Commodore's June newsletter
Published 09:14 on 19 Jun 2022
Dear Member,
Having celebrated our club's 75th Anniversary last year (2021), our 2022 Club of the Year status has been underpinned and reflected by the huge numbers of special events and celebrations that bring benefit not only to our members but also to the community in which we all live. It is great to see this, all members who make our club so active and vibrant should be proud of what we continue to achieve as each month goes by.
Mayday Answered
A Mayday call is an urgent plea for help when life is in danger at sea. RNLI lifeboat volunteers always answer the call. The RNLI is a charity, and our lifesavers depend on our support to help them save lives. This year, our sailing club adopted a unique method to answer THEIR call for funds donations whilst adopting a sustainable recycling program at the club for pre-owned sailing kit.
Each year the club generates a vast amount of abandoned sailing apparel. Over the Jubilee weekend we created a Pre-owned kit stock. We sent out an appeal to all members to bring any surplus second hand sailing stuff and you didn't disappoint. Over a period of seventy two hours, we sold £807.51 of pre-owned sailing stock at massively reduced prices. All the proceeds going to the RNLI. As a club, we hope this will not stop here. Container C now houses more pre owned sailing kit than we started with, including more Wetsuits, Buoyancy aids, Sailing smock tops, Boots, etc etc. We would appeal to all members to continue to bring in their pre-used sailing gear and make it available for purchase from Container C, by other members. A huge thank you to everyone who donated and who bought. RNLI will continue to benefit from our donations and we will continue to do our bit as a club for sustainability and the environment.
Jubilee Picnic
The club celebrated the Queens Jubilee on Saturday June 4th with an absolutely fabulous free finger buffet picnic after normal Recreational sailing in the morning. Over one hundred members came along as the day continued in glorious warm sunshine to be rounded off with a BBQ in the evening. Huge thanks to Alison Hubbard, Dianne Owen and Pauline Penny for the many hours of preparation.
Not a Big Lunch Day
National Big Lunch Day, Sunday 5th June, completed the Jubilee weekend with 19 Budworth boats foregoing a big lunch at home, to attend the Budworth GP14 Open. With a total of 23 boats, including notable visitors, this event was also the third in the GP14 Northern Bell Series. The day started early with the GP14 association official measurer arriving on site for 8am to begin weighing in a good number of boats for the day prior to the upcoming national and Worlds events later in the year. After three races in light to moderate conditions, overall winners on the day where Bill Kenyon/ Sian Baird in first place, Sam Watson/ Matthew Birks (Nantwich and Borders SC) second and Hugh Devereux/ Malcom Bird in third. The Silver fleet trophy was won by James Alexander and Joe Mills and a Bronze Fleet trophy to new Budworth members - Mike & Nina Martin - a father and daughter team who had entered their first ever open meeting.
World Gin Day also the Queen's Birthday
Pink Gin notwithstanding, 'Snipestock' was held over the weekend of the Queen's Birthday and World Gin Day, Saturday 11th June. A number of members revisited their past and wore 60's fancy dress to party in the clubhouse over what was a blustery weekend. The juniors had great fun with waterbased face paint and managed not only to decorate themselves but also various vehicles (with the owners consent!).
National Beer Day
Never mind being here for the Beer, on Wednesday 15th June, our sailing club took it's first forray into the world of TV. Budworth SC was approached by MOB Film Company to become the 'set' for a TV Commercial. Having secured a lucrative contract that would add to club coffers, a number of member volunteers ensured that the filming event was facilitated with expediency and completed prior to the commencement of usual Wednesday night mid-week sailing. Twenty-five boats competed later in the day, with no-one the wiser that our venue had earlier been the scene of secret filming activity.
Thank You Day
The Laser open will take place on national Thank You Day, Sunday 3rd July. Please note that the Laser fleet will have exclusive access to the Mere for sailing, albeit that members who would like to sail a 'borrowed' Laser on the day should please contact Chris Allen in advance on: laser_flt@budworthsc.org.uk Any member who wishes to spectate or support the Laser sailors on that day would be most welcome.
Commodores Weekend
The club is proud to again host its annual Festival of Sailing and Commodores event, spanning Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July. The festival commences with pitching of tents on Friday evening, when the club will fire up the BBQ to allow campers and non-campers to 'bring and cook your own' food whilst savouring the delights of a drink from the bar and a view over the Mere. During the day on Saturday, official racing will be suspended for the day to allow Black Beard to meet his arch rival Red Beard and entertain the juniors on and off the water. Casual sailing is allowed for all members, but watch out for Pirates, you may be press ganged to 'walk the gang plank' as part of the festivity. On Saturday evening, the club's main social event of the year will boast live music from the ever highly acclaimed band 'Elephant Juice'. Commodores Saturday evening is 'The Big BBQ' for which members are asked to pre-book tickets for themselves and their friends. This Ticket only evening event will include the BBQ, live music, a bonfire and spectacular fireworks for only £10 per adult and £7.50 each for children. The following day, Sunday 10th, members can once again race to contest for the clubs silverware, with a four race format being run and open to all members. Sailing Instructions will be posted on the day.
BOOK EARLY for this fun packed weekend sailing festival and BBQ. Our Festival is being organised and run by volunteer members and a small number of paid support staff. It needs you to help us by booking online at the earliest opportunity. Our club facilities can only accommodate a finite number of members and cars at any one time. With in excess of 100 tickets already sold, please ensure to ask your friends and family and remember to book tickets early for them too.
All the best.
Bill