Local sponsors are giving support to the National Squib Championships being held in Weymouth Sailing Club from 27 June - 3 July 2009 in a number of ways.

Clipper Teas of Beaminster is donating sufficient tea and coffee for the championship sailors to be offered free hot drinks throughout the week. In exchange for providing this service the Club is asking the sailors to make a voluntary contribution to the chosen charity The Chesil Trust.  The Chesil Trust is a Dorset based registered charity to enable young or disabled people to enjoy the thrills of sailing.   For some years, in conjunction with the W&P National Sailing Academy, Sail Laser and the County Council's Outdoor Education Centre in Weymouth, it has enabled children in Year 6 of Dorset schools to 'Sail for a Fiver'. 

Dean and Reddyhoff Marinas are providing launch and recovery and storage facilities for the event. Other sponsors who have each sponsored a day of the regatta are Arthur Savage Insurance from Dorchester, Dream Cottages, Haven Holidays and The Heights Hotel, Portland.  O'Three wetsuits are supporting the championship clothing range.  Palmers Brewery has always supported the Club when it hosts events and is providing beer.  Prizes are being provided by  Portland Leisure and Sport, The Sea Life Centre, Brewers Quay and Lloyds Bank.

The Club is very grateful for this support and, with 64 entries already registered, is looking forward to a successful 'Nationals'.

There is always great excitement in the Club at the launch of a new boat, so a group of Squibbers joined Gareth Evans, with his crew Lyn Matthews and Stuart Carr, on Friday morning 17 April to name his new Squib 'Cold Fusion'.  Gareth named the boat by pouring a half pint of Palmer's best brew over her bow before launching her for the first time.

Gareth has been a keen sailor in the Squib fleet for some years and his old boat 'Quicksilver' has changed hands and is now going to be campaigned by Eddie Harper and Steve Dadd.

We wish Gareth and Cold Fusion good sailing and welcome new Squib sailors Eddie and Steve to the fleet.

In wonderful spring sunshine, club members joined together to toast the launch of the Club's new committee boat Viking II.  Commodore Melita Biggs spoke of how the purchase of the first committee boat Viking I improved the standard of racing in the Club.  Because of this success the decision was made to upgrade to a bigger boat.  The new boat was purchased in December 2008 needing a lot of work to bring her up to the club's criterion.  A team of voluntary workers expertly headed by Don Cutler have put in countless hours of work and managed to complete it under the allocated budget . 

Melita invited Don to sprinkle champagne over the bow and name the boat Viking II.  He said that he had enjoyed leading the team and thanked all the members who had stepped forward to do the work. 

Installed on the boat is a fully automated countdown system for starting races developed by Don Cutler and Simon Vines.  Weymouth Sailing Club Race Officers will certainly appreciate the new systems and facilities this summer.

Launch of Viking II takes place on Monday 6 April followed by some sea trials and training of drivers.  She will be seen on course for the start of the YCW Spring Series starting on Sunday 12 April 2009.

2009_Spring_Series_Entry_Form   2009_YCW_Spring_Series_SIs  2009_YCW_Spring_Series_NORr

 Adam Bowers was on his best form on Friday night when he entertained our own YOBs (Youths on Boats) as well as visiting cadets from Castle Cove SC.  He gave his talk "How to Race a Course" to a packed club of young and young at heart sailors.

 Adam, who is on crutches at the moment due to an injured achilles tendon, kept everyone interested for two hours with his unique ability to teach while entertaining.  However without his brother Richard the talk would not have taken place as he is not only Adam's driver at the moment but also his pack horse (we did feel sorry for him).  Adam voiced his intentions to spend an evening on the water with the YOBs if his schedule can allow for it.