End of Season Newsletter

COMING UP

CHRISTMAS LUNCH - Sunday 8th December - 12.30pm

Everyone loves a Christmas Dinner and Ely Sailing Club will be hosting its traditional Christmas meal at the clubhouse on Sunday 8th December at 12.30pm.

There will be slow cooked turkey, a selection of fresh hand cut vegetables - the Brussel Sprouts are already on, roast potatoes and proper gravy. All followed by a cheese board, a selection of desserts and Liz’s special mince pies and coffee. 

Each year the Christmas meal reaches new heights and we would love to welcome as many members as possible to this wonderful occasion. The dinner is usually oversubscribed at £10 for adults and £8 for children and concessions. Early booking is advised by clicking the link below. Please bring a raffle prize.

BOXING DAY RACES - 11.30am

The Boxing Day Trophy is up for grabs with two back to back races starting at 11.30am on, you've guessed it, Boxing Day! What better excuse does anyone need for leaving all the clearing up behind to take part in a few hours of brisk sailing?

There will be wind, it’s on our wish list and as we’ve been good this year we are optimistic Santa won’t let us down, but more importantly, Liz has offered to bake her legendary mince pies. An almost unlimited supply! And there will be mulled wine. And no doubt the bar will be open. And even if you don't sail, it is always a great social occasion.

ROUND UP

This bit’s quite long……..

TROPHY PRESENTATION EVENING 2019

Ely Sailing Club's annual Trophy Presentation Evening was once again an enjoyable occasion. With the evening starting at 7pm, it signalled the start to a very warm and friendly evening.

The trophies on display looked magnificent, some of which had recently been refurbished to smarten them up, while others had been renewed to replace those that were starting to look a little tired. The club's new round dining tables and chairs transformed the look of the clubhouse, and created a great sociable dining experience.

The evening kicked off with a hearty Hog Roast supplied by Histon Hog Roast with an assortment of salads and side dishes, with many members going up for seconds. Liz Ungless kindly prepared a wonderful array of desserts, which much like the dinner, disappeared very quickly!

After a brief pause the prize giving ceremony followed, where each winner had their achievements read out one by one by Commodore Mark Stamford, and trophies awarded by his partner Christine Duncan. Prize winners received a certificate of their awards and the trophies themselves.

Expressions of thanks and gratitude were exchanged with all those who had contributed their time willingly and freely to the “ESC Cause” throughout the season, especially Liz and Gary Ungless, the SI’s, DI’s, ADI’s and all the training team and other members who have contributed to the smooth running of the club during the past year.

Well done to all the prize winners, and a special thank you to all members who took the time to make it such an enjoyable evening.

The full list of prize winners as follows:

