Dear Member,

With the sun and warm weather, I know that there is a temptation to use your boats and relieve some boredom.

I would like to remind you that while we are still in lockdown, the club, birdcage and racks are closed.

The current lockdown regulations state that you "must stay at home", and only leave your home for a number of permitted essential reasons, which includes "exercise". However, boating from a private facility and performing routine maintenance of a boat are NOT included in the list of permitted exemptions. RYA COVID guidance states that club members should only be visiting the club site to check their boat and to carry out any "critical and essential" maintenance work only.Covid restrictions reminder The committee has been informed that members have been using the racks to launch boats and have been photographed doing so. If this situation was to continue unchecked, it would lead to further members attending the club (on the basis that ‘others are getting away with it’) to ‘go for a sail’ especially as the weather improves.

Therefore, I would like to remind ALL members that they are not permitted to sail their boats from club racks and ask them to comply with the Government regulations.

Members not complying with the regulations are not only risking a visit by the Police and receiving a personal fine, but such actions could potentially place the club itself at risk of prosecution.

As a club, we must be seen to comply with the law.

Please do not place the club and its Committee members in such a position.

Regards

Steve Hill Commodore

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Friday 5th March 2021 at 20:00hrs

This year's Cruiser AGM will be held online by way of a Zoom video meeting. 

Register to attend the event using the link below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87219388873?pwd=ekJrbEFGM0JYbEZaUENRdS9iK2hCdz09

Agenda items:

- 2020 Season Report

- Nomination for Class Captain 2021

- Race Schedule

- Cruising Plans 

- Social Prospects

- AOB

Mark Emmerson

Dear Member,

It is an honour to have been accepted as the new Commodore of Leigh Sailing Club and I look forward to working with you all in the coming months.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ainslie for all her hard work as Commodore for the last 2 years and as Rear Commodore for the 4 preceding years. I think she deserves to go and concentrate on enjoying her sailing for a while.

I would like to apologise for not having the Accounts signed off for agreement at the initial AGM on Friday (29th January). We did receive a set of accounts from the auditors late on Friday afternoon, which was issued in draft form for the meeting. However, both the Hon Treasurer and Hon Secretary noticed a number of errors that could not be ignored. It was for this reason that we adjourned the AGM to the 26th of February to give the auditors time to correct the errors and present a final account to members for consideration.

I am counting the days down until we can all meet up back in the clubhouse to get onto the water or just to meet up for a drink and a chat. The committee is already starting to plan for when we can open up. The Sailing Secretary has a draft race program awaiting final approval before it can be published. We already have the Solo and GP opens planned for later in the year and I know that there is ongoing planning for some cruises to various locations. The Committee is also starting to think about other events that we can organize for members. If you would like to arrange an event or have any suggestions of what you would like to see, then please get in touch with me.

Stay safe everyone and hang on in there. Somebody has finally turned the light on at the end of the tunnel😊.

Let’s all hope for warm weather and fair winds in the not too distant future.

Regards

Steve Hill #commodore

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The Flag Officers and General Committe would like to wish all members a very happy New Year. Hopefully, 2021 will be a much better year.

You should now have received an email from the Hon Secretary with the AGM notice, AGM Proxy form and the Committe nominations. As the meeting will be on line, if you would like to attend, please let the Hon Sec know at least two days before the meeting so that you can be sent the link.

If you haven't recieved an email, could you please contact the Hon Sec. The contact details can be found in the Club handbook.

Steve Hill

Vice Commodore

A very happy Christmas from Leigh Sailing Club to all our members. One thing we are able to do in these restrained holidays sail a boat! We can also plan our sailing season, and committee have been busy putting CCS dates in the calendar as you may have noticed, and these will soon be followed by the racing calendar for the 2021 season.

Reflecting on a difficult year, sailing was one of the highlights, with some good weather, some racing and some cruising, we were able to enjoy getting onto the water whilst restricted in so many other ways. Despite only a short period of the clubhouse being open and no gatherings, new members have joined us keen to sail, and we can all look forward to meeting them in the coming summer sailing days, or if you can’t wait until then join the e-sailing competition. In the short window we had, Tim and his team made a strong start on the East rack repair so once it is possible to put in a few more days work we will have a slipway back in action.

Although missing the Brass Monkey and our Christmas day opening will be keenly felt, the safety and health of our membership is really important. We need everyone strong and fit for the coming season so we can look forward to full fleets out on the estuary! Warm wishes to all, and farewell to 2020!

Ainslie Masterton

Commodore

Racing has continued through the summer both in periods of lock-down and in parallel to our club “wet” racing. Richard Beechey (Bugs) represented the club in the RYA Spring Championship, watched on by other club members. This winter the club has entered the RYA Winter Champs and will select a representative in due course. Thanks to Bugs also for hosting the racing through the year.

It is planned to run a match racing league after the Christmas break and entries are being taken now.

If you have not tried eRacing, please give it a go. All you need is a phone or computer with a reasonable internet connection. There are plenty of resources showing “how-to” and the boats themselves are easy to sail. The skills are more about starting on time and catching the windshifts. You do not have to be in the UK to participate, we have regulars from the Caribbean and the Gulf. Let me know if you are interested.

John Charles