Happy Christmas!

Elf & Safety warning to Santa: don't try this on the Welsh Harp!

Season's Greetings
& Merry Christmas
to all our members and friends

And a Happy New Year in 2010
on and off the water!

White but not yet Christmas

Just back from our usual warm and friendly pre-Xmas bash,  mulled wine (thanks to our Commodore), mince pies and tasty savouries (thanks to various members)  and the usual carol singing with gusto (thanks to Fred, Ray & John). 

A somewhat speedier evening than usual, "when the snow lay all around"was literally true, as a 2 inch fall swirled around us and it was early home or it might have been  stay all night and drain the bar!

Sailing looks fine for Saturday though, a pleasant Force 3 with a touch of 4.  Metcheck says -1C, feels like -13.  Yikes, dry suits and woolly undies to the fore.  Check it out!

(c) Snowman Art

Summer Days

Brrrr it's bfreezing today, 16 deg C in my office, so for a warming mid afternoon diversion a few pixs from a fine summer's afternoon this July.  It's about time I blogged something about sailing for a change.

Peter, Ben and crews battle it out.  Has Ben got the new fuller kite?

Erm, not one of ours I'm afraid.  Still, great shot of the Welsh Harp at its best!

"I got me foot stuck tacking, honest..."

Why we come here: a classic GP, a sunny Saturday, good company, a pint in the bar...

December 09 Committee

Highlights from our meeting on 7th December.  At each meeting we concentrate on a small number of key items, including any member comments, then work through each committee member's activities not covered earlier.

Main theme for the evening was planning and organising for 2010.

Key Items

• Laying up supper: A great evening all round.  Congrats all round to Penny and Jim.  Fresh look at trophies for next year, to reflect racing activities and so members know what they're competing for, involving youth members more.  'Thank you volunteers' session welcome
• Weed: a strategy of 'cutting and scooping' is emerging, to be decided on at next WHSA Exec meeting.  Treatment due to start late Feb.  Who will operate cutting and at what cost needs to be determined. Substantial fundraising needed, it won't be cheap.
  
• Power/Safety boat: First refresher course successful and found useful .  Next time look at separating theory from practice so more time on rescue practice.  New RYA method of getting people out of the water noted.  Start planning for 2010 courses
• Members Points: Committee Minutes (Ray) – decided not to mail to all members, but make available online and DR to do bullet summary for members 

2010 - background

David  & Philippa had attended the RYA regional clubs and coaches conference.  Notes have lots of useful info for club development.  The RYA sees the next 3 years seen as a once in a lifetime opportunity for sailing clubs with the Olympics in 2012 and Sport England funding for adult sailing development to 2013.  Seahorse is one of 25 clubs in Thames Valley region receiving RYA development support, starting with the weekend's race coaching.

SSC in 2010 - brief summary

• Offshore: full programme of 8-9 monthly events, inc some long weekend trips and Round the Island race - 2 boats maybe a third
• Sailing: race coaching and intermediates main focus, look at fleets and incentives
• Training: programme inc courses based on ‘pathway’ prepared for RYA support
• Membership: clarify part year fees, further tweak welcome pack, involve newer members more as volunteers
• Social: interest/briefing evenings for Jan Mar - offshore, tall ships, shanties, training etc, Penny willing to take on club clothingfor 2010
  
• Bar: continue with 'non-rotas' for Sat pm
• Bosun: youth boat refurb programme under way with Toppers and Mirrors, start to look at longer term fleet replacement plan
• Administrator: Kitchen, electrics, fire risk, asbestos, interior décor, outside. frontage: Lots to do, plan to get more members involved
• Treasurer: funds OK, can consider 1-2 boat replacements for 2010(depending on weed funding)
  
• WHSA: contribute to Welsh Harp 175th anniversary in 2010,clarify new method proposed for calculating per capita charges
  
• AGM 11 March: agree to announce and invite interest earlier, in Jan 

Next Meeting: 11 Jan 2010

About the Committee

We're often asked what the club committee does, and how it works.

In simple terms the committee manages the clubs activities, plans for the future and governs the club according to the Rules and Byelaws.  We're all volunteers, and enlist other members to help with the many tasks involved in running a successful club.  The Officers and elected for a two year period at the Annual General Meeting, usually in early March,  with half the posts up for election in alternate years.  We also co-opt members and form sub-committees when the occasion demands and contribute to Harp-wide leadership activities, such as Harp Young Sailors and the Welsh Harp Sailing Association, our 'umbrella' body. 

Who's who?
Officers
Commodore                    David Rose
Vice-Commodore             Richard Lord 
Treasure                         Tony Barton
Secretary                        Laurence Bard

Committee Members 
Sailing Captain                Jim Dimond
Training Captain              Philippa Parks
Youth Sailing Officer        Bryan Lynch 
Offshore sailing               Chris Nash (co-opted) 
Bosun                             Harvey Rose 
Membership Secretary     Jean Newson
Social Secretary              Penny Abbott
Bar Chairman                  Kevin Newson
Publicity Officer              Becky Beaumont 
Club Administrator          Gary Tucker


Also playing a vital role in the club

Hon President                 Fred Coggins (& boat/building fixer!)
Race Committee             Peter Kay and Ben Kaplan 
Racing results & duties    Peter Kay  (and email communications) 
Powerboats                     Brian Stow
Bar Committee                Alan Janering and Ian Conway 
Catering and Cuisine       Athina Kapraras


 

 

Hold tight, it's the Seahorse blog!

OK, it had to happen - a blog from Seahorse Sailing Club on the Welsh Harp in north west London.

My aim is help keep everyone in touch between newsletters, members and everyone who is interested in the club, and provide a taste of what we get up - when inspiration strikes!


We are, people tell us, 'friendly and welcoming, serious about sailing' with an appealing programme of racing, training, offshore yachting, youth sailing and a happy social scene for all ages.  It helps to have a sense of humour and not to mind the odd spot of wind and wetness as well of course as sunshine and blue skies on the Neasden Riviera!

Monte Carlo - who needs it?