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Combs Sailing Club Newsletter

No 236 May 2015

The traditional warm reception at Glossop for the High Peak Regatta, and Combs’ first ever victory there.

Commodores Notes

Having been a member of Combs Sailing Club for quite a number of years, I never fail to be impressed by the

commitment shown by the membership when called upon to help out at our various club functions. A smashing

example of this was the Open Day on May 9th. The club was prepared and spruced up in the proceeding week by our

regular OHC members and our excellent new helper Jonathan Lawton.

Whilst the weather on the day was not the best, the many members who turned up to help worked extremely hard

to make the day a real success. Over thirty visitors experience dinghy sailing and we attracted a number of new

members to the club. Club members also baked a selection of superb cakes, which we sold along with a drink which

raised the magnificent sum of £118.5 for our nominated charity of the day Sail 4 Cancer.

Sailing on our home water, can as we know be delightful. Superb scenery and friendly competition on the water. But

as a club we have always encouraged members to sail on the Open Circuits and the many National and International

events which are held each season. Ok it can be a hassle de rigging the boat and loading it onto a road base but the

rewards in the terms of the sailing experience can make it worthwhile.

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As I have mentioned on numerous occasions, I find starting in a fleet of fifty Supernovas so much more enjoyable

than the melee that can develop in a menagerie fleet of just ten dinghies. You get to experience large open waters

and varied course configurations which really makes you think about sailing. If you have not sailed away from the

club, give it a go, I am sure you will enjoy it.

No strangers to the Open circuit are the Reid family. Stalwarts of the Javelin class they have been European

Champions and held numerous other trophies. The family baton has been handed down to the current helm and

crew Stuart and Neil who will be competing at Carsington in this seasons Nationals. If they don't perform to the

expected standards we have Rosie an Eddie coming through the Combs ranks and they would no doubt be delighted

to oust either dad Neil or uncle Stuart.

Some good news on the Wooden Hut replacement programme. After what seems an age of trying and no end of

bureaucracy the High Peak Borough Council has finally given us permission to replace the wooden hut. I will keep you

informed of the development as it progresses..

You will have noted that the recently purchased defibrillator has been sited on the wall at the changing room

entrance. Whilst we hope this piece of equipment is never needed, given our remote location we feel this equipment

is necessary for the club. A number of club members have kindly agreed to attend a defibrillator resuscitation course

given by East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Can I offer the warmest of Combs welcomes to our new members the Hillesdon family Derek, Emma, Holly and Harry.

Bob Pyett

Open Day (Push the Boat Out.

Every year Combs Sailing Club holds its annual open day. This is usually a jolly affair where families gambol in the

sunshine whilst eating cake and riding in boats. We had the rides this year and lots of cake but sunshine was sadly

lacking. Luckily the wind which had been strong moderated as the day proceeded making it all possible. These days

the RYA wish to gather all the registered clubs together and present open days under the banner of RYA ‘Push the

Boat Out’. This means that the event is earlier in the year than previously which makes the weather less reliable.

It was a success however as some of those families who drifted down the drive obviously appreciated our efforts and

signed up. John Saunders

High Peak Regatta - John Saunders reports from the usual blustery Torrside

Checking the forecast over the week leading up to the High Peak Regatta things were not looking promising! Average

wind speed at 17mph gusting to 41, wind like that at Glossop with a Trophy to defend made retention an uphill task!

All our boats and sailors reported for duty on the morning of Saturday May 16th to see Torrside Reservoir streaked

with foam from end to end and waves breaking on the slipway, “God this is a terrible place”. After rigging boats in

the comparative calm of the dinghy park with the wind howling in the trees above us (and no smell of bacon) it was

time to get racing underway. The four Combs Bytes of Rick, Louis, Alex and Andy were off first bucking over the

waves and crashing into the troughs. Louis’ in his glamorous black boat soon established a lead over Rick who in turn

was leading Alex and Andy. Two minutes after the Byte start a Glossop OK dinghy started. We have seen this sailor

before and know how fast he is under these conditions.