John Wells

Laser Class Cup - Aggregate Points

Laser Class Cup - Best 10 Races

Camweld Trophy

Halloween Bowl

Spring Handicap Series Tankard

August Mini Handicap Series Tankard

Autumn Handicap Series Tankard

Thurmott Shield - Adult Aggregate Points

Kirk Stamford

Easter Egg Trophy

Jamie Butcher Memorial Trophy

Roswell Monster Trophy

Double Hander (Bob Utterridge) Trophy - Co-winner

Team Racing Trophy - Co-winner

Ian Wakeling

Mixed Fleet Handicap Trophy - Aggregate Points

Mixed Fleet Handicap Trophy - 10 Races

Page Fine Jewellery Summer Handicap Series Cup

Pursuit Trophy

Xavier Goujon

Mixed Fleet Handicap Trophy - Best 10 Races - Runner-Up

Kate Goujon

Dr K. Maurice Smith Cup for Crewing

Sara Goujon

Thursday Evening Handicap Shield

Norman Brettell Cup - Cadet Aggregate Points

Junior Ship's Wheel - Most Improved Cadet Helm

Halloween Race Fancy Dress Award - Co-winner

Alex Goujon

Halloween Race Fancy Dress Award - Co-winner

Best “Supportive Little Sister” Award - New for 2019

Alayne Seymour

Ladies Plate

12 Hour Race Trophy - Co-winner

Kingfisher Trophy for Clubmanship

Tatiana Hazelwood

George Washington Trophy

Travellers Award

Chandler Stamford

Whitsun Cup

Baby Easter Egg Trophy

Gary Ungless

Solo Class Cup - Aggregate Points

Solo Class Salver - Best 10 Races

Mike Williams

Double Hander (Bob Utterridge) Trophy - Co-winner

Baby Roswell Monster Trophy

Alison Coe

Saturday Social Sailing Trophy

Tim Downs

Sportsmanship Salver

Christine Duncan

Queen Duck - Best Capsize

Gil Hart

Winter Model Yachting Series

Ted Pepper

Team Racing Trophy - Co-winner

Suzie Sallis

12 Hour Race Trophy - Co-winner

Tibor Takacs

Ship's Wheel Perpetual Plate - Most Improved Adult Helm

Alan White

Summer Model Yachting Series

Rhys Williams

Junior Trophy

THE COMMODORE IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE COMMODORE…

The season is over for this year and this is my last newsletter as Commodore. Next year, Simon Leeks will be the handsome face of ESC and I will be relaxing, sipping my London Pride whilst propping up the bar.

The club has had a good fun year, both on and off the water. We once again hosted events for the Cambridgeshire Youth League (22 competitors, with 6 from ESC), Solo and Laser Open meetings, together with a Topper Eastern Region Traveller Open (16 entrants, 6 of which were young ESC members). The club also held another successful Topper Coaching Day in June with 23 participants. It was very pleasing to see all the club Toppers being hired out and used. The Topper Association have already confirmed that they would like to hold another coaching day with us again next year in September.

RACING

Average attendance has been 7 in the Series events and 8 in the Trophy events. In mitigation, several experienced sailors have been absent this season, either due to long term illness or because of university and/or work commitments. We wish them well both in their recovery and studies respectively. On the plus side, a good number of new members have ventured across from recreational to race sailing throughout the season and judging by the awards they harvested at the Laying Up Supper, very accomplished they are too. We wish them well in their progress and look forward to seeing them back next year. One highlight for me this year was the gorgeous Afternoon Tea after the Ladies Plate race. I do hope it will be repeated in future years as a token of gratitude to the special ladies of our club.

RECREATIONAL SAILING

Recreational sailing is always well attended. Its relaxed nature makes it ideal to continue learning boat handling skills. Friday evening sailing goes from strength to strength, by combining a relaxing sail after work with socialising at the bar proving a winning formula. This season, just for the fun of it, I tried out several fun races on a Friday evening as a way of introducing racing to new members. These proved quite popular with as many as 9 sailors taking part on some occasions. This could possibly be extended further next season as a way of continuing to introduce racing to the next crop of new members should there be enough interest in us doing so.

FACILITIES

A decision was made to update club facilities. The RIB, Black Pearl suffered a series of catastrophic deflation issues making it no longer fit for purpose. The new replacement vessel will continue to enable us to offer Powerboat courses to club members and to the wider community. In addition, the club has also invested in new power showers in both the ladies and gents changing rooms. A new hot water tank was also installed meaning that for the first time a continuous hot water shower can be enjoyed by everyone, without limitation, after a sailing session.

New modern toilets and hand basins have been fitted. New double glazed windows have replaced the last remaining old wooden framed windows. New energy-saving lights have been installed in the galley and changing rooms. The race box and steps have been re-painted and several large holes in the car park and track have been filled. Work should begin shortly on increasing berth spaces.

THANK YOU

I would like to offer my congratulations to the training team for all their endeavours and to thank them for their sterling work as always this season.

So it only remains for me to thank everyone who has helped me this year. I have had plenty of help from club members - they have recognised a hapless incompetent when they see one!

Receiving such help has made the job of being the club’s “non-sailing” Commodore a real pleasure and one in which I take away some very fond memories and that is because you guys here have made it so.

I also hope Simon enjoys his time as the next Commodore of this wonderful little club of ours.

In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

Best Wishes

Mark

Ely Sailing Club