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Santa Irene Club de Vela Newsletter - 28th February 2007
A couple of weeks ago, Frank, Vic and myself took “Erisana”, Franks 36ft Beneteau up the coast to Aguilas Carnival Regata and one race on Sunday 11th then the following Saturday the 17th. With the wind from the south it was a run all the way, we found it more comfortable to drop the mainsail and sail on the Genoa it was just as well because some of the gusts were 25 knots plus. It’s always nice to arrive in Aguilas – we were allotted berth P2, but to make it interesting, there were two P2’s. So having been into the marina and out again, we were directed to a new floating pontoon especially for the visitors and there were quite a few arriving from Mar Menor, Cartagena, Mazarron and Garrucha. That evening the Aguilas Club laid on what they called a light meal, it was absolutely fabulous. So after being fed and watered we were happy to get our heads down. It was a quiet night with no wind. Unfortunately, it remained like that for the rest of the race day too. Although it was light airs, it didn’t last and eventually the race was abandoned – what a pity for the 48 cruisers taking part.Paul had joined us for the race as our spinnaker handler but no-one had an opportunity to fly one – never the less we enjoyed our day on the water. The following week, we repeated the exercise, again light winds to start, which didn’t suit us but it freshened and with Paul playing the spinnaker we were making up places but then the wind dropped to a zephyr – the race was shortened and so ended our Aguilas Carnival Regata. I must say, it was good to be involved and the hospitality was great – we’ll be back next year.
Back in Mojacar, Garrucha Terry was entertaining some new faces on the drascombe. One was Roger from Weymouth Sailing Club who sails a “Squib”. It’s a half decked 19ft sports keelboat. He usually races 3 or 4 times a week – yes you can do that if the boats are near the water, it’s the reason we need a dinghy park! We are still talking to Garrucha Port Authority. Jim Barr took out Chris and Alan on his cruiser and George and Jim sailed their Hobies from the Playa Del Cantal.
One of my favourite dinghies is in the “news” it’s the “Mirror” with the red sails. I brought 2 over from the U.K. on the 19th December 2001, they are still part of the club, and I hope to see them on the water soon. The news is two young ladies Anna Mackenzie and Holly Scott have become the first ever female “Mirror World Champions” sailing their boat “Simply Gorgeous”. The championships were held in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. We had 5 boats in the top 10 of a 79 boat fleet – one team was under 16years of age. Rebecca Kalderon and Hannah Mitchell. We were top Nation, so where are our dinghy sailors? – if you know one, tell him / her to phone me. And there’s more, young, British sailors have taken gold in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival – I wonder what the Aussies thought of that. I have to mention their names. Kate Macgregor, Imogen Stanley, Tim and Ben Saxton, Claire Laske and Matthew Rainback, What a team!
I’m off to Granada for a couple of days but remember to come and see me for a chat this weekend. I’ll be on the slipway in Garrucha or give me a call.
John Talliss
Tel : 950 475 157
Movil: 658 548 790
E-mail John@Sailrway.com
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