News Archives

Dinner and Dance, 26th November (28/09/11)
After a fantastic 40th Anniversary Party last night with lots of lovely food donated by you wonderful members, great music and entertainment from Tommy and Jane, I thought I would now remind you that the Dinner and Dance isn't too far off. This is going to be another fabulous night at Hythe Imperial Hotel with - THREE COURSE MEAL - FUN CASINO - DISCO

Downloads:  Flyer   Menu   Booking Form

The fun will be taking place in THE MARSTON SUITE which we have exclusive use of and all this for a great price of just £32 each. Also don't forget that you can stay the night at the Hotel and use its facilities for £80 Bed & Breakfast so why not make a weekend of it!! Just phone the hotel and tell them that you are with the HSSC Party on Saturday 26th November to get your room at a great price. To secure yourself a ticket please let me have your Ticket Request Form and cheque by 21st October - alternatively you can purchase your tickets from Mary Harris who is at the club most Sundays. The Social Committee would love to see you there. With very best wishes - Pam and your Social Committee

HSSC's 40th Anniversary Party, 24th September (26/08/11)
HSSC is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in September and we are celebrating the event with a 40th Anniversary Party which is absolutely FREE. Click here for poster with full details.

All that we ask is that you bring a plate of food with you (American Supper style). In order to coordinate the food and ensure that we do not have too much of one thing and not enough of another we ask that you either see Mary Harris at the sailing club on Sundays or Thursdays or email her at rogerandmary.harris@btinternet.com so that she can put your name on the list and make a note of what you propose to bring.

We are in the process of inviting former members of the club to the party so if any of you know any former members please ask them to come along as this promises to be a great night. We look forward to seeing as many of you as can make the party and don't forget it is FREE !! With best wishes - Social Committee Click here for poster with full details

Cromer Cruise - The Brief Debrief, 15th September (26/08/11)
Many of you will know that our very own Gordon Jessop recently embarked on an epic single-handed voyage in his Wayfarer from HSSC to Cromer in Norfolk; a pretty impressive feat in such a small craft.

Gordon has kindly offered to present an overview of his trip at the club on 15th September 7.30pm. There will be questions on seamanship with prizes, and a collection with proceeds going to Pilgrim's Hospice. 

It should be a really interesting evening, and very nice to Gordon to do this, so I do hope as many members as possible will attend. Click here for a pic

Adrian Metherell (18/08/11)
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the recent death of long time HSSC member Adrian Metherell, who died last week after a short illness. We are given to understand that he was on a sailing holiday in Greece earlier this summer and was having difficulty with coordination. Back home he was diagnosed with two inoperable brain tumours. Although his condition was known to be terminal, his passing came rather sooner than the original prognosis. The fact that it happened very quickly was in one respect a blessing for both him and his wife Moira.

Adrian's funeral will take place at 1.20 pm on Friday 19th August, at Charing Crematorium, Newcourt Wood, Charing, Ashford, Kent TN27 0EB.

All are welcome afterwards for light refreshments at the Red Lion, The Square, Lenham, Kent ME17 2PG.

Family flowers only and donations to the RNLI in Adrian's memory, which should go to Hambrook and Johns of Hythe.

Adrian was Vice Commodore at HSSC for many years, and his long standing and dedicated work for the club was much appreciated. He was a very keen sailor, starting relatively late on and owning a Solo and then a 505 which he sailed at Hythe. He was then a part owner in a Beneteau First 305 and finally a Sigma 362, which he sailed from Dover under the burgee of the White Cliffs Motorboat and Yacht Club where he also served as Rear Commodore. He will be fondly remembered by everyone.

Summer Party, Saturday 16th July (07/07/11) by your Social Committee
Please click here for full details of our 'Wild Wild West' Summer party.

HSSC Clothing (28/06/11) by Tony Wyatt
A range of sweaters and polo shirts is now available, embroidered with the HSSC logo. Click here here to see an example of a polo shirt. Click here for full brochure. For more details or to order, please email enquiries@hssc.net 

Volunteers Wanted (16/06/11) by Tony Wyatt
In order to safely maintain our club, we need Fire Marshalls and Maintenance Inspectors. For details please contact Tony Wyatt commodore@hssc.net 

HSSC Regatta and RNLI Flag Race 25th June (16/06/11) by Tony Wyatt
Click here for full details to download.

