News - Cransley Sailing Club

Huge reservoirs. Huge confidence.

Sailing for the first time on a large open water when you have learned on a small 40 acre 'puddle' like Cransley can be a big deal even for the bravest, but at the right time can be a real confidence booster. All credit to seven of our Youth who during April have sailed on local huge Rutland or Grafham reservoirs and quickly gained so much new experience and confidence.

Tom B attended ITCA Midland Topper training at 3100 acre Rutland Water, coping really well with two days of wind and waves to win Best Sailor in his large group, a fantastic achievement.

Sam, Gordon, Todd, Emma, Oliver and Jack enjoyed their first sail on a 1600 acre reservoir with excellent personal tuition from Grafham Water Centre instructors. The six chose a sunny hot day and learned light-wind techniques such as roll-tacking after first sailing a mile across the reservoir for a brief snack-stop. Each sailor was awarded a signed certificate of achievement and their confidence ratings soared in just a few hours! Everyone agreed our first joint venture with GWC had been a great success, and would like to visit again soon for more 'huge reservoir' sailing and fun.

But the date of a return visit might depend on whether the Commodore recovers in time to run another 10 miles around Grafham Water!!

PS Huge thanks to John from all the sailors and parents for preparing, towing and checking the Club Topper boats.

Caroline Hughes

March Quiz

Where: Thorpe Malsor Social Club

When: Wednesday 17th March, 1930 for 2000.

£5 per team of 4. Come along for a fun night - catch up with old (ship)mates and win some incredible prizes. Please contact Julie - 01536 726830 or 07766 251 871 or julie.houghton4@ntlworld.com to book your place.

SPORT ENGLAND GRANT

We received wonderful news the day before Valentines day.

Sport England awarded Cransley £10,000 to purchase two double handed boats to replace two of our old wooden Enterprises, which have done sterling service but are now not economical to repair.

The two new boats, Laser Bahias, are rapidly becoming the training boat for all levels and we are sure that everyone will enjoy being trained in them as well as using them during club days.

The main purpose of the Sport England small grants programme is to encourage more people to participate in sport and therefore we will be promoting our training programme and club to everyone this year through the media.

We hope to have delivery of the boats in early March and it would be great to see as many members down to christen them!

More details will follow as soon as we know dates etc.

Nigel

2010 Walk Update

Places still available. Please email Ivan (diane.brown84@btinternet.com)

'Sailor rules waves for half a century' - Evening Telegraph

Published Date:
23 November 2009

By Becky Inman

Kettering reporter

A sailor has picked up a top award for his prestigious 50-year boating career, despite the fact he can't swim.

Mike Sawford, 69, received the Royal Yachting Association's lifetime commitment award for his lifelong passion, which began as a boy when he used to build boats.

He was presented with his award by HRH the Princess Royal who is the president of the yachting association.

He said: "I always loved boats as a boy and then joined the Navy in 1958.

"When I joined the Navy there was no point in learning to swim because if your boat sank there was always someone to cling on to.

"Then I joined Cransley Sailing Club, because sailing is a passion."

Mr Sawford, who helps out at the club with training and boat maintenance, said he did not know the club members had nominated him for the award until he received a letter saying he had won.

He added: "I was really shocked when I found out, but it was a nice surprise.

"It is nice that it is a sport that old boys like me can take part in.

"I raced boats for a long time and it is the technical side as much as the racing side that appeals.

"When you are sailing in particularly light winds it becomes my speciality."

Mr Sawford got involved in the club about 30 years ago and has been a key figure in the development of their RYA training.

He has twice been the club's Commodore.

Principal of the training group at Cransley Sailing Club, Rick Dunsby, said: "Mike has always been an inspiration to all sailors at Cransley.

"We have never seen him capsize in over 40 years, which must be a record, but above everything he will always impart his knowledge in a quiet but reassuring style. He is an ideal teacher."

Mike and other winners enjoyed a lunch with HRH the Princess Royal and were presented with a commemorative medallion and certificate.

2010 Walk

The walk will be on Sunday 10th January and will be different from last years (weather permitting ), 5 miles maximum but shorter alternatives will be available but lunch will again be at the Chequered Skipper in Ashton.

