NORFOLK SCHOOLS SAILING ASSOCIATION SPRING 2011
Happy new year to the NSSA and all who sail with her.
Your 2011sailing starts here
Renewal forms inside , great demand for courses expected
Hurry hurry hurry
POSITIVE POINTS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Lots of very hard work and fundraising over the last few years has given us a very
respectable fleet of boats and a high standard of equipment. New for this season you will
find 12 new centre-main Toppers, new Crewsaver buoyancy aids and new wetsuits. This
represents a serious investment of money in times of economic hardship where funds are
hard to find.. Some of the old Toppers date back to 1984 and, because they have been
looked after, have served us well. The NSSA now has 50 good sailing boats, around 80% of
which are less than 5 years old, and 4 decent safety boats with new or newish engines.
Maintaining good kit that you want to use can be a challenge and I need your help with this
every time that you use it. New gear only stays in good condition if it is used with care and
respect. No one wants to use dirty or broken equipment so
please respect all the kit that we lend you;
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Wash down the hull and sponge out your boat after use
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Make sure that the sails are dry and any mud is cleaned off
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Put the boat back into its numbered parking space
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Put the boom, rudder and centreboard tidily where they came from
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Ensure that the boat cover is fitted and secure
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Rinse out wetsuits and buoyancy aids, and hang them up back where you got
them from
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If anything is broken or damaged, let your instructor know so that it can be fixed
This way all the kit can be kept in good condition, will last longer and will be readily
available for the next person to use.
All the instructors and helpers at Filby are volunteers – we need around 60 to operate the
programme! They give their time freely and do a fantastic job to a high standard. The
NSSA is held in high regard nationally for its expertise and innovation – a huge debt of
thanks to all those who keep the organisation rolling.
Have a great season.
Jeremy
This year we have held our membership fees to £35.
Whilst this is excellent value as you receive RYA approved training on all
appropriate courses, some young people wanted to join our association but have
not been able to afford the fee
Times are hard and you may like to consider applying for a bursary
We have a special fund called a “bursary” with money which has been donated
to us by Norse.If you or you know a friend or a family, that would like to learn
to sail, they can now apply to our membership secretary for a bursary to cover
the costs of membership. We would like to thank Norse for their support with
this initiative.
Paul Bonham
NORFOLK SCHOOLS SAILING ASSOCIATION SPRING 2011
IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP MESSAGE
Enclosed with your newsletter is your renewal form for 2011. When you wish to renew send this form with your
subscription to me at the address on the form. Please check all the details and make any changes to the form itself.
PLEASE, PLEASE remember to include a stamped addressed envelope as with a total of over 250 members this
really helps me to turn the paperwork round quickly. It was agreed at the AGM in November to keep subscriptions
this year at £35. There is still no further charge for youth courses and adult course fees remain unchanged too;
£175 for the 5 day beginner courses and £140 for all other 4 day courses. We feel this represents tremendous
value and hope to hear from you all soon. I will try to process your forms as quickly as possible and you will receive
a course booking form and the full programme with your membership details. Course dates and availability are on
the website www.nssa.co.uk
Which course to choose?
As ever there are five Youth Blocks to choose from where the core RYA youth scheme is taught from Taster
through to Stage 3 in Oppies and Toppers. In addition there is now a choice of four more specialist youth courses
depending on your age, ability and interest.
Oppie Advanced - This is open to all Oppie sailors who have achieved a minimum Stage 1 . The aim of the
course is to allow those youngsters not yet old enough or big enough to sail a Topper to be in a larger and
more competitive group in which to develop their skills. The transition to Topper sailing is quite a broad
one, so if you are not yet 11yrs, don’t weigh 40Kg or aren’t 1.5m tall then this course is definitely for you.
Youth Racing – As the name suggests this is for those who are interested in Racing! It is taught in singlehanders
and is both a very good introduction to club racing and a chance to further develop skills and tactics. You
need to be at least 12 years and have your RYA Stage 3 to apply for this course.
