NSC 2011Feb Bulletin.pdf - Northbridge Sailing Club

LASER Report Feb 2011.
I am encouraged to write this report not only
because of the number of things and events that
have been relevant to our ever strengthening
class at NSC, but also if I don’t, the ever reliable
Tony Stephens will step in. The only problem
with Tony writing the report is that he tends to
concentrate on idiosyncrasies of yours truly.
As I proceed to write on Sat 5th February I am
seriously strapped from right shoulder to forearm,
right knee, and both buttocks. I am walking uphill
and backwards downhill without discomfort,
but Laser sailing is out for me for a few weeks.
Injuries always come at a bad time but I have had
to withdraw from the Laser Masters Nationals at
Port Stephens, a four day event from Friday 11th
Feb, and also from last weeks 2 day coaching
week end at Middle Harbour Amateur Sailing
Club (MHASC).
Tim Alexander, Ian Clare, Simon Bellamy and
Stephen McCulloch benefited from the training
sessions at MHASC. I saw Tim at the club, on
the Sunday evening and he was hopeful there
would not be too many more demands on his
body when he went home that evening.
Also travelling to Port Stephens for the Nationals
will be Laser sailors Ian McGregor, Ian Clare, Tim
Alexander and John Smidmore. I shall be going
along as an observer and have been co opted
by the organisers to assist with course laying
etc. Of interest is that Ian McGregor and I will be
sailing Ian’s yacht “Giselle” from Middle Harbour
to Port Stephens and the yacht will be our
accommodation base whilst we are there. We
will be anchoring in Fame Cove which is a short
Zodiac ride from the starting line.
And what else has been happening. We are
getting consistent turnouts in excess of ten lasers
racing each week. This is providing a good level
of competition for most of us and we all have
someone in our sights to consistently beat. Sadly
that joy appears to be reserved for only a few.
However I shall not forget who I beat both across
the line and on elapsed time in my last two races.
A special welcome to Nikki O’Shea who has
come back to afternoon laser sailing at NSC,
with her son sailing in the morning. Nikki has
demonstrated that she has not forgotten the
skills she learnt as a junior member here and
from her subsequent years at the Squadron.
Nikki is providing encouragement to our other
Lady Laser sailors, and is proving a match for
Sandy. A little bit of gossip here in that Nikki
and I both moved to Northbridge in 1980 and
were next door neighbours for many years. One
essential difference here is that Nikki was about 3
years old and Lorraine and I had been married for
6 years at the time we became neighbours. I am
Northbridge Sailing Club - www.nsc.asn.au
February 2011 p10