THE
MAINSHEET
Autumn 2013
Contents
THE AQUARIUS SAILING CLUB NEWSLETTER
Vice Commodore’s Bit -
The sailing season is ending not so much with a bang as with a blow. Three weeks ago members present sat nose to window watching the steady downpour and only one foolhardy member went out for a soak.
The following Sunday promised gusts of 30 mph, but coming from the south the trees caused such turbulence that three of the four boats struggled to find a consistent wind direction, while Pat Halling simply romped away.
Last Sunday saw the approach of the 'great storm' and only Bosuns ventured out for
the first and only race -
Quite why members prefer the warmth, burgers, cheap drinks and convivial chat of the clubhouse I cannot understand, but then I do need my cobwebs to be blown away after each week chained to my desk in the city.
However, the reduced numbers sailing this year do partially reflect a change in the nature of the sailing undertaken. From memory six members have cruised in the Med this year, one couple twice, while Nigel's exploits have taken him to the Scillies, the Shetlands and down the east coast. I suppose we are also seeing the club evolve to reflect the changing profile of the membership.
The social side, by contrast, had possibly its best event ever in the much acclaimed
Russian night, which I missed due to a remarkable lack of foresight 30 years and
9 months earlier -
Between the two comes the more serious matter of the AGM, which gives about a month to consider how well the structure of 3 vice commodores and a troubleshooting president has worked. Certainly we have managed to better spread the load previously borne by commodores, but is there scope for the committee to better reflect changes in the profile of our members?
President’s Postscript
Rodger Wheeler
Very many thanks to all those who helped the club during the year with a special
mention of An-