David Wilding RIP

(Photo via Sadie Phelan)

   We are informed by Les, bar manager of the Royal Welsh Yacht Club that they are hoping to organise a memorial weekend on 12/13 September 2009 in Caernarfon to celebrate Davids contribution to their club and members from Wicklow would be welcome to attend. See letter from Joe Long, Hon. Sec. RWYC

Club Survey

  There were 70 replies to our Club Development Survey, which represents almost 30% of the over 16 age group targeted, a very encouraging response. Peter Shearer and his sub-committee are now disseminating the replies to come up with a discussion document for submission to the members at an EGM to be chaired by Bernadette Fox of the ISA on Fri 2nd October hopefully. The full set of replies should be available for perusal by our members shortly. Following on from the EGM, a proposed Development Plan should result, which we hope to have ratified at the AGM in November, setting out a blueprint for WSC's progress into the future.

Get well guys

   Our esteemed President, Fred Drew, has been in the wars recently having undergone a gallbladder operation and has suffered some complications subsequently. He is currently in St Vincents Hospital and we wish him a speedy recovery. Also, in the same hospital is active sailing member Tony Dunphy and our thoughts are with him also.

Junior Dinghy Regatta

  With a solid fleet of dinghy sailors regularly racing in WSC, our Sailing Section have organised a Junior Regatta on Sat Aug 29th to encourage competitive sailing and hopefully bring in visiting sailors from our neighbouring clubs. Details here.

Adult Dinghy Training

   Following on the success of our Junior Training programme, a new course for adult dinghy trainees is about to start shortly. Details here.

East Coast Regatta

   Our Rear Commodore Sail, David O Gorman, has been playing a blinder with our Sailing section since his appointment in February. He  turned his attention to the August Bank Holiday regatta, now known as the East Coast Regatta, and found willing sponsors in East Coast FM and Yacht Agencies of Ireland. With the secure knowledge of our costs being mostly covered, he and his team ran a well organised event, even if numbers were small. While activity on the water consisted of only 16 boats, it was more than made up for by the onshore activity, with music of one form or another available day and night, ensuring our visitors were well entertained. Well done to everyone who contributed to making this a success and hopefully, we can build on it to make Wicklow Harbour a must do destination for future August bank Holidays.

Junior Training 2009

  Following the record numbers over the last few years, the recession and holiday season have affected trainee numbers this year, down to less than 40 from nearly 60. However, feedback is that the new system of separating Level 1 & 2's from 3 & 4's has been a big success and Senior Instructor, Naomi, is very happy with the way things are going. Our new grey RIB is playing its part and the Club is delighted to be able to contribute positively to the training of our younger members, at a total cost of c.€12,000, following on the substantial outlay on concreting the boatpark in previous years, at a cost of c.€20,000. Members can help to repay these improvements by paying subscriptions and boatpark fees on time, as your Club needs to pay its bills too, to keep the show on the road.

Town Council - Round Ireland 2010

  John Johnson, Past Commodore, Harry Hermon, CEO ISA and your Commodore met with Mayor Irene Winters and Wicklow Town Council in an historic meeting on 6th July last in the Town Hall. We made a presentation on the worth of a major event like the Round Ireland to the local town and environs, requesting leadership from the Council to pull all the various business, political, tourism and community bodies together. Having the experience of the Volvo stopover fresh in peoples minds helped our cause. We were very favourably received by all 9 Councillors present and were promised by the Mayor that they will do everything they can to facilitate us.

  Subsequently, the Town Clerk has written confirming that a meeting will be convened bringing all relevant and interested bodies together, probably within the next 2 months.

  We also made separate presentations to representatives of Wicklow Chamber of Commerce and the Wicklow Commerce Network.

  We have appointed David Mc Hugh of www.tri-line.ie to search for a sponsor on our behalf and he is looking for your assistance. He is working hard following up on leads and making contacts - not an easy task in a major recession. He is optimistic that somehow or another he will deliver. Any leads that members can furnish would be most welcome. Thanks to Iain Fisher and Dave Ballesty for contacts.

2009 Madoc Visit

    

   Your Commodore, with club member Cormac Mc Grane and other crew made the annual trip to Porthmadoc, via the Menai Straits and Caernarfon, where we paid our respects in the Royal Welsh to our recently deceased joint member, David Wilding. We were met at Madoc YC by fellow members Paul and Ann Sinnott and Tony Gillespie and Rose Dunne, who travelled by ferry. As usual our hosts, headed up by Commodore, Sheena Birch, laid out the red carpet and treated us very well. We had a trip on the Snowdonia Highland Railway and a visit to the Osprey viewing area before being entertained to a wonderful meal and entertainment from Chris Hayward and his band the Golden Fleas in MYC on Sat 4th July - Chris asks me to let you know they will be playing in the Bridge on Fri 7th August - make a note in your diary now. This is a visit well worth putting on the annual calendar for all cruising sailors - we need to work at keeping this connection alive

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  Talking of bands, while we were there, the Wicklow Pipe Band assisted at the opening of a revamped leisure park and also played at a local pageant - see photo. This was part of the Town Twinning connection, which both sailing clubs had a major role in getting off the ground.

  

  There is no truth in the rumour that Mick Mulvihill is at loggerheads with David O Gorman over handicap loadings, following the recent magnificent win by Moondancer, under the helm of Micks son, Vincent. David sold the boat to Mick earlier this year, having failed to win a race over several years trying and word has it he is now sorry he let the boat go. As can be seen from the photo, all is well and David is delighted that Moondancer will act as committee boat for the East Coast Regatta, with Mick on board as skipper.