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FEBRUARY 2000 NEWSLETTER
"Ask not for whom the bell chimes it chimes for you"
(apologies Ernie Hemingway). Already your tabloid is off to a rousing
start in this millennium with Barry’s expose of renovation secrets of
wooden GPs, Graham’s mast step mods and Tony’s thrilling description
of good starting practices. So more please otherwise prepare to be
subjected to the editors banal contributions, examples of which follows,
you have been warned.
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This years plan to
avoid volunteering was cunning, organise a holiday to coincide with the
A.G.M. and leave everyone else to sort it out.
Failed miserably, there are perils in drinking with Dennis Valentine.
So, Celia is Social Secretary and I am deputy assistant reserve standby
officer pending. A position of great importance which gives me the
opportunity to do the jobs nobody else wants, (e.g. writing
newsletters). Why do they keep calling me Baldrick Den ?
The gist of the new politburo, as I understand, is to spread the
workload of the Class Captain. In other words we have run out of nice
guys prepared to sacrifice their spare time for the GP cause. Dammed
inconvenient if you ask me, I quite enjoyed just turning up, pre-race
discussion with Colin about painting, race, post-race inquest over beers
and then off home. And with any luck a F4.5 would knock the
sailing on the head. I also note with dismay in the A.G.M. minutes, my
name featured for future class captain, the libel suit is pending
Dennis. To make a statement as rash as this requires exceptional
confidence in the new philosophy. We must all look forward to the puppet
class captain in 2002, and in the meantime onward the three musketeers,
Class, Vice and Next.
NEW MEMBERS
A warm welcome to the new members, some we know and some new,
they are;
Martin Trim
Martin has crewed in the past with Mike Williams and Andy
Cake.
Ian Wall
Ian has been crewing with Graham Wallen
Ian Aitkin
Just bought Colin's "Mussel Box". Ian intends to
race Thursdays.
Tony and Anne Knill
Have a GP and also intend to race.
Tim and Anne Chalk
Tim will be crewing with Tim Whittle in
"Wetta da Betta"
We hope you do well (but not too well) in fact your popularity will be
considerably enhanced by joining that select clique at the rear of the
fleet. Feel free to use Flying Fish 2 as reference.
We also welcome John and Pat Ballinger. John has a Wayfarer and is famed
for his paddle technique around the slipway. John we understand is
taking class identity therapy sessions and we hope sailing with Greg
will see him through this difficult time. Are you sure Greg was the
right choice Den ?
So if all goes well we have two additional GP's as Colin has bought back
his old boat "Pipedream".
BALDRICK'S BANTER
The GP makes a pigs ear of a lee bow tack, you
change course (if only slightly) and howl protest while hoisting that
delicious little red flag. Aah, another magic moment. Sadly my scope for
sadistic pleasure is restricted by an inability to keep up with the rest
of you and I feel some miss out on the joys of the little red flag.
In my relative short time at Poole, I have witnessed "comings
together", occasional bumps and loud mutterings noted by the
absence of penalty turns and flags. I think the formalities of
protesting through the clubs official channels are time consuming and
inhibits expression. Do we need a more informal set-up amongst ourselves
? The object of it all of course is to encourage discussion of the rules
without official confrontation, which can be damaging to brittle egos. I
look forward to your comments.
BALDRICK'S NOTE
I would welcome any gossip, news or other contribution that might
entertain. Unusual capsizes, collisions (those costing in excess of
£600 are not funny and will not be included) you know the sort
of thing. We can't always rely on the Branns playing submarines in the
main shipping channel. |
