Archived News Items 2000 update 15Jul2003

Items that have been on the News page but are no longer current are generally transferred to to an archive.

19Nov2000 was the last Sunday with sailing scheduled for year 2000 to end what has been a truly terrible sailing season. There was no racing for the last five Sundays and there was no racing on two consecutive Sundays near the start of the season. Sailing on a number of other Sundays has been very poor. One boat managed to sail and just hold its own against the current; Charles Dennis took the Club Pico out for its first sail.
The end of season race results, in place order, for each of the Race Series have been added to the race results.

Flood report & pictures07Nov2000. The floods are also affecting the club. Racing is scheduled for a further two Sundays (12 & 19Nov) but it is highly unlikely that we will be able to sail; it has been the worst sailing season for a very long time. Mike Baker Story

Gale report & picturesThe gales of 29-30Oct2000 made their mark on the Club with boats partially tipped over and a Grad in the trailer park was lifted off its trailer and dumped upside down. The willow tree by the Bosun's store has had a large branch broken. Fortunately the bushes behind the boats give good protection and there doesn't seem to have been major damage. The water has been over the bank and boats need to be tied down to avoid being washed away if not blown away.

Michael Stevens capsized in Club Laser, 6kbEarly Sunday 29Oct started with no wind although the weather forecast was terrible; 60,70 or even 90mph winds. By 11:30 it had all changed and it was gusting over 30mph. A course had been laid and Keith Hatton took the club Laser out and then handed it over to Michael Stevens. The wind was extremely strong, gusty and fluky and Michael couldn't make way against the strong current and had to be towed back. Racing was cancelled for the second consecutive Sunday.
The new Club Pico has arrived and was rigged for the first time but it was too windy to take it out.

The quiz night with a fish & chips supper on 6 September was well attended and very enjoyable. The fish & chips were excellent. Report.

Roof stripped, 32kbTorching on new roof, 35kb The west end of the roof has been leaking so it was necessary to replace it to match the east end which was replaced 6 years ago. Keith Hatton, Richard Cannon and his son Martin took on the task again. Keith stripped the old roofing off and found the timber to be in much worst condition than before and a fair bit had to be replaced. The weather was far from ideal for torching on the new roofing, very windy and some rain, but it went very well and should last over 20 years.

The August Bank Holiday visit to Bewl by AQSC and the Signet Class Owners Association was most enjoable with ideal conditions and a record turn out of around 40 members and friends, and 18 boats.

3Apr2000 A list of AQSC Trophies, with pictures, and past winners back to 1952 have been added to the Race Results contents.

fireworksOn Sat 4Nov2000 AQSC members will be going to the Kempton Park fire works display and taking food back to the clubhouse afterwards for a social evening. The funfair opens at 5:30pm with the fireworks starting at 7:45pm. Tickets are £5 on the night and £3.50 in advance from 01932 885854 by credit card, website kemptonfireworks.org.uk. Or book with Richard on 01932 786636 and meet at his house at 7:00pm for a stroll up to Kempton Park.

On Saturday 7 October at 8pm sharp there is a Musical Extravaganza at AQSC. Food with a Germanic flavour £1 per head. Come for a romp round the Aquarius World of Music.

Come and join us for the Aquarius Quiz Night, Saturday 9 September, with a tasty supper from the local fish and chip shop washed down with a few drinks. See you there at 8pm to order by 8:30pm. Madeline Hatton

26-28Aug, the August Bank Holiday, is an AQSC visit and Signet Open Meeting at Bewl Water. Camping is available at the Club.

There were excellent conditions for sailing on Wednesday afternoon 23Aug with a steady E force 2-3 wind. A visitor in his 80s was taken out for his first sail by Richard Cannon. Seven boats launched and 5 sailed up to Sunbury weir in ideal conditions; George Bray followed in the safety boat. A total of 21 people came to the Club the during the day and evening.

Training and general sailing is taking place on Wednesday afternoons. On 9Aug Liah Farmer invited a number of friends as well and there were 15 people at the club with 6 boats out.

Saturday 12Aug is the Sunbury Amateur Rowing Regatta, located around Rivermead Island at Sunbury, with many attractions all day. It finishes with an illuminated sail past and a fireworks display from 21:00 hrs. The Aquarius Safety boat will be leaving the Club at 20:00 hrs to join the mass of craft viewing the event from the water.

