Published by the Open Canoe Sailing Group

Winter Meet Back At Lakeside (MalcolmC)

The winter meet returned to YMCA Lakeside for the first time since 2003. Fortunately the good weather that has blessed us over the last few years followed us and we had sunny weather both days. Many people ventured out onto the water and one intrepid member even did some capsize practise!

Saturday morning started with a

Watchers on the beach on Saturday.

Sailing in light winds on Saturday.

welcome from our chairman, JeffB. There was then a discussion on the use and merits of outriggers. It was even considered whether they should be made compulsory for certain trips such as the coastal ones. The general feeling seemed to be that this could not be enforced and this in turn led to a discussion on the role of the trip leader in this matter. It seems that the outcome of the session was that outriggers are strongly recommended for coastal and large lake sailing.

In the afternoon SteveR led a discussion on sailing onto, and off, a lee shore. This was done in two

groups with reporting back at the end. With so many people's experiences and ideas I am sure everyone learned something useful.

Over 20 members enjoyed a very tasty 3-course dinner provided by the catering staff at Lakeside. The main course was roast beef and Yorkshire pudding or a vegetarian lasagne. The whole event was extremely convivial. After dinner various trophies were presented to their winners. The evening concluded with slide shows of two of last year's sailing trips. The west coast of Scotland cruise last May, and a day sail across Morecambe Bay in June.

Enjoying the dinner on Saturday night.

On Sunday there were two discussion sessions. One about the group website and the other about next year's meets calendar. There was also more sailing as the weather remained sunny (but cold!).

Trophy presentations at the Winter Meet
After the annual dinner, the Commodore presented all trophies won throughout the year. The Bernard O'Connor trophy is awarded for the best account of a canoe sailing exploit in the year (you don't actually have to submit anything for consideration). It was decided that FrankD's blog of the Windermere trip was a worthy winner for a number of reasons. Not only is it a vivid and

A good turnout and more wind on Sunday.

immediate account, it is more accessible to a larger numbers of people than most of the other offerings that were considered, and so does more to introduce people outside the Group to canoe sailing.

The Open Canoe Association Trophy was awarded to DavidM in absentia. This trophy is awarded to

Group members who make an outstanding contribution to promoting canoe sailing. This is in recognition of the efforts he has put into editing past Gossips for posting on the Internet.

The Iceberg Trophy was awarded to GavinM. He was the intrepid member who practised capsize drill on Saturday!!

DaveS receives one of his 4 trophies.

GavinM receives the Iceberg Trophy.

Roadford Micro Meet 2008 (WarinK)

Suffering withdrawal symptoms at the end of a wet summer, I decided to see if I could muster a gathering of local members at Roadford. The first date selected at the end of August was aborted on the day, as the weather forecast was not good. In September I was busy with the organisation of a Championship event for Trials Formula Cars (the Bala weekend). Some competitors came from Cumbria, and even one from Edinburgh.

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