SID Newsletter

SID AGM

This years AGM will be held in the National Yacht Club on Thursday 5’th of April at 8.00 pm. We would encourage everybody to come along. The agenda for the meeting will include

- Accounts

- Appointment Of Auditors

- Nomination and Election of New Members of the Committee

- Last Year’s Activities

- Organization of The Ruffian Sailing

- Entry of Dinghies and Ruffian into various racing/regattas during Summer.

Fee Increase

This year we have increased the membership fee from ₤100 to ₤130 for new members and from ₤140 to ₤160 for existing members. This will allow us to purchase one new 420, which we badly need. We are selling two of the older boats so if anybody knows somebody trying to buy a boat then please let a committee member know. We are also considering buying a larger dinghy for our taller members. If anybody knows of a boat (open to suggestion for type of boat) for sale the let us know.

Late Entry Fee

Last season we had to delay the start of sailing due to the slow return of membership forms. We need to get the membership application forma back in as early as possible so that we can organise the various sailing sessions. In order to encourage people to return the forms ASAP we have introduced a late entry fee. Anybody who has not paid his of her membership fee before 1’st May will have to pay a late entry fee of ₤20. If for some reason you cannot send it back by the 1’st May but still wish to rejoin then please contact a member of the committee.

New Members

We need to increase the membership of SIDthis year to make the club more viable. If we can get another 15 members we could afford to buy a new boat. Most of SID’s members hear about us by word of mouth from existing/past members. I would encourage everybody to spread the word about SID to their family and friends. If every member could get one new member then that would be an additional 65 members and you can imagine how we could improve things with that sort of increase.

Frostbite Success

16 people from SID are taking part in the frostbites this year, the most ever. We have five boats registered and they have all been racing regularly. The beginning of the series saw some races being cancelled due to stormy weather. Sunday 10’th December was a memorable day. The race had to be abandoned when the wind rose very suddenly. Two of the SID boats made it home on their own and the others had to be rescued, so well done to Nigel and John and to Mark and Davnat for getting home under their own steam (wind?).

This winter we had a SID first (as far as I am aware). Aodh and Alan won a frostbite mug in the slow PY fleet category. Congratulations to both of them. It was a pity about Aodh’s protest and disqualification the week before!!!

Summer Racing

Summer racing is organized by the DBSC and is held on Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons. With the level of interest and commitment of the frostbite sailors over the winter we are expecting increased interest in DBSC racing and the various regattas over the summer. More information at the AGM

Coal Harbour Update

No news regarding the Coal Harbour to report. The marina development committee is due to take over management of the Coal Harbour in March/April so we may well have to wait and see what happens. See Irish Times article of 25/11/00 “Dublin’s port in a storm”. One of the suggestions in the article “No extra charges for small boat owners without consent”

Frostbite Thrills and Spills: By Damien Byrne (Dec 2000)

My first frostbite experience of this season was Sunday(11/12/00) when I was asked to crew on a fireball. When we arrived in the Coal Harbour is was wet, miserable and windy, but some boats were already sailing in the outer harbour and the others were busy getting ready. The race was postponed for 30 minutes and when we took to the water we had clear blue skies and nice wind.

When the race started the first couple of laps went well and we were flying spinnaker and trapeezing. On the third lap a few boats were spotted capsized, and at the windward mark we capsized for no obvious reason. After righting the boat we continued to the gybe mark and back to the committee boat. That at this stage was flying the abandonment flag and waving at boats to return to shore. We started back and wondered if we should return to the nearest club (the National) or try to make it back to the Coal Harbour. We decided it was not too bad and headed for the Coal Harbour.

With the new marina breakwaters ‘Hells Gates’ has a new long passageway leading up to the gateway. During the beat up to Hells Gates between the 2 breakwaters we capsized a few times and when righting the boat had time to spot a large number of boats capsized with some abandoned in the harbour. We ended up joining another boat blown on the West Pier and unable to move off it. The returning committee boat eventually pulled us off the wall and into the Coal Harbour. At the slip there was a fireball with a broken mast and crews that were rescued and returned to shore without their boats. As so many boats had capsized, the rescue crews had ordered everybody to abandon their boast and were concentrating on getting everyone back to the shore.

The clubs also launched extra rescue boats and the Lifeboat was also called to the scene. At one stage one crew counted 17 upturned and abandoned boats while they were waiting for rescue themselves. At the end of the day all people were accounted for ashore an all boats were finally returned (with some damages).

Lessons re-emphasized or learned: In bad or deteriorating weather conditions head for the nearest shore. Save life over property: get everyone ashore first and worry about the boats afterwards. The wind can get a lot stronger even if the sky stays blue! Hells Gates s now a lot longer which makes for a more difficult sail in and out of the Coal Harbour (and will be narrower in the Summer when the pontoons arrive).

Doheny and Nesbits

Don’t forget that Glenans members and friends meet upstairs in Doheny and Nesbits on the last Wednesday of every month. It’s always a great night, many SIDers attend, it’s a great way to keep in contact with your sailing buddies, make new friends and have a drink.

Ruffian

Last Summer during a pleasant afternoons sailing on the Ruffian a plan was dreamt up to sail around Ireland ion the Ruffian. This has been discussed in some detail over many pints and while an around Ireland trip might be slightly adventurous, a revised plan may be to sail as far as Waterford or Cork wirth people sailing legs of the trip, i.e. Dun Laoire-Arklow etc. It is not envisaged that people would stay on the boat but stay in B&Bs or camp. Eckhard Dick, Joachim Pietsch and Stephen Tiernan are the brave/daft/daydreamers who are contemplating this trip so if you’re even vaguely interested give one of them a bell and offer your support and encouragement and book your place. Other alternatives include: Would it be worth taking a berth in the marina (how much are people willing to pay?) Charter some boats from Sail Ireland in Kinsale and sail around West Cork for a few days.

SID Membership Survey

The committee would appreciate if you took some time to fill out our survey form on the back of the membership form. It’s you opportunity to let the committee know what you thought of last season. We will use this information when planning this season. We are open to all suggestions that would improve the club.

SID May Bank Holiday Weekend in Collanmore

Historically SID started the sailing season with a trip to Collanmore on the May Bank Holiday weekend. It’s a good way to get back into the sailing routine and practice a few capsizes!! And catch up with sailing friends. So contact the Glenans Office to book your place now

SID News and Contacts

If you have any news or notices that you would like included on the SID web page, email sidclub@eircom.net