Happy New Year all!

2020 was the year of COVid but despite this we had some great sailing and managed to get most of our races in and trophies allocated with good turnouts. Many thanks to our last Commodore, David, and his team for making this happen.

The Committee has worked hard to get the programme organised for 2021 and it can be found on the web-site at the following link: https://www.scsc.org.je/wp-content/uploads/SCSC-2021-Sailing-Programme.pdf

We are not sending out printed copies because it is a waste and as things are at the moment we may well need to change things in the calendar as we go through the year. The calendar on the website will be kept up to date and can always be printed off.

The first sailing event is the Easter Regatta on 5th April and at the moment we are hoping to run that, fingers crossed!  I think unfortunately it is unlikely that we will get any more winter training in, but we will let you know if things change.

Looking at the calendar there are a few new events which I hope you will enjoy. The first is the Offshore Race (The Speller Trophy). There used to be an offshore race before and it was traditionally to one of the Gorey buoys and back. We would run a smaller junior offshore for the kids and smaller boats. The course will be set on the day weather depending. This should be fun and hopefully lots of you will join in. It is on 1st August as things currently stand.

The second new addition to the calendar is our ‘Keel boat training weekend’. This is going to be run by StHYC on 24th April. This is for 16yr olds and above to have a weekend of keel boat training and a social event (COVid permitting) on the Saturday evening. The training and racing will be run in quarter-tonners and should be a fun and educational weekend whilst building on our relationship with StHYC. Please register your interest here: Keel boat Training

The third new addition to the calendar is a Feeder race from St Catherine’s to Gorey before The Gorey regatta. This will be a handicap race and may be split into fast and slow fleets. 

We have been having a good look at our training programmes and we hope these will run as usual this summer. We are looking at getting some new Fevas and updating the Oppies. Thank you to Rathbone Investment Management International for their sponsorship which has enabled us to buy new training sails. One thing we are looking for is help with organising and booking the courses. If anyone feels they could help please contact Justin Horton.

I would like to thank all those helping on Committees for your time and expertise. It is a lot of work and you all do a fantastic job! Let’s hope 2021 is another great year of sailing to help eradicate the COVid blues. Keep safe and I hope to see you at the club or on the water soon!

Ben Rogers, Commodore

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Club boat charter – Scorchio and Big Si 

Are you looking for a boat for the 2021 sailing season? 

The club has two boats that have previously been donated to the club with the aim of giving an opportunity to sailors that do not currently have a boat to race. They are Scorchio – a race Pico with a Mylar race sail, and Big Si – an Optimist. 

In previous years the boats have been offered to sailors selected by the committee. However for the 2021 season we would like to receive applications from club members telling us why they would like a boat for the race season. 

The boats will remain the property of the club, and the club will cover berthing fees and insurance. The boats may be needed from time to time for training, but advanced warning will be given. 

The successful applicants will need to take responsibility for their boat and keep it in good repair, they must also want to commit to taking part in as many club events as they can. 

Applications are to be submitted to stcathsc@gmail.com by the 28th February 2021.

Membership & Berthing

Membership for 2021 is now open, and we are pleased to confirm there have been no price increases this year.

Please renew your membership and berthing here: 

https://webcollect.org.uk/scsc

Dear Members and Friends.

2020 has been a tough year for me as it has been for many of you as well. One of the few positives over the year has been the sailing and camaraderie at St Catherine’s Sailing club. The Club has such an amazing collection of talented and enthusiastic members and it has had a great season of racing. This has been under the excellent guidance of our last commodore David Jones who deserves  lots of praise for a job very well done. I am honored to be your next commodore and will endeavor to keep up the high standards.

We have started on the preparation for the 2021 callender and it looks like it is going to be another great season hopefully involving a trip to St Malo for the Trophy des Isles with our younger members, COVid permitting, and our usual regattas and series as well as the ongoing sailing courses. Please feel free to contact me or one of the committee if you have any questions or ideas regarding these.

I would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and New year. I can’t say that I will be sad to say goodbye to 2020 and am looking forward to welcoming in 2021. Keep safe and see you all at the club or on the water soon.

Ben Rogers, Commodore, St Catherine’s Sailing Club.

