Racing on Sunday, as everyone will be at church.

However, the weather looks good for Saturday, so why not take the opportunity to get the weekend's sailing in on Saturday rather than Sunday?

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Due to unforeseen circumstances "Social Racing" had to be postponed without any notice the Saturday before last, but we hopefully we'll be back on track this week at 1:00 p.m. as usual.

Chicago Saturday

- The Windy City....

With the amount or wind we're expecting this Saturday, it may well be a day to read some Roger McGough or John Cooper-Clarke ;-)

It looks very windy, up to 28 knots, and gusting!!

As usual, there will be someone about from 13:00, but it may well be a short stay.

With any luck the committee boat will be fixed, otherwise mark laying will be a bit of a hit and miss affair - unless someone wants to practice their man overboard routines to collect them?

Sailing on Sunday looks far more promising, for a quiet day of 5 - 10 knots, so how about trying out the first Joint Series of the season?

... don't look at the forecast for next Saturday, unless you really want to fly ;-)

Vernal Equinox

With the Spring Equinox just past, and the days being longer than the nights there's even more daylight to get out sailing on Saturday.

So come and join us for a beautiful Spring Saturday....

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See you all at 1pm...

GP14 Day Results

This Saturday, the 7th of March, was a totally GP14 Day.

With only three boats sailing, all of them GP14's it was a simple matter of counting the laps - didn't have to worry the timekeeper for elapsed times ;-)

We very nearly had four GP14's sailing, but the fourth took the wise decision to read Roger McGough, and decided that: "....discretion was the better part of Valerie...." Only Mick and Alex were going to take the early bath - in salt water.

Rank	Fleet	Class	Sail No	Helm	Crew	PY	R1	R2	Total	Nett
1st	GP14	GP14	13406	Neil	Ian	1127	2.0	1.0	3.0	3.0
2nd	GP14	GP14	11772	Andrew	Gill	1127	1.0	2.0	3.0	3.0
3rd	GP14	GP14	20954	Alex	Mick	1127	3.0	3.0	6.0	6.0

Well done to all of you, we certainly had a laugh on the side. Thanks for setting an interesting if confusing course Neil. A beat followed by a run then another beat followed again by another run, but who could remember where they were on the course, certainly not everyone.

Thanks again to everyone that took part in the off season social racing. Next Saturday is the Fitting Out Race: 14:30 start, and there will be a "Sarah Clinic" from 10:00 onwards for anyone that might need that bit of help to remember where that bit of string should go they took off the boat at the end of last season.

March Hare

This Saturday will be the first Saturday in March, we may have missed the "March Hare", but it's the first Saturday even if it isn't the first of March...

Racing as usual from 13:00 onwards, with the first race starting at 13:30.

It's not looking too good on the rain side of things, light rain is forecast between midday and later afternoon, but the wind side of things it looks much better.

So wrap up warm, stay dry and come on over for a couple of social races to start the new month off - hopefully not with a splash ;-)

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New Starting Sequence

The Starting Sequence for the 2009 series races have changed in that the Fast Handicap Fleet will start first followed by the Laser Fleet. The usual 4 minute; 2 minute; zero; sequence remains the same, but the order of starting will be:

• Fast Handicap
• Laser
• Enterprise
• GP14
• Slow Handicap

Time (start +)	Action	Flags Flying (after action)
+12 minutes	Fast Handicap Flag Raised	Fast
+10 minutes	Preparatory Flag Raised Laser Flag Raised	FastPrepLaser
+8 minutes	Enterprise Flag Raised Fast Handicap Flag Lowered	PrepLaserEnterprise
+6 minutes	GP14 Flag Raised Laser Flag Lowered	PrepEnterpriseGP14
+4 minutes	Slow Handicap Flag Raised Enterprise Flag Lowered	PrepGP14Slow
+2 minutes	Preparatory Flag Lowered GP14 Flag Lowered	Slow
+0 minutes	Slow Handicap Flag Lowered

End of February

With this Saturday being the last of the month, we've got some good sailing weather in store, 11 knots from the south south west is ideal for us - just remember to keep away from the new hotel....

