Annual Visit To Bosham

Photos Susan Kent

Once a year Bosham Sailing Club opens its doors to The Sunbeam Fleet and last Thursday a total of 15 Sunbeams and 2 Swallows who would really like to be Sunbeamers raced their boats in light breezes around a course which only just allowed us to finish at Bosham by 8.30.The Race Officer Peter Nicholson and your Correspondent were graced with the presence of Mrs Nicholson on Dolphin and having parked up we looked for possible courses and ultimately settled on a couple of Peacocks, Deep End and a Bosham Finish with a view to shortening if necessary.

The Start, which was delayed to allow for stragglers who lost the wind at Itchenor, and finally we got started with an excellent positioning by Comedy and lots of commotion on a short, near stationary and very crowded start line.

We raced up to Peacock and shortened to Deep End. Barry led all the way but pressure was brought to bear by Penny and Richard and in third Honey with Judy on Helm.

The Church bells announced the Fleet arrival and boats moored and passengers ferried in for a supperenjoyed by almost 80 visitors..

Full Results

Roger and Jacky Wickens Party at Classic Keelboat Week

Maisy

The Solent Sunbeams had a champagne party on the Haines Hard on 14th July when Haines launched the just completed V64 "Maisy". She has been built as a replacement for Sunbeam "Daisy" which is no longer in the Fleet, and has been named after the Wickens family's pet Spaniel. "Maisy" took part in the evening race an hour after her launch, and on 23rd July raced over to Cowes in the Dainty Dish passage race helmed by John Houghton. She was raced during Cowes Week by guest helms and crews, and will then be available for use by anyone interested in trying their hand at racing one of these beautiful yachts.

Terence Charles Holm “Bomber”       1940- 2011

The Sunbeam Class Commodore Terence Charles Holm. “ Bomber” - to us all he meant so much as he did to all people who knew him. He was photographed last year at RCYC showing his special 70th birthday tie given to him last year in the south of France.

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His Funeral last week was so typical of the man we all knew and loved not less than 440 people gathered to celebrate his life at St Just in Roseland with the congregation standing both inside and outside the church.
The Revd. Ken Boullier a sailor himself presided over the service. We sang “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life” and “Eternal Father strong to save”, The Eulogy by Mark Rudge (son of Bomber’s cousin) with his daughter Belinda and JA (John Andrew) gave reminders of his life, from birth as an only child in Portscatho to his early sailing days and later life at St. Mawes. This was greeted with applause of appreciation. The Rectory in his remarks referred to his pleasure at applause in his church for both today and two weddings previously in the last ten days. He congratulated JA on his restricted use of “swear words “only three, which won’t be too much in the swear box!. This service brought together the Roseland in an amazing way which was all due to the character of this man. We then prayed for Ruth and the Family and ourselves in our loss of this special person whose memory will live on in the legacy of his life. Not least in our Sunbeams.
Psalm 104 was read by Matthew Kelly (Ruth’s son) and Reflection by Bishop Brent was read by Rhiannon Williams (Ruth’s granddaughter)
There followed a Private Committal
He was later cremated

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All moved afterwards to St Mawes Sailing Club to enjoy the kind hospitality of the family and to remember our Commodore and friend. Clary V8 was dressed overall and supported by Mary V4, Pixy, V7 Saucy Sally, V10 Mayfly, V15 Painted Lady V19 Pintail V35 and Racy Lady V48.
Those attending came from sailing connections all over, particularly his home club St Mawes, PoFSA and Fowey.
Many Sunbeamer’s from the Solent made the journey in addition to our Falmouth members. Let Bomber’s memory ensure the close liaison continues in future as we pursue our separate paths at the moment.

Bembridge Race Day - passports at the ready!

Very early for a Sunday morning the three keelboat classes assembled at 8.30am for a briefing. It was a beautiful day - which means clear skies, sunshine and NO wind! and the race officer - Peter Nicholson, wanted to have a 9.30am start...mmmm.

Little Lady was the first boat off the moorings and slid quietly towards the Gallon Line on an ebb tide. At this point we could just fetch Wear, at a pinch, but not for long. On turning back it was clear that getting back to the line was going to be very slow and Toby Spreckley in Echo Echo kindly gave up a pluck to get line side! Gradually everyone amassed and waited with the postponement flag up for the starts.

The Swallow start had 2 over the line and 4 facing the wrong way - there were only 5 boats! Luckily for the Sunbeam start there was a little more breeze. 10 boats.
Most boats on the line on starboard, except for me (!) who slipped under them for a port start towards Betivuka and more tide and clear wind. We crossed in front of Roger Wickens on Danny (yippee) and going up towards Wear were clearly faster!!
But, as usual, after he tacked right into shore (out of the tide at Chalkdock) he came out smelling of roses with a big lift! How does he do it again and again?

We settled for 2nd place going towards the first mark - Freddie Brooks but were lead astray by those naughty Swallows!!! Oh no! We have passed it!! All that hard work gone in an instant as we turned round onto a dead-run and had to watch Jenny, Spray, Query, Danny and Melody get round before us plus assorted Swallows! Poo!! Apparently the XOD’s were highly amused at the disarray in front of them (they had to go round John’s Folly!). The beat out of the harbour was fun with much parrying of positions. The Selsey side didn't pay despite the bumpy ride on the Hayling side of the channel.

