Reading Sailing Club
> Pink Days |
Pink FleetPink days include informal training and fun sailing, to improve confidence and sailing skills. We start at 9.30am with breakfast cooked by our Pink Fleet chef, Paul, and aim to be on the water by 11am for games, races, or cruising. Pink Fleet captain: Monica Beer. Pink Day June 2010Wow, what a turn out....Delia, ably assisted by Elaine in her pink spotty 'pinny' - nice one Elaine - did 26 'scrummy' breakfasts and Ken ran a proper race for 17 boats. Ken did a briefing covering the basic rules, port starboard, windward boat keep clear etc with some nice drawings on the board.....was he an artist in a previous life..??..and showed us the flags, explained the timings and demonstrated the horn - it's really loud when you are in the clubhouse....Joan a prospective member went / was encouraged / asked, to go in the safety boat with Ken, while Brian was seconded to do the flags, horn from the shore......and so we were off...for some of the Pink Fleeters their first race ever - some of us only had only just learned to sail.... But with a lot of encouragement, most of us finished without too much trouble, capsizing apart!The results were as follows :- 3rd Izzy Todd, for sailing in her pink pyjamas, very cool Izzy! 2nd Thea Harland for sheer determination in the gusty winds, in her reefed Topper, well done Thea and 1st Chris Smith, winner of the Pink Fleet cup this month, who had only completed his RYA level 1 last Saturday, amazing Chris and 2 capsizes as well! Well done to everyone and many thanks to all the people who helped make it such a great day........oh, yes Monica was disqualified for wearing too much pink, but at least she stayed dry this time!!! Pink Day May 2010Wow, what a great day we had to day? Usual 1st class brekkie from Jamie & Delia - amazing how they can serve 30 + from such a small galley and with such style and panache!! thank you so much.Then we had 'The Duck Race' - well even if I didn't win, it was brilliant race!! - 15 boats on the water - and many congratulations to the Rachel, Matt and Sam for such a high score and winning the Pink Fleet Cup. and of course to Ken for coming up with such ingenious games....... Pink Day April 2010It was a sunny spring morning with light winds for the approximately 10 boats that managed to take to the water. After a fine breakfast cooked by Paul, with help from Barbara, the Pink Fleet decided on a cruising day to brush up their skills. As Ken was teaching a power boat course, they set off on a triangular course to the far end of the lake - hoping not to need assistance from the safety boat crew eager to practise their drill. A challenge had been set by Monica, for the younger sailors to switch over boats by Tektona.... unfortunately a sail too far as winds and drifting made it too difficult! Maybe success next time. As the Pink Fleet came in Steve and Dave launched the club’s new training boat, a red hulled Sport 14 for ‘lake trials’.
Pink Day Christmas Party 12th Dec 2009It was a picture postcard winter scene as we arrived for the Christmas
Pink Fleet fun, games and dinner. The blue sky and a low sunshine
and small amount of wind were just perfect for the games to begin.
Boats were decorated and those sailing dressed up in their most
fetching Christmas outfits. We had been told there would be prizes!
Father Christmas stepped into the rescue boat and the game started.
The teams, Stuffing, led by Monica and Giblets, led by Paula, sailed
to the anchored rescue boat to pick up a bag containing a mince
pie and a number. Jane, crewing with Chris & Carol, leaned over
to pick up the bag and missed …. "Drat, we'll have to
do that again", says skipper Chris," the wind was too
strong and we were too fast and missed - ready about", "ready",
shouted the crew, and round they went to try again. Giblet team
member, Jan, in her lazer, skilfully sailed closely past and leant
over as she scooped up the bag - yeeha, another one and a high number!
Chris turned the Sport 14 around - "get ready, Carol",
he called, "let the jib go and pick up that bag!" After
this the teams sailed round number 6 buoy, then back to the jetty
to throw the bag into the right bucket, ably hindered, oops, I mean,
helped, of course, by John and Dave. Paula swooped by to pick up
another bag - yahoo - we were sure to win! Then all too soon, one
last bag to pick up …. o no, Monica, skilfully sailed by and
scooped it up. Would Stuffing win, even though Giblets had picked
up high scores? We would have to wait for the results until after
dinner! Fantastic Fun at September 2009's Pink DayYou would not believe it! It was Pink Day at Reading Sailing Club on THE most beautiful day in early September. The sun was warm as we gathered: some were rigging their boats; some were chatting in the galley. Chef Paul had his work cut out cooking bacon and mushrooms for about 40 people. Barbara was busy filling bread sticks adding a slice or 2 of tomato to our bacon butties! Ken, meanwhile, had a wry smile on his face for 2 reasons: there were lots of people which meant 2 enormous teams of people; and the fun that was to be had by everyone. He called us together on the balcony; Jan and Carol eager to find out what was to happen. Monica and Steve were the team captains. Hands up those who had boats ….. 7 on each side, toppers, Lasers, Wayfarer, Sport 14's, etc, etc. With the teams chosen we swiftly moved on to hear what Ken had in store. We had 3 games, so we guessed that one of these would be the decider ……. Ha,ha! The first game was to pick up numbered red plastic balls and placed (or thrown) into their team's bucket. The shrill noise of the whistle came and off we went. With the wind was coming from the north east, and the balls placed opposite the clubhouse, we tacked criss crossing each other to and fro in picking up the balls. There were shouts of 'I've got 45 - yahoo!' and laughter as another yelled, 'I have 115!' We're going to win ……… yay, Steve's team won! Tension mounted as the captains were off sorting the team tactics for the next race - to get as many team members to the 'x' buoy and back again … in a Topper (one of them was reefed)! Steve split the team into pairs, with Carol & Paul off first. This was good, we thought …. Carol paddled for all she was worth while Paul sat and steered! To our utter amazement the other team had 4 people on their topper. Surely, someone would fall in. But, alas, they paddled fast and were soon back on dry land while Carol was puffing and panting still on their way back. O dear! There were quite a few mutterings I can tell you! Steve changed his tactics and put 3 people on the next run, but, alas Monica's team won, even though a few of Steve's team tried to drown the opposition pouring water over their heads and into the boat! A draw …. What can happen in the last game, I hear you ask? A course was set. All hands on deck and off we all went - 5-4-3-2-1 (isn't that a song?). One lap of the course and in true sailing style we were counted going over the finishing line. Well, what do you know? Ken's announcement was a draw - you would not believe it! Both Monica and Steve were to swim ashore in true Pink Day penance! Then, we heard that they had both nominated a team member …. Monica chose Oliver and Steve chose Peter. Brian, who had been motoring around watching over us in the rib, then sped them to the middle of the lake! Throwing their buoyancy aids back into the rib they dived/jumped in and swam to the pontoon. Great cheers of encouragement and a few minutes later, Peter waded ashore, the winner! Oliver came up soon after smiling from ear to ear to rapturous applause and cheers! What a superb Pink Day Thank you so much to one and all, and to Ken - hip, hip hooray! Carol Meunier |
