Bore Da - Good Morning

Welcome to this December Edition of the CHPSC e-newsletter.

‍As 2023 draws to an end with the last racing weekend completed, it's time to reflect on another busy year here at Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club.

It was such a relief to plan this year, without the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, but mindful of the cost of living crisis that put everybody’s budgets under strain. It was great to see both the Hafan and Plas Heli berths full, and people taking time to enjoy everything the town, harbour and bay has to offer.

CHIPAC, our youth sailing section were able to get back to training, though blighted by some poor weather towards the end of the season. Many CHIPAC sailors have advanced to keelboats, and thanks to the generosity of Peter Dunlop and Vicky Cox, campaigned the J70 “Mojito Bach” in club racing and at Abersoch Keelboat week, with CHIPAC sailors also sailing on “Sgrech Bach”, “Mojito” and “Finally”. Next year CHIPAC senior instructor Mike Thorpe is planning to enter the recently purchased GP14 into the World Championships with a CHIPAC crew, to be held here in Pwllheli. 

Members cruised extensively all over the world, with Mike White notably completing a solo cruise from St Lucia to Pwllheli via Dingle in "Bellone".

A very successful cruise in company to Dun Laoghaire took place with several members taking part, in addition to several cruises to other Irish destinations and Scotland, and many local cruises in company.

It was very pleasing awarding the trophies at the recent gala black tie Christmas Party and Prize Giving, to the racing and cruising recipients, and particularly Stuart Morgan and Barry Simmons who cooperated by crewing on each boats to allow them to visit Ireland twice, and the final and most prestigious prize of the evening, the lifetime contribution award, for voluntary work for our club, over many years, this year awarded to Stephen Tudor.

Further reports on the Christmas Party can be found here

‍Racing skippers and crew represented our club all over the world, notably in the Fastnet, Transat, Caribbean 600, Middle Sea race, the AZAB, West Highland Yachting Week, VDLR, 1720 and Squib Irish Nationals, Sovereigns Cup, the ISORA series, AKW and more! It was particularly pleasing that we were invited to take part in the Royal Yacht Squadron Commodore’s challenge at Cowes, and I’m delighted that we have been invited to race again in 2024.

‍Closer to home we had a very busy Pwllheli Challenge series, held over five weekends this Autumn,  with 12 boats taking part most days. I would like to thank our race management team, Robin and Brian for their tireless work setting courses, running the bridge, and scoring, and to Rear Commodore and Racing Captain Vicky Cox for the planning of the schedule.

Plas Heli have been busy running some very prestigious events, with a number of club members helping out. There are always opportunities to volunteer in a variety of roles at these events.

Finally, we continue to work with Sean to ensure that the Bar and Restaurant is serving our needs, and we are planning several social events next year, targeted at members and their guests, starting with an Easter party on March 31st with the great Jac Dobson a’r band performing for us. This event is open to all, and a great opportunity to meet and discuss boating plans for the season ahead, and of course more "Dancing with Dave!" Further information and tickets on sale shortly.

The 2024 Calendar should be available very soon, and we will publish times when a Flag Officer will be around Plas Heli to hand these out.

As we move in to 2024, we also remember our members who passed away during the year and send sympathies to their families. May they rest in peace.

‍

I would like to thank all the Flag Officers and committee for their support, and on behalf of us all, may I wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a great New Year.

‍We hosted seven significant sailing events in 2023 including the IRC Welsh National Championships and Feva Nationals in May. In August we hosted the ITCA Topper Nationals and 420 Class Association UK Nationals, Optimist Late Summer Championships in September and a 29er Grand Prix in October. This is in addition to many regional and National Training Camps.

We are now planning for 2024 with an exciting diary of events, including the SuperNova Nationals, the GP14 World Championship, IOCA Nationals and an ILCA Qualifier Event in September 2024.

We have continued to improve the facilities with more grass areas for tents camping and we now have 53 electric hook-ups for camping! (only 15 in 2020). There is a new dinghy wash down area and we have new CCTV cameras in both Cei Heli (quayside) and Parc Heli (our main compound). These add to our existing extensive coverage.

The telehandler makes the deployment of equipment for events and training camps a safe and easier operation. The perimeter flags have been purchased ready for the 2024 season - these make a significant improvement to the site appearance.

The crane has been a big benefit to the Centre, and we hope to see growth in the sports boats fleet in 2024.

We have further extended our capacity on the pontoons with new finger pontoons, and we are now receiving applications for 2024 berths on- line. 

‍There have been substantial upgrades to the fleet of 12 RIBs and race management equipment.

We also have more landscaping projects in the pipeline including work on Cei Heli and a new security barrier access to Cei Heli for our pontoon customers.

Plas Heli Pontoon customers now have the use of shower cabins in Caban Heli with additional works being carried out this winter.

We continue to work closely with RYA CW to provide facilities for training camps, storage, and activities, and we respect the strategic importance of the facilities for events, training and boating in Wales.

Community engagement works continues and included our work with clubs and associations, assistance with facilities for a disability boat, fundraising events, classrooms for community groups, meetings, teaching and our work with children in-need.

Catering at the centre is with our franchisee operator Sean Devlin Ltd. The service is growing in reputation, and they have built a good name for quality and customer experience.

We are reliant on volunteers and are of course, grateful for all assistance provided by our stakeholder groups and clubs and in particular the Commodore and Flag Officers of Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club.

Challenges for 2024 include energy costs and shower and toilet provision for the growing events and training portfolio.

There is more about Plas Heli in the updated Plas Heli - Prospectus

‍Your membership Details 

‍Card Number for: 

______________________________

Your User Name:   

______________________________

Your 2023 Membership Details:

‍ ‍

 ______________________________

Your Noted Interest in CHPSC

‍

‍Please support our 2023 Sponsors / Cefnogwch ein Noddwyr yn 2023

‍You can follow CHPSC on Face book

|  www.pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk   |