May 25th 2023

May 25th Updates

General Updates:

There is a work party this Saturday 27th May, 9.30 start and brunch served afterwards; please remember that members must do two work parties a year.

We have a crane coming on Friday 26th May in the morning so the yard will be closed and chained on Thursday evening. Any cars in the yard will be locked in and risk being lifted by the crane, placed on a barge and floated off down river!

Cruisers:

Members wishing to crew on yachts, please see the list published in TNA or speak to skippers.

Mayor’s Trophy - summer series race 1 - Sunday, 21st May. Thank you to the Race Officer for a very successful race. Results as follows:

1. Naiad
2. Lo Flyer (née Limbo Warrior)
3. Mesečina
4. Ahoy Keelboat
5. Talulah
6. Maybetu
7. Freedom II
8. Tabitha

The lapsed and corrected times can be found on the notice board in the club house.

Westerly Challenge Trophy (summer series 2) & Duke of York Trophy (open race) Sunday, 28th May, briefing: 0800; start 0930, trot boat service right after the briefing.

Dinghies:

After expert coaching from Tinu, completing a capsize drill with Sam and most recently winning the Mayor’s race with Ed, Maurice is now a GYC approved dinghy helm. Many congratulations, and thank you to Tinu, Sam and Ed.

Dinghy Race Results from Mayor’s Trophy on 21st May:

1. Maurice and Ed
2. Richard and Simon
3. Toby, Cristian and Dan (club Stratos)
4. Daniel and John

Thank you to Nick as RO, and Paul, Chalky, Debbie and Jon on safety duties. We held a useful debrief after the race results were announced – and going forwards trying to ensure we continue to do so.

Next events, along with briefing times:

• 4th June, 12:00 noon - Courage Shield (a link will be sent out via the dinghy whatsapp group soon)
• 18th June 12:30 – RNSA
• 1st July 10:00 - Commodore Jubilee Trophy

The last two of Steve's safety boat refresher courses will be on Saturday 27th May at 10 am and at 2 pm. Let Toby know if you’d like to be included.

Request for volunteer: could someone please volunteer to take video footage of Steve’s courses this Saturday? Let Toby know if you have any questions or can help.

The dinghy section welcomes you to join us regardless of your sailing ability!

Rowing:

The row on the 14th May was a beautiful trip to Margaret Ness - two full boats, Cito coxed by Jack and Jubilee Gal coxed by Timandra. Our Rowing Admiral Peter told us a story that if we put mackerel in the Thames the seals will come and play! I handed small tins of mackerel to the crew before they left, at Margaret Ness the rowers were very excited to try this experiment. After all the mackerel tins were emptied into the Thames - they got seal action! It worked, super happy rowers returned to the club wanting mackerel on their boats on all their trips!

We have space for 2 rowers on this Sunday's row, who wants to come and row with the happiest bunch of people in the club? Email me and be part of an epic trip that will be part of GYC History!

The next dates for the diary are as follows :

• Sunday 28th May – Row to Erith Yacht Club - Paul, Timandra & Jack are the Senior Coxes and they will have trainee coxes with them. This will be a 3 boat trip.
• Sunday 4th June - Row to Westminster Boating Centre
• Saturday 10th June - Paul, our cox trainer, has agreed to do another Cox training / refresher / practice session.
• Sunday 18th June - Row to Isle of Dogs
• Sunday 2nd July - Olympic Park
• Tuesday's 5, 12, 19 and 26 September @7pm till 8pm- Cox theory will be taught by Peter

If you are interested in any of the dates above or having a go at rowing please email.

Training:

New RYA Powerboat Level 1 course for youngsters - 31st May The course is for young people aged between 12 and 16 years.

Time: 0900-1630 Instructors: Steve and Paul No of Places: Six (3 taken) Cost: £40

RYA VHF SRC course - 4th June Time: 0900-1730 Instructor: Tony No of places: 10 (5 taken) Cost: £90 Members, £110 Non-Members (Book included) Plus an extra £70 to the RYA for the examiner and certificate. Intensive course so homework advisable!

‘Taster’ sail - 17th June Time: 1300-1630/1700 No of places: 10 (7 taken) Cost: £30

Social:

Midsummer Madness, En Plein Air Sunday Painters Session – 12noon, 18th June in the Yard: For Member artists, to air drawing and painting skills but also invite artist colleagues from classes, clubs and societies that you belong to

Jazz and Jam Session - 8pm, Thursday 21st September, Clubhouse featuring a highly acclaimed pianist and group of professional rock session musicians but mainly volunteer musicians from within the club

Open House - 9th / 10th September GYC will be again be participating in the Open House scheme of Architectural Icons of which the the clubhouse is one. It also gives the club chance to showcase the diverse boating activities but also display members' creative and cultural prowess.

Olympic Sports Day - Time and Date to be Arranged, A series of events in the Yard (e.g. trolley , obstacle, roller blade and cycle circuit race with grandstand views from the landside balconies and a pit-stop outside the tea room – however, volunteers would be essential to champion activities and organise and rally participants...

Volunteering:

GMV Summer Fete organiser - the housing complex are organising a Summer Fete for July 15th - and it is proposed that GYC has a stall there, and possibly wheels up a dinghy to show off! We need a volunteer to help organise the GYC end of things.

Website Procurement - we intend to replace the club website but need some help to oversee the procurement process. The volunteer should have relevant professional experience.

LED Lighting Wrangler - this is a one off piece of work to help identify best lighting strategy for the workshop to replace the sodium lights with LED's. Some work has been done, but we need someone (with appropriate pre-existing skills) to get into the detail, talk to the various stakeholders in the club, research products and agree procurement strategy with Michael, Norman and the Commodore. There is a window of opportunity as the shed will shortly be vacated by Njord.

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