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Cygnet Captain's Log: Issue 2
Author: Neil Pickford |
7th August 2021
Good afternoon Cygnets, this is your Captain speaking.
We're well into summer holiday season now, so those of you away and out and about, hope you are enjoying a summer break and a change of scenery, or otherwise just following all the Olympic drama and entertainment.
A combination of event changes and availability means we have now reached the end of racing for summer 2021. Well done to all those who took part in regattas, lots of experience gained, some pots one and plenty to learn and improve from. Now we look towards a busy social season for the end of the summer months, compressed due to COVID but some fun events to enjoy with the LTR Graduation and Henley Friday next week and End of Season celebrations and Club Day to follow at the end of August. More details below.
Outings may be subject to change and variation as we move towards the end of summer and availability becoming limited due to holidays, breaks from the water for the coaching team and maximising time on the water for our LTR graduates. Keep an eye out on fitclub and messaging as this develops. If you are signed up to outings, please make sure you attend or give as much warning as you can if you are unexpectedly unable to make it. Please keep the disciplined time-keeping so outings start on time.
The Captaincy and Coaching team are increasingly looking ahead to next season, preparing the training plans and schedule for Heads Season and beyond - more will follow: Season starts w/c 13 September.
Please read below - there are important updates about forthcoming events and safety information to take note of.
1. Important Safety Notices:
- Steering Tests: as mentioned in my last message, I am working with our safety adviser Charlie to arrange steering tests in the coming weeks, ahead of the start of the season. If you have not sat the steering test previously, even if an experienced rower who has experience off the tideway, all steers and coxes need to take the steering test to demonstrate sufficient knowledge and competence to be responsible for boats on the tideway. It is good practice for all rowers to have done so. Please contact me if you have not previously sat the test and need to put your name on the list.
- Steering, safety and boat handling: A reminder to always keep a good look out, when you're afloat make sure you are in the correct part of the river according to the rules and tide. Be aware of the likely hazards you will encounter when out on the water. This includes bridges, other river traffic and shoals (Especially above Putney Town, Opposite Chiswick Eyot and outside the club). Make sure you and your crews are proceeding with appropriate caution, especially at low-tides and in the in-shore zone: don't get caught out. Please also make sure you take care moving boats on and off racking and on the hard - ask for a hand if you need it. All of this is to keep you safe and our boats damage free. https://boatingonthethames.co.uk/the-tideway-code-boating-on-the-thames
- Reporting Boat Damage: Any damage to boats or equipment or things that need fixing must be reported either directly or via the damage reporting tool on the website. However minor or if you're not sure please make it known so it can be fixed or mended before others use it. https://www.cygnet-rc.org.uk/ssform-facilities-the_fleet-report_damage.html
2. Next Season:
- The next season will begin, week commencing 13 September 2021. The first race of Heads season will be Scullers Head, Saturday 18 September. If you wish to express your interest in racing Scullers Head, please see FitClub.
- Survey Says... The Captains and coaches want to hear from you as we develop plans for the next season and build a programme to help you and the squad develop and enjoy rowing. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey:https://forms.gle/j18dwympomHMLn5f6
3. Forthcoming Events:
- LTR Graduation Tues 10 August - Please sign up on fitclub and pop along to join in with the LTR Graduation event this Tuesday, with a presentation, BBQ and drinks from the bar after the outing.
- Henley Friday - You will have see the email from Marj, if you are attending Henley Friday (Friday 13 August) please register you interest on fitclub or contact me directly if you would like to travel by taxi with other Cygnets/BBL from Barnes. Deadline for Taxi sign up is Monday 09 August.
- End of Season Celebration: Hog Roast and Beer Festival at the club Saturday 28 August. Please sign up on Fitclub or contact me directly for more details.
- Club Day: BBL/Cygnet Club Day picnic and racing - again please sign up on Fitclub or directly to register interest. Partners, families and rowing widows welcome.
