Captains Log

Captains Log January 2010 

I am already looking forward to this years JOG racing season, it seems a very long time since our last race. We have had some “interesting” weather over the winter months and I am hoping that putting up with some bad weather this winter will buy us a good summer.  (There is nothing wrong with wishful thinking!!)

We have another Illingworth Challenge this year starting Saturday 17^th July. The destination is once again La Trinite where we were so warmly welcomed and entertained by the local yacht club the SNT. The whole area is a wonderful place to cruise with many delightful ports and anchorages.

This year the Illingworth Challenge is included in the JOG Offshore Championship and, based on our experiences from the first race we have changed the race to a Category 3 race with some additional prescriptions. Additionally, we do recognise that some Competitors may not be able to compete in the race because of other commitments so we have left the number of qualifying races for the Offshore Championship the same as last year.

If you are considering entering the race and would like to know more or discuss certain points then please contact me or Peter Chartres – we’re here to help you get the most out of JOG.

On January 23^rd we held another JOG Members Forum at the Royal Southampton Yacht Club. The idea behind the Forum is to allow members of JOG to discuss matters of the Club and provide feedback to the Committee.

A specific issue requested as an Agenda Item by one of our Members was ISAF Regulation 20 Advertising Code and its application to JOG Racing. This issue is discussed regularly by the Committee because every season it seems to be raised by at least one prospective Competitor.

After discussing all the issues regarding ISAF Regulation 20 in detail, the Forum was very clear in its view that we should remain a “no advertising” Corinthian racing Club and that we should follow ISAF Regulation 20 to the letter.

Other points discussed were our race destinations, the possibility of more return races from our existing destinations, the Illingworth Challenge, our 60^th Anniversary Regatta in 2011 and Class Rating Bands. All of the feedback will be useful to the Committee in the coming year to plan 2011 and future years of JOG racing.

I firmly believe our regular Forums are extremely useful. They provide an opportunity for JOG members to discuss the future of their Club. After all, it is only by providing what our Members want that we can continue to prosper and succeed in our quite unique niche of Corinthian offshore racing. That does not mean to say, however, that all ideas or items discussed at a Forum will be implemented in JOG. As always there are many issues to be considered whilst balancing the fundamental concept of JOG with the demands and changes of the future - that is the job of the elected Committee.

At the beginning of January I sailed a yacht to the Netherlands. Apart from being a tad on the cold side it was very pleasant sailing. We left the Solent early on the morning of New Years Day and you could count the number of yachts on one hand. It was a classic sunny winter’s day and I suspect more yachts ventured out as the day progressed.

Interestingly, I was boarded three times during the 300 mile trip. The first time was by French Customs near Dunkerque. The second time was by Dutch Customs at Hoek Van Holland and the third time was by Dutch Immigration on the North Sea Canal.

All our boarders were very polite and courteous, if somewhat amazed that a small yacht should be out in such temperatures! In each case they wanted to inspect our documents. What interested me most was in each case the first document they asked to see was the Ships Log, followed by the usual registrations for vessel, radio and, of course, passports.