Robert Britton single handed in a force 4, 7kb30Jul-4Aug. Aquarius members were very successful in the Signet National Championship held at Ullswater, 5 of the 20 boats were from Aquarius. Mark Hollamby and Richard Cannon tied for first place and Mark won by the tie break. Madeline Hatton took the Ladies cup with 6th place. Mike Baker and Laurie Bridges were 11th and 12th.
Except for the Sunday practice race, when there was no wind, there were very good sailing conditions with generally force 3-4 wind from various directions. Members collecting BBQ food, 28kb

The Barbecue and Jazz evening on Saturday 1 July was very successful with a planned for attendance, good weather and an excellent group. Graduate capized with Laser, 18kb
The weather wasn't so co-operative for the Aquarius Regatta on the same weekend as there was very little wind and some current making for very frustrating sailing. Even so 15 helms took part. Mark Hollamby won the Regatta Trophy with 3 wins, Michael Stevens won the Novice Trophy and Madeline Hatton won the ladies Trophy with Joan Garrett as crew.

The Hampton SC Regatta on the 17 and 18 June was extremely successful and enjoyable. The weather was superb, hot with a good SE to SW Force 2-4 Wind. We had 8 boats attend with all except the Laser racing in the handicap fleet which had 15 entries. It was extremely crowded with a total of 55 boats entering. Richard Cannon was first in the Handicap fleet. There is a full report in the AQSC Summer newsletter which is on line and has been posted to members.

Twenty members attended the Murder Mystery social evening on Saturday 10 June. It was very successful.

Link to reportReport on Bewl Water visit 27-29 May 2000.

As a new venture on 20May2000 our Social Secretary, Madeline Hatton, organised an outing with a pub lunch at Peaslake followed by a walk around the lakes and gardens at Coverwood farm. We were very lucky that the weather was better than forecast and 27 members and friends enjoyed a lovely day out.

16May2000 Congratulations to Anna and Robert Iremonger on the birth of their 2nd daughter. 9lb Lydia was born on 13th April.
The weather was excellent for the successful AQSC Open Days.

23Apr2000 There was a lot of rain during the week and there was still too much current for sailing. I think this is the first time we have been unable to sail on two successive weekends since at least 1992.
The Club benefited as a number of jobs were done including Lounge double doors sanded and painted, grass bank strimmed, gardening around the bank and painting on the rescue boat.
Come and have a look at the excellent job Nigel Knowles has made of the upper patio.

Top patio concreting 26kb16Apr2000 There was no sailing due to a very fast current. As a consequence Nigel Knowles had plenty of help with laying the new concrete on the top patio. George Bray was lugging buckets of pea shingle and Bryan Clements levelling the concrete instead of doing Officer Duty.

Grand Turk 12kb27Mar2000 The start of Season Party was very well attend and the presentation by John Heath was excellent. It was mainly about the building the square rigger Grand Turk seen in the Horn Blower TV Series.
The wet and windy weather forcast for the Sunday sailing didn't materialise; it was fine with practically no wind to make way against the bit of current.

16Mar2000 The Spring 2000 Newsletter is now on line and in the post

11Mar2000 There was an excellent working party with 18 members attending and a lot of tasks were completed. The highlight of the day was a super sit down lunch of beef caserole and rice prepared by Joan Bray.

The next very important social event is the Barbecue and Jazz evening on Saturday 1 July at 8pm. Save £1 each by buying tickets in advance at £6.50 adults, £4 children. Please ring Richard Cannon on 01932 786636 for tickets.
The two day Aquarius Regatta takes place on the same weekend.

The Hampton SC Regatta is on the 17 and 18 June. All members are invited to join their Class and Handicap racing, there will be no organised racing at AQSC on that Sunday. The first start is at 11:00 on Saturday (2 races) and 10:30 on Sunday (3 races), 3 out of 5 races count for the event. We plan to leave AQSC at 10:00 Saturday in the company of our safety Boat.

On Saturday 10 June there is a Murder Mystery social evening at the Clubhouse starting at 8 pm. This is a new theme for us and there will be the usual buffet style food available.

6 & 7May2000 are the AQSC Open Days from 10:30am to 6:00pm. Any one interested in a free day out and trying a sail on the river Thames is invited to come along to our friendly Club, Map.

On 26 March 2000 the new season's racing starts at 11:30am.

John Heath with Judy Foster On Anna And The Kings Boat, Click for full size(32K)On 25 March 2000 the Start of Season Party starts at 7:30pm for 8:00pm.
Local boat builder John Heath will be showing us a selection of his many slides accompanied by many interesting anecdotes about the special boats he has built for films and television. There will be a free buffet during the interval, and music later.

On Satuday 29Jan2000 at 8:00pm come and let your hair down with the first event of the year; the Aquarius Stakes Social evening. Food along the lines of French bread, cheese, soup and jacket potato for £1.

21Jan2000 Rodger Wheeler and others have done a great deal of work researching and submitting objections to the Thames Water plans to develop the Hampton Water Works Site. Rodger has just received the revised Richmond Council Unitary Development Plan and reports that it looks as if it has taken note of most of our suggestion and very few of Thames Water requests.

20Jan2000 The Committee for 2000 has been added, the Sailing Secretary's Report and Trophy winners for 1999 have been added.