Percuil Sailing Club

Percuil Sailing Club: Commodore’s Report
Welcome to the 2011 Season with Percuil Sailing Club.
Following my nomination and acceptance at the 2011 AGM, I am delighted to be writing this as the newly elected Commodore.
At last we have had a taste of spring weather and thoughts are turning to the coming season. We have already received our first enquiry for the Regatta so we know summer is definitely on the way!
Our aim is to continue with the philosophy of offering a welcoming and sociable club, where sailors of all levels can enjoy Percuil. We continue to support our young sailors and provide introduction to sailing sessions for beginners and intermediate level children and then encourage their progression and contribution to the club where they can.
My first duty at this year’s Annual General Meeting was to thank our retiring Commodore, Gerry Beddoes, for his commitment and dedication over the past six years. Gerry has been an inspiration to us all and has lead the Committee with an efficient confidence, ensuring we deliver a friendly sociable club to our members, in amongst the beautiful surroundings of the Percuil River. I am delighted that Gerry has agreed to continue as a member of our Committee and I look forward to his ongoing help and guidance to ensure we carry on with his good work.
These are difficult times for families and it is often difficult to find the time and money to appreciate and take advantage of the wonderful surroundings in which we live. Often there is the misconception that sailing is an expensive sport. For your children we have found a way of offering them an affordable introduction to sailing.
The 2010 season saw a full Junior Sailing School arranged and delivered by Guy Clapson and his team.
Weather was once again an influence to the year’s sailing. Early season presented a good spell, which was very quickly replaced with our traditional summer conditions, we seem to have grown to get used to. Despite this, the junior sailing completed an extremely successful series of sessions, culminating with the traditional Junior Regatta and BBQ. We are continually delighted to hear reports of the successes of our young sailors, who began with Percuil and the Junior Sailing. Chris Thomas and Jack Hawkins are two such sailors, who now compete on the world circuit and treated the AGM to a well presented talk on their successes within a recent trip to the world championships in Argentina. A big thank-you to them both from everyone at the AGM.
We can also make note of our accomplished young windsurfers who are now competing at high level within the national circuits. Particular congratulations should go to Gemma Grayston for gaining her place within the Team GB squad. These young sailors have all progressed from within our club and the Junior Sailing programs and are now giving back their experience within the club, as well as assisting and instructing with Bob Warren at Roseland Paddle and Sail.
Friday night racing was a little disappointing last season. However, we shall of course aim to improve this year and are planning to promote the racing to all our sailors, local and visiting, in the hope of regaining our previous attendance figures. My thanks, for the continued support of our volunteer Race Officers, for providing the cover and organisation for these Friday evening sessions. This year’s Friday night racing begins on Friday 27th May and will continue through to the Regatta in August. Please note that we are holding an “introduction to racing” evening, the week before on Friday 20th May, for those new to dinghy racing.
Our feature event of the sailing year is of course the annual Percuil SC River Regatta. Last year the weather was a little disappointing, with very light winds which progressively dropped during the racing, calling for shortened course signals. However, entries were as ever very good, with an encouraging number of competitive sailors racing Picos, Lasers, Gaffers, Handicap dinghies, a fantastic fleet of Ajax and even the return of Sunbeams to the Percuil River. They all provided a fantastic sight for our spectators, supported by a lively running commentary from Maggie; thank-you Maggie.
The 2010 Regatta also included a new class to the race card for our windsurfers, who could make a little more of the fading winds as the day progressed, turning their class into an exciting competitive race.
Activities within the boat shed were as busy as ever. Our thanks to Greg, Carol, Iain and Linda from Percuil boat yard, for their continued support and help and also to Bob Warren for his ongoing help and close association to our club. Catering was a huge success. Thank you to Joe Hawkins and her team for providing all of the goodies on sale.
I am delighted to report that the 2010 Regatta contributed £778 to our club funds of which our club has donated £250 to the RNLI. A big well done and thanks to all involved.
So, we now hope to repeat all this for this year’s Regatta, which will revert to the Bank Holiday weekend on Sunday 28th August, to form the Roseland Regatta weekend with Portscatho Regatta on the 27th. We look forward to good weather and record entries. All are welcome to take part, spectate and help out on the day. Please encourage your friends and family to come along and experience one of the favourite village regattas in the Fal estuary.
I have listed the dates for currently planned events and social get togethers below and encourage you to join us. Last year we repeated the boat trip, with over 30 members meeting at Tolvern and enjoyed an evening cruise to Malpas and then on up river to Truro, returning  in time to creep up the higher reaches of Cowlands Creek.  This year we hope to take to the water again; this time on members craft to a local beach for a BBQ.
I remind all of our members that the club offers a fleet of dinghies, which are available for your enjoyment. Some rules apply before their use and Bruce Dalgleish (Bosun Bruce) is your contact. He will be very happy to hear from any members wishing to take these craft out on the River.
I finally turn to the Committee itself, which I have been privileged to be part of again this year. Under Hilary Newton’s very able Secretaryship, we have covered a great deal of business, both in and between scheduled meetings. Your Committee remains committed to providing a friendly social club, social events through the year and our annual Village Regatta within the stunning surroundings of the Percuil River.
I shall always be delighted to hear from club members, please feel free to contact me directly should you wish at the email address below.
Please re-join the Club next year, and I wish you all an enjoyable and safe sailing season during 2011.
Best wishes
David Armstrong
Commodore, PSC
April 2010
the.armstrongs@btinternet.com
 
Diary dates for 2011
· Friday 20th May – Introduction to Racing evening 6pm at Percuil
· Friday 27th May – Friday night racing begins at 6.30pm
· Saturday 20th August – BBQ and boat trips from Percuil
· Sunday 28th August – PSC Annual Regatta
For Junior Sailing dates please see application form.
For further information, club membership forms, Regatta entry forms etc, please visit our Club Web Site at
www.percuilsailingclub.org.uk
Contact telephone number for “Bosun Bruce” – 01872 501193