Line order at this point - Jenny, Query, Danny, Little Lady, Spray and Melody.

Having had discussions with John Watson, my crew, we decided to "go for the wind" and tack straight after West Pole towards Hayling Bay and hunt down some clouds and make up some distance over the ground against the tide. The "Boys" headed for France......and headed for France, some for a remarkably long time!!!

We gradually tacked out towards Dean Tail and the cardinal buoys being followed for a while by V46, Spray, before working our way westwards more, following the wind shifts to Dean Elbow and then across the shipping channel to St Helen’s and on to Bembridge. We had a short couple of tacks to avoid a gas tanker before being finished by Bembridge SC at Under Tyne racing mark.

Looking back at the fleet, by now the Swallows and Sunbeams were fairly well mixed up and the XOD’s had a long way to go. V26 Danny lead the charge to the line along with some Swallows, Spray having gone into a “hole in the wind” at some point. We came ashore smartly and walked along the beach to the Club and noticed that half an hour after we had finished Jenny was still to reach the line – clearly France was not the course to take today! Bad luck, that big header never came!

Once we had finally all gathered we were treated to a wonderful sit down silver-service lunch with fresh sea bass or roast beef followed by a wicked hot banana in a cinnamon/doughnut casing and icecream! Yummy.

Prize giving followed and as the races were to celebrate Bembridge Sailing Club’s 125th Anniversay the winning Sunbeam and XOD were each presented with a painting on appropriate sail cloth from each class that was then mounted, a great “winner of Class” Regatta cap and Regatta mug! The Swallow winner had a special medal.
Hopefully these will be raced for in future years on passage races to Bembridge. Peter Nicholson gave a lovely thank you reply in response to their Commodore’s and Seeretary’s speeches.

Then it was back to the boats for the run home. There was a race for the XOD’s and a friendly race for the rest, but I had to get my crew back by 5.30pm so we made a dash for it! On home mooring by 5.32pm which we thought was a good effort John helmed and I crewed – 2 hours almost exactly!

So – general conclusion – we like getting out the passports and visiting strange ports, and their hospitality is lovely. Next big event – the Dainty Dish race to Cowes on the 23rd July 2011. Passports out again! Here’s to some more good sailing and tactics!

Gayle Palmer 14.7.11

"Gayle Palmer's report is excellent in its accuracy but I feel that one important aspect of the race was missed.As often happens in Formula One! The race worth watching was between 2nd, 3rd and 4th and 5th with Spray, Query and Dainty slogging it out and with Dainty under the helm of Hollis crewed by Stobie and passenger Ratcliffe, ultimately getting third place after Danny and before Spray and Query who we showed the way to the moorings. Excellent Helming by Hollis , tactics by Stobie and helpful advice from Ratcliffe "don't look back Mike, there are boats behind us and they are Sunbeams", we kept our nerve and Dainty did the rest.

On arriving at our mooring the three of us tried to think out our tactics had worked and how to break the news to Peter who was doing something else that day.

A very nice man on a launch came alongside and we asked him to take us to a bar with beer which we found at Bembridge.

Lunch was excellent with prizes to take home as well three mugs ( rather apt ). We set off to follow Gayle and obviously did rather well as we managed the return trip in one hour fifty.

Thanks also to Graham for the Nursemaiding "

Simon Ratcliffe

Evening Race 12 May, See Gayle's Report
[Duncan O'Kelly has more excellent photos]

June 2011 Newsletter

Falmouth EGM 23rd May 2011 granted no concessions, so Solent boats will have to have their own class and their own rules

GRP
Solent Sunbeams, based at Itchenor, adopt grp hulled V61 "Betty" and are building 3 more. See Report

On 5th April a team of Sunbeamers is scheduled to ferry back from Mark Downer' factory at Sandown, I.O.W., three new GRP Solent Sunbeams. Their hull colours are Pigeon Blue (V62), Turquoise Pastel (V63), and Cream (V64). The last of these will be called "Maisy", named after Jacky's and my pet spaniel, and has been built as a direct replacement and look alike for V31 "Daisy".  I intend to have her fitted out during the summer and to race her next season. The other two boats will also be completed and should be ready for Cowes Week this year. They will be available for sale or charter, and moorings have been reserved for them at Itchenor. The first of the GRP boats, V61 "Betty", will be raced throughout the coming season by Nick Leech and his family, who we are all delighted to welcome back into Sunbeams, and Becky Wickens.
Roger Wickens

Sunbeam Calendar 2010

SINGLE HANDED 2010

"It is with great sadness that we report the death of Lt Col. John Q Davis OBE, Chichester Harbour Master and Manager.

John suffered a suspected heart attack on Saturday 28 August and was pronounced dead on arrival at Queen Alexandra Hospital. At the time, John was out racing in his beloved Solent Sunbeam Fleury.
John was appointed Harbour Master and Manager in July 1997. He worked tirelessly for Chichester Harbour, a place that was much loved by him and his family.
In 2005 he was awarded an OBE for his services to sailing and the environment.
Richard Craven, Acting Harbour Master said, ‘we are devastated by the sudden loss of John Davis, both a friend and colleague. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.’
John is survived by his wife Valerie and two children Ben and Becky."

