23/01/2013

A Message from the Commodore   (newsletter Jan-Feb 2013)
Happy New Year
I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year.
The last time we were together was for the Annual Dinner and Prize Giving at the Bythswood Hotel, a very enjoyable dinner, where we raised the healthy sum of £745 for Pancreatic Cancer Scotland.
Our next event is the AGM which has been arranged for Tuesday 12th Feb in Seminar Room B, City of Glasgow College, 60 North Hanover Street, Glasgow (formerly the College of Building and Printing)
Steve Pickles, one of our club member is going to talk about his experience of taking part in the ARC (the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers), so I hope you will all manage to come. Tea and Biscuits will be provided.
I look forward to seeing you all at the AGM and wish you all the best for 2013.
Catherine Toy
Commodore

Annual General Meeting – Tuesday 12 February 2013
Our next event is the AGM on Tuesday 12th February 2013. We are using a new city centre venue, close to Queen Street Station. The AGM will be held in City of Glasgow College, Glasgow (formerly the College of Building and Printing). If you are interested in becoming involved in running the club's please speak to Catherine Toy before the AGM.

Tea and Biscuits will be served from 7pm with the AGM starting at 7.30pm and finishing before 9pm.
Steve Pickles, one of our club members (master of the summer barbeque) is going to talk about his experience of taking part in the ARC (the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) after the formal business.
We hope to see you there - if you are unable to attend please submit apologies to Roisin Harris - mrsrharris1@gmail.com - 07732018204.

Seminar Room B - on the First Floor
City of Glasgow College
City Campus North Hanover Street (formerly College of Building &Printing)
60 North Hanover Street
Glasgow, G1 2BP

The Tower building is just across the road from the east side entrance to Queen Street station. Nearest public parking - Buchanan Galleries

The programme for 2013 is as follows:

Annual General Meeting Tuesday 12 February 2013
Spring Muster 18th/19th May 2013 - Race Kip to Tarbert
Pursuit Race 15th/16th June 2013 – Race / Cruise to Portavadie
Summer Muster 20th/21st July 2013 - Craobh BBQ & Round Shuna Race
Autumn Muster 7th/8th September 2013 – Race / Cruise to Rothesay
Frostbite Race Saturday 26th 2013 October - Race Round Cumbrae
Annual Dinner Friday 6th December 2013 - Blythswood Square Hotel

Start Boats
We would like to thank all the members who agreed to start races during 2012, we simply could not have run the events without you. We will be seeking volunteers to start races 2013. Full instructions and training will be provided if you have never done this before. If you are also participating in the races you will receive an appropriate time correction. Please speak to Paul Harris - 07732111410 if you are interested.
New members
Roisin Harris is delighted to report that she recently sent out a few membership application forms. Prof Neil Spurway (our speaker at the annual dinner) and his wife have recently submitted an application and we look forward to welcoming them to the club. The Committee is keen to increase club membership and to also encourage all members to participate in the various events throughout the year. If you know anyone who would like to join the Club please contact Roisin - mrsrharris1@gmail.com 07732018204.
Member's cruising
A reminder that you are welcome to email in some of your cruising photos for inclusion on the Serpent blog. (please downsize them for emailing)
After the Croabh event,  Out of the Blue, Troikka and Kelpie D cruised north. As as been mentioned below, we did not enjoy the best of weather. Eventually OOTB and Troikka arrived in Plockton and you can see from the photo below that once again, the rain was not far away.


Despite having visited Rhum before, we had never toured the Castle so that, and surviving the midges made for an interesting afternoon. Stuart Toy is seen here attempting to sketch the castle as we waited for our tour.


Kinloch Castle gives a remarkable insight into how fantastically wealthy Victorian entrepreneurs could live and spend their fortunes. It is in a very fragile state of preservation and is well worth the tour while it still remains.  The portrait in the gallery is of Sir George Bullough whose project it was. You can read more about the castle here

 
On our way up the Sound of Mull we stopped off at the new pontoons in Lochaline where we were welcomed by the harbourmaster. OOTB and Kelpie D can be seen to the left of the image. We found it is an easy walk round to the hotel bar....



