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Members and friends got together to celebrate Burns Night on Friday 27th January – The haggis was addressed by Fraser Menzies, he was joined this year by Rab C Nesbitt (aka John Townson).
A traditional Burns Night supper of haggis neeps and tatties was then enjoyed by all, along with a little Scottish music.
Thanks to Ian and Shirley McCrum for manning the bar and to Laura, Katie J, Ross, Ian and Kyle for preparing and serving supper.
Some photos below:

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Some photos from club events held over Christmas and New Year

Turkey Trot – 27th December 2011

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Rugby Trip to Ravenhill – Wednesday 28th December

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New Years Eve Party

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TOURNOIS DE PETANQUE
The annual Tournois de Petanque took place on Boxing Day with a total of five teams (two players each) and a number of more or less impartial supporters.
Santa appeared to have responded positively and a number of brand new sets of Boules de Loisirs were much in evidence, with Willie in particular exerting even more than his usual magnetic personality on the proceedings.
The teams were Tigers (Tony and Thomas), Exiles (Frazer and George), Outlaws (Mark Keddie and Dave Allen – both sons-in-law to John T). Millislers (Willie and Ken Walsh)) and Grumps (Noel and John – who else??)
Mercifully the strong winds which had curtailed sailing were effectively buffered by the stout walls of the Boathouse and the event took place on the Club Boulodrome at the rear entrance. The format was a round robin of five ends against each other team to determine the finalists.
After some close encounters, the final was between Millislers and Grumps. Originally scheduled for the normal 13 point game, it was mutually agreed, due to bad light, cold and an urgent need for liquid refreshment, to reduce it to 10 points with the Grumps prevailing by 10 – 4.
Everyone appeared to enjoy the event and it is hoped that it may be possible to begin a modest Petanque session during the sailing season.

"I didn't realise it was that that cold!!"

Donaghadee Sailing Club… Delivering Watersports & More For You…….Come & Be a part of it …… 26th January 2012

Rockhopper Trophy 2011

Congratulations to Ian Dancklefsen who is the winner of the 2011 Rockhopper Trophy. This was the last race of the season which took place on Sunday past after having had to be postponed from Boxing Day. Well done to all for braving the elements and bringing some colour to the seafront!

2012 Sailing Season

Sailing will begin again in early April so it’s time to get those boats spruced up for the new season (and that includes the Commodore’s Flying Fifteen which intends to make the START of this year’s season!). Keys for the Dinghy park are available to members from Fraser (Sailing Secretary) on Fraser.menzies0505@gmail.com or Tel: 07747 843 801.

Fraser also asks if all canoe owners could ensure that their canoes are removed from the dinghy park by the end of February so that maintenance work can be undertaken.

Our Safety boats are currently back with Redbay for their final refurbishment in time for the new season. Enormous thanks to Stuart Ogg (Safety Officer), and all those who have assisted him, for the many hours they have spent on this refurbishment which will hopefully give us another 5 years service.

In the meantime do come and join us at

Burn’s Night Supper: Friday 27th January

From 7.30pm in the Clubhouse

Haggis (or sausages for those with a more delicate constitution!), neeps & tatties for £4

Charity Quiz in aid of Ewing’s Sarcoma

Friday 3rd February :From 8pm in the Clubhouse

An opportunity to join with others to support a good cause. Tickets £5 each, including supper. Available from Glenn Veterinary Clinic on 02891 453999.

Annual Dinner Dance & Prize Giving

Saturday 4th February 2012 : 7.00 for 7.30pm

Thanks to all who have booked to date. There’s still time to join us for a great evening’s craic (and our guests from Cockle Island, Ballyholme & Royal North) so do please let Kady know on donaghadeesailingclub@gmail.com asap before January 30th. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Tickets: £28 Adult & £15 Junior/Student under 18 (3 course menu with roast beef for adults or Juniors/SU18 with a hearty appetite at £28/head or freshly made chicken goujons for Junior/SU18 at £15/head). Vegetarian option available. Formal wear or lounge suits ; optional for Juniors/SU18

More Dates for the Diary 2012

February

6 Nations Rugby

Pass the Pig Family Night

Curry & Karaoke

Charity Quiz : Saturday 25th February

March

The Lighthouses of Ireland : Talk in Balcony Room on Friday 2nd March

Sunday Lunch in the Clubhouse : Bow Bells Catering on Sunday 4th March

A Night at the Races

Bar Open Rota

Wednesday 1st February 8.00 -11.00pm Julia Kannenberg & Ken Walsh

Friday 3rd February: Charity Quiz 7.30 -11.00 pm Ian & Shirley McCrum

Sunday 5th February 4.00-8.00pm Hannah McNamara & Dan Boardman

If you would like to help out on the bar (you never know when these skills may come in useful) please do contact Kaye on office@donaghadeesc.co.uk.

Following the 41st AGM of Donaghadee Sailing Club held on Tuesday 25th October in the clubhouse we would like to welcome the incoming Commodore and her General Committee for the 2011/12 year.

Thank you to Tony Skeats for all his hard work over the last year as Commodore and also to Ken Wallace for his role as Sailing Secretary and to the other members who have stood down from the Committee – Jimmie McKee and Ruth McNamara.

Shirley McCrum has now taken the helm as our new Commodore with Nick Butler taking on Vice-Commodore and Fraser Menzies as Sailing Secretary. We also welcome Ryan Charteris and Katie Johnston on to Committee this year – we wish you all success in your new roles and look forward to a productive year ahead.

Commodore’s Twitterings
Three Seasons On…….where to in 2012?