CHICHESTER HARBOUR CONSERVANCY

John - a lost friend

Our love and hearts go out to Val, Ben and Becky at their tragic loss. In the thirteen or so years that I knew him John made such an impact on every matter that he became involved with, and one of these was upon the Sunbeam Fleet.

When he became the Harbour Master I was Class Captain, and so it fell to me to find him a Sunbeam. The chance came when Richard Dale decided to retire from Sunbeam sailing, and so a delicate negotiation ensued with me in the middle. The deal was done and John and Val had their first Cowes Week in "Fleury", their newly acquired Sunbeam. I gave them my tidal charts and a bit of advice, and they promptly won the Week! I very soon realised that my help was not needed - and its been like that for twelve years! John and Val loved "Fleury" and sailing and racing together as husband and wife. Our Sunbeam Fleet has had far more than its fair share of memorable sailors, and John has been at the top of our fleet for twelve years. We shall so miss his presence on the water, and his charm and good humour when amongst us. He made everyone feel special, he was a truly lovely man, and we have all lost a good friend.
Goodbye John. We will always have a special place for you in our hearts.

Your sparing partner on "Danny"

ROGER WICKENS

John's Legacy as Harbour Master

"John transformed the management of Chichester Harbour so that under his leadership it could execute the Management Plan for the joy and benefit of us all, whether yachtsmen, fishermen, ornithologists or just day visitors.

The Lottery funding he obtained improved enormously the Conservancy's ability to deliver environmental projects.
There was a welcome to the harbour on Terror, the Solar Boat or on the Salterns Way Cycle Route.
John's legacy is evident wherever you look, in improved navigation marks, the management of moorings, the patrol boats, visitor access, harbour walks and working with schools.

John was no mean politician. These skills were invaluable in establishing a consensus to deal with conflicting views on such thorny issues as water quality or how to tackle the problem of erosion at East Head.

Recently he was countering the Regional Plan for increased housing by putting the case that this must never impact on our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that was so dear to his heart."

PETER NICHOLSON

Donations, if desired, can be made by cheque payable to Chichester Harbour Conservancy to establish ‘The John Davis Trust’- to be used for initiatives on Chichester Harbour – and sent to W Wraight & Son, The Square, Emsworth, PO10 7EG, 01243 372255.
Valerie, Ben and Becky wish to thank everyone for their warm messages of support.

Cowes Week 2010 Results:-

Mary Ross and John Ford's Party
Photos Sue Kent

"Betty" greeted at Itchenor by Thursday evening sailors.
Now Haines will be adding the shipwright work, rigging and Coppercoat.
Photo Sue Kent. See More Pics

Happy Thursday Evening Winner Sue Smith
You can ask Sue for the full story, but she says this will be strictly on a need to know basis.

Finished, launched and raced - Betty 8 July 2010

“Betty now could open up many opportunities for people to own a classic yacht not only in the Solent / Falmouth area but in other ports around the world.  “Betty” has a list of people who would like to race and try her out.  Results will be posted throughout the season and monitored for assessment and validation for ”Betty” to be accepted as the first GRP Sunbeam in to the Sunbeam class.  Can we all congratulate Roger and his team for the creation of Betty and wish the project every success and to keep attracting more interest in the future of the Sunbeam class."

Julian Money succeeds Richard Pearson as Class Captain

Retiring Captain Richard Pearson, with Sarah, presented with a picture of Fay painted by John Ford
in grateful recognition by the Class of his achievements over the past four years.

Programme Season 2009 - - You can open the full programme in Excel

Our Man In General Committee and on Haines Board.

Anthony Robinson continues to represent the Sunbeam Class onGeneral Committee of Itchenor Sailing Club and on the Board of Haines Boatyard.

Sunbeam Calendar 2009, Memories of 2008.

Limited Edition at £8 each - Email Webmaster

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With many thanks to the Sunbeams' own star photographers, Sue Kent (Front Cover, May, June, July and October)
and Anne Colbourne (January, February, April, September and November). Leigh Robbins kindly sent the August cormorant,
Roxy from the Herreschoff Dolphin the Golfe Juan shot and Peter Nicholson took the Thursday evening snap.

Chittagong 2009

The Chittagong was won by David & Rena Miller in Why with 4 races completed of the 5 race series. Two races were abandoned due to a lack of wind requiring the spare to be raced on Monday afternoon which decided the whole series. After taking into account one discard David & Rena won by one point from John and Val Davis - a splendid victory.

Cowes Week 2008

Bosham Brooch

• Tim Hill
• Peter O’Hea
• John Davis
• David Palmer
• Mike Moss
• Roger Yeoman
• Roger Wickens
• Alan Stannah
• Mike Law
• Toby Spreckley
• Anthony Robinson

The Bosham Trophy, presented by Rolly Boissevain is awarded to the winning boat, regardless of who helms or who has won it before.

Bosham Supper

On 4th June the Thursday evening race finished at Bosham, where 48 Sunbeamers had a most enjoyable supper before being towed back home to Itchenor under the light of the moon.

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Photos Toby Spreckley

Photos PWN

Chittagong

The Chittagong was won by David & Rena Miller in Why with 4 races completed of the 5 race series. Two races were abandoned due to a lack of wind requiring the spare to be raced on Monday afternoon which decided the whole series. After taking into account one discard David & Rena won by one point from John and Val Davis - a splendid victory.

Sunbeam Calendar 2009, Memories of 2008.

