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Message Board

Welcome

For all those members and families who are new to sailing, or just new to DSC, welcome to the club on behalf of the Flag officers, Committee members and other club members. We hope you will enjoy being a member of our club and take up as many opportunities as possible to join us both in the sailing and social events.

A number of things characterise DSC - its family atmosphere, the variety of sailing we do, its youth sailing, and its Optimist fleet among them. It is run entirely by volunteers and all members have to undertake duties during the year.

Cadet member's families are expected to do their club duties as well as helping the cadet fleet in some way, and are encouraged to join in the life of the club as a whole. Ideally we would like to see the adults join in the club races too...

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Winter Training & Meetings

RYA Frist-Aid Course - 4th February 9 till 4:30, contact Annie to book your place email

Sunset Series 2012 Parents evening - Thursday 9th February 7:30pm More

Brush-up on your Racing Rules for 2012 - Friday 10th February 7.30pm, All Welcome Click

Sunset Registration Evening - Wednesday 4th April 7:00pm

Port Fleet Blackwater Weekend - 4th/5th May

News Stories If you have a news story please email webmaster@dabchicks.org

It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Liz Lawrence. Liz love sailing at Mersea and we will all miss her greatly. Our deepest sympathies are with Gordon, Abbey and Joe. Liz's funeral arrangements

David Labrouche wins Optimist Winter Open at Papercourt on Saturday 7th January! More

WRECK AT NASS MARKED

The wreck of a 55ft motor boat the Crebe, lies close to the Nass Beacon has now been marked with a blue and yellow buoy labelled ‘Wreck’.

Crebe is lying in position 51°45’.876N 000°54’.855E and the wreck marking buoy bears 015° from her, distant 30m. The mark is a pillar buoy with blue and yellow vertical stripes and a yellow upright cross topmark. It shows an alternating blue and yellow flashing light at half second intervals. ‘Wreck’ is written in black on yellow. See Chart

The coast guard advises all mariners to give both the buoy and the wreck a wide berth.

Follow The GBR Team including Saskia Clark in the 470 and Martin Evans in a Laser at the Perth 2011 ISAF Worlds Click

Martin Cartwright was awarded hon. life member at the 2011 Annual General Meeting for his outstanding work not only for the club but also for sailing on Mersea. Martin said “I had no idea and I feel both honoured and humbled”. The AGM was very well attended and the decision was clearly very popular judging by the spontaneous round of applause. Martin has stood down as Vice Commodore sailing but will remain a Past President continuing to supporting the club. Roger Sydenham will take over the roll of Vice Commodore sailing.

Dabchicks dinghy sailors switch boats

James Bolingbroke and Tim Walton have now moved into the Olympic 49er skiff from the 29er with the objective of making it into the Olympic Development Squad once they have completed the transition. Report

Gavin Page has moved from a 29er into a Musto Performance Skiff with the aim of competing in the 2012 Worlds at WPNSA in late June. This will be the last event held at the Olympic venue before the start of the games. This promises to be an exciting and challenging event with 100 boats expected to compete from 17 countries around the World on a single start line!

Any other members changing boats, dinghies or cruisers send a picture and a few words to the webmaster

Members comments were recorded at the recent dinghy and cruiser forums; these can be found on the respective dinghy and cruiser pages

Sunset Series prize giving was held on Saturday 22nd October 3pm Pictures

13th August, Dabchicks hosted the Laser Grand Prix with an entry of 31 boats, see Event page for results and photos. Well Done Martin Evans (DSC), 1st Std, Rheanna Pavey (AWSC), 1st Radal and Harry Gozzett (DSC) 1st 4.7

Mersea Cadet Week ran from 1st to 5th August 2011 Event page This year saw a record entry and a fantastic Cadet week! Well done to everyone who took part! Check out the Pictures and Results

Well done Martin!

Martin Evans wins Bronze at Laser Standard Youth Worlds Championships and Silver at Laser Standard Youth European Championships held in La Rochelle Event website

David Labrouche finishes 12th and 4th GBR in Senior Gold Fleet at the Volvo Gill Optimist British and Open Championship - Results

Well Done David!

David competed in the Dominican Republic as part of the Team GBR in his Optimist. He came 14th and was 1st Brit. Great weather (hot and humid), big seas, but little wind , so relatively challenging conditions. But most of all, great fun!!

James Boliingbroke & Tim Walton qualified in gold fleet, Gavin Page & Thomas Scott silver fleet along with Dan Woodcock & Rupert Dando competed in the 2011 29er European Championships at Yacht Club Locarno, Switzerland July 16 - 23 in challenging conditions with sailors from many countries around Europe and the world. http://www.29ereuropeans.org/ This years entry was 155 boats! Event report

The 2011 RS Tera National Championships were held on the 2nd & 3rd July 2011 at Hayling Island SC - With a very respectable entry of 88 and excellent competitive sailing, local sailors Jonny Watkins, Rupert Watkins and Nathaniel French held their heads high. Jonny 3rd overall in the Pro fleet, Rupert 17th despite having the day 1. Nathaniel finished 20th in the Sport fleet.

A Harken 29er Grand Prix was held on 2nd & 3rd July 2011 at Pwllheli Sailing Club, North Wales - local sailors Gavin Page and Thomas Scott competing in very light winds of no more than 5 knots and shifts of 40 degrees finally finished in 17th overall.

Dabchicks member, Andrew Page will be competing on Aqua-J GBR 165 as trimmer, helmed by Patrick Liardet at the J80 Worlds in Denmark 3rd to 8th July. Follow them

Dabchicks Member Simon Farren competed in the Texel Dutch Catamaran Open last week. His final position was 17th out of 67, despite being unable to compete in the last two races due to gear failure and counting a DNC in his results

James & Tim, Gavin & Tom were at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy for a RYA National Youth and Transition Squad training weekend. Picture taken at about 8am saturday 18th July shows the Mersea boys unpacking and setting up their 29ers. The sailors had an action packed weekend of sailing with their coaches in strong winds. See video

Mission Accomplished!!!!

Well Done, Dabchicks members Phil Passfield and Simon Liston along with another Mersea lad who completed the cycle trip from John O’Groats to Lands End. They set off on June 10th in aid of the RNLI More

Dabchicks hosted the 2011 Sonata Nationals 5th to 10th June - Local boat Camel finished 1st, Selene 2nd and BFG 3rd Click to see photos Y&Y report

Congratulations Hannah Stodel (gold) Saskia Clark (silver) and Martin Evans (48th in gold fleet) at the Sail for Gold regatta held at WPNSA, the Olympic venue, 6th to 11th June.

Dabchicks celebrates 100 years sailing in style at the Centenary Ball Click