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Santa Irene Club de Vela Newsletter - 2nd December 2007
What A spectacular weekend – the 24th and 25th November. Waves 2m high crashing on the playa, breaking through the foundations of the new Garrucha harbour extension and white water everywhere. Sunday morning saw a few of us working on our boats and having coffee at our local near the Garrucha slip. The previous week a dozen of us were sailing with Dermot entertaining us on the Drascombe, the Hobie Cats racing around the island off Terreros – it´s a mark of the course you cannot miss. Did you see the Garrucha cruisers racing on Saturday 17th? It was their usual course down to the Fish farm off Villaricos. Who were the winners? The most successful sailing family in the area – our Chemist, Miguel, Laura, young Miguel II and most importantly Macarena. The next race will be on the 15th December – look out for their big Spinaker it´s black with a bright yellow triangle. Now!! What´s the other big attraction on Saturday the 15th? It´s our Dinner and Dance at the Bellavista Restaurant on Mojacar Playa at 8pm. Ticket price is 30 euros. It was a grand night last year and you will be supporting a sporting activity for all ages. The other date you should know about is Monday the 10th of December. Our A.G.M. if you are interested in watersports, come along. It will be at the Puntazo hotel on Mojacar Playa at 8pm.
Now, the Barcelona World Race, all the boats have passed through the 2nd gate at the Canary Islands and through the Doldrums, crossing East to West towards Brazil and No. 3 scoring gate at Fernanto Islangs. The leading boats are “PRB” and “Paprec Vibae” with our Irish friend Damian on board. They are now heading South to the Southern ocean and gate no. 4 which is due South of the Cape of Good Hope.
Get the kids to look at the world map, it’s a good geography lesson. The boats that pick up points at the scoring gates and there are eight of them, are not the first boats to arrive, it´s the boat with the fastest elapsed time between the gates which gives the back markers that extra incentive to push the boat. We wish all the sailors a safe passage through the Southern ocean.
Earlier this month (November) when I was flying home we passed over Cuevas – looking out of the window I was pleased and surprised to see the “Canal” full of water. A kilometre stretch of water ideal for young Oppie sailors or the disabled to take up the sport of sailing. I´ll give you a quote from 11 year old Nicola Ewen, a wheelchair user and one of the 16,000 disabled sailors who have been introduced to sailing. “It feels like you don’t have any problems when you are on the water”. Many of these sailors were introduced to the sport by “Sailabillity” – another arm of the R.Y.A. Back in 1983 I was living alongside “Blashford Lake” Ringwood, Hants. It was the home of the Spinaker Sailing Club and now is also the home of “New Forest Sailability” a group of 140 disabled sailors and 60 volunteers. You want to know more? Visit www.RYA.ORG/sailability. If you are near Ringwood, the club is off Ivy Lane, a beautiful spot – The New Forest´s best kept secret. Six years ago in December I did the R.Y.A. course with “Sailability” wearing my thermal underwear – I know you don’t´ wish to know that. But remember those dates, the 10th and 15th of December. Call Irene or V ic for tickets to the Dinner and Dance on 950 529 399. And drop by for a chat at Garrucha slipway or the playa at San Juan de los Terreros. Oh! Visit our website to see the photo of the new Garrucha harbour.
Take Care
John Talliss
Tel : 950 475 157
Movil: 658 548 790
E-mail John@Sailrway.com
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