Serpents at Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series

The Serpent Yacht Club had a good showing at the Scottish Series at Tarbert this year. Slipping quickly out of their nappy changing mode of the previous Opening Muster weekend Paul and Richard Harris went on to win the closely fought IRC Class2, in the process beating Roxy6, a new Corby design and their Clyde sister ship Bateleur 97. In IRC 3, the massed Serpents on board Troikka were more out for a good time but enjoyed some close and exciting sailing in the class which produced the overall winner.



The Troikka crew were well catered for on mother ship Out of the Blue (henceforth referred to as OOTBee) and the pic below shows chef Steve Pickles with an appreciative Anne, Seamus and Marcus. Stewart was probably doing the dishes at the time. Steve's exceptional galley skills are now well recognised and thus he is once more in charge of the barbecue at the Croabh Muster in July.

Opening Muster Weekend 2010

It was a glassy calm and windless Saturday for the Opening Muster. Paul Harris on Tanit set the course for Tarbert via Garroch Head, dropping the mooring once all starters were away and catching up by the time the rest had reached Toward. There were innumerable holes to pick through and a decision was taken to shorten the race at Garroch Head which Troikka reached first with Tanit close behind.
Troikka and Tanit were motoring well up Loch Fyne before any sign of Class 2 appeared round the corner but eventually everyone arrived in time to bask in the Tarbert sunshine although Guilty’s engine self -destructed with a bang on approach. The meal in the Anchor Hotel was well attended and to more or less the usual standard.

Next morning the Ladies were fired up for their race but off Tarbert there was absolutely no wind and so Seamus on Emma Louise, who had possession of a large water pistol started some water fights. Eventually, to general surprise, the race committee on Guilty sounded the horn and some fairly desperate drifting commenced. However the ladies were not to be deterred and eventually a fine sailing breeze filled in leading to an enjoyable sail to Ardlamont and an easy run to the finish at Kames.

SPRING NEWSLETTER 2010

A Message from the Commodore
Despite an extended cold spell and a late spring, work has been moving on apace, with members getting boats ready for the new season.
A lucky few already have their boats in the water and have enjoyed a few beautiful days sailing. For others that pleasure still awaits.
Unfortunately I could not attend the AGM in February but I understand it went well and we are indebted to Jill Young and her staff at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital for their help and hospitality.
As I write this, I am currently stuck in Marseille waiting for volcanic ash to settle and the promise of a flight home.
I’d like to welcome all the new members who have recently joined the club and welcome back our regular members. The committee has organised a programme for the year and I would encourage you all to come along and take part to renew old friendships and build new ones.
I am l looking forward to seeing you on the water in this coming season.

Tom Barrie
Commodore


AGM 22nd Feb 2010
The AGM was once again held at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank on the 22nd February. Douglas Russell and Robbie Rodger retired from the committee and were thanked for their years of service to the club.
Charles Sutherland was welcomed to the committee. Charles has very kindly volunteered to update the Serpent website and is currently redesigning it . The new site will be launched later in the year, in a new more interactive format.
The committee for 2010 is:
Ø Commodore: Tom Barrie
Ø Vice Commodore: Catherine Toy
Ø Rear Commodore: Vacant
Ø Secretary: Catherine Toy
Ø Treasurer: Val Glen
Ø Sailing Secretary: Paul Harris
Ø Stewards: Roisin Harris, Steve Pickles, Charles Sutherland
Ø Ex Officio: Iain Sinclair



Ocean Youth Trust Scotland
The AGM concluded with a very interesting and entertaining presentation on the work of the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland by Lorraine Toner who is the Volunteer Co-ordinator for the OYTS.
Based in Greenock, the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland operates three sailing yachts which take young people aged between 12 and 24 to sea on youth development residential courses. Voyages last usually for 5 days. Through the shared challenge and adventure of life at sea young people build self confidence, develop problem solving and leadership skills and learn to take responsibility for their own actions.
Pauline encouraged those present to consider volunteering as crew members or consider raising funds for OYT . She highlighted the Big Commute being organised by OYT which is a race from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Lerwick. Two crews of twelve adults are racing OYT Scotland’s ocean-going Challenge 72’s from 20th - 29th August 2010. If you are interested you’ll need to raise a minimum of £2,950 to take part – more details can be found on the OYTScotland web site at www.oytscotland.org.uk or by contacting Helen at helen@oytscotland.org.uk.

A donation will be sent from the Serpent Yacht Club to OYT Scotland as a thank you.