Limited Edition at £8 each - just a dozen left - Email Webmaster

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With many thanks to the Sunbeams' own star photographers, Sue Kent (Front Cover, May, June, July and October)
and Anne Colbourne (January, February, April, September and November). Leigh Robbins kindly sent the August cormorant,
Roxy from the Herreschoff Dolphin the Golfe Juan shot and Peter Nicholson took the Thursday evening snap.

Peter Mazzotti

Peter Mazzotti sadly died on 16th October.

Gill Oldham writes "Peter was a longstanding member of the Sunbeam Class and will be very deeply missed and mourned by his many friends. He came to Itchenor Sailing Club in 1981, having earlier crewed very successfully for his brother-in-law in Dragons.

He was a lifelong friend of Stafan Olzswoski and together they raced V 42 Penny, particularly enjoying the heavy weather in which she sailed best. They had considerable success, winning the McMeekin Trophy in 1985.

Once ashore it was Peter and Stefan who brought the Sunbeam Class together at a series of Sunbeam houses at Cowes, which provided not just accommodation but also very good evening meals for anyone who cared to come.

Peter kept a low profile but was always the first person to put his energies to help whenever it was needed and whatever the challenge.
He was a very practical person and had a most gentle manner, with a lively intelligence and a great sense of fun. He was wonderful company and had a huge number of friends in all the activities in which he was involved."

Our condolences have been sent to Kylle and their family.

The funeral service, held at Duncton Catholic Church was a beautiful but very sad occasion, with a large gathering, including many Sunbeamers, remembering what a great guy Peter was and how much we enjoyed his friendship.

Launching of the "Thomas and Betty Moore"

The Inshore Lifeboat at Selsey, on 11th October

Dedication

Launch

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The Betty and Thomas Moore in service

Patrick Ross

Very sadly Patrick Ross, Mary's husband, passed away Thursday 8th May, after a short illness.  Our thoughts are with Mary and her sons at this sad time.
We will remember Patrick with great affection for the support he gave the class using his motorboat Pedro Jim as our escort vessel on so many occassions for our passage race to Cowes and his presence at all the Sunbeam social functions he attended with Mary. When he sold Pedro Jim he bought a camper van which he used for many a holiday.  Sarah and I can remember him turning up in Mylor Harbour at 8am to collect Mary to take her back home at the end of Falmouth's 80th championships - he had spent the night in the car park in his beloved camper van!  He was quite a character.

The funeral was on 19th May, complete with military Last Post on bugle. Not a dry eye in the house.

Baby Cormorant

Jill said  “ I wonder if anybody has previously had a “Cormorant” on a Sunbeam before the start."  
Anthony has commented "I was concerned as to which of the birds on the boat might give me a nasty peck they both looked to have pretty sharp beaks/peaks."
Pictures are courtesy of Mrs Leigh Robbins

Points Week:

Our "Points Week" series was won by George Yeoman sailing Romany V32 with his young friends. We only managed two races over the five days because of the appalling weather. Roger Wickens our PRO and his team did their very best including diverting racing up harbour in Chichester lake seeking a more sheltered location.

The lack of sailing was to some extent offset by a jolly good party hosted by Duncan and Fleur O'kelly at their lovely house on the Friday evening. My thanks to Roger and his team including the great work done by the support boat crews and Duncan and Fleur

Betty Moore racing Why at Cowes

On 17 May 2008 her family and the Sunbeam Class scattered Betty Moore's ashes on Chalkdock Hump.
There was a ceremonial sailpast of ten Sunbeams round V28, Why.

Boat Launching Update Haines

Harbour Changes Winner Bank Keeps Moving

East Head: The Hinge survives winter storms

  Presentation and Supper at Bosham Sailing Club,   

"Sunbeams Join the Classics in the Med."  

       
An audience of about 75 for supper and another 20 or so in the bar enjoyed an hour's slide show and presentation.
The Sunbeams made new friends.
Bosham Sailing club had an evening of excellent sales at the bar.
A good time was had by all.

NEWSLETTER MARCH 2008

 The arrival of the club handbook is a timely reminder that the new sailing season is now almost upon us. Time to finish the last jobs on the boat and search the loft for the wet weather gear. 

Not for the first time I am aware how busy this season is going to be. Our racing programme schedules 110 races including Thursday evening, our 85th Championships, Cowes Week, Points Week and local regattas. This excludes the Classic Keelboat Regatta. 

Of course not every body can do it all. However, I am pleased to report we have 14 Itchenor and 6 Falmouth boats, 20 in total, planning to take part in all the 85th Championship series, 18th to 20th June.  Other Itchenor boats racing will be boosting numbers on the start line for one or two days.  

Very kindly Alan & Jackie Stannah have offered to host a BBQ in their garden on Bosham Hoe on the Wednesday for competitors and guests. This is in addition to the 85th Anniversary Dinner and Prize giving arranged at the Club on Friday evening. We shall also be celebrating Henry Chisholm on the same night as it was felt that to have the usual dinner in his honour would be one event too many! 

The weekend regatta races following the Championships, Sat 21st & Sun 22nd, to Dell Quay SC and Chichester YC respectively also promises to be something special. Racing up harbour past Itchenor to other clubs  always makes a pleasant change from normal club racing. 