4. Sculling Camp (S'camp) 10 - 12 September
- For the weekend of 10 - 12 September, Cygnet will be relocating to our up-river residence at the Bungalow, located on Hamhaugh Island, near Walton-on-Thames and Shepperton. It's a chance to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, make the most of some calmer waters off-tideway and develop skills for single sculling on quieter stretches. Some of you may even enjoy some upstream swimming (intentionally or otherwise). Generally sculling camp runs from Friday through Sunday but day trippers are also welcome, some limited accommodation is available on site, with plenty of garden too to pitch a tent.
- If you are interested, please register your interest on Fitclub (10 September entry) and also include the days that you plan to attend in the comment section. If you are interested in an early arrival e.g. Thursday please indicate. Assistance will be required for trailer loading and unloading and associated (de)rigging from all who will be attending. https://www.cygnet-rc.org.uk/sspage-news__amp__events-rowing_stuff-sculling_camp52.html
5. Getting Involved
- And Finally: Volunteering If you are interested in being involved and looking for volunteer opportunities to help out on the social front or generally, please do get in touch, there's plenty to be involved in and the club runs / is at it's best when we have as many people as possible lending a hand.
- There are a number of committee positions available that we are looking to fill, along with ad-hoc opportunities. Please get in touch.
- Application for Hammersmith Ferry Piers / ferry service - Please consider providing your views and response to the proposed ferry crossing, which is likely to impact on rowing and events on the tideway.https://www2.richmond.gov.uk/lbrplanning/Planning_CaseNo.aspx?strCASENO=21/1770/FUL
6. Dates for your diary:
- 10^th August - LTR Graduation
- 13^th August - Henley Friday
- 28^th August - End of Season Celebration: Hog Roast and Beer Festival
- 31^st August BH Monday - BBL/Cygnet Club Day picnic and racing
- 10^th - 12^th September - Sculling Camp: Cygnet Bungalow
- 13^th September - Start of 2021/22 Heads Season - Full training resumes.
- 18^th September - Scullers Head
- 2^nd October - Pairs Head
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[new] Captain's Log: Issue 1
Author: Neil Pickford |
22nd July 2021
Good afternoon Cygnets, this is your Captain speaking!
Very pleased to be sending you my first Captain's log and with a very warm thanks to all who attended the OGM this week and for the welcome and the support to myself, Martin as Deputy Captain and Pete as Vice Captain.
We're really looking forward to leading the squad and working with you over the coming season and, as I said on Tuesday, building on the excellent platform that Cris and Beth, along with the wider coaching and captaincy has developed over the last season. We will start 2021/22 in a good position with the opportunity to grow, develop and improve from here.
A huge thanks to Cris, Sam and Martin and all that have been involved over the last year and several years carrying the club forward and for me to inherit an incredibly well organised and well performing team during what has been an incredibly challenging time for the club and us all. There is a huge amount to be proud of and an awful of gratitude from across the club for the achievements and your incredible efforts along the way. More on this later and hope you will all be able to join a toast to the season on Sat 28th August.
I will talk with you more about the priorities for next season in due course, once we've had the chance to do some initial planning, including engaging with you for feedback and guidance, to launch the new season in September.
Over the next few weeks my priorities are to: 1) finish off the summer regatta and LTR seasons strongly 2) lay the groundwork in terms of priorities and planning for the season ahead with the coaching and captaincy teams.
Important notices:
- This weekend: very best of luck to the racing crews on Sunday, Andy, Matt G, Cris, Martin, Chris J, Tom B and Mustafa. I will be cheering you on from Devon (sorry I won't be with you in person but I am away at a wedding this weekend). Race well and bring home the pots!
Outings - as per Fitclub. Please remember time-keeping, it is essential all crews are on time and ready to row ahead of the briefing time. If you arrive early: open up, blades out, launch on the water.
- Tomorrow: you will have hopefully seen my earlier message but the Boathouse will be closed to all members on Friday 23^rd July. Apologies for the late notice and inconvenience, we were notified very late in the day by the filming company but the clubs will be compensated for the significant inconvenience.
- Looking ahead: it is looking highly unlikely at this stage that Oxford City Regatta will go ahead and owing to the limited opportunity of racing and the likely competition at Henley T&V, we will not be attending on 31^st July.
