The Rathmullan Sailing and Water Sports Club

Thanks to all our club members who attended the recent AGM of RSWC. There was an excellent turnout on the night and it was very encouraging to see so many of our junior members in attendance.

Outgoing club secretary David Browne acknowledged the work of all members of the RSWC committee 2011. Aengus Kennedy was commended for his outstanding commitment to club development over the past year. David also highlighted the need for additional safety boat operators to accommodate club expansion in the coming year. Any club members who are interested in becoming safety boat operators should contact Damian Rodgers on 0868033344, who can organise ISA Powerboat training. The club also plan to run practical RIB sessions on the water which will enable people to gain useful experience in power boating. These sessions will be notified to club members via club texts. Thanks goes to James Gallagher for volunteering his time and invaluable knowledge/experience in accommodating members who wish to improve their RIB piloting skills.

An exciting development this year is the addition of two children’s representatives to the club committee. Congratulations to Shauna Rodgers and Adam Khavia who are the clubs first junior committee members. As representatives of every junior member of the club we look forward to their suggestions and schemes for the coming year!

We were also delighted to have the opportunity to elect two junior race reporters who will diligently report on all the racing and training which takes place this year. This huge responsibility has gone to two of our youngest and very talented sailors Eithne Boyle and Eimear Rodgers. Go girls!!

For a full list of newly elected committee members 2012 please check out the club website.

Wishing all our members another great year on the water for 2012.

February’s Junior Race Workshop is taking place on Saturday 18th from 1 – 4 pm.  Another great opportunity for our young members to advance their racing knowledge and skills ahead of the spring/summer racing schedules.

Don’t forget to book early to ensure a place! Contact Aengus on 086 8123019.

The Annual General Meeting of RSWC will take place on Tuesday 31st March 2012 in Rathmullan Resource Centre, from 8 – 9 pm.

All our members, including our junior members, are encouraged to attend as this will be a great opportunity to voice your opinions and views on where/how you see your club developing over the coming year. It’s also a chance to meet and communicate with other members of the club and get the full ‘low down’ on how we’ve been doing so far!

See you all there!

Aengus Kennedy is running the first of the New Year junior racing skills workshops this coming Saturday 14th January.  Meet at the compound at 1pm and finish time will be approx 4pm. If interested please contact Aengus on 0868123019.

These workshops are proving to be very popular so to ensure a place please book early!

RSWC Annual Frostbite Sail will take place tomorrow Sunday Jan 1st 2012 at 12md. Contact James to book your place on 086228881. Come along and join in the fun of our very first club sail of the New Year. A promising forecast of fresh southwesterly winds and mild temperatures should provide ideal sailing conditions to start off our 2012 season!

Wishing all our members a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

A Junior Race Workshop will take place on Saturday 17 December, this will involve a racing workshop and race practice from 1-4pm. Tips and training in race starts, course choices and racing rules. An essential course for those who want to stay up in the league! Contact Aengus 086 812 3019.

On October 22^nd a very successful junior racing tips and skills workshop was held by Aengus Kennedy, our hugely popular and talented sailing instructor. Aengus plans to run these afternoon sessions right through the winter months, weather permitting. So if you want to leave the competition in irons and be first over the line please book your place with Aengus on 0868123019 for the next session. Set to take place this coming Saturday afternoon, 19^th November from 1 – 4pm. Judging from the 100% positive feedback we have received from our junior sailors this is one event not to be missed. But if you did miss out last time, here’s what one of our youngest talented sailors had to report about the day.

Junior Race Training with Aengus Kennedy by Eithne Boyle.

One damp and windy Autumn Saturday, a group of junior sailors gathered on the shores of Lough Swilly open minded and willing to learn how to become even better sailors. Unfortunately the heavens opened and the rain beat down hard so we retreated under the roof of the local community center.

For 40 minutes our trusty instructor Aengus explained some basic theory and rules of racing to us. After our helpful class the sun came out of hiding and the rain died down to a light drizzle. We headed out on the water and put our theory into testing.

Angus plotted out a few race courses for us to compete and practice our new skills on. A steady South Easterly wind guaranteed us a brilliant sail.

The day had been wonderful. We had great wind, a little rain, a bit of sunshine, loads of fun and a brilliant instructor. We are definitely looking forward to the next one!

Thanks Aengus!

RSWC successfully launched their 2012 calendar at the St Vincent de Paul centre in Rathmullan on Friday 4^th November. This is the 2^nd edition of the calendar and RSWC intend it to be an annual production, raising funds for the SVdP and RSWC.

Hundreds of photos of Rathmullan and its environs were submitted for inclusion in this year’s calendar and Donal Maguire had the difficult job of deciding which photos should make the cut. The result is a collection of diverse and engaging images of Rathmullan, its people, locality and activities both on land and water. Once again, Rathmullan based award winning Carton LeVert Design voluntarily gave their time and expertise to produce this stylish and engaging edition of the calendar.

Conal Dryslane of the SVdP was MC for the night and he thanked James Gallagher, supported by the RSWC for the original concept of the calendar and Carton LeVert for its production. Proceeds from the night went to the SVdP and over €300 was raised, for this very worthy charity. The SVdP in Rathmullan provide services for senior citizens in the locality and also facilitate the wider community in many ways.

We hope you will enjoy the images contained in the calendar and you might even see a face or two you recognise! Demand is high for these calendars so hurry and get your copy (or copies) now, available to buy in local businesses and in the SVdP centre.

A practical and enjoyable addition to any home or a delightful Christmas present for friends and family both at home and away!

For all our hardy sailors here is the November/December Club open sail schedule. Sail on Saturday 19th November will be a junior racing tips and skills course provided by our very talented sailing instructor, Aengus Kennedy. Aengus plans to run these very popular courses right through the winter months, so if you want to get ahead of the fleet and be in with a chance of being the first over the line, contact Aengus – next sesssion 19th November.

Saturday sails are now from 2 – 4pm and Sunday sails continue from 10 am – 12 md. Please contact safety boat operators with intent to sail. Have fun!

Saturday 12th November – Karena 0863866801

Sunday 13th – James 0862288181

Saturday 19th – Aengus 086123019 Please note this sail will be a juniors racing tips and skills sail and will be from 1 – 4pm.

Sunday 20th – Damian 0868033344

Saturday 26th – Joan 0876890542

Sunday 27th – David 0868162389

Saturday 3rd December - Rick 0863863455

Sunday 4th – Pauline 0863396095

Saturday 10th – Caroline 0860733164

Sunday 11th – Karena 0863866801

RSWC would like to invite everyone along to the launch of their 2012 calendar on Friday 4th November at 8pm in the St Vincent de Paul centre in Rathmullan.

Proceeds from the calendar will go to the SVdP and RSWC. Thanks to everyone who submitted their photos of Rathmullan’s people and places for inclusion in this year’s calendar. Why not come along and join us and see did your photos make the cut!

Friday 8pm – see you there!