Dear Sailors and Friends,

The club is organizing an assisted sail around this Friday to Gorey, where sailors should be rigging at 5pm for a 6pm start.

The sail around will be controlled by our safety boats. Sailors should follow the instructions to hold until everyone is ready to sail. This will be a low tide sail around to Gorey and sailors should follow the course due to the unexposed rocks just under the water especially on the approach to Gorey Castle.

Parents of young children should ensure that their sailor has all of the safety equipment required by their class of boat, as well as water and sunscreen. If unsure about their abilities, check in with the safety crew, and if in any doubt of the conditions and your sailor’s experience  please do not hesitate to go by road.

Trolleys should remain the responsibility of the sailor or their family, some assistance may be available by negotiation between Sailors and families driving by road.

Boats arriving at Gorey should have their trailer delivered to the low tide mark, so that they can pull their own boat up to the seawall and leave there neatly for the weekend.

Please look at the club notice board outside the club or contact the safety crews for updates on the day.

Dear Members and Friends.

This Saturday we will be welcoming Kevin McIlwee of the Jersey Marine Conservation Society to guide us through the diverse species and biodiversity around St Catherine.

Please bring your wellies and rain gear and be prepared to clamber around over all types of terrain.

Meeting at 1pm at the clubhouse, we head off to the coastal and inter tidal area in the bay.

We return to the club for a chat and talk from Kevin on seagrass and it’s important role in the ecosystem, as well as any questions you may have, drawing on his extensive knowledge as a renound diver and lecturer.

Please bring biscuits and cake as has become customary in our friendly open club.

We look forward to seeing you there.

RYA Sailing courses for younger sailors will start after the Summer half term, on Wednesdays (entry level) and Thursdays (Intermediate and and racing,) booking will be online through Webcollect from February 25th 2020 (see bookings.)

Priority will be those who are fully paid up members for the year, and bookings will go online in the first week after spring half term, followed by temporary members in the following weeks. It is hoped that families will continue to make use of the club, and become active members throughout the year.

Our summer RYA sailing Courses will begin at the end of July, during the summer holidays. The dates are…

Winter training dates for 2020 are as follows..

Dear Sailors and Friends,

The annual Fitting out Supper is this Saturday (16th March) at the clubhouse starting at 7pm.

It reintroduces families and friends back I nto the club after the winter, with a theme of ‘Tropical’ with food and games to suit.

Dress is encouraged to embrace the theme with prizes for best dressed and games for everyone!

£10 for adults and £5 for children 10yrs and under, tickets in advance on https://webcollect.org.uk/scsc/event/tropical-fitting-out-dinner

Look forward to seeing you there!

Dear Sailors and Friends.

The Annual St Catherine’ s Prize giving and dinner will be at the Hampshire Hotel, St Helier , on Saturday 24th November. 6pm arrivals for a 7pm dinner, dress code casual smart.

Menu for the evening meal is here…

St Catherine’s Annual Dinner Menu 2018. (Kids menu is also available .)

There will the the usual Raffle prizes drawn after the prize giving and dinner where proceeds will go to the Channel Island Air Search again,  followed by dancing and a late bar with a comfortable lounge area for all to enjoy.

We very much hope that all prizewinners are able to come as well as all our friends and sailors at the club, please rush to the our web collect payment system , so as not to be disappointed,  numbers are limited .https://webcollect.org.uk/scsc

Bookings can be made for a room for the evening direct with the hotel and is always popular with members who like a leisurely breakfast after a long evening, email below.

 reservations@hampshirehotel.je 

We very much look forward to seeing you all in this most sociable occasion of the club’s calendar of events.

Justin

This weekend SCSC will host the CI Masters at St Catherine.

Please find the Sailing instructions amendments and notice of Race on this website under SAILING.

We welcome all to support our sailors this weekend at our club.

Open to all juniors who have completed courses this year and in club boats at no charge. Mums and Dads to be involved too …prepare to get wet!
Meet from 9am to get your boat rigged and dressed overall. Fancy dress prize too for sailors. Fun and games from 10 til 12pm with prizes after.
This is for you if you want to continue with club events and see how the club rolls… be part of the action!