A record number of YOBs with their families and friends gathered at the club for the annual YOBs prizegiving and disco on Friday 2^nd Jan. Despite cold winter weather and the post Xmas blues the turnout was impressive. Although the poor weather during the summer prevented completion of the planned YOBs series of races, and accordingly the winning of the prizes for that, trophies were still awarded,.

Memorial Cup Cadet of the Year Tom Rees

Digby Cup Most Prominent Racer Sophie Atkins

Peter Rose Cup Most Impoved Thomas Williams

Yates Challenge Cup Highest Achiever Cory Ronayne

WSC Cadet Cup Most Enthusiastic Alice Perrett

The If Only…!   Most Enteraining Alice Perrett

Autumn Dinghy Cup Autumn Series Ross & Craig Groves

Thomas Williams {TH as he is known by his friends} joined the party over the internet as he now lives in the Caribbean.

Boxing Day

Boxing Day presented exciting conditions for the last race of the year.  A F6 ENE wind gave a large swell in the Bay which made conditions very uncomfortable for the race crews, but particularly for the race team on board Viking.  A good course was set from mark X for the Squibs and Cruisers in cold but sunny conditions.

Boats sailed up the harbour under spinnaker or goose-winged to finish outside the Club house.

The Squibs Icebreaker Trophy was won by Iain Jones and Peter Jackson on Aldebaran.

The Cruisers Frostbite Trophy was won by Roy Shelley on the Folkboat Katrina.

The seasonal festivities continued in a packed bar after racing with food supplied by the members.  Many thanks to the Commodore, Melita Biggs, and race team for enduring very difficult conditions on board Viking.  Thanks also to Mike Stagg, House Commodore, and his team for their hard work to ensure that a lot of very thirsty sailors were kept watered at the bar. 

Viking was used for the last time as WSC Committee boat for the Boxing Day racing.  There was a heavy swell running in the bay when John Birtwistle as driver and Melita Biggs as Race Officer took her out to start the Icebreaker and Frostbite trophy races. 

Viking was purchased by the Club only a few years ago to see whether it would be successful to start Club racing from a committee boat - previous racing had been started mainly from the starting hut on the Stone Pier.  Of course, everyone now knows that this has transformed the racing in the Club and a new boat has been purchased to succeed Viking in the New Year.  It is thanks to the volunteer band of Viking drivers with Don Cutler and John Harvey that this has been achieved.

Club members voted to continue the name of 'Viking' for the new committee boat at the Commodore's Christmas Pimms Party on Saturday evening 13 December.    Don Cutler (photographed) and a team of volunteer helpers have already been busy getting the boat ready for next season's sailing.  The boat with its larger engine has a bigger working area and a small cabin, and the GPR hull will lessen the annual maintenance.

There was also voting at the party for the photograph to go onto the front cover of the Club Handbook in 2009.  Winning photo was of the YOBs (Youths on Boats) in their RSFeva dinghies submitted by Phil Samways.

The popular WSC Christmas supper this year was celebrated on Saturday 6 December with a full house enjoying an evening meal in the Clubhouse and then moving into the Longshed to dance the night away.  The refurbishments to the Longshed have been completed and the new bar was open for the first time.  The galley had a busy weekend with a dinner for Coastwatch on Friday and the usual crowded restaurant after the winter series sailing on Sunday.

Not to be outdone, the older 'coffee club' members had their Christmas lunch on Friday 12 December.  37 members enjoyed a traditional meal with all the usual trimmings.  Lyn Atkins was thanked by everyone for organising the meal and glasses were raised to 'President' Tom Deary who is in hospital for a short visit and missed the lunch.  His deputy Len Staff gave one of many speeches.

Celebrations continue with the Commodore's Christmas Pimm's Party on Saturday 13 December when the photo for next year's Handbook is chosen, and this year a special vote to name the newly purchased committee boat.  All members are welcomed.