Classic Classes Party

Almost forty members from the SVOD and Mermaid Classes attended this year's ‘Classic Classes Party'.  The event, in its second year, is fast becoming the starter party for the season.  This year we were entertained by ‘The Ric Harris Trio', who serenaded us with gentle jazz and mood music.  So effective was the atmosphere created that diners were soon on their feet boogying in the bar!

David Rogers had prepared a fine dining meal served at table and the wine flowed freely throughout the evening.  As this was an evening of no speeches only the Commodore and William Edwards spoke (!), the former to welcome members to the 2010 season and the latter to introduce his guest of the evening, Chrissie Backus.  Chrissie had last year donated her late husband's Bronze Olympic Medal to be raced for during the SVOD ‘Olympic' Series held at the start of the season (Ronnie Backus won the medal at the 1964 Olympics in the Dragon Class).

So successful was the evening that we will now plan this party as a regular event at the beginning of each season.

Fitting Out Supper  - 2010

Sixty Members turned up for the pre-2010 season ‘Fitting Out Supper' on Saturday 1st May.  Commencing with drinks in the Mermaid Room and out on the deck, Members renewed acquaintances and swapped stories as the sun set over Southampton Water.  Dinner itself was served down in the restaurant with all seats taken.  Tony had prepared an excellent meal of Tomato and Mozzarella and a choice of Chicken Supreme or Crusted Fillet of Haddock followed by Spotted Dick or Vanilla Pannacotta.  Wine was flowing freely and the Charlotte's new Members' Wine List (and the most acceptable prices) got a thorough going over!

The Commodore, Nick Wakefield, spoke before the meal welcoming everyone ‘back to the Club'.  He thanked the staff for their hard work over the winter, praising Nick Hewitt and his team for the excellent condition of the returning Mermaid Fleet.  Charlotte and Pete had done a fine job in redecorating the bar so effectively, and Tony and All About Catering had clearly settled in well to their new routine.  The Commodore went on to thank the office staff for continuing to keep the Club afloat during the winter months.  He wished everyone good sailing for the coming season and then sat down,  .......... however...............

He forgot to turn off his microphone.......

The Commodore was then heard to say..................

Well now come on - you don't expect me to do a Jeremy Vine on him......do you?

The evening, by everyone's account, was a great success, with the meal worthy of particular mention (thank you Tony).  Acquaintances renewed, and the Club fully ‘fitted out', Members slowly retired to their homes with the last few leaving at midnight, allowing Charlotte and James to close the doors on another successful evening by one o'clock.

Next up is the ‘Family Supper' on Saturday 29 May.  See you there!

Cowboy Party at Club!

Members and their friends and families enjoyed a splendid night at the Club on Saturday 20 February.  This was the second of the Club's winter monthly socials and, timed over the half term holidays, attracted Members of all ages.  Themed as a ‘Hoe-Down', the evening started with Cowboy fare (burger, bangers, chilli and beans!) followed by line dancing upstairs in the Mermaid Room.  Running proceedings was the Coast Hotel's dance instructor, Derek George.  Derek taught, led and encouraged everyone to take part in some easy steps - and some not so easy!  The bar sustained dancers and revellers throughout, and there was little or no trouble (guns having to be left outside with the horses!).

RNLI Quiz Night ............result?

On the evening of Saturday 23 January the Club hosted Round One of the RNLI Inter Club Quiz.  The start of this year's Quiz Round saw Gurnard and East Cowes Sailing Clubs travelling to Seaview to take on the might of the SVYC Team.  The night commenced in cheerful mood with Tony, our Chef, producing a fine early evening supper.  Washed down with refreshments from Charlotte and Pete, the teams and supporters were soon fired up for the business of the night.

Quizmaster, Mark Winter, got the first round rolling with some seemingly unbelievably awkward general knowledge questions set by Pat from the RNLI; but clearly this was not a major challenge for the teams who revelled in the knowledge they possessed.  The first two rounds saw Gurnard and SVYC vying for the lead with not a point between them - East Cowes not at all far behind.  Then on the third round SVYC let concentration slip and Gurnard took the lead by one sole point.

All was on the last round..................

After a team talk and enthusiastic encouragement from the Secretary ("look guys, we're hosting this so we can't lose!") the SVYC team - Jonny King, Dawn Baxter-Phillips, Julian Neal and Mike Randall - entered the final questions with a weighty responsibility on their shoulders.

The last round ended in silence - and the judges were asked to give their final round scores:  East Cowes 4, Gurnard 6 and SVYC .................. 8!  The team had come up trumps (as was of course expected) and overtaken Gurnard at the post to win by one point!   Congratulations then to our brave and victorious team who now need to take this victory forward to the Semi Final on Friday 12 March at the Brading Haven Yacht Club..

