Work Party - postponed

The big work party arranged for Saurday 9th August has been postponed until Saturday 6th September, due to a dreadful weather forcast. Some club members will still be going down the club from 10am to do jobs that do not require getting drenched - so feel free to come along and help and put 6th September in your diary.

Greensforge Bala Plate

Having braved another damp night of camping, the weather improved and we had a great steady sail on the Sunday. Four boats competed for the Greensforge Bala Persuit race on a triangular course for just under 2 hours - Mike Reynolds & Gill Cooper in the GP14 held the lead for a number of laps until over taken by Lyndon Beasley and novice fireball crew Hugh Dyer about 20 minutes before the end. A nice steady breeze made for a thoroughly enjoyable sail. The final results were:

1. Lyndon Beasley & Hugh Dyer (Fireball)
2. Mike Reynolds & Gill Cooper (GP 14)
3. Ian Cooper & Pete Fellows (Fireball)
4. Peter Baker & Jayne Lord (GP14)

Greensforge at Bala - we won the team prize!

We had a great turn out for the Bala Long Distance Race. Although the wind was extremely challenging- basically all over the place - and there was a lot of swimming, a number of our boats managed to finish with Hugh and Mike getting a very respectable 4th in the slow handicap fleet and Lyndon & Tim an 8th in the fast handicap.
Greensforge won the team prize! What a fantastic effort - and a big thank you to Bala Sailing Club for hosting such a popular and enjoyable event.

The individual results for GSC were as follows:

Fast Handicap
8th - Lyndon Beasley & Tim Dicker (Fireball)
18th - John Wagstaff (Blaze)
24th - Ian Cooper & Pete Fellows (Fireball)

Slow Handicap
4th - Mike Reynolds & Hugh Dyer (GP14)
DNF -David & Julie Morrice (YW Dayboat)
DNF - Peter Baker & Jayne Lord (GP14)
DNF - Neil Benton & Gill Cooper (Enterprise)

Peter & Neil both retired - however the Morrices did complete the course and would have finished if the Long distance mark hadn't been removed before they got there - top marks for perseverance!

More youngsters to join us!

A big warm welcome to Keith and the 1st Blackfords Sea Scout Group who are joining the youth arm of GSC. We look forward to welcoming them on the water.

Sea Scouts - are getting qualified
The Wheaton Aston Sea Scouts have been busy gaining RYA qualifications. Well done to youngters Rory & Yuvraj for passing their level 2 and to Shannon and Jessica for getting their level 1. Good luck to the other 4 youngsters currently doing their level 2 and to Alison and Tim (Sea Explorer leaders) also doing level 2. Let's not forget the old guys! Gary Audis Sea Scout Leader and Steven Brown Group Sea Scout Leader got their safety Boat Certificates two weeks ago.

Open Day 2008
What a great day we had! The weather was just perfect and our visitors got a good sail and a chance to meet us and find out what we're all about. There are too many people to thank individually - so a big joint thank you to all the helpers and helms - the galley and BBQ crew (Mike - you have a new vocation!), the rescue team and the scouts. We are still waiting for course dates and will be in touch with those who were interested as soon as we have confirmation. In the mean time if you'd like to come back and see us one Sunday - get in touch with Gill and she'll organise for someone to look after you.

Pico Challenge Colwyn Bay
Two youngsters from Greensforge entered as crew and helm in the Pico Challenge at Colwyn Bay North Wales. This was a national competition and saw some of the the countries top youth sailers in action. Our two lads Lewis Brown and Sam Frost – Huskinson came a respectable 8th out of 16 Boats. This was their first time on the Sea and they were on the water all day Saturday and Sunday with just a lunch break. What a fantastic effort and a good start to the youth sailing at GSC. Well done guys!

Ringing the Bells for Brian - 11th May 2008

Sunday the 11th May was spent remembering our dear friend Brain Spruce with a special day of racing in his memory and the inauguration of the Brian Spruce trophy and a buffet. It was a lovely day with some good sailing and we were pleased to welcome many of Brian's friends to the club. The trophy was won by Lyndon Beasley - well done Lyndon!

Team Prizes at Bala SC
Bala are running Team prizes at their Open events - perhaps we could raise a team!
See the details here

Warm welcome to Wheaton Aston Scouts!

Greensforge offers a warm to welcome Wheaton Aston Scout group. We are pleased to extend our relationship with the sea scouts and to help get more youngsters on the water. Have a look at their website

New feature! Ask the boat doctor!

Got a technical question? Our resident boat doctor is here to help!

New Topper Topaz Dinghys - thanks to the Local Network Fund.

Greensforge is very grateful to the Local Network Fund for its generous grant which enabled us to purchase 3 Topper Topaz dinghies. The new boats are ideal for our yonger members and our affiliated scout groups and are perfect for adult beginners too! Click here to read the press release which gives more details.

Alison & Colin got Married on the Isle of Wight!

Thanks to everyone for all their kind wishes, Love Alison & Colin

Bala Long Distance Race
Greensforge fielded a good ( if rather last minute) turnout for the Bala Long distance race on Saturday 8th July. This was mostly to do with the weather and the height of the lake. It was a great sail and although we didn't win any trophies this year an excellent time was had by all - I'm not sure Jame's knees will agree! Click here to see the pictures on the Bala Sailing Club website - can you spot yourself?

GSC placings
Fast Handicap
L Beasley & T Dicker (Fireball) 8th
J Marson (Laser Rooster) 17th

Slow Handicap
M Reynolds & H Dyer (GP14) 6th
P Baker & M Greenland (ENT) 9th
M Cowell & W Cowell (GP14) 10th
N Benton & G Cooper (GP14) - broke their centreboard!

Bala Trophy snatched from grasp of GSC Commodore

The GSC Bala race was held in near perfect conditions on Sunday 9th July. Martin & Will Cowell had a strong lead for the whole race showing great spinnaker proficiency until the very last lap when Hugh & Angela Dyer pulled off an amazing come back from 2nd place for a nail biting finish.
The final result was...

1. Hugh & Angela Dyer (GP14)
2. Martin & Will Cowell (GP14)
3. P Baker & G Cooper (Enterprise)

Congratulations to Cathy and Neil Archer
on the safe arrival of their son Alastair on 12th June 2007.

A bit of your time...

If you sail a dual handed boat - or are happy to sail the Club Ent and could spare a bit of time on a Sunday to give a new member some time on the water then please contact Martin

Posted by Gill 16th April 07

37th Wolverhampton Sea Scouts

The scouts will be sailing on a regular basis on Saturdays and we hope that the scout leaders will come and join us on Sundays to gain a bit of racing experience. Greensforge is pleased to welcome Neal Quinton on to the committee to represent the Sea Scouts

Posted 2nd March 2007.

Open Day -Fantastic Success - Saturday 9th June 2007 - Well done everyone!

Pete Fellows filmed some of the grand event - click here to see it!

What a glorious day we had - and a fantastic turnout. We had record numbers of visitors who enjoyed a great day messing about in boats and finding out about the club. Many many thanks to everyone who helped out on the day and also beforehand with advertising etc.