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Santa Irene Club de Vela Newsletter - 16th May 2012
On the 1st June of 2012 we will be celebrating our 10th Anniversary at our Club House:
“Don Tomas”, opposite the New Marina, Garrucha. I will be looking back and reminiscing about how it all started.
The new Millennium 2000, I was building two 7 ft 6 in. Optimists for two young friends; I also ordered my 15 ft Gaff rigged yawl, a classic dinghy which would arrive the following
year. The seed of creating a “Sailing Club” had been planted. In 2001 I was needed in the UK. while there, I checked “Dinghies for Sail” in the magazine: Yachts and Yachting. I bought 5 dinghies; Traveling between New Milton in the South and Shrewsbury in the North, I was in the Midlands. On the 19th of December, near midnight, I was boarding the ferry heading to Spain. I had hired a Van, inside were 4 Dinghies plus 1 more on the roof.
I recall arriving in Burgos to a snow storm. During the next 5 months, the boats were prepared for a Boat Show. “The Statutes” of the Sailing Club were completed and singed by me as President, Miguel Egea,Vice Prsident and Sharon Penfold, Secretary. I guess it was her two Girls that had started me on the road, the date was the 28th of May 2002, the place was Mojacar Town hall.
I now had 8 Dinghies, where could I have a Boat Show ?. The new Artisan Centre had recently opened it´s doors; Thanks to Miguel, Sharon and Councillor Beatriz, we could have the use of it for the weekend: 1st and 2nd of June. Perhaps it´s the only “Boat Show” Mojacar will ever have. Thanks to my neighbours: Terry and Brian, we transported the dinghies to the Centre early Saturday morning. Sunday was perhaps the best day with a Mini Market outside; We were inside, sharing the Centre with the young Lady Artists.
We didn´t gain any new members but at least the Town Hall new we existed, which helped us establish our selves on the Indalo Playa, with a Cabin which arrived late October; Thanks again the Councillor Beatriz and Miguel Egea. The Cabin was fitted out to store the Oppies and a Dory safety boat, buoyancy jakets etc. I built a Rack for the other dinghies; with our name on the Cabin, a Flag Pole, it put us on Show; We had “Arrived”!!
So did, Big Jeff, Vic and Irene with their “Dart Catamaran”, George with his “Hobie Catamaran, Dermot with his expertise, a Senior Sailing Instructor, Frank and Linsy, Terry, Jim and Sheryl, John, Jo and Jenny, Oh and David !
The youngsters: Analisa, Mariane and Vanesa had been sailing with me for a few months by then and were quite expert Oppie sailors.
To add to the fleet, I bought a “Pastinaca”, training dinghy, built in San Javier (Murcia). On our 1st Anniversary, 1st of June 2003, all the dinghies were on show with balloons and flags flying; Jo had made us a birthday cake, we were riding high on the crest of a wave. I´ll be looking back at our 2nd year next time.
Having retired as “El Presidente”, I will be looking forward to our 10th Anniversary meeting, with Members and Friends at our Club house “Don Tomas”, opposite the New Garrucha Marina on Friday evening the 1st of June. Also a Flotila Sail on Saturday or Sunday depending on the weather.
Until the next time,
Take care John and Houri
John Talliss
Tel : 950 475 157
Movil: 658 548 790
E-mail johntalliss@gmail.com
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