Volvo Champion Club Status update (10/11/2000)
HSSC is now close to achieving Champion Club Status, thanks to a whole lot of work y Club members, and an extensive programme devised by Mark Brooks. Click here to see the original action plan.

Wimereux to Calais Race update (23/9/2000)
By Antoine Breton. This year's Wimereux to Calais race was held on 17th September and was a great success for all involved. There was a great score from our windsurfing Team in France: Marc Carney came in third place and is bringing back a cup to the club, plus a wetsuit as a prize. The rest of the fleet also did well, with 6 of our 16 racers in the 15 first places - well done! The conditions were not easy, the Force 3 wind was not sufficient to fight against the waves generated by the strong tide and the storm of the day before. The racers had to spend between 2 hours and 3 ½ hours on the water, at least 2/3 of it without using their harness! The organisation was as good as last year ensuring the total safety of the race and a friendly atmosphere. Next steps: the Olympics! Click here for the full results.

Dinner and Dance, Saturday 18th November (15/9/2000)
This year's dinner and Dance will be held at Wards Hotel in Folkestone on Saturday 18th November, starting 7.30 pm. This year promises to be a great event, starting earlier and finishing later. The cost is just £18 (£20 if you also require minibus travel) which includes a disco and meal. Tables are for 8 people each. [Book your tickets]

Redoubt Sailing Club winter sailing & windsurfing (15/9/2000)
Message from Andy Gibson: We are invited to join the Redoubt Sailing Club at their Autumn series on the lake at West Hythe. The Redoubt is a friendly family club , keen to get novices involved with racing. Their racing series starts 1100 am 1/10/00 and every Sunday until March, and anyone who has achieved level 1 dinghy sailing or is happy sailing a triangle is welcome to attend. Cost: normal topper/laser hire rates plus you will need to join the Redoubt as an 'Autumn member' (single £15-00, family £25-00, junior £7-50 which is a bargain for 5 months sailing!!) If you want to give it a try: I will ensure an experienced HSSC member is present for the first few weekends we will leave hulls locked at the Redoubt lake, with removeables (rigs, rudders etc) left at HSSC. Let me know asap so I can e-mail or post you a Redoubt membership form ( you'll need to fill this in soon). I will organise a recap on racing rules before we start. Hope to see you there - its a lovely lake & some of the best sailing days can be at this time of year - I promise you'll learn a lot.
Message from Dave Bran: Hi Everybody! Can I just point out that Redoubt Windsurfing Club also offer a similar opportunity for Autumn/Winter Windsurfing at the West Hythe Lake. Winter Membership is available now for only £15, £20 for a family of four (cheaper than RSC!), or just £7.50 for juniors/students. This lasts from now until April, and gives access every day bar Christmas Day. As Andy says for RSC, a bargain and also an ideal opportunity to develop better speed and master those tricky moves in a very safe environment on the stronger Autumn winds. Unlike the Redoubt Sailing Club, we do not have a formal race series, but when there's a group big enough at the site with suitable winds we arrange some fun racing or other event to aid your progress toward winning the World Tour!! Those interested please initially contact me: Dave Bran (Chairman RWC and HSSC member)

Peter Hart Training Day, 17th October (4/9/2000)
A unique chance to improve your windsurfing under the guidance of the world-renowned technique guru Peter Hart. The opportunity to be taught locally by Peter is a chance not to be missed. Tune your kit, get your waterstarts wired, crack that carve-gybe, sail faster, better. Whatever stage you are at, expert tuition of this caliber is sure to help. The cost of this full day is just £35, and there are only ten places available, so hurry down to Activ Sports in Sandgate Road, Folkestone to secure your place. The training day will be held on Tuesday 17th October at HSSC, starting at 10.00 am.

RNLI Charity race Update (3/9/2000)
Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club held its annual charity regatta in support of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on Sunday. Thirteen windsurfers and sailors turned out to race, raising a total of £65 for the RNLI. In addition to this, the Club also donated the proceeds from its Summer Millennium party, a further £268. Despite an exemplary safety record themselves, Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club is proud to support the RNLI in recognition of the invaluable service they provide. Winners of the days events were Eric Petts (windsurfing) and Bill Regan (Sailing). Trophies were presented in a short ceremony after the racing by delegates from the RNLI, who also received the Club's total donation of £333.

