Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club Summer Report
by Sylvia Clamp 2 Sep 2012 18:50 BST
Summer 2012
Mengeham Rythe Junior Race Week © Sylvia Clamp
The summer has been a very busy time for England hosting the spectacular London 2012 Olympic Games and our athletes have done us proud notably the Rowers and the Sailors amongst them.
MRSC has despite the poor summer weather been equally busy with its own sailing events and of course its recent Olympic themed Junior Week. Too many events to write about here however, I have picked out a few to wet your main brace!
Our annual Charity event for the Rowans Hospice, now in it's 12th year has gained momentum and Ann Kent was very pleased to report the following:
Thank you to all the members and friends who came and supported the Rowans Day at Mengeham Rythe on Sunday the 22nd of July. We were very lucky to have a bright sunny day with a gentle breeze. The event attracted a record entry of 65 competitors, both junior and senior with a good number from HISC who all enjoyed a very pleasant race. Thank you to the race officer and his team.
Thanks to the generosity of members and friends the event raised £1,012.70 a record figure in the events 12 year history. This brings the total we have raised for the Rowans to £9,150.
I would like to thank everyone who contributed to making the day such a success.
Ann Kent
The weather Gods granted an unexpectedly sunny day for the eighty or so sailors who participated in a programme of mixed events in the MRSC Regatta on the 5th of August. We were joined by a good compliment from HISC and sailors from as far away as Emsworth Slipper SC, Emsworth SC and Langstone SC.
MRSC own mini sailing Junior Olympics which commenced on Monday, 30 July was a happy and exciting affair.
Joanna Lewis who is the overall organizer of Junior Week provided this report.
Despite the very early tides at the beginning of the week, MRSC Junior Race Week attracted a record 124 sailors this year split into 4 fleets.
The top race fleet enjoyed the challenging conditions out in Pilsey Sands with some excellent racing in the hotly contested fast and slow handicapped series. Blue and Green Fleets perfected their racing starts and tactics in the more sheltered waters of West Mud and our youngest sailors in Gold fleet started to get to grips with sailing a triangular course.
With such a large entry our biggest challenge was launching and retrieving so many boats from the club but, with military precision, the Beach Team did an amazing job.
We were delighted to have the remote controlled yacht racing on the salt pond again this year accompanied by a hog roast and a visit from Hayling Island Fire Brigade.
In an Olympic themed competition, we saw the 'Madagascan' team of Ian Grant and his grandsons triumph. Prize giving, once again generously supported by Focus Watersport, Fatface and BT was made even more special this year with the beautiful crafted gold, silver and bronze podium crafted by Paddy Lamperd for the occasion – the perfect finishing touch to a week in which over 70 adults, club members and visitors alike, volunteered their time, skills and rescue boats to make it a really happy, safe and fun week. Our very own 'Big society' here at MRSC! Thank you to you all!!
Joanna Lewis
Another big thank you must go to the Pro's who challenged and organised their fleets and generally kept them all on track or should I say on wind!
Gold Fleet – Mark Macdonald and Tessa Parke
Red fleet – Patrick Lewis
Green Fleet – Kerry and Nick Elliot
Blue Fleet – Tour Ala
An excited crowd of winners, competitors, family and friends had gathered for the Prize Giving Ceremony, which took place, after the final days racing, on Friday 3rd August, held in front of the clubhouse and under the flag staff proudly flying the Club colours.
This year in keeping with the Olympic Theme the Prize winners had a winner's podium to mount; complete with the Olympic Emblem albeit with an extra ring (perhaps the result of an extra tot of rum or two or perhaps the extra ring denotes MRSC)!
There was also a special Endeavour Prize awarded to an individual in their fleet who had shown that little something extra during the course of the week.
Mark Macdonald Pro for Gold Fleet awarded Noel Houston with the Endeavour Prize. This was awarded for not only Noel's excellent progress and tenacity, but also his encouragement towards others and willingness to sail with less confident sailors.
Other Endeavour Award winners were:
Red Fleet - Anna Zuurmond awarded by Patrick Lewis
Green Fleet - James Ferguson awarded by Kerry Elliot
Blue Fleet - to Ishbel Zuurmond awarded by Tour Ala
The full list of winners of all races will be published on the MRSC Website.
www.mengeham.org.uk
Well done all!