AQSC Spring 2001 Newsletter

COMMODORE’S REPORT
Rodger Wheeler

Oodles and Oooooodles of water, fast flowing and more suited to white water rafters than Signets and Graduates! That's been the order of the day since last October. BUT I can report that last week Brian Clements braved the elements and was the first to sail on the Aquarius reach this year. So we should start racing in earnest on the Sunday 1st April. This year we have allowed a week for everyone to recover from the START OF SEASON PARTY, which has been RESCHEDULED TO 8.00p.m. on SATURDAY 24TH MARCH - Note that there will be a "surprise" starting soon after 8.00p.m. so please be prompt.

For those who remember to put the "bungs" back after the winter, there will be informal sailing on Sunday 25th March - the ultimate cure for a hangover!
Now this may sound totally foreign to some of you. "Please be nice to rowers". We have started a series of meetings with Hampton S.C. and the rowing clubs to try to avoid conflicts and improve safety. I was very pleased by the level of co-operation. By all means shout warnings to avoid collisions but next time you feel like uttering ....... ...... ...... (expletives deleted) at about 80 decibels when a rower gets in your path, try a friendly wave instead.
This spring, we plan to formally christen our new "Millenium Pico" and we have a major project, the fitting of a new diesel engine to the rescue boat together with a new control system.
Make a date in your diaries - Sunday 6th May - The Mid-Thames Trophy is a new inter-club event for us; we will be the guests of Desborough Sailing Club. Also a forthcoming trip to the London Eye on the 16 June!
We trust that the club ghost (tiny footsteps in the roof ?), otherwise known as "The Mink" has now been exorcised by means of a good clean up above the false ceiling. It had superb walk-in accommodation at roof level at the rear of the club - and we suspect, all because some errant person failed to resecure the chicken wire in the eaves. Should the mink return, we have provided ultrasonic "music", which may not be to it's taste, in the form of an Italian mouse buster.
Now for a little gossip. Did you know that last autumn George, Joan, Linda and I attended an RYA reception with the Princess Royal as representatives of the Thames Valley region.
See you all on the 24th, Rodger