In this issue

 Stunning start

What a start of the season we've had!

During the last work party, everyone was looking longingly at the sea, so inviting with perfect flat water, sunshine and a light breeze. But it was all work and no play that day. So, on Sunday 29th March, we all arrived full of enthusiasm, only to see the light northerly breeze peter out to nothing. Glassy water all around felt like a bit of a let-down until the wind shifted radically and came back to a reassuring SW force 2.

With 16 boats entered in the two back-to-back races, plus a few more just having fun, it was a very busy first day back for Race Officer Dave Carter. He managed the races in his inimitable style and all the results are published on this website.
In the slow fleet, the very first win of the season went to Katie Hedgecock on her Topper with the second race being dominated by Steve Lynch in his Laser. After the next two races, David Trout shows he's back on winning form as he holds a narrow lead over Chris Foster.

In the fast fleet, Steve's son Paul scored two first places on the first day. Together with supercrew Jo, it looks as though they're going to play a repeat of last year. However, after the 3rd and 4th races, Mark Jackson's consistency seems to pay off as he is leading the board for the moment. With 6 more races to go, nothing's gained yet!

Update after Easter weekend: In the fast fleet, Paul and Jo swiftly took over and pushed Mark into second place, with Gary Austin very closely in third place. In the Slow fleet, David is leading Jimmy and Jessica, with Steve Lynch coming close third. Latest results before the last 2 races are in the Results page.

Beyond the results and the competition, the most thrilling thing to remember from this weekend was the sheer number of boats on the water. When we usually struggle to line up two Toppers in the race, we had 11 on Monday, ready to battle! The Lasers also turned up in numbers and, with 5 boats, the fast fleet looked a bit thin from a distance. As soon as the water gets warmer, I'm sure they'll get fresh troops coming in!

 Lancing SC bike ride: we made it!

The weather forecast wasn't lying... It was wet and, in some places, very wet for the annual Lancing SC bike ride. It had been raining on and off all night so it was a very pleasant surprise to see 22 optimistic cyclists (and a dog) turning up on Bramber Castle car park in the morning.

We set off in a gentle drizzle and soon got used to the rain. After all, it's only water and it's not even salty! The two smaller people, Maëlle and Bobby the dog, didn't miss any of the splashes. Bobby soldiered on and made it there and back - 25 miles on paws, quite a feat - but Maële was caked from head to foot, poor baby... Fortunately, a knight in shining armour came to pick her up in Southwater to take her to a well-deserved shower, thank you Jerry!

At lunchtime, we spent quite some time watching the rain pattering on the lake before getting on the saddle again. With hardly any wind, the ride was excellent. After all, most of us were well equipped. The group spread out quite a bit on the way back, as riders wanted to cycle at their own rhythm. We all arrived back in Bramber Castle car park around 3pm and we all decided to get together again in the summer, in the sunshine. Not a bad idea, I think...

 Pie and Mash

On Saturday 25th April, John and Sue Taylor as well as David and Ann Trout welcome us to the first social event of the season. It's a Pie and Mash evening and, for £7.50, we're getting all the good food and good company we're always have.

See Sue Taylor at the club for places or ring Sue and John on 01903 209598 or Anne and David Trout on 01273 441704.

 Leagues tables, LSC style

Every year, Nick Muggridge spends a lot of time and effort to produce monthly updates for the Topper League. Regardless of the series, a Topper helm gains points every time they take part in a race. Places in the league are hotly disputed and many sailors have started their sailing career by winning the Topper Novice Trophy or the Topper League.
The first results of the Topper League are summarised below, with Topper Novice Trophy hopefuls in blue:

This year, it's not just the Toppers that will battle for League points. Nick and David Trout have put together the Laser League, working on the same principles. There is no Laser Novice Trophy so all sailors appear in red. More details in the Results 2009 page.

Both leagues are regularly updated in the Results page, with a breakdown of points for each helm. Good luck to all of you!

 New - new - new

Lots of new features have appeared or will appear in the club this year.

To start with, if you've been inside the clubhouse recently, you can't have missed the new layout of the cupboard under the stairs. Tony White spent two full days moving the doors and building a new frame. He did such a great job that the cupboard looks as though it's been here all along! Loads of thanks to Tony!

In the south rescue boat hut, you must have seen a glint of something very new and very shiny. On 28th March, Jerry Hone went up to Welsh Harp to pick up his pet project, a new RIB trolley he designed himself. Early usage seem to show it's a much better design for our beach and that the hours of pondering, measuring and calculating weren't wasted! Loads of thanks to Jerry!

Following an application put forward to the West Sussex Youth Opportunity Fund, there will be soon a brand new RS Feva in the compound. This is a training boat and will be used for training sessions. With a strong youth fleet this year and an enthusiastic training officer, this RS Feva will probably be out quite often. Loads of thanks to Georgi Ridler, Richard and Sam Savidge and Matt Hassler who made it possible!

 Hello goodbye

Two special hellos this month in Lancing Sailing Club. Lawrence and Sarah Ringshaw (social secretary) are very proud parents to two lovely baby twins, Bea and Billy, born in early February. give them a couple of years and we'll get them on that Feva, I'm sure!

Even if he's not a club member any longer, many of us remember Chris Mayo and everyone knows his mum and dad, Bruce and Jane Mayo.
Chris is now the happy daddy to a lovely little baby boy, Oliver Harvey, born early March. Knowing the family's passion for boats, he'll soon be on the water too!

Finally, it's Au revoir to Ian and Nathalie Beale, who've decided to leave the South East of England for the South West of France. On 6th April, they're moving to a small town near Bordeaux, where's Nat's family lives and where's they have a house. With 3 spare rooms. And a big garden. Hmmmmmm, I can feel a Lancing Sailing Club outreach group going to explore the area next summer... Beware!