The Westbury based West Wilts Youth Sailing Association recently celebrated their return to glory after the season’s devastating fire and thefts.
The Annual General Meeting of the West Wilts Youth Sailing Association was held on Friday 30th January at Westbury Leigh Community Hall.
Although the season started well, on the 24th April the association suffered a major setback with the theft of its two safety boat engines and the devastating fire which destroyed the Sailstore and its contents, including all the masts, booms, sails, rudders, centre boards for all the dinghies, as well as two safety boats and three sailing dinghies.
The committee and members immediately swung into action and worked tirelessly to get the site cleared and replace the Sailstore and equipment. In the meanwhile sailing was organised for the club’s members on Saturdays during June and July at Shearwater Sailing Club, and some 30 youngster took advantage of this. On Monday 4th August, just 12 weeks after the fire, members were back on the water at Westbury.
In September a ‘Celebration and Fun Day’ was held which was well supported and enjoyed by all.
The association was overwhelmed with offers of help and fundraising events that greatly helped with the high cost of replacing all the equipment – and extend heartfelt thanks to all those who supported them.
The following members were presented with trophies by the Vice Commodore, Mrs. Margaret Pell:
• Junior Trophy – (Most Progress and Effort, 12 years or under) – Poppy Thornton and Oliver Welbourn.
• Laslett Cup – (Most Progress and Effort, Senior Cadet) – George Adams and Verity Brewerton
• Glarus Trophy – (Individual Service to the Association) – Edward Abbott
• Lynne Yates Shield – (Best Trainee Instructor) – Fraser Jones
• Endeavour Shield – Alistair Long
The following members were presented with Racing Trophies by Mr. Nic Cross, principal and Mr. Christopher Mulholland, chief instructor:
RNLI Pennant – George Adams and Felix Plant
• Royal Oak Challenge Shield – Lawrence Sinclair and Madeline Sinclair
• Inter-Night Shield – Monday Night – Edward Abbott, Lawrence Sinclair, Madeline Sinclair, Oliver Welbourn
• Summer Points – Edward Abbott and Oliver Welbourn
• Seamanship Trophy, Helm: Marco Baldan
and Crew: Hugo Charteris and Jacob Lee
• Junior Instructors’ Race – Edward Abbott and Oliver Welbourn
Members of the Association are now all looking forward to the new 2015 sailing season starting on Monday 30th March.