Class Promotion
Distribution of the new Class Brochure is going well and I am pleased to report have already given one or two leads. A display with our wonderful book and brochures has been erected in Chichester library. If any one has a suitable location for the display please let me know.  

The redesign of our Website is now almost complete and new software “Dream Weaver”, what a lovely name, purchased. I am confident the new format and layout will both present the Class to a high standard to enquiries and be more user friendly in providing information to members.  Many thanks to Alan Stannah and Peter Nicholson. Do please send comments to webmaster as it develops.

Henry Adams have included an announcement of their sponsorship of the Class in their advertisement in the West Sussex Property Guide. They will include articles about the Class in other property newspapers and magazines in the South East throughout this year.

Some of you might be wondering why we are making all this effort to promote the Class. After all things look pretty good at present. This is largely true, more boats could be racing but generally events are well supported as demonstrated by the turnout for the Championships. However, underlying this success some boats are looking for partners, ½ or 1/3rd shares are available, and none of us are getting any younger. We have set ourselves a target to attract 3 new owners/part owners per year and don’t forget crew are equally important.

Open Day
Experience shows you are the best advocates for the Class, therefore I want you to continue to search out potential Sunbeamers. Remember we have set aside Saturday 10th May for an open day for newcomers to sail with us and enjoy the experience of being on the water in our wonderful boats. For non owners, if you know of someone that might be interested please contact either Gayle Palmer or me and we will make the necessary arrangements.

New Owner for V14
Some of you will know Mike Williamson and Willem Vinke have sold Santa Baby. It was a sad day for Mike who first bought a share 50 years ago. Over the years he has had tremendous success winning the McMeekin no fewer than 7 occasions. He has also won the Betty Moore Cup twice the second time as recently as 1993. Mike was Class Captain from 1960 – 62.  Mike and Diana will not be giving up their membership of the Club and we will continue to see them from time to time.

The new owner of V14 is Mike Weston who has renamed the boat “Jabberwocky” a mythical creature from a nonsense poem in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.  Mike is a New Zealander and a keen sailor, previously racing Etchells like other Class members. He and his wife Rachael have rented a house in Itchenor. They have 3 children 13, 11 and the youngest 8.  Mike will be coming to our Spring AGM to meet the Class.

Vanity V34
While on the subject of newcomers Peter & Charlotte Woodd’s boat Vanity will be arriving shortly at Haines to be fitted out for sailing at Itchenor. Some of you met Peter and Charlotte at our winter Cocktail party. Peter & Charlotte were members of Itchenor approximately 22 years ago when Peter raced an XOD.

V48
Roger Graffy tells me the new Sunbeam built by Ivan Jeffris on Bosham Hoe will be V48. All being well she will be launched in May and named Racing Lady.

Class Handbook
Now that the ISC handbook has arrived I can check contact information and all being well our Solent Sunbeam handbook will be available at our spring meeting.

Roger Graffy is updating the Class Handbook including Class rule. The new version will be circulated ready to be inserted into your Handbook folder. Any one who can’t find or who has mislaid their folder please let me know.

Betty Moore
David Miller will be scattering Betty’s ashes at Chalk Dock on Saturday 17th May. The plan is as follows:

10-10.30 Arrive at Itchenor Sailing Club
11.00 Boats leave for ceremony
11.30 The scattering of ashes at Chalkdock
12.30 Itchenor Sailing Club.

It will be nice to get as many Sunbeams out as   possible for Betty’s last trip.

Cowes Mooring Fees
Hot off the press: Cowes Harbour Commissioners have announced mooring fees for day boats will double over the next 3 years, see attached letter. Anthony Robinson calculates the cost for this year for the three week period will rise £30.24 to £212.58, £67.64 for two weeks prior and £144.94 for Cowes Week, an increase of 16.5%.

Spring AGM
As you know due to the delay in fully opening the Club this year I have delayed our Spring meeting to Sunday 20th April. PLEASE NOTE THE MEETING WILL COMMENCE AT 13.30. Any agenda and papers for the meeting will be circulates in due course.

Regalia
Sarah will be bringing polo shirts and sweat shirts to the meeting.  She is still investigating  new items which we can then add the new logo onto.

We are off for a weeks skiing today, so won’t be contactable. 
It will make a nice rest from working on Fay and refresh me for the start of the busy season ahead.

