The Club will hold the 2021 RC Laser Nationals over the weekend of the 11/12th September.

Further details and entries to be made through the Laser Association https://www.rclaser.org.uk/

Out of respect to HRH Prince Philip all club sailing activity on the lake will cease with effect from 2.45pm.

13 DF 65 sailors attended for the first event for this years Saturday series, and were rewarded with a beautiful bright sunny crisp day.

First we marked the passing of the Duke of Edingburgh, who had been the MYA Patron for the last 65 years, by standing in silence.

Racing then got underway with a shortish 2 lap triangular course.  We sailed 2 races back to back with then a 5 minute break and 10 races were completed by 3.30 when we stopped. 

Sunday was the turn of the Lasers, with 9 boats out.  Again we were rewarded with a beautiful crisp sunny day, with a light breeze from the north east, which slowly morphed into a stiff sea breeze from the west. 10 races were completed by 3.00 when we called it a day. Scores attached.

In the comming week we have

13th Tues Afternoon    14.00      Mustangs

13th Tues Evening       18.00      DF95’s

14th Wed 14.00 Schooners

18.00 IOM’s

15th Thurs Afternoon    14.00      Social sailing any class

15th Thurs Evening       18.00     DF 65’s

Sat 16th                         10.30     6 Metres

Sun 17th                         10.30    6 Metres

So, something for almost everyone!!

The members of the Fleetwood Model Yacht & Power Boat Club are saddened to hear of the death of HRH Prince Philip and our heart felt sympathies are with Her Majesty and family at this sad time.

A Tribute from the Club President

Following today’s sad news, as soon as I heard, I raised the Union Flag to half mast on the Fleetwood club flagpole.

 I’ve taken a look back to when the Duke was invited to extend his Patronage to our sport and association.

In 1956, Victor F. Wade was the President of Fleetwood Club and Secretary of the Association.

The Duke was at the time a very active yacht racer competing in the Flying Fifteen and Dragon classes. Indeed his boats Cowslip (FF) and Bluebottle (D) regularly competed at Cowes week.

 Armed with this knowledge, Mr Wade wrote to Buckingham Palace asking if the Duke would consider extending his Patronage to the Association, and he kindly consented to do this.

In the 65 years that we have enjoyed his Patronage he has taken a keen interest in our Association and sport, helping us to celebrate our Centenary in 2011, by attending our IOM World Championship at West Kirby Sailing Club

Our Chairman, Peter Stollery and I represented the Association at his 90^th birthday celebration dinner at Trinity house, where we were again introduced and he had asked who had won the event and I was proud to tell him that Peter had!

When I was elected President of our association following the passing away of my predecessor Norman Hatfield, I carried on with his tradition of sending the Duke an annual report of the Association’s activities, and it was through one of these reports that I was able to send an advance invitation to him to attend our event. I would this year have been advising him of our A class centenary in 2023.

Over many years officers of our Association have been invited to attend the Royal Garden parties at Buckingham Palace through the Dukes involvement with us and it was back in 1995 that David Rose our Treasurer and I as Vice Chairman were selected to represent the MYA with our wives.  On a red-hot July afternoon, we stood in line as we had been selected to meet with HRH and answer his questions about our sport.  We were the end of the line of dignitaries and after he finally got to us and we had our chat we then were able to go to the refreshment tents for a very welcome cold lemonade!

His contribution to our sport will be sadly missed.

Derek Priestley

President MYA and Fleetwood Model Yacht & Power Boat Club

09 April 2021.

It’s great to be back sailing/racing again after such a long lockdown!

Over the Easter weekend we had racing for 5 classes.

All sailing at the club conforms to the latest guidelines.

Saturday,  we had a joint day for Lasers & Mustangs.  We had very little wind to start and what we had was mainly off the sea, but we managed a few alternate races with the different boats & we had fun swapping around from boat to boat. We did keep scores but it was impossible to determine winners as so many different people raced different boats & we ended up with all in one fleet, where the Lasers won in the lighter winds and the Mustangs won in the heaver wind later in the day.

