Category Archives: activity

Phase 3 Update

Good evening,

Following last Thursday’s announcement to move to phase 3, the committee have been working hard to complete our risk assessments and determine what measures need to be in place for us to be able to return to Club organised events and activities safely. This is now complete and a copy of the Club’s latest guidance, effective from tomorrow, is attached.

Please do take the time to read through the information, as you would expect we are not back to the way things were just yet. Access to the club buildings remains restricted and please do make sure that you wash/sanitise your hands before and after touching communal surfaces. Hardest of all, when another club member needs some help please stop for a moment to work out the best way to assist whilst keeping each other safe. Pulling a boat up the slipway together side by side for even a couple of minutes is likely to be a flag as far as contact tracing is concerned. However, with a bit of thought we can work as a team and still stay safe.

We are pleased to advise that Club racing will begin from this weekend and a revised program will be sent out soon. The planned windward-leeward series will run over the next four Sundays and a summer series will take place on Tuesday evenings. We have decided not to trial the Saturday race series as the radio sailors will be meeting every Saturday over the next few weeks, so please be aware of that if you plan to sail at the Club on a Saturday.

We also plan to run fun days for the younger members on Mon 27th and Tue 28th July. If your family would like to take part or assist please let me know.

Finally, if you still have a boat stored at the tattie shed, these should be collected before the end of July. (Email: forfar.sailing@gmail.com or phone Tony Walker to arrange access.) We are very grateful to Fraser for allowing us to store them longer than usual and rely on his goodwill each year.

A reminder also that membership renewals can be done online with payment by BACS.

Membership form

We will continue to monitor the advice from the Scottish Government and RYA Scotland and will advise you of any changes to the arrangements over the coming weeks. If you have any comments or suggestions for improvement at the club relating to covid-19 arrangements please get in touch with me or Tony.

I look forward to seeing you on the water.

All the best,
Helen Brown
FSC Commodore

Bosun’s report

Mirror (boat) seen on right side of a mirror deck between the sails on the Forfar loch
More photo’s are in our mailshot. Here are the 2 boats seen on the Loch.
See the photo’s and mailshot here

Last Saturday saw a return to sailing on Forfar loch, by Tony Walker and myself in a safe and socially distant manner. The conditions were almost ideal, it being both sunny and adequately windy. With the southerly wind blowing directly on to the pontoons it did necessitate a beach launch from the north side of the inch. The two that boats ventured out were my own Mirror and the newest addition to the club’s fleet, a Mirror called Snout.

Snout was donated to the club by Irene Bruce, a former member of the RTYC. We were a bit sceptical about the boat as when Mirrors are given away it’s usually for a good reason. However, this one turned out to be in excellent condition. The boat had been built by Irene’s father, and as she had now retired from sailing, she didn’t want to see the boat rot away in her garage. Snout is currently getting a few improvements, mostly to the running rigging, and will be available to all club members. Perhaps there may be some challenges for the Mirror Trophy.

(Conor Hyland)

From the commodore

I hope that you are well. I am sure that like me, you were all eager to hear what, if any, changes would be announced at the end of last week. Unfortunately, whilst England are taking the first steps in lifting restrictions, here in Scotland there has been no change.

As we wait for further announcements, we are continuing to monitor government advice and guidance from RYA Scotland. We are putting together a plan to restart sailing activity in a considerate and conservative way so that we are ready to return to sailing when it is permitted. Our primary consideration will be the health and safety of our members.

Meanwhile, we continue to do what we can and a number of you have been joining in with our virtual racing series. This has proved to be a pleasant distraction once a week, although I suspect that this lockdown will have to continue for some while yet before I consider that I have got the hang of it! Fortunately, some of our members have taken to it rather well and the radio sailors have demonstrated their skills very ably. My thanks to Erwin and Becci Oosterhoorn for setting up and running the sessions each week and also to Tony Walker, who has graciously kept me from finishing last! Plans to host an online quiz are also progressing and we hope to run that soon.

As you will understand, maintenance work at the Clubhouse has been unable to progress over recent weeks. However, with the dry weather that we have had over the last couple of months, the loch is at a very low level and it is an ideal time to carry out some necessary repairs to the pontoons. We have therefore ordered the required materials and plan to carry this work out in a few weeks’ time.

As the restrictions continue, we are all missing our usual activities and look forward to a return to sailing in some form in the near future. Meanwhile, we would love to hear your lockdown news, boat-related or otherwise, or any suggestions for online activities or training.

Stay safe and I hope to be able to see you soon.

Helen Brown
FSC Commodore

AUSC event cancelled

Dear members,

Just to inform you that AUSC has made the difficult decision to cancel/postpone their event next weekend due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Thank you to everyone involved in the preparation and all your offers of help, soup and bakes for the event.

AUSC Commodore, James Chapman, wanted to pass on his thanks from their whole club and the would-be-competitors, for our efforts in preparing to help us host the national championships, everyone was looking forward to the cooking that is remembered very well from the previous event.

Meanwhile, the Committee will continue to monitor the latest government advice and will let you know any further changes or plans relating to club events over the coming weeks due to the coronavirus.
All the best,
Helen
FSC Commodore

Race report

Tuesday twilight

Last Tuesday we had a Topper, Solo, Firefly and a Laser on the water. Conor arrived a bit later and decided to ‘just have a sail’. We started on a course E, D, C, F and A where F was to port, all other to starboard. Tony Cook was going well and passing Nick until he had a problem with the main sheet. He manoeuvred into the reeds to re-thread the sheet and found that he had got himself stuck. A bit of arm rowing got him free to pursue the rest of the fleet. Just at the sound of the clock, he managed to get past Erwin before E while Dave was still in front of Nick going between D and C. Not a lot of distance between the 4 boats, and a quick tidy up before the rain started to sputter.

Remember, racing is starting at 6:30. If you want to take part, be ready to launch at 6:25.

First of the Twilight series

Wind direction: NE, force 1-2
Boats on the water: 2 Solos, 1 Laser, 1 Streaker, 1 Mirror and a Topper

With hardly any wind the start was slow, Conor was away first in the mirror, Erwin followed in a topper. A few minutes later, when they were still on their way to Z, the solos followed (slowly), streaker and last the laser. Slowly floating towards Z, rounding this and on the way to D, Conor and Erwin almost managed to round D before any other boat overtook them. Conor got lost in the weeds towards the shore, and Erwin had to let Nick, both Tony C and W pass him, not long after followed by Bill. Conor tried the path over the island as he was moving and didn’t want to stop, all boats going towards Z again got as far as past the clubhouse except for Erwin and Conor. In the 50 minutes, no-one made it past Z again (as far as I could see from my position). Hoping for more wind next time, we went on shore and were caught by the rain that managed to drench all of us.
Following races will start at 18:30 due to the darker evenings.

(edited to update Conor’s name, had Collin. Apologies)