It looks as though spring has finally sprung with mild weather and sunshine appearing this week. The long-range weather forecast is quite promising with the second half of April and the whole of May expected to be unseasonably warm and dry. The forecast for June however is very similar to the last two summers.

There are a number of subscriptions outstanding so if you have not yet rejoined please get out your cheque book and complete the form. Fees were due on the first of March and a re-entry fee, currently £20, becomes payable after the end of April. Anyone who requires a receipt should say so on their membership form otherwise none will be issued.

Last year's Champions were Mark McGuigan and Janice Fuller for the second year running and by a bigger margin than ever. Don't make it too easy for them to win again this year and come along to as many races as possible.

For the benefit of new members, the Championship comprises two races at each regatta. Each competitor's best nine places are added to give an overall score and the lowest scorer wins the trophy. Points equal to the largest fleet of the season plus one are awarded to non entrants so that members can compete even if they don't manage every regatta.

Midweek racing was quite well attended last year although there was no official competition. This will again be on Wednesday evenings this season as it seemed to suit most of the members involved. Please come along and sail on these nights, especially some of the board sailors and give everyone a bit more competition.

Your new committee for 1999 will be Malcolm Riley (Chairman), Neil McVicar (Vice- chairman), Andrew Dean (Secretary), lain Waugh (Treasurer), John Peter, Jimmy Conley, Sandy Lang and David Yardley.

Contact addresses and telephone numbers for the treasurer and secretary can be found in the box below. Membership application forms will again be left in the clubhouse andanyone who is approached by a prospective member is asked to give them a form. Please don't use the forms for scrap paper.

We are looking for suggestions for places to go for this year's weekends away. If those there who are interested would like to put suggestions up on the notice board they will all be given consideration. The decision will ultimately lie with those who go on the weekend trips but all suggestions are welcome. The basic requirements are camping/caravan and dinghy launching facilities within two or three hours of Cumbernauld. Of course if it's near a pub then so much the better.

You will a1l be aware by.now that the club is on the point of buying the loch. A date has now been agreed for concluding the transaction. Successive committees have been working on this for quite a few years now and it is excellent news that matters are finally concluded. To assist with the purchase ' two grant applications have been made toAwards for All, a lottery body. The first was refused but a revised bid is still under consideration and the committee are hopeful that it will be successful and about half of the cost of the loch can be recovered.

The club has received grant funding in the past. The hawthorn hedges were paid for by the Scottish Central Scotland Woodlands Countryside Trust and the rescue boat was bought with an interest free loan from the National Playing Fields Association and a grant from Cumbernauld Development Corporation. An interesting photograph of the CDC presentation has been included in this newsletter.

We are sorry to report the death of Gordon Clingan last year. Gordon was a founder member of the club, and Secretary for many years. Always ready with help and advice, Gordon introduced many people to sailing

both at Fannyside and at Helensburgh. He helped many people with disabilities to get afloat and enjoy sailing. The funeral was attended by club representatives, and a letter of condolence was passed to Mrs Clingan. lt is possible that Gordon's grandson may join us at Fannyside and get the familiar Beauforts back on the water.

Other families are corning back to the Club too. In the last couple of years we have seen the children and grandchildren of some founder members joining up, despite early memories of being force-fed sailing!

It is interesting to hear how things were in the early days. Does anyone have photographs or even cinefilm of the first members, clubhouse, boats, jetties, etc.? As well as being interesting in their own right, they could help to compile a brief history of the Club.

For Sale: Dart 15, No 139, 1984. Good condition with an excellent galvanised trailer c/w sail and rigging box. Spare trampoline, roller furling. £1,000 o.n.o contact Andrew Dean{telephone} or David Yardley

Wanted: Wayfarer or similar, reasonable suit of sails, contact as above.
Presentation of the rescue boat from the archives