Youth Afloat – This course is delivered in two handed boats. The course content varies depending on who
applies. On your first Youth Afloat you can expect to work towards your Stage 4 certificate. Just like the
Blocks you can do Youth Afloat as many times as you wish. On further courses you will experience all sorts;
for example, seamanship skills, spinnaker handling and trapezing. You do need to be 13 years to apply for
this one and have Stage 3.
Youth Performance – This course is also in double handers and is for those young people truly interested in
honing their skills. It focuses on how to make your boat go as fast as possible in all conditions. You need to
be 14 years and have Stage 4 to apply for this one.
For adults the RYA National Scheme has great scope to continue developing your skills.
Level 2 Basic Skills – for beginners and taught over 5 days, mostly in the Wayfarers with the chance to try
single handers too.
Level 3 Better Sailing – If you have completed Level 2 and/or Seamanship this would be a great course for
you. It will allow you to develop your techniques and skills and have a taster of what the other modules
offer. You will be under the direct supervision of instructors, but will mainly be sailing the boat for yourself.
Seamanship – This covers a range of specific boat handling skills such as anchoring, reefing, towing and aims
to develop a greater sense of self reliance and decision making.
Sailing with Spinnakers – this course is a great introduction to the world of spinnakers both symmetric and
asymmetric. It is suitable for complete spinnaker novices and those wishing to develop their skills.
Performance Sailing – the emphasis on this course is to develop an individual’s sailing performance through
coaching; mainly in spinnaker boats.
Whichever course you choose I hope you have great fun back on the water at Filby and I look forward to hearing
from you all soon.
Sue Head
Membership Secretary
PS Don’t forget your membership for 2011 also gets you a 10% discount at Boats ‘n’ Bits in Norwich. The sooner you join the sooner you
can benefit!!
NORFOLK SCHOOLS SAILING ASSOCIATION SPRING 2011
YOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
NEW COMMODORE
Paul Bonham your new commodore receives a
cheque from Acle regatta organiser Roger Wilson
with his daughter Charlotte and freind
Gratefull thanks to Acle regatta for their continued
support we appologise for not giving our thanks
earlier (Ed error)
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Commodore
Paul Bonham
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Vice Commodore
Martin King
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Rear Commodore
Neil Thurlow
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Secretary
Ruth Bonham
Membership Secretary
Sue Head
Treasurer
Paul Mitchelmore
Newsletter Editor
The Newtons
Committee Members
David Wrenn,
Chris Bentley
Simon Tilcock
Charles Hare Winton
Jeremy Mills
RYA Principle
Sarah Hammond
Ruth Bonham
Immediate Past Commodore Simon Cushion-Swales
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Paul has been a member of NSSA since 1981 and
met his wife Ruth at Filby in 1988.
He has been secretary to the association for a
number of years and recently been involved with
applying for charity status .Paul is employed at
Norse and tries to fit sailing in around gardening
photography bird watching oh and supporting a
green and yellow canary!
They are a sailing family with nephews nieces and
Charlotte learning to sail at the base.
The above were duly elected to serve for the 2011
season
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RYA SCHEME ON BOARD SCHEME AWARDS
TROPHY
TO FILBY
Last year the filby base became part of the ON
BOARD scheme.Its purpose is to offer to children
who would not normally get on the water a taste of
sailing.The scheme has been a runaway success
with local schools attending in the early
evening .the scheme organiser Charles HARE
Winton received the award for the eastern region,
Child Protection Officers
NORFOLK SCHOOLS SAILING ASSOCIATION SPRING 2011
4th and 5th March
Dinghy exhibition
The RYA Volvo Dinghy show will be celebrating its 60th aniversary on 5th and 6th of March at
Alexandra Palace London It is a good family day out with lots to see and do plus listen to the
experts giving advice and tips and is a good start to the sailing season
13th March
INSTRUCTORS MEETAT GRAFHAM
The Eastern Region Instructors Conference will be held at Grafham Water Centre on the 13th
March. There will be a variety of shore based and practical activity taking place on the day and it
will be a great opportunity to meet with instructors from all around the Region and to hear about
the latest developments from RYA Headquarters as well as meet and chat to RYA staff.
