NRSC
NEWS
www.thenrsc.com
Newsletter 306 - November 2015
Well, here we go again. Almost at the end
of another year and Christmas is getting
awfully close. Monica will tell you that I
refuse having anything to do with
Christmas until, at the earliest, the end of
November. Buying Christmas cards in
August seems very strange to me and
diminishes the sheer fun of the real
Christmas season.
AGM and Prize-giving Dinner
This went well and many members
remarked how much they had enjoyed the
evening. The Treasurer was able to
report that the Club is in good financial
health and the Sailing Secretary reported
that membership and racing entries are
up. Social events during the year were
well attended and fun was had by all. The
Barn Dance in particular was a great
success and will be repeated in the
coming year. Following the AGM The Old
Rectory put on a first class dinner and we
were well looked after by the staff. Race
Secretary (John Tibbenham) did an
excellent job organising the prize-giving so
that each trophy went to the right person
and Monica had more kisses than she
usually gets in a year.
The Bavaria Trophy was given to the Club
by the Bavaria Club of the Netherlands
and is awarded to a club member who has
demonstrated exceptional service to our
Club. This was awarded to Tom
Parkinson who was instrumental in
arranging the Bavaria Club visit and
making it such a success. Two other
‘non-racing’ trophies were awarded; the
Saltwater Trophy to Alison McTaggart for
her coastal sailing performance during the
East Coast Cruise and the Past
Commodore’s Cup to Maggi Lomax for
her impressive seamanship during the
East Coast Cruise.
Racing Results
The Endeavour Trophy, awarded to the
member with the best results after
attending the greatest number of meetings
without gaining a third place or better,
went to David Kemble-Taylor (crew Trudi
Kemble-Taylor) and the Individual
Handicap Trophy, awarded to the helm
with the best aggregate of 10 race results
achieved throughout the season, was
awarded to Nigel Wordingham (crew
Roger Pritchett).
Calendars and Ties
Calendars are available from Tom
Parkinson at £10 each or £11.50 if sent by
post. Tom may be contacted on 01603
720114 or tvllp@btinternet.com
Ties are available at £15 each from the
Commodore at 01493 751915 or
ecc.con@which.net Please note that both
calendars and ties make excellent
Christmas gifts.
RYA Conference
The Commodore and Vice Commodore
attended this event held at the
Wolverstone Sailing Club on Saturday 14th
November. Regional RYA Officers
explained the various ways in which the
association could assist sailing clubs
including sail training, promotion using the
internet, race management, legal advice,
protest dispute resolution and handicap
guidance.
Winter use of The Anchorage
At the end of the sailing season, generally
around October, the Clubhouse is
cleaned, tidied-up and closed down for the
winter. Gas, water and electrical services
are shut off and the Clubhouse
‘mothballed’. This includes placing rat
poison at various locations in the building.
In these circumstances members are
advised not to enter the building until it is
re-opened in March. Use of the moorings
continues throughout the year but
members are asked not to leave a boat
moored overnight unless they remain on
the boat.
Sacrificial Anodes
Our Timekeeper (Pio Alterelli) discovered
that sacrificial anodes can sometimes
create more problems than they solve.
Attaching a zinc sacrificial anode to the
keel of his boat turned into an extremely
effective paint/antifouling stripper leaving
his keel stripped down to bare metal. I will
circulate Pio’s notes on his experience.
Lap-top Required
Race results and adjustments to the
handicaps are handled by a lap-top
computer at each event throughout the
year. The lap-top used to date is on loan
from a member and it would be preferable
if the Club owned its own device. If any
club member has a lap-top that they would
be prepared to donate to the Club it would
be greatly appreciated.
Defibrillator and First-aid Training
The Vice Commodore has successfully
applied for a grant to enable the Club to
purchase a defibrillator which will be
installed at The Anchorage prior to
commencement of the 2016 sailing
season. I will be circulating further
information about this in due course. The
total cost of the defibrillator is in excess of
£1,000 but the grant reduces the amount
to be found by the Club to £400. This
amount will still deplete our funds by a
significant amount and members are
invited to make a contribution towards the
purchase of this very worthwhile device.
Donations should be sent to the
Commodore.
We have also been supplied with ten CPR
training packs. These provide a means of
learning and practising the basic CPR
techniques in your own home and include
a manikin and instructional DVD. The
packs are available on loan to all Club
members and I would like as many
members as possible to contact me or the
Vice Commodore to arrange
delivery/collection of a pack. Being able
to provide this basic first-aid could save a
life.
Club Lunch
You will, hopefully (even Monica’s help
has not guaranteed success) have
received an invitation to the New Year
Club Lunch. This has been organised by
Maggie Lomax (no doubt Peter Coleman
has assisted) and my thanks go to both for
taking the initiative and the trouble to get
this event off the ground. I look forward to
a good turn-out for this first event of the
year.
Winter Walks
The first of our winter walks will take place
in February. Organised by Mike and
Sheila Edwards this will explore more of
the hidden secrets of Norwich City and will
inevitably finish in one of the many city
pubs. Details will be circulated shortly.
Scottish Circumnavigation
One of our new members, Brian Wilson, is
not only an experienced sailor but an
impressive author as well. His
circumnavigation of the Scottish coast is
well documented in his book, A Voyage to
Retirement, and Brian has agreed to
entertain club members with an evening
talk describing the adventure and the
lessons learned. Depending upon
numbers we will meet either in the White
Horse, Upton or in Upton Village Hall.
My very best wishes,
Michael Powell – Commodore
01493 751915 / 752232
Email: ecc.con@which.net