Lastest News
Santa Irene Club de Vela Newsletter - 15th February 2008
The Big Boys are back in Town . The first " Open 60" and winner of the Barcelona World Race arrived home, after 92 days 8 hrs 49 min. Remember they had to pass through 8 gates, what a pity they didn't put a gate just off Mojacar/Garrucha.
The crew of two were Jean-Pierre Dick (Fra) and Damion Foxoll (Ire), a friend of Dermots, so I guess it will be drinks all round when we meet up with him on Sunday. There are another 4 boats to finish, 4 boats had to retire due to damage in the Southern Ocean.
Back home, there has been a lot of wild weather about this week and last Sunday the day started dull and cold and a forecast of F5, so there wasn’t a lot of enthusiasm to go on the water. But with half the club members at Grouch, we retired to the local coffee bar and enjoyed lots of chat about boats .For me it was a good morning.
The previous week Frank had been up the Aguilas Regatta with "Erisana", his 36 ft Benatue and a full crew from the Santa Irene Club. They all enjoyed their trip up and back plus the two races representing Santa Irene. No Silverware to collect but it was all good fun.
One step back again, Terry, Jim, Marian, Houri and myself took "Dos Amigos" out of the water for a refit. Which means Jim has been able to put "Pelwis" a 20 ft Hunter cruiser/racer on her berth in Garrucha Marina. So Jim and members of the club will be using her regularly during the next few weeks. Who knows we may be able to join in one of those Garrucha races the Big Boys have once a month, down to the Fish farm and back.
During the beginning of January we were flying the Flag at Benidorm Sailing Club. It was their Christmas Regatta for Optimist and what a sight! 133 Oppies from the Valencia Clubs. You should visit a big meeting of Oppies to see little 8 year olds launching their boats having rigged them, looking so confident and ready to enjoy the day. That brings me to another Oppie Event near to home.
The 26th of January was the official opening of the Cuevas Canal, we only heard of it 3 days before the event in spite of the fact that we had been talking to the Alcalde. I realise we should have been talking to the councilor of sport, a young lady who made us very welcome when we arrived with our 4 Oppies.
Other Oppies came from Aguadulce so we made some good contacts. Other activities were rowing, canoeing, archery singing and flamenco dancing, we enjoyed the day. We being Irene, Vic, Eileen, Terry, Lynne, Dermot, Houri and me.
Another suggestion I made to the Alcalde, it could and should be used for "disabled sailors". Sailing is a sport that the disabled can be involved in. Check out www.HilaryLister.co.uk, she can only sip and blow but has sailed across the Channel on her own. I was involved with "sailability" sailing for all when I was in the UK in 2001.
Last week on a visit to Malaga, we stayed in Benalmadena, and naturally went to visit the Sailing Club the first person I met was Jose Luis Valverde the disabled President of "Club Andaluz de Vela Adaptada 1". This is the first sailing club for the disabled in Andalucia which was formed last year with the help of Benalmadena S.C. supplying the infastructure, but it has taken him 6 years to overcome the mountainous waves of difficulties. Have a look at their website: www.cava1.com
The Santa Irene Club sails from the slipway at Garrucha for Mono hulls and the Playa de los Terreros for the Hobie Catamarans, visit us any Sunday from 11am onwards. More sailing news in a couple of weeks, look at our website for more information: www.sailrway.com
Take Care
John Talliss
Tel : 950 475 157
Movil: 658 548 790
E-mail John@Sailrway.com
Archived Newsletters