All our thanks go to Diana Chilcott who yet again organised a most enjoyable evening.

New Year's Eve Party !

By all accounts, this year's New Year's Eve party was a great success.  With close to the maximum party number of 250 revellers in the Club, 2010 was well and truly seen in!

Having warmed to welcoming drinks, those dining settled down to enjoy David and Tony's fine festive fare, all superbly presented and served by James and his waiting staff.  With tables set both upstairs (posh totty) and downstairs (party animals) the evening soon developed into one big happy party.

Dance music - this year from Steve Hall of the ‘Tony Martin Music Show' - commenced shortly after 9.30pm, and it did not take long for the Secretary to encourage the extroverts to take to the dance floor.  Shortly after 10.00pm the ‘dancing only' brigade arrived and the evening took on an altogether more electric atmosphere.  Space on the dance floor became a premium with many happy to make do with dancing in the aisles.  At this stage it is only fair to thank Charlotte and her team for organising the extra heaters under the awning - they were much appreciated and indeed needed!

At 11.59pm it seemed that all of Seaview were squeezed onto the deck to welcome in the New Year.  With bubbly popping, everyone was everyone's best friend, and the evening closed with the optimism that this might remain the case for the rest of 2010. 

Let's hope so - Happy New Year!

At about 4.30pm on Christmas Eve over 20 children accompanied by mums, dads and grannies descended on the Club for the annual Christmas Eve Children's Party.  The merrymaking began with dancing and games organised by Julie and Rebecca Barrett - music was supplied by Michael Barrett (a bit of a family affair!).  Julie offered prizes for the best ‘statue', the wildest dancer and the most loyal disciple of ‘Simple Simon'! Avoiding crawling babies, pushchairs and granddad, Julie then led the children in a conga dance to their tea tables.  When eventually seated, the children enjoyed a splendid tea of sandwiches, savouries and cakes, all beautifully prepared by Charlotte and Pete.  Suitably refreshed, the children continued their conga up to the Mermaid Room to await...... Santa Claus!

To the jingle of sleigh bells and the neighing of deer, Santa arrived carrying an excessively heavy and encouragingly large looking sack on his back.  Santa (fully CRB checked of course) then invited the children to come and see what he had in this sack for them.   With everyone happy that they had received something they really wanted, mums and dads gathered up their darlings and melted into the cold festive evening air.

We then sang carols.

Or at least, had a damn good try at it!  Thanks to Hugh Eddowes and his masterly performance on the ivories those left in the Mermaid Room set out on a full and engaging rendition of every possible carol under the star.  So much fun was being had by all that on several occasions we were able to sing two completely different carols at the same time!

By 9.00pm, Santa, organist, staff and Rudolph had had enough, and everyone went home, content in the knowledge that yet again the Sea View Yacht Club had provided just the right start to the approaching Christmastide.

Christmas Bazaar

The Yacht Club Christmas Bazaar saw members and the village turn out in numbers to enjoy the stalls and refreshments on offer.  The Bazaar, the second of its type organised by Vilma Barraclough, was held this year in aid of the Mountbatten Hospice.  Members, artisans, artists and local businesses set up stalls within the Club for all to enjoy.  Business was steady throughout the day, and those overloaded with Christmas shopping could relax in the restaurant with coffee and mince pies, and hot soup, supplied by Tony and James and the catering team!

Many thanks to all our sellers and all those who came to support this important Island charity!

Laying Up Supper - Saturday 17th October

 This year's ‘Laying Up Supper' and end of season prize-giving took place in the Club on Saturday 17th October.  Sue Wakefield presented the trophies and the Commodore thanked all Members and staff for an excellent season all round.  Click here for a full list of prizewinners.

The next Club function is the 'Club Quiz Night' on Saturday 28 November. Call the office for details.

Jack Birchenough Sails Around the Island on a Laser

At 1630 on Saturday 1st August, after some 9 hours of very different weather and sea conditions, Jack Birchenough arrived back to Seaview having sailed around the Island on a Laser Radial. The light wind conditions off Seaview early in the morning changed quickly to 20 knots of wind, with 2m seas & very poor visibility off St Catherine's Point. He was, however, helped by a southerly wind direction, pushing him down the surf across Compton Bay, arriving at the Needles around midday as seen below into the relative calm of the Western Solent. His last challenge was to get through the fleet of finishing yachts at Cowes around 3pm, & to skim over Ryde sands in less than a foot of water.

This was the second leg of a charity fund raising project to both cycle & sail around the Island in opposite directions, & the four figure sum raised will go directly to a school out in Kenya at which he recently spent some time teaching. Jack is always happy to accept any donations (cheques made out to J Birchenough and left in his SVYC pigeon hole) would go directly towards rebuilding the school damaged in last year's troubles.