Elliot Carney receives Marlow Ropes Award (25/05/11) by Marc Carney
Young RS:X windsurfer Elliot Carney received an additional boost to his blossoming campaign after he was awarded the coveted Marlow Ropes Award. The 22-year-old has posted a number of positive results in recent regattas, including qualifying for the top 10 medal race at the 2011 Rolex Miami OCR in January and the Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma last month. Member of Skandia Team GBR Development Squad giving him access to an array of world class training resources used by Britain's Olympic gold medal winning sailors - a real stepping stone to succeeding at the highest level. "My recent run of results and performances at the last couple of major regattas has been the key to me receiving this prestigious award," Carney commented. "My training over the past six months has been very intense which has been the reason to my recent success. I was in Perth in November and then onto Miami and then straight on from there to Brazil where I stayed for two months. From Brazil I travelled home to go straight out to Palma - so as you can imagine my ropes are pretty much worn out!" The young windsurfer is now part of an intensive training regime with fellow Skandia Team GBR member Nick Dempsey ahead of the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta which kicks off in June 2011. Having had his potential recognised with the Marlow Ropes accolade he is looking ahead to an exciting season. "It felt brilliant to be given the Marlow Ropes award and I'm sure it will benefit me in the upcoming regattas as well my overall performance. Having quality rope is all part of having a complete kit, if you haven't got the best kit then you haven't got a complete kit which is essential when competing at a high level," the Hythe-based sailor continued. "My main target now it to get a good performing result at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta and then the main focus after that will be the World Championships in Perth. Looking ahead to the 2012 Olympics, my main aim is to be selected and then to go on and win gold." The Marlow award entitles Carney to free Marlow rope for a year; a financial boost previous winners, double World 470 champions Nic Asher and Elliot Willis and 2008 Olympic Yngling gold medallist Pippa Wilson, have also benefitted from. Marlow Ropes introduced the award in 2002 with the aim of rewarding Britain's most promising rookies for their determination, focus and talent. Barrie Edgington, Skandia Team GBR Development Squad Manager, commented: "Elliot has demonstrated that matching commitment to potential really can pay dividends. Thanks to putting in the hard work, he has developed very well in the competitive environment of the RS:X Class culminating in qualifying for the top 10 medal race at the 2011 Rolex Miami OCR and the Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma. "I am delighted that Elliot has been given the Marlow Ropes award and am confident that he now has the best high performance rope necessary to support his progress further," Edgington concluded. As well as supporting up-and-coming sailors, Marlow Ropes are also the official supplier and exclusive team ropes partner to Skandia Team GBR thanks to its industry-renowned reputation for producing products tried, tested and trusted in the world's harshest environments. Paul Honess, Marlow Marketing & Yachting Sales Director, said: "We find that working with team members such as Elliot helps us to develop our products. In turn we at Marlow can educate team members on the latest materials and rope constructions to help keep British sailors at the leading edge." For all the latest news on Skandia Team GBR's sailors in action around the world visit www.skandiateamgbr.com

HSSC Cadet Group (20/05/11) by Jeremy Speakman
We are planning to set up an HSSC Cadet Group (10 - 16yrs) and aiming to run sessions on Saturdays from mid June. These sessions will focus on fun sailing activities but including general improvement and/or complete beginner taster sessions. We are in discussions with Redoubt sailing Club which can provide more sheltered conditions and we are hoping to link in with their cadet group and also the sea scouts. It would be most helpful if you could indicate if you have a child in this age group (possibly younger if competent swimmer) and are interested in your child being involved. Please contact me by email. Many thanks. Jeremy.

Winning Raffle Tickets (04/05/11)
After our very successful Windsurfing for Cancer Research day, the holders of the following winning raffle ticket numbers have yet to claim their prizes.

75 - 72 - 64 - 9 - 21 - 92 - 62 - 17 - 15 - 31

The prizes are at the club, or contact Barry Hall on 01303 264349 and he will let them know what you have won.

New Weather Station Online (29/04/11)
I'm pleased to announce that HSSC's weather station is now fully back online. After the death of the old anemometer at the end of last year (which was the last remaining working weather instrument) the club committee decided it was time to replace the old Oregon weather station hardware which has served us well for so many years.