It's easy to launch, and easy to recover the boats. Easy to come back to the hard too, so you can practice some of the more "seaman-like" activities in sailing - have fun - that's what it's all about.

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With Cath so close to the 470 boys there's a real chance that being able to count your laps will make the difference between winning and coming last.

As usual 13:00 start with 13:30 the first "race" - let's not get too serious - it's only fun after all ;-)

See you all tomorrow....

Counting by Numbers

Today's results might have been a little different if only some people could count to three ;-) We did play a trick on the first race in that the finish might have been overlooked and boats might have gone round the first mark again - but no-one fell for that one.

However, some boats had so much fun they sailed further than they needed to on race two... ;-)

Rank	Class	SailNo	Helm Name	Crew Name	PY No	R1	R2	Total	Nett
1st	470	753	Rob	James	973	1.0	2.0	3.0	3.0
2nd	Topper	45629	Cath	n/a	1290	4.0	1.0	5.0	5.0
3rd	Enterprise	20954	Alex	Mick	1116	2.0	4.0	6.0	6.0
4th	Enterprise	19638	Anne	n/a	1116	3.0	3.0	6.0	6.0

....but hey we all stayed dry and hopefully everyone had some fun?

Same time next Saturday - see you all then......

Back To School & Work

After a few days relaxing, drop back onto the lake for an hour or two of relaxing sailing and racing.

If you're back after a few days away and are feeling like a session on the water, it looks like this Saturday might be the one for you.

WindGuru:
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With a westerly wind of about 10-12 knots, it's an easy launch and recovery, and a nice and comfortable afternoon's sailing and racing.

13:00 start with the first race at 13:30 - see you all there ;-)

Half Term

Half Term.

This Saturday (the 14th of February) is the first Saturday in the Half Term Holidays; it's also Valentine's Day. There have been quite a few people mentioning that they are either away or busy this weekend so as far as "formal" informal racing is concerned, we're going to have a break.

There's no reason why you shouldn't come down and have a sail on your own or with others, it's simply that we're not intending having anyone there to put out marks, start races or keep track of laps and times.

With any luck things will be back on track next Saturday - the one at the end of Half Term, but watch this space for further developments.

Southport Town Cup

The first race of 2009, the first formal race, is the Southport Town Cup. It will start at 11:00 on the Marine Lake, further details are on the WLYC web site and in the club handbook.

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It's going to be cold, with not too much wind, so wrap up warm, keep warm and dry and come down to blow off the New's Year's Eve hangover ;-)

Start the season off with a splash!!

Saturday #5

First of all thanks Rob for sitting in last week, sorry there wasn't any wind to race with, we missed the wind in the RS400's too.

With a westerly wind of up to 5 knots, and the offer of light sleet, it might be an easy ride round the cans tomorrow. So come along and try some light wind sailing.

Don't forget the wind chill, so wrap up warm.

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First race starting at 13:30, with the second start at 14:30.

We can have a chat about the first beat - to the windward mark beforehand, 13:00 ish, with a round up after the boats are away at about 15:30.

See you all tomorrow, come and take the opportunity to hone those skills ready for the Southport Town Cup on New Years day.

Saturday #4

Saturday the 6th of December - The start of a new month and a new race season.

There will be a special guest OD - "470 ACE" Rob Smallwood has very kindly agreed to run the races, so you'll all be in very good hands - thanks Rob.

Weather for the day looks good, but remember to keep warm!

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Enjoy the sailing, there will be other boats on the lake as usual, but this time they will be a few RS boats on the water ;-)

First Saturday

Tomorrow; Saturday the 15th of November, is the first race of the season.

Weather for the day isn't too bad:

Wind Guru:
Met Check:

West North Westerly wind between 9 and 11 knots, with a fair amount of cloud.

First race at 13:00. Good Luck - See you all later......