Wimereux to Calais Race, 17th Sept (1/9/2000)
Once again this year the club will participate in the windsurfing race in France between Wimereux and Calais on the 17th of September, a race organised by the Departmental Committee of Pas de Calais. The race is about 40 km (22 nautical miles), enjoying the beauty of the French coast, passing the point of  "Gris Nez" (Grey nose) and "Blanc Nez" (White nose, the French cousin of the White Cliffs of Dover). It is open to experienced windsurfers, competent on a long-board. Thanks to EUROTUNNEL a team of 19 windsurfers from HSSC and their equipment will be transferred quickly to France for the 10:30 (9:30 BST) race start at Wimereux. Wish them good luck and a safe race!

RNLI Charity race (30/8/2000)
It'll never happen to me! Well we hope not, but every year thousands of people are saved by the brave people who man our coastal lifeboats. In recognition of this, the Club holds a yearly windsurf race event, with all proceeds donated to the RNLI. This year's event is next weekend on Sunday 3rd September, starting at 11.00 am. Fee is £5. Please do try and participate. 

SAGA Have a Go day - update (30/8/2000)
Last weekend, Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club put on a special 'have a go day' for anyone from SAGA who wanted to try out windsurfing. SAGA have sponsored the club by buying 6 windsurf boards and sails, and the club wanted to say thank you and express their gratitude by offering their staff a free day of windsurfing. Photos are in the Gallery.

Simon and IRA's Birthday Party, 2nd Sept (30/8/2000)
Club members. Don't miss this one! Simon and Ira are having a joint birthday party on Saturday 2nd September - when you get there till when you leave - and this promises to be one of the biggest the Club has seen. So be there or be dreadfully disappointed forever after.

HSSC Leaflets (19/8/2000)
Earlier in the year, glossy full colour A4 leaflets were produced to publicise the Club. If you know of anywhere suitable to place these, please take some from the Club Info board, or contact Mat or Jane Mackenzie (publicity). Click here for an example.

Hythe Festival Race update (19/8/2000)
Sunday 13th August saw at least 30 windsurfers entering the Hythe Festival Regatta. Due to the promise of some wind and some good weather conditions, it was a well attended race. Even one of the junior windsurfers, Ben Clark, took part in the race. The race was set on a triangular course which tested the sailors skills and allowed for very good spectator viewing. Three courses were raced over the afternoon in three different classes. 1^st in the Open Class was Graham Fuller. Steve Avery came 1^st in the One Design Class and Barry Farnes was 1^st in the Senior Class. The trophies for the event will be presented at the annual Dinner and Dance in November. The Hythe and Saltwood windsurfing fleet is becoming one of the biggest racing fleets in the country and is still growing. The youngest sailors are from the age of 7 and the oldest goes from 50 upwards. This is a sport for the whole family to take part in and we had a son and father battling for positions in this race along side a husband and wife pair.

Ship Race update (4/8/2000)
Sunday the 30th July saw the best turnout yet for our annual long distance race, sponsored by the Ship Inn, Sandgate. As usual, all the regular windsurfers and sailors were there, but it was especially nice to see a strong contingent from Dover Watersports, as well and many new youngsters, trained up by our new instructors and using the new equipment our sponsors have helped to fund. In all, 45 craft participated. The juniors fleet set off an hour before the main fleet, enabling all to be seen safely ashore at Sandgate before the rescue boats came back to accompany the rest. Once again, Stuart Wiffen, proprietor of The Shipp Inn, put on a fabulous bar-be-que, with plenty of food for everyone. After the feast, the formalities commenced in great spirits with the presentation of trophies. Winners were - windsurfing: Andy Gibson; Sailing: John Hope, Penny Foulkes; Junior fleet: Ben Brooks. Click here and here for the photos.

Summer Millennium part update (1/8/2000)
It promised to be a big do, and was it ever! Preparations started early with the decorations, balloons and lights going up, and the spit roast pig on a low a heat. A purpose built balcony was erected at the rear of the Club to maximise space, with the front balcony once again transformed into a white wonderland by acres of arctic camouflage netting. The evening began with the presentation of RYA beginners course certificates, then the children piled out to the front and rear to play on the bucking bronco and bouncy castle. The band - Boomerang Flu - then fired up and things really got going. Despite the extra space, some 200 guests packed the clubhouse and balconies. A very fine roast pig was served later in the evening to keep everybody going until the surfing competition started. The party carried on well into the night, with a disco and karaoke keeping everyone entertained. Many thanks to all those who made for such a great evening. Click here and here for the photos.

Ship Race, 30th July 2000 (17/7/2000)
The biggest sporting event of the year is nearly here - The 2000 long distance race sponsored by The Ship Inn Sandgate. Be there on the morning of 30th July to prepare to sail, windsurf, canoe, run, walk, cycle or skateboard down the coast for a slap-up bar-be-que courtesy of The Ship Inn. This is always a great day, so make a note in your diaries. See you there.