Richard Pearson

Class Captain

DECEMBER 2008 NEWSLETTER

Click for pdf

It’s just over a month since the end of
the 2008 sailing season. How time has
flown this year! Remember our 85th
Championships, Classic Keelboat
Week, Cowes Week and all the other
sailing events we enjoyed? Enjoyed is
probably not the right word as my
strongest memories has been the heavy
winds, broken masts, torn sails and
generally very testing racing
conditions. Let’s hope next year the
weather is a little kinder to us.
It’s now time to turn our minds to
winter maintenance, new sails etc. I
can tell you, the topsides of three boats
Melody, Why and Emily will be
splined and Harmony and Jabberwocky
are planning a few improvements.
David Miller tells me he is having a lot
of work carried out on Why this year
which will improve her stiffness and
performance and he is looking for a
partner, working or equity, to help him
in the future.
After stripping off the old antifouling
from Fay’s port and starboard
garboards, the first plank above the
keel, it has been decided to replace the
starboard garboard. It was interesting
to find a section of the seam between
the garboard and next plank had been
splined at some stage in the past. I
wonder how many other boats have
had similar unknown repairs. Making
good the garboards will thankfully
complete a four year overhaul of Fay
and stop major leaks.
If any one else is planning to carry out
significant work to their boat this
winter, has found any interesting
anomalies or would like to recommend
any solutions please let me know so I
can include them in my next newsletter
Following our last AGM, I am pleased
to tell you that Anthony Robinson has
been co-opted on to the ISC General
Committee. Anthony is not a Class
representative but I know he is
sympathetic of the concerns of
Sunbeam Members.
Talking of ISC, the proposal to charge
Club Members for the use of the Club
pontoon has been withdraw.
I am pleased to report that Ray
Stedman, a past Solent Division
member, has been elected the new
Falmouth Class Captain. We have
already been in touch and amongst
other things discussed were Falmouth’s
plans for their 85th celebrations. It is
proposed to have a Silver Sunbeam
Race Dinner on 2nd May, the 85th
anniversary of the first ever race at
Falmouth and invite as many past and
present Falmouth Sunbeam members
as possible. Special racing to include
Solent Sunbeams is provisionally
planned from the evening of Friday
12th June to Tuesday 16th June. There
will be no racing on the Monday but it
is hoped Solent Division visitors will
have the opportunity to sail on the
Working Boats. Ray hopes to be able
to confirm their plans at our Cocktail
Party on 10th January.
If you are planning to come to the
Winter Cocktail party and haven’t yet
let Anne Colbourne know she would
be grateful for your confirmation, email
anne.colbourne@btinternet.com
or telephone 01243513963. Anne has
asked me also to remind you there are a
number of social events at ISC over the
Christmas period and early next year.
All the details can be found on the
Club website www.itchenorsc.co.uk
Included with this newsletter is a
revised and I hope, final version of our
racing schedule for next year. A couple
of things to note:
· Unfortunately the Fleet will be at
Cowes for the CYC & DQSC
regattas.
· The is no spare for the Youth or
Under 30 Races as these races are
planned at a special Club Youth
Weekend
· Falmouth racing is not included
as arrangements have not been
finalised
· The Westmacott and Victory
Class 75th Anniversary Regatta
off Portsmouth harbour on 6th &
7th June has not been included
Why not make a note of the special
sailing and social event dates on a
Solent Sunbeam calendar. There are a
few copies left and Peter would be
pleased to hear from you,
peter@peternicholson.com or phone
01243572115. Why not give a
Sunbeam calendar to a friend to help
promote the Class.
As most of you know by now a number
of important changes in sailing rules,
dispute resolution and sailing
instruction will come into force when
we start sailing again. So everyone has
an opportunity to understand these
changes, the Club has arranged a
comprehensive training programme
which is to be published on the Club
and Class websites next week. So we
can all enjoy our sailing I strongly
encourage every one to take advantage
of this training.
Finally Sarah and I would like to wish
you all a very Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year. We hope you all
enjoy your skiing, Caribbean sailing
holiday and life in general over the
next few months and come back fully
invigorated and fresh for sailing in the
spring.
Richard