Our young sailors are set to dominate the 2012 RYANI Junior Topper squad. With a further two in the Youth Laser squad I’m reminded of double Olympic Gold Medallist, Shirley Robertson’s words of encouragement at the new Clubhouse’s official opening in 2009. It was the beginning of another chapter in the story that is DSC and three seasons on (and 40 years later) DSC continues to have much to be proud of.

So it is a very great honour indeed to step into the Commodore’s shoes and along with a talented General Committee, and hard-working Sub-Committees, to reflect on what 2012 may bring.

The Olympics to inspire us further; sailing wins more gold medals than any other sport!

Good weather that lets us get out on the water on a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Even more activity about the Club, whether on or off the water…………………

We are an amateur sailing club, a place where it is our passion for messing about in boats which has sustained the Club into this, its 41st year.

Is it enough?

Yes if every one of us, all 350 members, whether as families, full, juniors, spouses, Friday nighters, out-of-port, non-sailing in or out of dinghies, canoes, cruisers, motor boats, rafts (!) fully buys into what we are so very privileged to have. A challenging but wonderful sailing water (despite the weather), a Clubhouse and range of equipment the envy of many others, inspirational coaches and instructors both existing and waiting in the wings, people who like a laugh, a challenge, a soaking……………………

For 2012 we would like

More two handed sailing in Picos, Mirrors, GP14s, Flying Fifteens and Ken’s new boat

More Adults and Juniors progressing to Stages 3&4, to infinity and beyond

More females staying with the sport

Everyone actively joining in …what would you like?

For 2012 we need (along with Battery, Safety boat, Bar, BBQ & Friday night rotas)

A Press Officer

An Office Administrator

A Membership Secretary

A family input to the Social Committee

An IT whiz kid (age not a barrier)

A schools liaison officer

Fund raising – start with a Peel2Save card

If every member gave one hour a week just think of what we could do in 2012! Do please e-mail me on S56_Millar @hotmail.com or talk to any Committee member if you have an hour or so to spare. Together we can be truly amazing so please, don’t be shy, make contact. Look forward to talking soon.

Shirley McCrum
Commodore

Donaghadee Sailing Club General Committee 2011-2012

Flag Officers

Commodore Shirley McCrum
Vice-Commodore Nick Butler
Honorary Secretary Claire Speers
Honorary Treasurer Fiona Pritchard
Sailing Secretary Fraser Menzies

Members & Sub-Committee Representation

Training James Ogg
Youth Convenor Ryan Charteris
House Maintenance John Townson
Bar Convenor Kaye Boyle
Social Committee Katie Johnston

Safety Officer Stuart Ogg

Disability Sailing/ Tony Skeats
RYA Representative

Youth Commodore James Dowling

Sub-Committee Chair

Finance Ivan Heaney
Social Kady Pritchard

All can be contacted by e-mail on office@donaghadeesc.co.uk

.DSC Events November-December 2011

Beetle Drive for all the Family
Friday 25th November
From 7.30pm

Make overs & Wine – an evening for the ladies
Thursday 1st December 7.30pm

GP14s & Sri Lanka
A talk by our intrepid club members & the World GP14 Championships 2011

Friday 2nd December 8pm

Sunday 11th December DSC’s Annual Christmas Dinner for all the family

Saturday 24th December Christmas Eve Mince Pies & Good cheer

Please do put these dates in your diary. Further information to follow.

Remember the bar is open Wednesday and Friday (8-11.00) and Sunday (4.00-9.00pm)

And many thanks too for all the wonderful pumpkins brought down to our Halloween party!

Just a few dates for your diaries at this stage.

27th January – Burns Night

Friday 3rd February – Charity Quiz – see events listing for details

4th February – Annual Dinner Dance and Prize Giving – Marine Court Hotel, Bangor – full details will follow shortly.

Friday 24th February – ‘Pass the Pigs’ – fun night for all the family

Saturday 25th February – Quiz

Friday 2nd March – Talk on Lighthouses in Ireland

Sunday 4th March – Sunday lunch catered by Bow Bells

Members young and not so young, in various disguises all enjoyed Friday night’s Halloween Party – our junior members got involved in the traditional ‘apple dunking’ and ‘mummy wrapping’ and also produced some very impressive carved pumpkins.

It was good to see some of our newer family members in attendance – hope you all enjoyed yourselves and will come along to our next family event – a Beetle Drive – good fun for all the family to be held on Friday 25th November – 7.30pm start.

Congratulations from the Commodore and all at DSC to our young sailors who took part in this years RYANI Youth Championships which were held at EABC on 24th and 25th September.

Our young sailors achieved an impressive set of results with Sam Wilkinson taking 3rd place in the competitive 59 strong Topper fleet, Charlie Edgar took 4th place, Conrad Parkinson 8th and 1st under 13, Harry Dobbs 10th, Patrick Butler 13th and Jacob Kennedy 16th.
Ethan Davies took 6th place in the Topper 4.2 fleet and was the 1st under 11. Well done boys.

In the Laser fleets Oisin McClelland took 2nd place in the Standard Laser fleet, Rory Butler 11th in the Radials and Lucy Burrows 9th in the 4.7′s.

Well done to everyone for a great end to the sailing season!!

The GP14 Class are looking for expressions of interest from clubs for the next GP14 Worlds in 2014.

Contact Lawrence Baalham for more information: l.baalham@virgin.net

Also those who would like to sail in the 2012 GP14 Worlds in Looe, England, there are very few spaces left so get your entries in fast!

http://gp14worlds.com/