In this issue

 Work parties

Lancing Sailing Club was bustling on 1st and 15th of March, for our first two work parties. With more than 50 members turning up at some point during the two days, the TO DO list was shrinking fast.

It was the grandad of all spring cleanings when we attacked the annexe, the compounds, the weeds and even dead boats! With so many people helping and working so hard, I can't name them all. All I have to say is a great big THANK YOU to everyone, making all this progress possible.

As you might have seen on the dedicated thread on the forum, we have cleared the annexe of many exotic items, including 2 pairs of pants and a dead mouse. Now, we can see the floor and everything is tidy. Let's hope it stays that way!

Don't forget! The last work party for this year is on Saturday 21st March. If you haven't had a chance to come yet, now's the time to put th finishing touches!

 Out of the annexe

During the clearout of the annexe, we have found quite a few items with no obvious owner.

Download and view the list of items by clicking on this link.

Items in blue have already been indentified (as of 17th March). If you find something that belongs to you, please let us know by posting a message on the forum or by sending an email to webmaster@lancingsc.org.uk. Similarly, if you know the owners of that old windsurf board or the contents of the Beech Hut, please let us know. Many thanks!

 50th anniversary

50 years, would you believe it? For the last 50 years, people have been launching various floating devices, most equipped with a sail, from Lancing beach under the eye of Lancing sailing club.

According to some sources, the club was created on Good Friday 1959 (it was a 27th March that year) but the AGM records and Commodores board show 1960 as the first real year. Whatever it is, we're getting close and it's a brilliant excuse for a year-long celebration in 2010.

At first, it would be great to get ideas for celebratory events, both sailing and social. Memories of bygone days and old photographs would be more than welcome too. We'll see that sailing is a healthy pastime, with so many of first day members still active today.

We're all going to make 2010 very special, with plenty of events. If you have ideas, memories or if you're willing to help in any way, please let us know. I'm looking forward to it!

 Great news from the youth

Early in January this year, four Lancing youths, Georgi Ridler, Richard and Sam Savidge and Matt Hassler put together an application form to West Sussex Youth Opportunity Fund, to obtain training boats.

WSCC submitted the application to local youth groups that could be interested in sailing and two groups responded very positively. With the start of a new financial year coming soon, we might get allocated more funding and the club could be able to buy the three boats the youths have applied for.

Georgi, Richard, Sam and Matt have applied to obtain 3 RS Fevas, with all the bells and whistles. These Fevas are one of the RYA pathway boats and are used for training everywhere. With a choice of main only, main + jib and asymmetric spinnaker, the rotomoulded beachproof hull and go faster stripes, these Fevas sound like an ideal training boat for Lancing.

It's still early days yet, but we're looking forward to the positive impact these boats will have on the youth sailing first, and on the club in general. Great news!

 Going sailing again!

What a glorious last few days it's been! During the work party on 15th, we all watch with interest and a twinge of jealousy a fleet of dinghies leaving Shoreham for a race. well, on 29th March, it's going to be our turn!

With a new transit pole, tidy compounds, a clean annexe and renewed enthusiasm, I hope there's going to be plenty of sailors ignoring the chilly water to keep race officer Dave Carter very busy! Who knows, we might even get a glimpse of a new RIB trolley too...