AUGUST 2008 NEWSLETTER

What a wonderful sailing we have had over
the last month, although a little more sunshine
would have been greatly appreciated. Our
annual relocation to Cowes, in this our 85th
year, has been made particularly memorable
with the inclusion for the first time of the
Class Keelboat Regatta. Since leaving
Itchenor, including both passage races, some
of us have competed in 21 races in all with no
cancellations because of either too little or too
much wind. I have to admit after all this
sailing, not to mention social activities
ashore, I feeling somewhat sailed-out and in
the need of a break. It is at times like this that
I feel fortunate to be retired, although
watching the Olympics makes me feel a little
old. My sympathies to all of you returning to
work on Monday.
As I have already reported on the outcome of
our racing prior to Cowes Week when
circulating the last race results I won’t bore
you any further with comments on this
period, instead I will concentrate on Cowes
Week itself.
Cowes Week this year in my view produced
the best racing we have had for many years.
17 Sunbeams took part; unfortunately Peter
Woodd was unable to bring Vanity to Cowes
as planned.
Winds were generally 10 to 15knots although
we had one day, Wednesday, when the wind
dropped to virtually nothing for a while in the
middle of the race. On Saturday for the final
race the wind at 20 to 25 gusting 30 knots
was just about at our limit for racing.
Notably all races started on schedule, 11.45,
with no delays or requirement to start at the
Skandia Barge.
As usual at Cowes, tides gave an extra
dimension to racing with the majority of races
starting down hill with running starts because
the week coincided with spring tides. Later in
the week we started west either beating or
reaching along the Green which produced a
spectacle for onlookers and challenging
racing although it was very much easier this
year because we had our own start ahead of
the Redwings, Mermaids and Squibs.
Before I give the results I think special
mention is due to the following boats:
Harmony for the most improved boat speed
and disappointment for being OCS on three
occasions. Duncan now knows he can win
races if he gets his start right.
Emily for continuing to race after a collision
on Thursday which was not their fault
resulting in damage to the boats rigging and
stern. Not only did they finish that particular
race but they raced on Friday and Saturday
with a continuing rigging problem finishing a
very credible 6th overall. As you know, the
owners of Emily - Malcolm Glaister, Nick
Pople and Nick Timberlake, hope to find a
buyer after Cowes so we most probably won’t
see them in a Sunbeam again.
Argosy, with a crew of 4 girls, for completing
the race on the last Saturday in extremely
testing condition when 2 boats retired and 5
boats decided not to race.
This brings me to the racing results.
It became quickly apparent that there were
only two boats vying for the top spot - Danny
and Daisy. Both boats battled it out right up
to the last race finishing with the same points;
it could not have been closer. The over all
winner was Roger Wickens sailing Danny
having won 4 races against Daisy’s 3. Roger
won the last race despite main sheet and jib
sheet problem but it was his birthday! I am
sure Betty would have greatly appreciated the
high quality of racing for her Trophy.
Not only was racing for the top spot a close
run thing but racing for third was also hard
fought between Fleury, Fay and Query with
Query winning third place with a 2nd and 3rd
in the last two races. Elsewhere the race was
close for the Halfway trophy between
Comedy, Honey and Dainty with the prize
eventually going to Dainty which was the
right result as Dainty was the only one of the
three to race on the last Saturday.
Overall Results:
1st Betty Moore Cup - Danny - Roger
Wickens
2nd Harmony Medals – Daisy – Mike Law &
Mike Moss
3rd – Query – Tim Hill
4th – Fleury – John & Valerie Davis
1st Saturday – Anne Phillimore Trophy –
Danny - Roger Wickens
1st Sunday – Charles Bell Challenge Cup –
Daisy – Mike Law & Mike Moss
Monday - Sunbeam Salver – Danny – Roger
Wickens
Tuesday - Pera Messervy Trophy – Daisy –
Mike Law & Mike Moss
Wednesday – The Half Century Challenge
Trophy – Daisy – Mike Law & Mike Moss
Thursday – Cowes UDC Cup – Fleury – John
& Valery Davis
Friday – Sunbeam Trophy– Danny - Roger
Wickens
2nd Saturday – Alfred Westmacott Trophy –
Danny - Roger Wickens
Well done to James Ross, Mary’s son, in
winning an exciting race home in 30knots+
sailing Little Lady on Sunday. Gayle’s race
report is on our website.
Well done to all the winners and to all those
who took part contributing to a marvellous
weeks sailing.
The Social side of the week was also a great
success my special thanks to:
David and Rena Miller, Lesley Hollis, Anne
Colbourne and all the residence of Ivy
Cottage for their help with the barbeque and
cleaning up afterwards.
Roger and Jacky Wickens for use of the
terrace for the Class Cocktail Party and
arranging the canapés and all those who
helped with the distribution of champagne
and canapés
Sue Kent for arranging the venues and menus
at the Class Dinners at the Prospect, Royal
Corinthian YC and RYS.
Peter Nicholson for his talk about Class
names at the Prospect Class Dinner
Graham Colbourne for producing and
supervising the quiz at the Prospect Class
Dinner and using has yacht Arion as escort
vessel for the Dainty Dish passage race.
Finally, a very big thank you to Sarah for all
her hard work for all the social events
throughout the week.
As with racing our social events would be
nothing without the help and support of so
many.
Forth Coming Racing
I hope you are not too exhausted we have a
busy sailing programme ahead.
Saturday 16th Aug V1 start, 14.30
Sunday 17th Aug HISC Regatta, start 10.40
Saturday 23rd Aug ISC Pursuit, start 10.00
ISC Regatta, start 14.20
Sunday 24th Aug BSC Regatta, start 14.30
Saturday 30th Aug ISC Youth Weekend
V1 start, 10.40
JJ/U18 start, 14.30
Please advise me ASAP if your boat is
available with owner’s rep
Sunday 31st Aug V2 start 10.40
Mon 1st Sept Points Week, start 14.10
Tues 2nd Sept Points Week, start 14.10
Wed 3rd Sept Points Week, start 14.10
Thu 4th Sept Points Week, start 14.10
EV 15 early start 18.00
Fri 5th Sept Points Week, start 14.10
Please advise me ASAP if you plan to race
your boat in Points Week and/or Thursday
evening.
Sat 6th Sept V1 + AJB, start 14.30
Sun 7th Sept V2 +AJB, start 10.40
NE Singlehanded race, start 14.30
Sat 13th Sept MC Ladies race, start 10.40
V1 + AJB, start 14.30
Sun 14th Sept V2 + AJB, start 10.40
Sat 20th Sept V1 + AJB, start 14.30
Sun 21st Sept V2 + AJB start 10.40
Spare JJ/U18 or NE, start 14.00
As I am not going to be racing tonight
Thursday 14th or over the weekend please
give me a call if you have a questions
Best Wishes

