Bit of an odd winter really, we expect the windy days, but more often than not we've had flat calm. As a result the Winter Super Series never really hit its stride. At time of writing however it has attracted 20 boats including an ex world champion, and the top three places are not yet decided. Also a 19 year old boat has just won a race, beating the 17 year old item which usually wins and the brand new one which usually doesn't. So there's still good reason to compete, and further proof (if any were needed) that you don't need a big cheque book to do well in this fleet.

The Fleet Christmas meal and prizegiving was, as usual, an excellent evening with food, prizes, alcohol, the 'directors cut' of that Firebowl video on the big screen, and a disco for anyone not too fat / drunk / intelligent to boogie. Many thanks to everyone involved.

For your amusement in the coming year, we have the following:

23^rd March Fleet AGM

12^th/13^th April UKFA training weekend

19^th April Social evening

20^th April Firebowl personal handicap races 1,2 & 3

11^th May Firebowl personal handicap races 4,5 & 6

8^th June  Inter-fleet championships

31^st August Marriott Bucket personal handicap races 1,2 & 3

6^th September Social evening

14^th September Marriott Bucket personal handicap races 4,5 & 6

20^th/21^st Sept. Miracle Inlands (we run this event)

28^th September Fleet championships races 1,2 & 3

19^th October Fleet championships races 4,5 & 6

1^st / 2^nd Nov. DWSC Fireball Open meeting

23^rd November Fleet championships races 7 & 8

13^th December Christmas meal / prizegiving

And on Sundays and Wednesday evenings when all that stuff isn't happening, we have the trophy series:

Sunday AM Hancocks Early Bird - 30^th March to 26^th October

Sunday PM Winship Cup - 30^th March to 26^th October

Sunday late PM Summer 72 series - 30^th March to 12^th October

Wednesday eve Silver Salver - 2^nd April to 18^th June

Wednesday eve Sunset Trophy - 25^th June to 10^th September

Now look, that's a LOT of stuff. There's even A and B fleet categories within most of those events, so total incompetence need be no barrier to doing well. If you don't have a Fireball and your idea of good sailing is to turn up, sail round in splendid isolation and go home again, frankly you're missing out. What we're offering here is the chance to elevate your involvement to the point where it becomes reasonable grounds for divorce. It's eco-friendly since you don't have to drag your boat round the country, and you can be assured of a small crowd of other Fireballers to welcome you every time you turn up, even if there's no wind. The cost: £400 upwards for the boat, and the loss of every Sunday for the rest of your life. Come and talk to us, have a go in a boat, and make 2008 the year that you really got into sailing.

You know it makes sense.

Mike Deane – FB14778