Lough Swilly Yacht Club

Many thanks to James Eyre and Conor Desmond, who arranged a well attended Crew Muster early on Saturday morning at the Clubhouse.
Hearty Irish Breakfasts were available from Cafe B-Calmed, with sail training videos, and a talk by James on sailing basics with a question and answer session.
Plans to get afloat for some practical experience didn’t work out this time, but this looks like an excellent format for future events.

James has promised talks on sail trim, racing techniques, and any other topics of interest to members.  There may be sessions with invited speakers from ISA and other organisations.
The plans afloat are to mix and match crews and visitors and try out some techniques covered in the theory sessions, or have the fun of sailing on a different yacht, or of coaching a novice on the basics.

With more yachts afloat, and over 20 visitors racing with us this year so far, we’re sure to have a fun day at the next session.

Watch this space for dates and details.

Well done to the Prize Winners in the very windy Round the Island Race.

IRC Class

1st Naimh

2nd Faustina

3rd Zutsy

Club Class

1st L’Escargot

2nd 7th Heaven

3rd Hot Potato

(Detailed results are available in the club house for all competitors.)

The LSYC web-site contains downloadable files for members to print for personal use.

Race Declaration forms (keep a few on board!), Courses and Membership Applications Forms are available.

Also on-line is a copy of the Race Results form used for O/D duty. For those of us who occasionally volunteer for this duty, it could be handy to keep a few sheets on board.

The Race Declaration form has been updated following suggestions from members, and now contains an optional section to record the yacht in front and behind, along with race finish times. If provided, this information will be useful as a cross check when calculating results. Of course, the times recorded by the O/D will take priority, unless there is a problem. Version 1 of the form is still valid until stocks are used up.

Sat 28 @ 09.30. Crew Muster

New to 2012. An opportunity to meet new friends or old enemies. A chance to learn new sailing skills or find out how the opposition do it. Come along and meet at clubhouse. Plan is to mix up crews and head out for some informal racing/training. The more the merrier so come along and give it a go. Novices very welcome.

Sunday 29 @ 10.30. Round The Island Race.

The first classic of the season and a chance for early glory. Start at Fahan, race to buoy at back of Inch and return. Full details by O/D on the day.

Club Class Handicaps have now been set for all racing yachts for 2012, valid until review at the end of June.

These will be displayed in the Clubhouse, and are now available on-line under the ‘Sailing Programme’ section of the club web-site, www.loughswillyyc.com

IRC class yachts whose rating certificates have not yet been received may race in the IRC class, with provisional results, until 30 April.

If you are new to club racing, and do not yet have a handicap, please contact the sailing secretary, Paul McSorley, on paul@mcsorleyp.wanadoo.co.uk