Summer Party, 15th July 2000!!! (5/7/2000)
Thanks to a lot of hard work from members, our summer party on 15th July is going to be a GREAT event. Don't miss it. Click here for more details.

Mat and Jane tie the knot (23/6/2000)
You don't learn this particular hitch on the beginners sailing course! On Friday 9th June, Mat Mackenzie finally did the decent thing and married Jane Button. After seven years living in s-s-Sandgate, they figured it was time to make it official. Click here for slushy wedding photo.

Training courses (23/6/2000)
We now have a full contingent of 8 RYA qualified windsurfing instructors, thanks to the hard work of a group of our members. These people are already putting their skills into practice by instructing at Dover Watersports Centre, helping out with the large group of beginners who are learning there on Thursday evenings. Well done also to the 6 who qualified as Club coaches.

National Scorpion Class Championships 24th-25th June (23/5/2000)
The National Scorpion Class Southern Area Championships will be held at Hythe over the weekend of 24th and 25th June 2000 (3 races to count from 6 sailed overall). Saturday 24th there will be 3 races at the Redoubt Sailing Club. Timetable: First race - 12:00; Second and third races back-to-back - 14:30; Prize giving - 17:30. Entry fee is £7.00. Sunday 25th the racing will be held at Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club. Timetable: First and second races back-to-back - 10:30; Third race after a short break for lunch; Prize giving - 15:45. Entry fee is £7.00. Party! There is a special social event on the Saturday evening at HSSC (see our social calendar), which will include a BBQ and live band. Do come along for what is promised to be a great weekend. See also the Scorpion web site.

Windsurfing equipment and instructors (16/5/2000)
We now have 6 Calypso boards and rigs for the kids and 6 Aloha boards and 12 complete rigs: 6 x 5.5 metre for the youth fleet and 6 x 6.5 metre for adults to hire. The new Alohas have been purchased through SAGA Sponsorship of £2,250 and Club funds. The rigs are now stored in new racks in the rescue boat store. The boards are to be kept on two road trailers (Thanks to Andy Gibson and Graeme Fuller) ready for transport to training and race events. These are available for our youth and adult training programmes, and for supervised hire for training/free sailing purposes. This is great news for all concerned in the development of the club! For those not already aware a we now have 10 more qualified personnel holding Powerboat level 2 certificates and 10 new qualified First Aiders (thanks to instructor Pat Ling). We hope to have 8 qualified windsurfing instructors and 6 club coaches by the end of June.

New Season (26/4/2000)
The windsurfing season is now in full swing, with several Tuesday evenings already under the belts of our long-boarders. Good Friday certainly lived up to its name with a perfect low-tide early morning, sunny and blessed with a constant force five. And just three of us were out to enjoy it.

Free Sailing and Windsurfing Courses (1/4/2000)
HSSC is happy to announce this year's sailing and windsurfing courses which are run in conjunction with Dover Watersports Centre. At the Centre, you can be assured of the best equipment, instructors, and a safe harbour environment in which to learn. For new members, this course is offered FREE! For family members, one adult and one child (under 18) may participate free (normal cost £35.00 per person). These places always go quickly, so book now. Further details may be obtain from Mark Brooks on commodore@hssc.net

Weather Central (11/2/2000)
The HSSC Weather Central site is now on line. Click on the orange and blue icon on the right of the navigation bar to check out the best way to get the live weather data you need.

HSSC.NET!!! (1/2/2000)
Its official! HSSC now has its very own unique and permanent identity on the internet! Add www.hssc.net to your list of favourites and you'll never be far from the most up-to-date info on the Club. Not to mention all those pictures of the great times we've had. To celebrate its launch, the site itself is being expanded, with a sponsors page, information on the Club's new action plan, and nucleus of weather information - WEATHER CENTRAL - in the pipeline. Add to that the new navigation front-end with context-sensitive information, and we've really got a site to be proud of. Welcome to HSSC.NET!

Millennium Party (2/1/2000)
Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club has just seen in the Millennium in style, with a fantastic party organised by Club members. The evening saw the Club decorated beautifully, with the balcony transformed into a snow-scene grotto by acres of white arctic camouflage netting. The decor was only surpassed by a buffet fit for a King, the remains of which were force-fed to those kind enough to come down the following day to clear up. A huge thank you to everyone who helped. You know who you are!

New photos (2/1/2000)
Click here to see the latest additions to the photo gallery, which now includes the rather wild windsurfers leaving party.