A message from the Commodore - Catherine Toy   (Aug-September newsletter)
With August coming to an end , what little summer we had is drawing to a close. Some who went sailing early will have enjoyed the fabulously warm dry weather that the west coast experienced in June and early July. It is not often that we have water restrictions on the islands or a hose pipe ban on Mull?
However, others, like ourselves, who didn’t get sailing until mid July when the jet stream moved north, experienced much wetter,  windier conditions. 


While we had great weather for the Craobh BBQ , on the following day  the Round Shuna race  was cancelled due to the Force 5-7 forecast.  However, unfazed, and with cups to be competed for, our  intrepid racers adjourned to the Lord of the Isles for a very enjoyable pub quiz. The questions were a challenging mix of sailing, medical and general knowledge,  with some cryptic catch phrases to decipher . It was  all washed down with a light refreshment and a bite of  lunch.

Results for the Alternative Pub Quiz were as follows:                 
1.       Tango Too -   Steve and Susan Pickles
2.       Kelpie D  - The Yule family
3.       Out of the Blue – the Toy family

Many thanks to Steve and Susan for the BBQ, for Tony Adgent and friends for the band and for David Toy and Robert Yule for preparing the quiz

Upcoming Events

8/9 September
Autumn Muster Rothesay      
Race / Cruise to Rothesay
27 October 
Frostbite Race  Cumbrae
Race Round Cumbrae
7 December      
Annual Dinner
Blythswood Hotel, Glasgow

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 Autumn Muster - 8/9 September 2012
This year’s Autumn Muster is from Kip to Rothesay with a pursuit race back to Kip on the Sunday. As last year was such a success we have once again organised a special three course dinner at the stunning Mount Stuart Visitor Centre.  The cost will be £30.00 per person, which includes the meal and the bus there and back.  The bus will leave from Rothesay Pier at 7.30 p.m.  If you require a children’s menu, can you specify that on the form and we will organise it with Mount Stuart. Completed entry forms to be returned to Paul Harris by the 3rd September.  Race instructions are attached to this newsletter.

Frostbite Race 27 October 2012
This will take place from Largs and will be a race round Greater Cumbrae. This year’s socialising will be left up to the participants on the day. Race instructions are enclosed with this newsletter.

Annual Dinner and Prize giving - Friday 7th December 2012 - Blythswood Hotel, Glasgow
This year we have a new venue for the annual prize givingdinner.  It will be held in the Monte Carlo Suite in the Blythswood Hotel, Glasgow (formerly the RAC Club) on Friday 7th December 2012.  We are pleased that the suite and conveniences are on the same level and all fully accessible.  The Committee is very excited about the new venue and I hope you will all join us to make it a successful evening.  More details in the November newsletter
 
Log Competition 
Please remember the club has a Log Competition. For those of you who travelled far or even not so far this summer, entries should be forwarded to Roisin Harris, by the 31st October 2012.
Photographic Competition
The theme for the photographic competition this year is “rain or shine”. Again entries to Roisin Harris by 31st October 2012. These will be displayed and judged at the dinner. 
Returning Cups
Finally could all members who won cups last year please return them to Seamus Lalor (10 Arranview Gardens, Seamill, Ayrshire, KA23 9NR) or any Committee Member no later than Wednesday 31st  October 2012.
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Pamela Sinclair 

 Members will be saddened by the death of Pamela Sinclair after a long brave fight against cancer.
Pamela was a past Commodore of the Serpent Yacht Club and was a loyal supporter and a good friend to many of us. She loved nothing better that a weekend away in Black Pepper, sharing her enjoyment of sailing with Iain and friends.  Even during her treatments,  when she wasn’t feeling great, she made a huge effort, smiled and continued to support club events.
In the last few years she has helped to establish a charity called Pancreatic Cancer Scotland. The club will be supporting it at the Annual Dinner. 
Pamela is and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts go out to Iain at this sad time