LOCHSIDE SAILING CLUB
SPRING NEWSLETTER 2005

Happy New Sailing Year to all.

Let's look forward to another great season.  

News

Last year's attendances were the best for many years; the dinghy park was full to bursting on some days. The committee is looking at providing an overflow car-park, as well as new secure storage for sailboards and the rescue boat. Materials for repairs to the jetty and the club fencing are being priced. The plan is to hold a series of work-party days beginning on Sunday 6 February, and every following Sunday. Please try to come along and help, from 11am onwards.

The security code on the main gate padlock at the Club will be changed again this year - on 17April - the new number will be given to members on receipt of fees. Do not divulge the number to non-members.

The second October regatta again proved necessary last season to complete the regatta series -because of light winds in April and May - and looks like becoming a regular fixture. These dates are all Sundays, let's aim for a 1:3Opm start time. There are two races on each regatta day. Each helm's best nine results over the season are counted, the winner being the boat with the fewest points.

Last year's results are on the club website, our virtual noticeboard on the Internet. Taking part in even a few races will give you a place in the running.
Midweek sailing will be on Wednesday evenings, as that seems to suit most helms. The Whisky Regatta (21st August this year) has also become a regular fixture, and was doubly successful last year in raising funds to buy a club training boat.

Club boat

Thanks to the above fundraising, topped up by club funds, we have purchased a Topper Taz for general use by club members. The hull is stored on the Topper racking, the rig is in the spar shed. It looks like great fun for kids of all ages - please take care of it!

Holiday weekends this year will follow the usual format. Interested parties will arrange camping, or a caravan hire on the west coast.
Last year's May holiday weekend was very successful, including a circumnavigation of Shuna and Seil islands (with rescue boat).
Other venues have been Tayvallich and Loch Creran. New venue ideas always welcome. Dates this year will be 29th April-2nd May,
l5th-18th July and 23rd-26th September.

Windsurfers

There will again be prizes for racing, speed, and freestyle, with a new JUNlOR FREESTYLE RECORD to be set for the club. Details of what to do will be put on the windsurf notice board. If anyone wants to organise any other events, that would be great. Finally, always check that you lock up if you're the last one around. Any problems with the gate, contact Chris Campbell via the website and leave a message.

Committee

Members of the committee this year;
John Peter(Chair)
Michael Kay(Vice-Chair)
Neil McVicar (Secretary)
Terri Kikke(Treasurer)
Chris Campbell
Janice Fuller
Joe Sweirczek
Stuart Scott

Fees were restructured at last year's AGM, so that a single berth fee is included in the annual subscription.
Family Sub. £70,
Single Sub, £65
Students £50
Entry Fee for new members £20. Additional berths, at the discretion of the committee, will cost a further £10 per annum.

The website for the club is at www.lochside.org (as you already know if you are reading this!).
Our webmail account is lochside_sailing_club@hotmail.com
This account is for all club members and the password to access the content is on your newsletter.  Please feel free to use this service. Any ideas and contributions are always welcome.
There are links to our website from Scottish Sailing Clubs page on the web, and also from an increasing number of sail-related organisations who trawl the Internet looking for the like-minded among us.
The mailbox is a means of contacting the club for prospective members and also for members to communicate should they not attend the club regularly.

Webmaster's addition
As a member, if you have any suggestions for the site, please use the webmail account as detailed above.