It was really good to see so many of you brave the snow to come to the laying up supper (some people walking down the hill rather than risk driving).  It was particularly good not to have to cancel three years in a row. 

For those of you who took home Steve's food quiz and have spent the entire Christmas driving your friends and family mad with it - the answers are given below:

FOOD QUIZ

Prepared by S J Hodgson

Question                                                                         Answer

(1)         PA won’t but ………                                                   Marmite

(2)         Stationary traffic                                                      Jam

(3)         Unwelcome 3rd                                                         Gooseberry

(4)         Hot stuff sounds cool                                                Chilli

(5)         Effeminate walk                                                       Mince

(6)         To encourage                                                           Egg

(7)         Radio amateur                                                         Ham

(8)         Hole in the bucket                                                    Leek

(9)         Electric stream                                                         Currant

(10)      Golfers’ starter                                                         Tea

(11)      Insignificant article                                                   Trifle

(12)      To idle                                                                    Loaf

(13)      Little Patricia                                                           Pate

(14)      Awful cheek!                                                            Sauce

(15)      Raise your glasses                                                    Toast

(16)      Half a big car                                                           Rolls

(17)      Popeye’s girl                                                            Olive

(18)      Motorway junction                                                   Spaghetti

(19)      Grumble                                                                  Grouse

(20)      Sorceress on beach                                                  Sandwich

(21)      Expert knows them well                                            Onions

(22)      Married Sybil                                                           Basil

Perhaps the snow on the ground should have given us a clue but we finally realised it was too cold for sailing when we had ice forming on the decks of our boats by the end of the second race!  Apart from that, it was a great day for a sail and a good end to 2011.  Looking forward to starting again in February.  Happy New Year

Today we had the interesting experience of racing between marks you couldn't see, hoping one of the other boats would stay sufficiently close that you didn't feel all alone in the world!

Once again there were several boats out both in the morning session and for the racing in the afternoon.  Mike won the first race with Jason second (back in the Lightning this week), Jake third and Chris fourth.  I arrived late having been to church parade and joined in for the second race.  Jason was second again (after doing turns for hitting me at the second last mark) with Mike third, Jake fourth and Chris fifth.  Alan did the duty with help from Tony.

Another fantastic display by Cameron enhanced by our new brazier

It was lovely to be back on the water today for our special bonfire regatta.  There were six boats out in total - four doing the first race, five the second and one just checking it would still float!  Racing was close at times with three boats all trying to round number six buoy in the very limited space between it and the bank.  The first race was won by Jake in his Topper with Ray second, Jason and Meg third (due to a late start as apparently the Commodore doesn't know how to rig his boat for him) and Chris fourth.  Having done the duty for the first race, I joined in for the second and won it with Jake second, Jason and Meg third, Ray fourth and Chris fifth.  Prizes were awarded to Jake (Celebrations), Ray (Jelly Babies) and Jason and Meg (Mars planets).  The final regatta of the year will be on the Sunday of the Laying-Up Supper - more chocolates up for grabs then.

Don't forget that this Sunday is the next in our series of special regattas.  There will be prizes awarded on the day and results will also count towards the Sunday series.  All members are welcome to come along and take part.  Racing will be followed with the AGM around 4pm - come along to hear plans for next year and give your views.  This will be followed by Cameron's usual high quality firework display then pie and peas in the clubhouse.

Good news - all this rain means that we now have enough water to start sailing again from this weekend.  Hope people can make it.

Anne

The water had risen further but we feared this week's forecast good weather might cause it to drop back.  I will visit on Sunday and if it's still above the bottom of the slipway, we could start back the following week if there are enough people around.  (Unfortunately I cannot be there for the next 3 weeks.)

The tide is starting to come in but unfortunately not quite enough yet.  I took the above picture on Saturday afternoon.  Hopefully this week's rain will help a bit more.

In other news, a happy 65th birthday to Alan for Sunday.