February Newsletter 2026

As the new season is fast approaching and we are all thinking about dusting off the sailing kit, just a few bits before we start the season.

There are still a few places to fill on the duty rota for this year, I have attached the updated program for information. If you haven’t yet signed up for a duty please let me know as soon as possible which dates you would like. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Weather depending, and flood waters receding we are hoping to welcome members back at the club for the first working party of the season on Sunday 22 February starting at 10 am. This will be de-winterising the club and a few outdoors jobs to keep everyone busy. There will be a list on the notice board. Sturdy shoes or wellies and gloves may be needed. Hot drinks and biscuits will be provided but please bring lunch. The weekend working parties of 28 Feb and 1st March will be more focused including painting jobs and outdoor jobs, more details to follow once we can get to the club.

The new website and database will be coming online in the next few weeks, ready for the sending out of membership renewals. Please can you email Lynda (avonsc.membership@gmail.com) with any changes or additions to family members or boats, kayaks or paddle boards.

Once the new website is in place work can be scheduled to reassign the cameras to the new website. Once this has been completed still images will once again be available within the member pages.

This year we are taking part in two events to promote the club to new members, these are the Woodmancote Fayre on Monday 4th May and Tewkesbury Big Weekend. The Tewkesbury big weekend is held on 16th and 17th May, we have our same position by the slipway again this year, in order to be able to show off our boats, we are once again taking part in the parade on the Saturday afternoon, the Theme this year is David Attenborough Nature – Land, Sea & Sky and defending our title in the bell boat race on the Sunday afternoon. If you have any ideas for the parade, would like to take part in the parade, boat race, help with the boat race or man our stand and talk to prospective members please contact myself or speak to Committee Members at the club who will be able to give you more information.

Club Boats - over the last year our club Bosi, Jacob and Alfie have been working hard not only to purchase new boats but also to re rig alot of the club boats to make them easier to rig by members, with colour coded ropes. Please remember that when borrowing boats not for training or consolidation sailing purposes there is a boat log to be filled in which lives by the bar. There is also a cost of £1.50 per session for a laser and £3 for a Vision, this is a half day. Please make sure any fees are bank transferred to the club account with the reference boat(and your surname), any defects please write in the folder and let a Bosi know!

Bar Tabs - We all like a bar tab as this is the easiest way to pay without carrying cash and paying extra money on sum up, however collecting and chasing these can become a bit of a nightmare for the chosen few with this job. Please please please make sure your drinks are added to your tab either by you or the person serving you and tabs are paid as soon as possible after they are received but within 4 weeks at the very very latest. A big thank you to all who do pay promptly.

Consolidation Sailing Days - These are a perfect opportunity for newer members and those not confident in racing to come for a sail and get tips from slightly more experienced members. If you have any questions please let me know and if you would like to attend please reply to the posts that will come out prior to the events.

Social Calendar - There are some new events scheduled for this year, please look out for the calendar on the new website. The Commodores party will be combined with the Pigroast at the end of Avon Week on Saturday 29th August and the Dinner Dance is booked at Puck rup Hall for Saturday 21st November.

I look forward to seeing everyone on the water soon.

Best wishes

Tracy Lashford

Commodore