To replace it, the club recently purchased a state of the art Davis Vantage Pro 2 weather station, which Roger Harris and I installed yesterday. The integrated sensor unit has been sited in the centre of the club roof facia, runs on solar power, and transmits its data wirelessly to a new console on the back wall in the galley. The console, as before, communicates with the weather station PC, sending data to our live online site at www.hssc.net

The new anemometer has been sited at the top of a taller mast on the East side of the clubhouse. We felt this was the most appropriate position, as it receives completely clear air from southerly through westerly directions - the prevailing conditions. Unavoidably, windspeed readout is still unreliable from northeasterly and Easterly directions, due to the tall building next to the east side of the club. However, the taller mast should improve the readings somewhat from before. The anemometer, being of significantly higher quality than before, will produce more accurate readings, and has been correctly calibrated for direction.

Not only is the weather station a facility much appreciated by members, but it also attracts significant outside interest in the club, from which we hope new membership will arise.

Sailing Training Weekend May 14th and 15th (25/04/11) by Duncan Robb

Unfortunately due to insufficient numbers this sailing course has now been cancelled. However, we may arrange an alternative date later in the season and any information regarding this will be posted on the website. If you are interested in taking part in a sailing course please contact Dover Water Sports directly.

Sailing training weekend available to exsisting members. May 14th- 15th 2011 at Dover Watersport's Centre. RYA level 1 course, (level 2 course may be available if numbers permit ). Younger members can follow the equilvalent RYA young sailors scheme (children need to be aged 8 or above). Only 12 spaces available!

£80 pp ( plus £5 for certicate and RYA logbook if required ).

If you would like to book, please contact dinghytraining@hssc.net stating whether you would like to do the Level one or two course or whether it is for a child. Details will follow thereafter.

Elliot and Claudia Latest (02/04/11) by Marc Carney
Elliot and Claudia start racing this weekend at the Princess Sofia Olympic Regatta Palma. Keep up with the action with GPS live tracking and the latest race results at http://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/noticias.php 

Also there are the Junior Windsurfing Championships at Whtiwell 11th 12th June for all 3.5. 4.5 and 5.8 the 6.8 and 7.8 can sail in the UKWA event running at the same time and there is also the Rutland Marathon for all to enter for a bit of fun (Phil and I will be on a tandem but he doesn't know it yet), check out the UKWA web site http://ukwindsurfing.com/events/2011/national-junior-championships/ to enter and for more details.

And not to forget we are hosting another localUKWA event but this time it at Minnis Bay 28-30 May (thanks to Phil) should be good fun and if any of the 5.8,6.8 and 7.8 want to race they can enter again go to the UKWA web site. If anyone fancies a bit of freestyle, there is also a tag along, freestyle event running at athe same time, always good to watch, if you want to know how to fall in!

Windsurfing 4 Cancer Research (25/03/11) by Barry Hall
HSSC will be supporting W4CR on the 1st May. We we will be holding our usual Sunday sailing but also incorporating the windsurfers, Team 15 and any other water-sports that can join us on the water subject to weather conditions.

In addition to the normal 11am to 1pm race we will try to hold some fun races in the afternoon for Team 15 and anyone else who would like to join in. The bar and galley will be open and there will be a raffle for after racing has finished. There will also be prizes for the racing - Surf Sales and Activ have both agreed to support us with this. Tickets for the raffle will go on sale in April and Sponsorship forms for taking part on the water can be obtained from me.

More details about the event on the W4CR website

Members Survey (02/03/11) by Tony Wyatt
Members, please download our 2011 survey and complete before the end of March.    PDF   Word Doc

Elliot wins in Miami (27/01/11) by Marc Carney
Elliot Carney has just won his first International event -  the RSX North American Championships. The event is held in Miami each year, and is a warm up event to the 1st of the ISAF world series events - the US Rolex OCR International Regatta. Elliot is currently in 8th place in the series overall, after the first three days of racing, with a string of consistent top ten results. Click here for photo

It is a major break through to get into the top twenty, let alone the top ten in this highly competitive field, so let's hope he can maintain his form and finish the week in the top ten. To follow his progress for the rest of the week, follow the link www.ussailing.org/Rolex/2011/rsxm/rsxm.html

Happy New Year! (19/01/11)

It seems to come round faster and faster as the years go by - it's time once again to wish you all a very Happy New Year! It won't be long now until the season starts, and I'm sure you are all looking forward to it as much as I am. Your committee will be working hard behind the scenes to plan another great year for HSSC members, and this is the place to get all the latest news and info. See you on the beach. Mat.