Many thanks

Ivan

The menu for this years meal at the Chequered Skipper is here

Anglian Water Series 2009

Five local sailing clubs take part in this Youth Series, and on Saturday 27th June it was Banbury's turn to host their event. Training in the morning was practising roll-tacking and roll-gybing, and there was just enough breeze all day to keep the sailors happy.

Cransley had two competitors, Eddy in his Laser for the Fast Fleet and Tom sailing for the first time at Banbury in the Topper Fleet. Three afternoon races brought success for both sailors: Eddy came sixth overall, out of 31 entries and Tom won his first silverware for achieving 3rd Topper place!

Both boys represented Cransley with distinction and deserve our congratulations for their good attitude, which was noted by the organisers. (And they also enjoyed Banbury's famous bacon butties, superb lunch and after-sailing cakes. "Well worth travelling for!" recommends Eddy.)

Alex Peck, whose main club is Hollowell, but who also sails at Cransley, took part after finishing his GCSE exams and easily won the Topper first prize. A fantastic result again, Alex, well done.

The next AWS event is at Hollowell on Sunday 12th July and is an ideal friendly first racing experience away from Cransley. Any Youth sailor who would like to be in our Cransley team should contact Caroline at the latest by Mon 6th July via youth@cransley.co.uk to book a boat space on the club trailer.

Tiller and Spar

Saturday 13th June

Tiller and Spar at Hollowell. On a beautiful day with about force 2 occasionally 3 winds, 12 intrepid sailors and support crew made the journey ro Hollowell to race against the home club and Banbury. By 10.30am it was obvious we were going to be at least 2nd overall as no one from Banbury turned up!!!.

So with our sights set on the big prize, we sailed for the start line - enjoying an inmpromptu Mexican wave on the way. Whilst we didn't actually win any races we did put up a great show, with Sarah Austin bagging two 2nds and a 4th, in the slow fleet (despite nursing a dodgy shoulder - Ok I forced her to sail!), and Chris Davies 2nd, 3rd and 4th (who sailed really well especially as there were no other lasers in the youth fleet to sail against - also special thanks as he had an exam the next day - true dedication!)

Everyone had a story to tell though:

Jez Clifford - first competitive event, big smile even when he was late for lunch, but by the last race he was there - and even had time to shout to me on the first lap (when up with everyone) - "I'm in a race!"

Ivan Clifford - improved in every sense and in the last race was on the same leg as the leading Topper. Your growing too fast though - (think you'd look good in a Laser Radial!!!)

Barbara and Julie - without a doubt the coolest two in the fleet - unflustered (apart from sailing back to shore at the begginning of the 2nd race- bet you thought no-one saw you), they had big grins throughout.

Rob Campbell - had a 2nd and 3rd and would have been on the podium in the 2nd race but thought he had finished and so headed back early for the cake - only to find out there was another lap!

Nick Seddon - was it really him beneath those sunglasses? - cool (until the capsize before the start of the 2nd race), and destined to go places - not sure where though! but again sailing in first club event and was certainly getting a few starboards in by the 3rd race.

Gavin Franklin - looking good and I suspect giving everyone a chance by not flying his assymetric all the time, he travelled with his own shore based fan club!

Jess Austin - as the only Comet in the Youth fleet, this feisty individual put in a gritty performance - move over hockey!!

Eddy Hughes - up against some of his Topper rivals and two Optomists (with obscene Portsmouth ratings - we will never beat them with those numbers!!), still he was very relaxed prior to the racing with Ipod attached and apparently asleep in the bottom of his boat!

Ian "Rooster" Wilson Benn - unfortunately I have very little time to write about the exploits of this legend.....!!!!

Lastly, well nearly me - I just want to thank all those who came, the sailors and those who supported us, John and Caroline Hughes in particular - you were truly motivational.

It was a steep learning curve for alot but we all came away with pride because at the end of the day, we all finished every race (apart from Robs' mistake) and I think we all had a great day out.

Hollowell were very friendly and hospitable - and the free beer at the end made defeat more bearable!!

Well done everyone,

Nigel

What a week!

The last week has seen some great achievements at Cransley and for Cransley Sailors.

Firstly we have had fantastic weather and this has seen alot of boats out (today Sunday the 30th there were 20 in beautiful winds).

