90th anniversary end of season prizegiving at Castle Cove Sailing Club
by Rob Smith 26 Oct 2013 08:02 BST
Castle Cove Sailing Club celebrates 90 years © Helena Darvelid
Although the autumn series is not quite done and there will be plenty of
action up to and after Christmas, with keelboats out and the Winter Series
round the corner, Castle Cove reached a big date in the diary last
weekend - the Prizegiving and end of season Dinner Dance.
Celebrating 90 years called for an extra special event which Commodore
Richard, 1st Lady Debbie and their team created by way of a 164 attendee
Black Tie full-on evening at Weymouth's Prince Regent seafront hotel.
To mark the anniversary occasion all the previous Commodores and their
wives/husbands were invited and amazingly were all able to attend, enjoy
the evening but also catch-up and be toasted at a special drinks reception
and group photo (very large group photo!).
Following CCSC's involvement in the unique and unforgettable Olympic year
of 2012, it was great to find that enthusiasm had translated into
attendances and performances both at the Club and flying the flag away
from home.
Amongst the 54 pieces of historic and/or beautiful silverware awarded were
2 series and a cup win for the now formidable Osprey of Kev Francis and
Phil Male, across the board victories in almost all slow keelboat events
for Gary and Morag Warr in their Etap24, and despite a recent move to an
RS100 which may temporarily reduce his use of sliver cleaner, Nick Griffin
signed-off from his 2000 dominance with 3 series wins and Best Points.
Although Sam Barker is clinging onto the Top Gun mantle in the newest
fleet in town - namely the Musto Skiffs - and flat wired his way to 3
series and a trophy win, he couldn't wrestle one of the most prized cups
from Hugh Shone & Hannah Tattersall whose regular and impressive open
results paid dividends when retaining the Basso Cup.
Sam also listed many and varied successful open and National performances
in his year's diary, however he was up against stiff competition for the
Outside Performance trophy. Bob Turner and team scored a hard fought 7th
at the J24 Worlds in Ireland which was the most notable keelboat result
away from home. Sam Pascoe nearly retained the dinghy title by scoring a
fantastic 2nd at the INT14 Worlds in Toronto with Alex Knight, but Jono &
Sarah Pank were eventual recipients of the TrailerBoard Trophy for topping
43 Fireflies to become 2013 National Champions after a windy and
incredibly close championship in Torquay.
Although the club will be holding it's usual separate Cadet prizegiving,
one of the biggest collection of awards went to Alex Jones who needed help
from his dad Tim to collect the various series trophies and Laser cups,
and is a great advert for the rude health of the club youth.
Prior to handing over to our foiling Sailing Sec Helen, Bill 'MrMG335'
Barker, and Mrs Commodore Debbie for all the prizes mentioned above and
the many others, Richard felt he wanted to award a few of his own. Amongst
the gross underachievements/memorable misdemeanours of the year were
classics such as very lengthy and multiple onshore failures at retrieving
an errant banana after a hatch-off capsize (Kev & Phil), and brilliant
use of a massive plank and truck straps to effect a RTI rudder repair
worthy of scrap-heap challenge (John). Further fun was had at the expense
of ex-Commodore Richard and his able hand Rob who tried laying a
surprisingly short windward leg for the Moth Nationals when omitting to
notice the huge ex-Olympic inflatable buoy leaving their rib early!, and
also for another Rob (yours truly) who managed to pick the wrong
Musto Skiff when secretly applying big new name stickers to help Alex K
celebrate his 30th. Nick Grace seems to enjoy his new unwanted boat name!
Castle Cove members and guests left a great evening with bow ties undone,
killer heels being carried, and a few tacks for some to get out the door!,
but all were looking forward to a 2014 season ahead including INT14 POW
week, juniors and cadets having fun and getting faster, and all the titles
to be raced for and places to be sailed to.