Dates of Forthcoming Serpent Events in 2010

22/23rdMay Spring Muster ( Tarbert )
Saturday 19th June Clyde Get Together (Portavadie)
24/25 July Summer Muster (Craobh)
18/19 September Autumn Muster (Rothesay- To be confirmed )
Saturday 30tht October Frostbite Race (Round Cumbrae)
Annual Dinner Fri 11th December (Art Club)

Spring Muster 22nd / 23rd May 2009
The organisation of the Spring Muster to Tarbert is well underway. The option is to race or cruise to Tarbert on the Saturday and then for those interested in taking part, a ladies race back to Kames on Sunday. See the attached Race Instructions and Entry Form.

Berthing is available at Kip on Friday evening for those requiring it and members should pay berthing fees to the marina directly. The start will be off Kip at 1000hrs on the Saturday morning. Please return your entry forms to Paul Harris by Saturday 15th May. The race entry fee is £20 for the weekend.
Late entries will be accepted but a £5 penalty will be applied.

Spaces are reserved on the pontoons at Tarbert for Saturday evening. Let the harbour master know you are with the Serpent. All fees for berthing are to be paid directly to the Harbourmaster. The evening meal on Saturday will be in the Anchor Hotel at 7.00pm for 7.30pm. Cost is £25 per head, for a three course meal and coffee, children aged 5 to 12 years inclusive at £10 each and no charge for 4 years and under. Please state special dietary requirements on the entry form.

The committee hope that you will be able to attend the muster and look forward to another excellent weekend. Please bring along your friends particularly those who might be interested in joining the club. Membership has now been extended to a wider range of people working in areas related to health care, so opticians, pharmacists , physios etc. are now eligible for membership. If members or member’s friends require accommodation, this should be arranged directly with the hotel: tel 01880 820577.


Clyde Get Together – Saturday 19th June

Catherine Toy will be organising the June get together this year. We are going to visit Portavadie Marina for the first time. Drinks on Out of the Blue at 4.00pm, followed by dinner in the marina restaurant.
Could those interested in attending contact her in advance on 01555 665191 so that she can reserve tables?

Summer Muster – 24th and 25th July – Craobh Haven

The format will be similar to last year, with a barbeque in the grounds of Craobh Marina on Saturday evening followed by a the Round Shuna Race on Sunday. More details will be in the next Newsletter.

Retiring Members

Many members will remember John Short and his family sailing the beautiful "Strega" in Serpent events. John has written to the secretary :
”Alas age is playing a part in deciding to hang up my wellies and I would like to tender my resignation”.
Strega was a "She 36", and was well known on the Clyde and west coast waters. We wish John all the best for the future and assure him that he will always be welcome at Serpent events.

New Members
The club has just accepted Dr John Thorburn as a new member . John is a retired anaesthetist from Bearsden. He sails ZOE a Hallsberg Rassey 36 out of Kip.


Other News
Charles Sutherland has invited some club member to enter the Scottish Series so there will be a Serpent crew in the Scottish Series aboard Troikka.
(The Scottish Series sails out of Tarbert from the 28th-31st May. Results are reported in the Herald or online.)

Another Serpent boat Tanit is expecting additions to their crew in July - Paul and Roisin Harris are expecting twins. Roisin is keeping well and we wish her all the best .


Basking Sharks
SHN has issued a poster which it has sent out to saiing clubs drawing attention to Basking Shark hotspots.

It identified the hotspots around Canna and Hyskeir and and around Coll and Tiree and recommended considerate behaviour for yachts sailing in these areas. It is asking all sailors to move slowly around them and treat them with respect.

JANUARY NEWSLETTER 2010

JANUARY NEWSLETTER 2010 A message from the Commodore: I wish you all Happy New Year and welcome to the Club’s first newsletter of 2010. We certainly had a White Christmas with snow and very low temperatures well into the New Year. I hope you all survived unscathed, without frost damage to house or boat. Our thoughts can now turn to warmer weather and to new choices and challenges. Some of you might be in the midst of anti-fouling and fitting out, others may still have that treat in store. You might even be about to take possession of your sparkling new boat. Whichever is the case, please note the dates of club events in your diary. The committee has planned an interesting programme for you, as usual, and we are looking forward to seeing you at club events during the year. Despite the recession, and some mediocre weather, the club had a good year last year culminating in a splendid turnout at the Glasgow Art Club for the Annual Dinner and Prize Giving. The meal at the Art Club was not quite up to their previous high standard and we have taken this up with the Club and understand that appropriate changes are to be made. I look forward to seeing you at the AGM which is being held on Monday 22nd Feb at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank. Iain Sinclair, Commodore ________________________________________________________________________

The Annual General Meeting of the Serpent Yacht Club will be held on Monday 22nd February 2010 in the Board Room at the Golden Jubilee Hospital, Beardmore Street, Clydebank. A buffet supper will be served at 7pm with the AGM starting at 7.30pm.
Thereafter there will be a presentation by Lorraine Toner on the work of the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland. The OYTS is a charity which operates three sailing ships and take young people aged between 12 and 24 to sea on youth development residentials.

