Scows at Papercourt; Ladies Sailing; Social Dates; Work Group; Neat and Tidy; Card Readers Arrive; Cruising; Weed Update
Newsletter - 14h July 2019
In This Issue: Card Readers have arrived; Upcoming Social Dates; Weed Update; Scows at Papercourt; Cruising News; Keeping the Club up to Scratch; Ladies Sailing; Our Beautiful Setting; Applications for Adult RYA 1 course.
Tea Bar and Bar - Card Readers
Our latest improvement - two new contactless card readers. One for the drinks bar and one for the tea bar. After careful research we selected the SumUp 3G card reader and we hope that members will welcome this additional payment method. The OOD guidance notes will be updated, but in the meantime bear with the learning process and enjoy less change jangling in your pockets.
Scows at Papercourt
Two years ago, the Scow was added to the approved list of dinghies at Papercourt. The class has now become well established and is being sailed informally on Wednesday evenings, and raced at the weekend. It has become apparent that the class is eminently suitable for the mature sailors at Papercourt. It would also be an excellent introduction for children to experience sailing. Anyone who thinks they would like to try the boat would be welcome to join us on Wednesday evenings.
If interested give me a ring on 01372 277382.
James Carleton
Scow Class Captain
Adult RYA Level 1 Short Course - August/September 2019
We are running a short course for Adults of just four Saturday mornings to get you started on your learn to sail journey The dates and application form can be found by clicking the button below. Applications must be received by 1st August, to allow planning of our volunteer instructors.
We know that the Work Group work very hard to keep everything up and running between work parties, but did you know that the area around your own berth is not on their lists. If you have undergrowth breaking through, please cut it back - there are gloves and shears in the House shed if you forget to bring your own.
We are of course delighted that members use the club for barbeques and picnics, but if you do so please take five minutes to clean up and put everything away, and if necessary empty the bins into the dumpy bin opposite the car park doors. There is, unfortunately, no washing up fairy at Papercourt!!!
Lastly our thanks to Andrew Hill-Smith who has taken his hedge cutters to the car park hedge and made a very tidy job of it.
Save the date - next Work Group
19th and 20th August are our next Work Group dates. Please contact John Panting on john_brenda@pantings.plus.com if you can lend a hand.
and talking of saving the date.........................................
Social Events in the pipeline
Our traditional celebration of the end of Wednesday cruising Sharing Plates Supper will be on 11th September from 7pm. Bring along something yummy to share.
The next of our ever popular quiz nights will be on Saturday 19th October
Fireworks supper will be on 2nd November
Annual Dinner and Prize Giving is returning to Hoebridge Golf Club on 23rd November
Our Beautiful Estate
We are so fortunate to own our lake and the surroundings. About three years ago we cleared a section of bramble on the right hand side just as you leave the club via the ramp. We seeded this area with native wild flowers and meadow grasses which are looking very pretty this year. As a bonus, the area is now home to some pretty rare lack winged mining bees. RSPB reps have been taking a keen interest in rare birds on our site and we now appear have a badger's set on site too. Sue Michelmore has captured some of the smaller wildlife around our lake — enjoy.
Weed News
We are pleased to report that the weedcutting has progressed successfully, and we are now clear at the top of the lake, and clearer in the central section of the clubhouse end. This does not mean there is no weed, and there still some tufts around, some floating bits, and the weed is dense near the banks which we leave uncut as a sanctuary for the fish and other wildlife. Training and the Dinghy Instructor Course have progressed well. The situation at Papercourt is in sharp contrast to some other clubs around who despite using various different weed control measures are having a hard time in the hot sunny weather.
Sailing Programme
Don't forget that sailing continues to be available on Wednesday evenings for cruising, and at the weekends our Summer race series is now underway with the Novice Race, followed by back to back Pursuit and GH races on Saturday afternoon, and Pursuit and GH back to back on Sunday morning and again on Sunday afternoon. If you cannot make the Novice on a Saturday, but would like a quieter race to get going, the GH race on Sunday afternoon (starting no earlier than 14.30) is usually less populated and a perfect time to give it a go. At this time of the year, winds are usually lighter so a perfect time for the less confident to get out on the water.
If racing is not your thing, then cruising is available up to the white post on the right hand side all Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday, and you can use all the lake after the Pursuit race on Saturday and all afternoon on Sunday. Cruising finishes 30 minutes after the last race of the day has finished. See report below from our Cruising Captain.
Frank Brown, Sailing Secretary
Cruising News
The last two Wednesday evenings saw a good number of Cruisers out on the lake. On the first Wednesday evening, contrary to weather reports for nearby Wisley, the wind speed fell away and was below what was expected – nevertheless this gave Cruisers the challenge of finding the wind rather than dealing with it! On the Wednesday just gone, the lake was positively full and the wind did the reverse by picking up somewhat as the evening went on and it made a fine sight and a good time was had, especially by the younger members. The intervening weekend also saw a good number of Cruisers on the water in the afternoon and whilst this fine weather holds it is a perfect opportunity to build up, or brush up, on your skills.
Any cruisers who would like to be notified of forthcoming cruising opportunities or events are most welcome to let me have a note of their email address (dcb2101@ntlworld.com)
David Birch, Cruising Captain
Please do not unsubscribe as this is our best method of communicating with our members. If you are thinking of unsubscribing, please email newsletter@papercourt-sc.org.uk and have a chat with me about why you want to, and I will try to resolve any issues you may have, or delete you from the mailing list. Jenny Snow, Newsletter Editor