Secondly, John Linell and Andy Simms, as well as 4 apprentices at Coney Marine, (and of course Bill Webster) have worked tirelessly over the last year to restore the weed cutter to an absolutely fantastic piece of kit, which will be deployed over the next few weeks to keep the wretched stuff at bay. It would be great if there were a few volunteers to help with this - however it is not for the fainthearted and John would need to see you can drive a marinised 2cv powered machine before a driving licence is issued!

Thirdly to all the adults and children who graduated last Saturday from the RYA Level 2 course that Rick and the team ran for the last 3 weekends. All should be very proud because it was taught in some of the windiest conditions and sailed by those learning in a true gritty spirit - it was also great to see many a week later enjoying their new found skills.

Fourthly, well done to Chris Berry who won at Nottingham SC sailing his Topper with results of 3rd, 1st, 1st.

Luke Berry also in his Topper came 12th out of a total topper fleet was 20 and there were quite a few RYA zone and squad trained sailors in amongst them meaning the standard was high. Chris is now 2nd overall in the Midland Topper fleet - and as we have witnessed at Cransley is sailing beautifully at the moment (slow down a bit!).

Next congratulations to those who travelled to Thrapston for a round in the Anglian Water Series on Saturday. Todd, Ivan Clifford, Peter Hudson and Eddy Hughes. Todd was 26th out of 39 at his first racing outside Cransley! Ivan was fourth Laser and he did well to manage in the windier weather and Peter, who also sailed in his first competition, was also sailing amongst the pack (sorry Peter haven't got your results to hand). A huge thanks to Caroline and John Hughes for organising this and a huge amount for the Youth Sailing - also to Peter Stein for helping at Thrapston. Bet you thought i'd forgotten Eddy! -well he too excelled with a 4th overall, one place off the silverware! (although there was a bit of of fudging results so we know you should have come third!).

Lastly to Rhiain, John Linnell, Sarah (and me) for sailing at the Comet National Championships last Sunday and Monday in the most trying conditions (i.e no wind). John became Comet Duo Single handed National Champion, with the rest of us not quite getting to those giddy heights. However it was a very friendly event and at the end of the day thats what its all about (hardly a voice raised all weekend, please note!)

Hope this gives you a brief glimpse into the activities some of our members get up to. It would be great to hear from you about any of your experiences - doesn't have to be about racing - for instance it could be that you are the first person at Cransley to see the Otter - yes apparently according to the fishermen we have one!!!. - or it could be just how you survived your first race/capsize or RYA course.

Do try to get up to the club as often as you can.

See you on the water - Nigel

PS Please use the club boats when they are not being used on courses (but please treat them with care and donations please). Also please use the rescue facilities responsibly, whilst we have not had any thefts of fuel recently, we need to be sensible about the use of the boats as our fuel costs are a large part of our budget.

Summer Party UPDATE

Dear Members

It looks like we have a few more shy and retiring violets amongst us when it comes to the karaoke as it seems there are not many of us trying to get on Britain Got Talent !!!!!

So the new and improved Beach Party is planned including shore based games and a dingy race with a difference. The fun and cavorting is planned for 5:30 onwards however why not come early and make a day of it?

There will be music in the background, old favourites and a few of the latest tunes however suggestions will be greatly received. One early suggestion is Titanic with possible prizes for the best Leonardo De Caprio impression. We have pre booked the weather for hot and sunny along with a hot air balloon event. (weather permitting)

Please come dressed as casual as you like however there will be prizes for the best complete beach party outfit although Jack has a head start over most of us with those shorts. It has also been said that the Commodore has been spotted sporty a racy little Hawaiian shirt number but less said the better. Alternatively for those with a sense of occasion in the evening then feel free to come in your best bib and tucker.

Oh the food it will be a “very different” BBQ, We have planned spit roast Lamb and Beef complete with a Sailors Rub!! Salads and rolls all you can eat (and we can cook) for the price excellent value is planned. There will also be burgers etc for the kids

£5.00 Adults

£3.00 Children under 13

Please contact Sarah Austin 07802638517 or austins.cottage@btinternet.com or tickets will be on sale at the club this weekend.

Boat Spaces!

We are very close to full capacity in terms of boat spaces. We are going to try and accommodate all new boats however we may need to reorganise some spaces.

Nigel
Commodore