THE SPRING SERIES is just around the corner, attached is the event Notice of Race. Now’s the time to be dusting the boats down, checking the rigging, getting it shipshape and rustling your crew up ready for the start of some exciting Fleet racing in 2012.

 OFF ISLAND EVENTS if you are intending to participate in any major racing away from the Island this year, i.e. Eurocat, Carnac or the Hobie Multi Europeans in Brittany, July, please let me know by return as we are seeking a travel grant from ESC and need to get the relevant forms in reasonably quickly. Even if you are only thinking of it and don’t actually go please still let us know. At the moment it looks like anything between 6 and 10 teams for the Europeans, a fantastic opportunity as it’s virtually on our doorstep (maybe once every 10 yrs.) and will certainly be great training prior to the Nationals here.

 IF YOU HAVEN’T already seen it, check out this link, full page on Yachts & Yachting with Gold sponsor Wildwind, giving excellent publicity and exposure to the Nationals http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/161534/Wildwind-sponsor-Hobie-nationals  It’s also going into European Yachting publications.

2012 RACE PROGRAMME updated version is attached including a scaled down C.I. Hobie Cat Champs in June, the Guernsey Sailing Championships and the Shearwater Trophy;  Guernsey – Jersey distance race set for July. The famous El Tico Cat Dash this year is to be included as a standalone coastal race as part of the Nationals Championships.

BRITISH HOBIE CAT NATIONALS a big and important request from your organising committee, is for local crews to start entering the event asap, all details and entry form are up on the website just go to www.rciycjersey.com and ping Nationals. We have teamed up with SailRacer, an online results and event entry service company. If you don’t know for instance who your crew is going to be at this stage or your sail number may change, it doesn’t matter, you can put TBA in the relevant box. It is really important for the event that we get people entering now, to make it start looking like a healthy Championships entry for anybody who may be considering entering from the UK or Europe. We have the potential of over 30 entries from Jersey & Guernsey which is a great start to build on.

EXCELLENT QUIZ night at the Club last night. Great fun & great food, it was packed out and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening which raised good funds for the Club’s Charitable Sailing Trust. Well done to Darren & Yvonne for a job well done in organising and running the event. Look out for the next one, if you would like to exercise the grey matter in an atmosphere of mirth and merriment, don’t miss it.

DON’T FORGET to regularly check the Club’s website and the Nationals pages which is under development, Yvonne is doing a great job with the site, updated news is being added as we progress.

AFTER THE SHORT winter break, it seems many of you are raring to get on the water racing again, but it’s not just that, is it…as someone was saying the other day it’s also all the other good stuff around Hobie racing, the buzz and banter at the beach during rigging, not forgetting the adrenalin pump, especially if there is wind around, the all encompassing racing and yet again more banter when de-rigging, especially for those wandering into the Goose for the debrief (or inquest as may be!). The general camaraderie and feel good factor is very much part of a fun and competitive on water activity which is a privilege to be part of and enjoy.

Have a Hobie Day,

Best regards,

Gordon.

Other Links
	RCIYC Hobie Fleet Race Programme 2012
	Spring Series NOR