THIS CONCERNS YOU ALL – RACE PROGRAMME REVIEW

Whether you are a regular racer, an occasional racer or a not at all racer your views as a member are important to us. At the last AGM the committee agreed that there would be a review of the race format/programme after a period of operating the new three race and series formats introduced last year. This review was to be held before the end of the season and was to involve all interested parties. We would therefore like to invite you, as members, to give feedback of your views at a meeting to be held on the 2nd October, 2016, at the sailing club after normal racing. If you are unable to attend you can send your comments either in writing to John Hargreaves via the club registered address or, alternatively, you can give them verbally to any committee member. Such comments need to be received by the 10th October. The committee, at the next meeting, will consider the feedback and their own observations and make a decision on the format of the 2017 programme.

Tony Forster

As a founder member of the then British Steel Shotton Sailing Club in 1983 I took part in the first beginners sailing course, in an Optimist believe it or not (quite a feat for someone 6' 4" tall!) and then began to help with further courses. My first dinghy was an Enterprise and much sailing in this and coaching by our first RYA Principal, John Swift, resulted in me gaining the RYA Dinghy Instructor award in 1984. In 1985 I joined the committee and over the years moved through the roles of Club Captain, Vice Commodore and then Commodore a position in which I proudly served for about 25 years. During my tenure as Commodore I saw the club become Corus Colors Sailing Club and then starting around 2004 I helped to steer the club towards independence from the Steelworks Sports & Social Club, the formation of the company and charity Shotwick Lake Sailing and the purchase of the lake and buildings. Although I have frequently raced at the club my main interest has been in the development of the club and ,of course, in the training section. In the early years John Swift, Alan Sourbutts and myself managed to get the club recognised as an RYA Training Centre. Then, some years later, on passing my RYA Senior Instructor qualification I was appointed as the RYA Training Principal, a role which I still perform to this day. Over the years I have sailed Toppers, Mirrors, GP14s, Herons, Lasers, Wayfarers, Wanderers and many others and my seafaring has included sailing a Sailfish 18 and a Leisure 17SL which I still own. Over the years I have witnessed massive changes and developments at the club and have cared passionately about its success and future. I have been truly blessed to have been able to serve such a fantastic organisation and to have made so many friends along the way.