In addition there will be an opportunity for you and your Training Centre to purchase RYA
publications at a massive 45% discount.
The day only costs £10 (£5 if under 21) and includes lunch.
This year bookings are being taken online so please follow the link below to see the full agenda
and secure your place. Spaces are limited and will be offered on a first come first serve basis.
Closing date is the 21st February.
http://www.sailracer.org/events/event-v2.asp?eventid=64392
24th to 30th July
NATIONAL SCHOOLS SAILING REGATTA
This is the big one. .The national youth regatta which will be held on Grafham water between
24th –30th July The club and the outdoor education centre will be joining forces for this huge
event which attracts a wide range of sailing abillities from all over the UK
Fleets of of over 1000 boats are not uncommon on the start line.
This year the Mount-Haes event is being sponsored by Laser. Norfolk won this prestigous trophy
last year
.We expect to send a team again this year. Getting on the racing course at Filby is a good way of
becoming part of our team.
Scenes from last years beach at the national youth regatta
Waiting for wind at Datchett 2011
NORFOLK SCHOOLS SAILING ASSOCIATION SPRING 2011
Commodores report.
NSSA. 50th Anniversary Year.
Another hugely successful year for the NSSA has now been completed.
2009 is the 50th anniversary of the NSSA and a large and varied event was held to note this occasion. With beautiful
weather on our side the whole event was a great success. The Bittern class held a regatta in the morning, which they
thoroughly enjoyed. Bitterns were the original NSSA boats, so their class were also celebrating a 50th anniversary. Joy
rides were given to guests in the afternoon and there was an evening sponsored sail. Many guests and members, both
past and present, had a very enjoyable day. Paul Bonham organised the whole event. He and his team of helpers
should be congratulated for their first rate efforts.
Sir Timothy Coleman, our long standing Hon President has decided to stand down from the role this year. Sir Timothy
has been a huge help to the association for many years and has made a real and lasting difference. The NSSA would
like to thank Sir Timothy for his many and varied efforts on our behalf and wish him all the best for the future.
We are extremely pleased that Mr Chris Dicker has agreed to take on the role of Hon. President. We very much look
forward to working with Chris over the coming years.
This year the NSSA have run over 20 courses using 60 volunteers, including parent helpers. There were over 250
course places ranging from Oppie and Adult beginner through to Youth Afloat, racing and Instructor training.
2009 saw the introduction of two new courses, Oppie Advanced and Adult better Sailing, both to be included on the
programme again next year. These new courses demonstrate that the NSSA continues to stay at the forefront when it
comes to delivering RYA training.
We do not intend to rest on our laurels, rather we intend to continue to move forward as an association. To this end
Senior Instructor training will also be introduced next year for the first time, divided between the Filby base and
Bradwell in Essex. We have also applied for RYA OnBoard status, which we hope will be forthcoming in the coming
months.
The NSSA is now the unusual and extremely fortunate position of having two RYA Coaches on our staff.
Congratulations to Sue Head who qualified this year.
The Filby base had a recent annual inspection by the RYA. The report was excellent and the base passed with flying
colours.
The equipment at Filby continues to improve with the replacement of the Oppie fleet now complete. Amongst other
items we also managed to replace the Topper trolleys with new stainless steel versions. In the present economic
climate grant funding is much more difficult to find than previously but the fundraising committee are on the case.
Presently funding to replace the Topper fleet is being sought.
The Filby base has again hosted outside groups this season, with both Cub and Scout sailing days and race training for
the East Norfolk 6th form college.
Arthur Newton and his team of helpers took a racing team to the National Schools Sailing Association regatta at
Bridlington. The Norfolk team were very successful including some first places in very difficult weather conditions.
The whole team enjoyed the event and represented both themselves and the county to the highest standards. Thank
you to all the helpers and the team members involved.
“Team Newton” has again excelled in the production of the newsletters during the year. Thank to them for all for their
hard work.
Finally I would like to mention the fifty plus volunteer qualified instructors and all of the helpers that make Filby
work. That the NSSA at 50 years old is so strong is remarkable.
Simon Cushion.
Commodore 2009.