Christmas Menu throughout December 2022

Hello and welcome to what will hopefully become a regular HRSC sailing update.

The RYA have issued guidance on what sailing activities can happen vs the government’s timetable. In summary organised activities are permitted from 29 March, and changing rooms and toilets can open from 12 April – when we should also be able to enjoy a socially distanced drink on the balcony 😀. From 17 May the club should be open indoors (subject to the rule-of-6), until 21 June when all restrictions will hopefully be lifted.

Join us on this Saturday, November 25th, for our Christmas Craft Fair. This festive event is dedicated to raising funds for the RNLI, a vital organization in our community and for our members.

All stalls showcase the work of local artisans, highlighting the incredible creativity in our area. This is a wonderful opportunity to support and celebrate the talents of our local craftspeople. Importantly, every penny earned from table rentals will be donated to the RNLI, a cause we are genuinely passionate about. 😄

Died peacefully 12.12.2017 AGED 70 YEARS

We are very sad to report that Allen Benney, who was a long-standing Member of the HRSC and served on the Committee for many years, has passed away peacefully at Fairholme Nursing Home.

Allen loved the Helford River and sailing was his passion, with a boat and mooring on the river for over 53 years. He was an active member of the Club from 1972; racing his various yachts throughout the years, both on the Helford and in Falmouth, especially enjoying the Falmouth Week Regatta and the Sunday Pursuit Series, and into the Autumn as a Member of Flushing Sailing Club. He was fiercely competitive and had a regular crew of friends who put up with his yelling and determination to ‘stand on!’ for over 30 years.

Allen served as Hon Treasurer for many years when the Club was experiencing financial difficulties and through his determination and fortitude, being very sound and honest he guided the Club out of its problems and into a safe financial footing. He was also Rear Commodore Admin. and Vice Commodore. It was thanks to Allen that our deep-water moorings were all updated with larger sinker blocks that he had made up and brought out in his tractor and trailer from his farm in Helston at his own expense.

Allen was generous to a fault and incredibly kind. He never liked to see anyone alone and was always the first person to welcome visitors to the Cub. When Jane was Commodore he introduced himself as the ‘Commodores Wife’ and enjoyed entertaining at the bar! He was an enormous support during Jane’s time as Commodore.

Allen served on the WCORA (West Coast Offshore Racing Association) Committee with Wally Royal who remembers their trips to Plymouth in his Land Rover with great fondness.

Allen took enormous pleasure and pride in taking Privateer 20 years ago across the Atlantic, via The Canaries and Cape Verde Islands to the Caribbean and back, via Bermuda and the Azores. He had wonderful friends who accompanied him both ways and they had a lot of fun.

The funeral will be held at Helston Methodist Chapel, Coinagehall Street on Friday 22 December at 1.00pm and afterwards at the Clubhouse from 3.00pm

As is usual at this time of year the river gets to look a completely different place, where in the summer there is hardly a mooring not used, to now its just a few of the working fishing boats on their moorings. The summer has been favourable to sailing this year with few if any cancellations in any races, there were a few yacht races when we did wonder if we would ever get back to the mooring, thank goodness for the engine, and full credit to those who always sail to their moorings.

Dinghy racing has been well attended on most outings with two very good regattas run by Captain Dinghies and his team; the training taking place over the last few weeks of the season has been a great success thanks to Keith Wilkin and Linda, some rising stars in laser racing are benefiting gaining confidence and skills.

My own last sail of the season was a leisurely cruise up to Gull Rock and back with Andrew on Morgawr in mid October, a stunning day with a good steady WNW wind.

The junior sailing finished at the end of the summer holidays and was well attended, thanks must go to our great team of qualified instructors who turn up each week and give their time to teach the next generation of HRSC sailors.

I look forward to seeing many of you in the club at our events throughout the winter months.

CHRIS HOSKEN – REAR COMMODORE SAILING