Richard

JULY 2008 NEWSLETTER

Sitting at home on a wet and very windy
Sunday with all racing cancelled I have no
excuse any longer to delay writing this
newsletter. Believe it or not we are now
halfway through the season. How time flies!
When reflecting on the year so far, I can’t
help thinking how lucky we are to be sailing
our lovely boats and enjoying the beauty of
Chichester Harbour with the South Downs
and the IOW as our back drop. We also have
a wonderful club – yes, I said wonderful –
with outstanding race organisation and
facilities. By now you will all be aware the
membership has voted in favour of an
expensive replacement of the Jubilee Room,
complete with balcony. All we can do now
is wait and see and hope that in a few years
time we have no reason to say “we told you
so”. If you haven’t visited our website and
read “The Ark with the Grand Balcony”
I recommend you do, it’s quite amusing.
Changing the subject, but still in reflective
mood, I can’t help thinking what marvellous
examples Betty Moore and Patrick Ross were.
They both showed such joie de vivre. Betty’s
ashes were scattered from the stern of her
beloved Why off Chalkdock witnessed by a
Sunbeam sail past in May. Patrick was
honoured by all his military friends at his
funeral, also in May. How little we know of
the richness and fullness of some lives!
Sailing so far this year has mostly been
characterised by strong winds. Not that there
have not been the occasional light air drifting
day. I am not sure which I enjoy most – it
depends, I must admit, on where I finish in
the race! Turnout has improved slightly
compared with last year, however, we are still
struggling to get half the fleet on the start line
at any one time. 2/3 of the fleet are racing
regularly with 1/3 either not racing or only
sailing very occasionally.
Disappointingly we now have 3 boats for sail.
V30 Emily, V32 Romany and V41 Fleury.
These boats are without exception in
excellent condition and well maintained.
Let’s hope new owners can be found with
time to enjoy their sailing.
On the positive side it has been nice to see
Mike Weston the new owner of
Jabberwocky V14 on the water. He is really
enjoying sailing Sunbeams and already
showing he will be a force to be reckoned
with as he gets to know the harbour. Added
to this our successful open day with some
new potential crew and recent enquiries and
things look a lot better.
Just how enjoyable our racing can be was
exemplified by our recent 85th Anniversary
Championships. It was marvellous racing
with an average of 15 boats on the start line
in a harbour empty of other boats. The
number of boats racing would have been
greater but for breakages and strong winds.
We had 20 entries in all including 3 boats
from Falmouth.
Just as important, the social events went
extremely well. Alan and Jackie Stannah’s
BBQ was a great success as was the Dinner
and Prizegiving at the Club. It was
particularly nice to see so many old friends.
We really do have a wonderful Class spirit
amongst the Sunbeams. Thank you all for
your support.
Congratulations to Roger Wickens who won
the championships comfortably in the end
and as usual well supported by Jacky.
A fuller account of the Championships and
photographs can be found on our website.
www.solentsunbeam.co.uk
Racing places for the major events so far
this year are as follows

85th Championships
Danny, Milly, Dainty, Fay, Little Lady.
April Goblets
Danny, Fleury, Fay
Chisholm Cup
Fleury, Danny, Dainty
Chittagong Cup
Danny, Fleury, Little Lady
Rees Reynolds
Query, Fleury, Danny
A full list of results will be published
shortly.
Looking forward we have a very busy
sailing and social programme ahead of us.
In less than two weeks, on Saturday 19th
July, we race to Cowes for the Dainty Dish.
The prize giving Dinner is at the Royal
Yacht Squadron in the evening. Graham
Colbourne has volunteered his boat “Arion”
to act as escort and carry our luggage / spare
sails across for us.
IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY
RESPONDED TO SUE KENT
REGARDING THE DD
WEEKEND, TRANSPORT AND
COWES SOCIAL PROGRAMME
PLEASE DO SO ASAP.
Eight boats; Dainty, Fay, Query, Jenny,
Fleury, Penny, Honey and Spray are
taking part in the Classic Keelboat
Regatta starting on the following
Tuesday, 22nd to 25th July. The race
programme will include both usual
Cowes Week type courses as well as
some back to back windward leeward
racing, something to please everyone.
Alan Stannah is also racing his other boat
“Sally”in the Classic Yacht Regatta
taking place at the same time. The social
programme is also pretty full with several
drinks parties, Club supper, a BBQ and
two dinners, all good practice for Cowes
Week.
At the weekend, 26th and 27th July, we
have our usual Household Division and
Royal Yacht Squadron Regattas with our
own starts on the Squadron line. If you
are not able to race in the Classic week
events this weekend regatta is an ideal
opportunity to get familiar with Solent
racing from Cowes. NOR is attached with
this newsletter.
We have just 5 days off before Cowes
Week starts on 2nd August. Those of us
doing all the events will be in real need of
a holiday away from sailing by the time
we finish. That said looking again at our
programme there is no let up. We go
straight into Regatta weekends on our
return to Chichester harbour with Points
week scheduled for the first week in
September. I am exhausted just reading
our racing schedule.
For information 18 boats are entered for
Cowes Week including Argosy, Bryony,
Comedy, Dainty, Danny, Emily, Fay,
Fleury, Harmony, Honey, Little Lady,
Melody, Penny, Query, Spray, Vanity
and Why. Most importantly we have our
own start scheduled for 11.45 behind the
Sonar and ahead of the Redwing classes.
For more information go to the Skandia
Cowes Website
www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk
Let’s us hope we have some decent
weather!
Sarah has asked me to inform you all that
polo shirts with the new logo have been
ordered, in medium and small sizes. The
new logo will eventually go on all regalia
once the existing stock is used up. She
has also ordered fleeces in navy and
powder blue and new silk ties for the
men. Hopefully these will be available
for Cowes Week.
Most of you will have seen the mugs
which we produced for the 85th
Anniversary. We have about 20 left
which we are selling for £5 each. Again,
they have the new logo on them and have
proved very popular. Just give me a ring
and I will get your order to you.
Best wishes to you all - Richard