As Louis and Rick reached the top end of the lake they realised how harsh the conditions were. Louis little Byte just

screamed downwind with Louis sitting on the transom in clouds of spray. Rick looked safer but slower - caution

seemed the best option! Alex and Andy who had held things together upwind now found themselves totally out of

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control with loads of speed but always ending spectacularly in very big splashes. Andy managed two laps but was

drained of strength retiring back to the clubhouse. Alex made it back down the lake in a series of uncontrolled

reaches but upon attaining the more sheltered end of the lake she decided to play. Sheltered is a comparative term

of course! At the end of her fun reach she stuck her nose out into the ‘jet stream’ and was blown down behind the

club with her mast pointing variously up or down. She made it back and retired.

Meanwhile all our other boats had started, Russell and

Kevin in Supernova’s, Chris Wooley in his Radial, Eric and

Julie in the blue Albacore and finally the brothers Reid in

their Javelin. The Supernovi circulated looking fast and

amazingly cool (although they assure me this was not the

case). Chris seemed to look comfortable and Eric and Julie

were incredibly fast downwind in the big blue boat. Mike

Craddock launched his Phantom and began his progress to

the line only to return with a halliard breakage, probably a

good thing! The Reid boys left the line in company with

Richard and Kathrine Smith from Glossop who are multiple

class championships and sailing a boat at least 100 years

younger than the orange deck Reid boat which has been in

the family for many years. As the pursuit race drew to a

close the Smiths were winning from the Reid boys with the

OK in third and Louis in fourth. All the other boats tailed in

with Kevin, Chris and Russell completing the course.

Over lunch with conditions worsened if anything, many

boats deciding to stay off the water Eric remembered that

an Albacore can sail three up and recruited Alex to share the

front seat with Julie in this roomy boat. Three up it all

looked a lot more manageable, but just as fast. Louis and

Rick were now the only Bytes sailing and Louis, aware of the

OK only two minutes behind sailed away from Rick.

The Combs fleet was somewhat diminished now with only Louis, Rick, Neil and Stuart Reid, Eric, Julie and Alex in the

Albacore. Again a wild race ensued with Louis fantastically fast on the reaches. In fact he admitted that he had never

gone so fast in a Byte! The faster-rated OK did get in front of him as expected but he fought back and regained the

lead. It was inevitably only short lived, Louis was fast downwind but the ungainly Ok was just so stable on the beats

and it’s helm was making full use of this advantage. Rick once again sailed super cool never looking ruffled. The Reid

boys looked awesome leading the Smiths who then capsized on a gybe letting our boys build a healthy lead and relax

a little through to the end where they were the leading boat from the OK and Louis. The final drama of the race was

after the finish. Rick was landing his boat when the OK behind him in the surf capsized, the top of the mast hitting

him squarely on top of the head. [ Sadly, we have no photos of this event, unlike JS in the last edition ! RS ]

Everyone who saw it winced at the impact, not least Rick who stood in the waves with blood dripping down his face.

We managed to stop the bleeding and he was fine but it was a real crack at the end of a long day. What makes it

worse was that the damage was inflicted by that pesky OK which had been so much trouble during the racing. It was

of course a simple accident caused by the extreme conditions. There should have been a full third race but no one

from Glossop had any heart for it so Louis and the Haslingden/Bowden trio took to the water and sailed one lap. This

gave Combs SC the points needed to retain the High Peak Trophy. A great result on an amazing day.

As well as Ricks thick head Neil skinned his fingers and every one was covered in bumps and bruises. Then there was

the hypothermia……

Louis’ famous ‘ win or swim’ approach off wind

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A number of our members drove over to offer support and I am sure that everyone sailing appreciated this. It just

goes to show the depth of talent and determination at Combs Sailing Club across a broad spread of classes and the

friendly support and enthusiasm we all enjoy – especially from the shore !

Alex and Russell among the waves A rare moment of calm in the Reid boat.

Combs GP open - Fun and Games

Back in early April we had the GP open, freezing cold, blowing dogs and generally miserable. I think only five boats

registered on an unpleasant morning. Our own Peter Gardiner and Sue Lucas-Wooley, Neil and Rosy Read (father

and daughter team extrordiniare) Martin Brennan and Alistair Knott from Hollinworth, a father and son from West

Lancs and another mixed sex team from Leigh and Lowton.