Sunday, we had a race for IOM’s.  With a beautiful westerly wind of about 10knts to start & we had 12 boats of varying standards.  A long course was set using almost the full length of the lake, 2 laps for each race.  Course length estimated at 1000 mtrs.

From the beginning the “Britpops” of Rob Walsh & Dave Burke dominated the racing taking an early lead on the lake & scoreboard. John Taylor (Rubix) & Garry Benson (Britpop) were in the next group, followed by Ian Hawtin (Chienz) Eric Austwick (Alternative) Malcolm Clement (Elipsis) & Damian Ackroyd (Maiden)  then came Peter Isles (Gadget) and Walter Audley (Metric Magic)  Derek P, we won’t mention!    The days scores are attached.  Final mention goes to Chris Chatfield who at the end of last year changed his boat, and is now the proud owner of a Sedechi, the only one in the club. Unfortunately, as can be seen from the attached scores, Chris didn’t have the best of starts. As he was rigging the boat the winch line came off the drum & he spent the morning with his head & hands inside the boat trying to fix it! but he came out for the afternoon session all guns blazing & caused a bit of bother at the front of the fleet!

Monday, was the turn of the DF 65’s & 95’s.  we were pleased to welcome 2 new members to our group, Alan Smith & Andy Richies, both with 95’s.  The forecast was terrible and we were amazed to see so many keen sailors arrive. The wind was strong & gusty off the pumphouse corner.

Wednesday sees the start of the Schooner programme with a shakedown event before the competitive programme starts next week.

Entries to the two National Championships being staged later in the year have now closed both reaching their maximum level of 84.

Competitors wishing to be placed on the waiting list of entries should contact the Event Organiser as detailed in the Notice of Race

The entry listings can be accessed on the following links:-

IOM Nationals https://mya-uk.org.uk/events/#events/event-details/5ef4bcc59f27ed001539fd2b/

DF95 Nationals https://mya-uk.org.uk/events/#events/event-details/5f199fd4dd1e1a00172b39a0/

1. The Club priority in returning to sailing is the safety and well-being of its members. To this end the Club will adopt the guidance issued by the MYA as its platform to return to sailing. The guidance effective from the 29^th March can be reviewed on the following link: Steps for MYA Clubs Return to Sailing – Mar 2021 – Issued 21.03.21

2. Step I of the Roadmap is due to be introduced on the 29^th March. As an organised sport sailing can resume as suggested in the guidance document. To support the document, the club will have the following rules in place: –

a. Sailing can only be conducted as an outside activity. Access to the Clubhouse will remain closed to members until at least Step 3 of the Roadmap.

b. Access to the internal toilet will be available via the Boathouse entrance.

c. Members will be allowed access to their boats via the Boathouse entrance.

d. On organised sailing days the clubhouse front entrance will be opened by a designated key holder.  
    Key holders are members of the General Committee, Class Captains & Caretaker.

e. Key holders will be responsible for opening the back door to the Boathouse enabling access to boats and the toilets. The front door to the clubhouse will be shut and members are requested not to breach the guidelines by walking through the clubhouse.

f. At the close of racing members may wash their boats down using the hosepipe.

g. Members wishing to gain access to their boats outside of organised racing times must contact a designated keyholder who will arrange to meet and open the door.

h. The canteen will remain closed until at least Step 3.

i. At all timed members accessing the Boathouse area must maintain social distancing.

3. Step 2 of the Roadmap has no impact on our sailing activities. Steps 3 & 4 should enable a full return to clubhouse activities subject to Government review and therefore we will be reviewing what steps we need to take nearer the time.

4. Members are advised that it is their decision as to whether they wish to participate in sailing activities.

5. If any member feels that further restrictions or changes are required they are invited to contact the Club with their suggestions.