Captain's Log

I am already looking forward to this years JOG racing season, it seems a very long time since our last race.

Already we are halfway through our racing calendar - where does the time go?

A lot has happened since my last Captains Log, the United States has changed Presidents and the World appears to have gone into financial meltdown. Every news story seems to be one of doom and gloom! A time to be cautious!

The JOG season came to an end for 2008 with the Clubs AGM and Prizegiving Dinner Dance on 22nd November.

I am pleased to report that 2008 was not only a sailing success for JOG but a financial one too! . . .

With the JOG season well and truly over it now seems as if it all happened far too quickly! Reflecting upon this years events, it suddenly struck me that this is the first season I can remember where I have had to wear all three layers of my sailing gear at some point during every race. Am I getting old or did we really have a wet summer with very little sun? . . .

With three quarters of the JOG races over already this season am I the only one still waiting for summer!!
The good news is our racing has continued at a pace. The re-scheduled St Vaast race was a success and even the weather was not too bad. After returning home from St Vaast I do remember feeling very tired and it seemed to take much longer than usual to recover after an offshore race. . .

I hope you have enjoyed this seasons racing so far as much as I have! After a shaky start with the Easter Cherbourg postponement we have had some fantastic races, both inshore and offshore, with an excellent turn out in all three classes. . .

You may be forgiven for thinking that our club, like the majority of yachts, is laid up for the winter. Then, as spring approaches it is dragged out, dusted off and refitted for the coming season.

Nothing could be further from the truth! . . .

To have been elected Captain of JOG at the Club's 57th Annual General Meeting has made me feel both proud and honoured. Proud because the Club is unique in how it operates and in what it offers to Members. Honoured because of the fame, stature, quality of seamanship and leadership shown by previous Captains, and in particular Phil Hagen who has given so much of his time and energy to JOG's Captaincy over a period when he was also under great pressure from work and travel. I wish him a really enjoyable sailing season in 2008! I will work hard and do my best to follow their example. . .