New Members We are happy to welcome new club members. Subra Viswanathan and his wife Alexis, who live in Glasgow. Subra is a Consultant Radiologist at the Royal. Trevor Watson and his wife Barbara have also joined. Barbara is a GP practice manager and Tevor has a Jeanneau based in Upper Loch Fyne.

Finally, an e-mail from Jane Herbert, one of our members who moved south in 2002. She retired at Christmas and is looking forward to more sailing and she was wondering if there were any Serpent members who would like to "lend" Rob and her ( both Yachtmasters ) a boat on a bareboat charter basis for a week in May at a favourable rate. If so could they contact her directly on ejherbert@aol.com Finally some news from Robbie and Alyson Rodgers Just now we are still in Lagos, in the Algarve (along with Sapphire of Treshnish - Alan Faichney boat - however I’ve not seen him out here but have been keeping an eye on it for him). We are here until 31 March and I will be organising a lift out at Sopromar the local yard. After that a 160 mile sail to Gibralter mainly to refuel (diesel is 45p a litre -will save me about £300) After that we are going to Ceuta in North Africa (Spanish enclave) and work our way East along the Morocco coast to the other Spanish enclave Melilla. In June we must be at a convenient airport to come home for Katie's graduation. So we will cross to Almeria on the Costa del Sol for that. Thereafter we can either work our way up the Costas to winter near Taragona - possible taking in the Balearics if we ave time or plan B is to return to Lagos for next winter. We are now insured as far as East coast of Italy and have the paper, electronic charts and pilot guides to take us there. Happy fitting out and hope to see you all soon on the water.

SPRING NEWSLETTER 2009

A Message from the Commodore

There may not yet be signs of green shoots in the economy but there are certainly plenty of signs of springtime around us. Hopefully, the good Easter weather will develop into the fine summer that we all feel we deserve.

The AGM in February was hosted once again by the Golden Jubilee National Hospital and we are indebted to Jill Young and her staff for their help and hospitality.

We said thanks to Douglas Russell and Robbie Rodger who have both retired from their flag positions, but remain on the committee, and thanks and goodbye to Nick Pace and Jane Faichney who left the committee. We welcome Roisin Harris who joined us and Steve Pickles who has subsequently been co-opted to strengthen the team.

Your committee for the year is:

Ø Commodore: Iain Sinclair

Ø Vice Commodore: Tom Barrie

Ø Rear Commodore: Catherine Toy

Ø Secretary: Catherine Toy

Ø Treasurer: Val Glen

Ø Sailing Secretary: Paul Harris

Ø Stewards: Douglas Russell, Robbie Rodger, Roisin Harris, Steve Pickles

The AGM concluded with a highly interesting and entertaining presentation by Paul Harris and Alan McLeod, on the “Tanit” crew’s participation in the Sydney – Hobart race.

The Club website now has a page with a tribute to the late John Elias-Jones which contains the very moving sonnet by John Burman which I read at the meeting.

Some things to note for the forthcoming season:

Ø The committee has decided to change our race start procedures to bring them into line with other Clyde clubs so please pay special attention to the race instructions for the Spring Muster.

Ø We would also like to move as soon as possible to e-mail distribution of Club newsletters and other communications. We will be updating our e-mail address records but don’t worry; if you’re not “on-line” you will still be able to get information by snail-mail.

I wish you all a memorable sailing season and hope to see as many of you as possible at Club events.

Iain Sinclair, Commodore

Dates of Forthcoming Events

Spring Muster 16/17 May Summer Muster 25/26 July

Clyde Family Barbecue Saturday 20^th June Autumn Muster 19/20 September

Frostbite Race Saturday 31^st October Annual Dinner Friday 11th December

This is a trial go at a new website for the Serpent Yacht Club. The aim of the club is to further the sport of yachting in its widest sense , particularly among those whose occupation pertains to the health care professions. The club is active with a calendar of races and musters based on the Clyde and West coast throughout the sailing season.