The Leigh and Lowton team decided to shelter in the clubhouse, sensible move. Rosie was lifted screaming into the

sinister black GP and sailed all the way to the line (screaming), then came back from the line (screaming) where we

lifted her back out of the boat (still screaming) and gave her comfort (she stopped screaming.) All eyes were now

turned on her evil father (who looked sheepish). I believe Sue would have screamed as well but her make-up would

have run so she and Peter continued. Martin Brennan and Alisdair Knott looked very cool having done it all before in

all conditions as did the father and son from West Lancs.

Everyone got off the line ok and aimed for eight. This is when the fun started, Brennan and Knott were fully hiked

and going well, suddenly they hit one of those ‘only out of 8 headers’ and promptly fell in backwards. I could feel

their shock from 100 yards away, they have sailed all over the World and just do not fall in! Andy Sant and Jenn Lamb

sauntered over in the patrol boat as they struggled to right the high floating GP. But what was happening now?

Martin Brennan was obviously in distress bouncing up and down in the water and shouting, “get me out, get me

out”! Andy and Jenn grabbed him under the arms and pulled only to find him unnaturally heavy. Had he put on

weight? No, he had forgotten to zip up his dry suit after a pre race toilet break and was filling up fast! Eventually they

hauled him into the rib and drained him. Andy drove him in while Jenn transferred into the GP and sailed in with

Alisdair Knott.

Meanwhile the racing, now with only two competitors, continued and was won by the West Lancs boat from Peter

and Sue. A plate of chilli warmed everyone up and race two got under way only to be won by the West Lancs pair

from Peter and Sue. Sensibly that was the end of racing and a good job too! West Lancs took the day with Peter and

Sue in second and taking the coveted Combs trophy being the fastest home boat. I believe Mrs Lucas-Wooley

enjoyed the day but needed much soothing balm to heal the bruises.

Thanks must go to the OOD, was it Rick? Jenn and Andy on rescue, whoever made the chilli, central heating, Typhoon

dry suits and the Beehive. John Saunders

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Byte Open Haversham

John wrote an article on the Byte open that was published in Y&Y.

After much IT jiggery pokery I have managed to reproduce it below in its full Y&Y regalia. RS

Peter Quayle opts for a roll-tack

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The Nationals referred to above are this weekend on the S Wales Coast at Cardiff. Forecast is for light winds on

Saturday and a good breeze reaching around 20 mph on Sunday, so spare a thought for Team Combs at this

prestigious event. RS

Now for something rather different - some extra curricular activities. [ Scroll down / turn the page gently !]

As members of a sailing club it is obvious that our members will be principally known for their sailing ability

(or lack of it), but some participants are also prominent in other fields. Richard Silson can be seen acting

with the Buxton Drama League, Sue Sloan draws animal portraits in pastel, but the principal alternative

occupation seems to be music.

Sue Lucas Wooley sings with the Buxton Musical Society, Peter Quayle is a popular operatic tenor and Alex

Bowden sings lead with Heartbeat Barbershop Chorus and it is this I am writing about. Deep breath

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Heartbeat are both successful and entertaining, recently their dedication was recognised when they won a

Gold Meda l at the National Women's Barbershop competition. Let me put this into context. Heartbeat are

now Number one in Britain (and a little bit of Northern Europe ). On a point scoring basis they are also

fifteenth in the World Wide Sweet Adeline Barbershop Movement.

Most people think of Barbershop as a few men in a black and white film singing close harmony but nothing

could be further from the truth. Imagine ( or glance upwards ) seventy women in a shimmer of sparkle,

colour and movement producing a close harmony sound which is both complex and exciting, and totally

unaccompanied. Just pure entertainment for the sake of entertainment.

As Gold Medal winners and National Champions Heartbeat are eligible to compete next year in the World

Championships in Las Vegas. So 2016 will see Alex Bowden swapping her wetsuit for sequins and jetting

off to Vegas with the girls from Marple!

Heartbeat are normally a 'competition chorus' and public performances are infrequent although a number of

our members have been lucky enough to see them and have been suitably impressed. Luckily for us this is

about to change as public performances are planned to help raise money for the expensive trip to Nevada.

When these happen I would encourage members to attend.

You will not be disappointed! John Saunders