Hello all,

The Vice Commodores Race is this Sunday with a 14h00 start on a high tide and with a good 14 knot easterly wind forecast it will be excellent sailing for all.

The Vice Commodore's Race is the first pursuit start race of this season allowing less experienced sailors a head start above their more experienced counterparts who then have to try and catch up to them.

This is going to be a good race day and as next week Sunday has no official racing scheduled it will also be your last chance to test your skills before the Inter Club Regatta at George Lakes in two weeks time.

Bingo Bash & Saturday Race Cancelled - The bingo bash and special race planned for this Saturday has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. It will be held at a later date and apologies for any inconvenience caused.

The First Inter Club Regatta to be held at George Lakes Yacht Club on 07 & 08 November will enjoy support from both sailing and non-sailing members of Redhouse and is a must attend event for all members who are able to get away for that weekend.

If you need assistance getting your boat (or are able to assist others) to GLYC please phone Paul on 041 581 5394 or 082 225 1407. More information and entry forms for the Inter Club regatta may be viewed at http://www.glyc.org.za/interclub.htm

Sailing School for both juniors and adults will be as normal this Sunday with a full morning session starting at 10h00.

GLYC has kindly offered to arrange use of a few 09'ers (a plastic version of our training Optimist dinghies) at the Inter Club Regatta for the novice class section. This is a really great opportunity for our junior sailing school members to participate in their first regatta.

As the novices will not need to tow a boat to the regatta I am certain lifts can be arranged for any juniors whose parents are not able to get away that weekend and who do not mind camping with the other Redhouse folk at the GLYC for the weekend.

Please let Andrew know this Sunday if you will be able to attend the regatta and if you will require a lift as the 09'ers need to be booked for you.

Laser Sails - I expect to be visiting the UK on business again soon and am prepared to bring back replica Laser sails that cost a third of the genuine article for anyone needing a new sail.

These sails are an exact replica, both in shape and weight of sail cloth of the genuine Laser sail but at £150 each cost a lot less than the official Laser sail (eg: an official Laser radial sail from Central Boating now costs R9,826).

The sails come complete with:

Class Insignia (the big red Laser logo)
Tell tales attached
Window in the sail
Battens
Sail Bag

Sail numbers (red & black) are also available for around £15.00 extra per set depending how many numbers are required.

The only disadvantage is as these sails are not class legal (they do not have Laser class button) you will not be able to race in the Laser class in official class events such as provincial regattas, however if you do not have a spare official sail you will still be able to enter and sail in the open class at provincial sailing events. You are still able to race with these sails in the Laser class in all Club events.

If you are looking to treat yourself or someone else to nice xmas present or if you want to save your official Laser sail for provincial events then this is the perfect opportunity to get a first class sail at a fraction of the price.

I am also able to get replica Laser mast sections for a fraction of the local price (£85 for a 4.7 section, £90 for a radial section and £95 for a full size section). Unfortunately due to new maximum lengths allowed for outsize baggage by SAA I am only able to carry 4.7 sections with me. The larger sizes are able to be freighted to South Africa but this will obviously add to their cost.

Optimist and Mirror sails are also available but as these are not subjected to the massive class surcharge Laser add for their class button they are likely to cost not much less than you would be able to purchase locally from Northsails.

If anybody would like me to purchase and bring back one of these sails or a 4,7 mast section for them please email paulpettitt@ryc.co.za or telephone me on 041 581 5394. I am only able to bring back as many sails as I can fit in my suitcase so first preference will be given to Redhouse members.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your racing at Redhouse this Sunday!

PAUL PETTITT
Commodore
041 581-5394