- If there is sufficient interest, there is the opportunity to race at Peterborough Summer Regatta on Sunday 15 August. Please check fitclub and update your availability for Peterborough if you would like to race or are not available. We will make final decision on boats and crews next weekend, so please update availability no later than Friday 30 July.
Getting Involved and Contact Details:
- The eagle eyed will have spotted the new Captaincy email address (cygnet.captain@gmail.com ) please use this or the squad/LTR whatsapp groups for getting in touch with any questions or concerns. Please do feel free to reach out to myself, Martin or Pete.
- Steering: If you are interested in steering or know you have not yet taken your steering test, please get in touch to let me know and I will work with our Safety Adviser, Charlie, arranging the tests and getting you signed off. For those in need of revision (or a timely refresh if the navigation is getting a little wayward) https://boatingonthethames.co.uk/the-tideway-code-boating-on-the-thames/
- Volunteering: If you are interested in being involved and looking for volunteer opportunities to help out on the social front or generally, please do get in touch, there's plenty to be involved in and the club runs / is at it's best when we have as many people as possible lending a hand. There will be ad-hoc opportunities as well as full-time positions - my ask is that everyone does their bit and helps out in some form.
- Feedback survey: will follow in the next week or so - I'm keen to hear from you about your aims, aspirations and goals to inform the plan for the year ahead. If you have any thoughts in the meantime, drop me a line.
Dates for your diary:
- 25^th July - Barnes & Mortlake/Borne joint regatta
- 10^th August - LTR Graduation
- 13^th August - Henley Friday
- 15^th August - Peterborough Summer Regatta - Please update Fitclub
- 28^th August - End of Season Celebration
- 31^st August (BH Monday) - BBL/Cygnet Club Day
- 10^th - 12^th September - Sculling Camp
- 18^th September - Scullers Head
That's it for now, excuse the long email (you'll get used to those) and as plans develop will be keen to have you all involved. In the meantime, wishing the racing crews every success and happy rowing to the rest of you.
Best wishes
Rupert
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XCXI Final Deneb Captain's Log
Author: Neil Pickford |
20th July 2021
Dear Cygnets,
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the summer weather while keeping well hydrated.
And we keep going. Let's keep up the good work, please turn up on time to the sessions and with the right mindset to get the most of it. This week Sunday we have Borne / Barnes & Mortlake Joint Regatta - where we have entered a single (Andy), a pair (Matt G, Cris) and a Coxless quad (Martin, Chris J, Tom B, Mustafa) Good Luck to all crews. The draw is here and the timetable of racing is here
LTR also going as planned. Thanks all volunteers coxing and stepping into the boats. As mentioned before, please don't forget that once upon a time that was you and others were sitting the boat for you. So please, if you want to help let Beth or Rupert know and they will add you to the LTR squad so you can sign up to join those outings.
As usual please update your availability for the training sessions and races in fitclub - so we can plan best. (Little reminder the cut off for outings - is Sunday noon for the weekdays Weds for the Weekend. )
Safety update:
Gentle reminders:
- Self-Organised outings: As previously, book your slots in the following excel file.
- Boats/ Equipment: Don't forget to do the Pre and Post outings checks. This is the responsibility of everyone. If there is something wrong please report it to the captaincy and if it is fixable do it at the moment.
This evening: Tuesday 20^th of July Ordinary General Meeting at 20.15 - via Zoom (election of the Captaincy for the forthcoming season). Please let Marj know if you haven't got the invitation.
And That is all folks.... This is my last Captain's Log. No more emails from my side.
It has been really a great honor. Big thanks to everyone involved these last three years, the list is soo long... Vices (Tom B, Martin D), Deputies (Niall S, Sam S), Coaches (Alan, Chihiro, Mark, Beth ,Charlie, Charlotte, Laurent) , Coxes (Hannah, Anna, Megan and others (another big list)), Committee members, BBL Captaincy and CSBH Committee. Sorry if I have forgotten anyone, you all know who you are. Thank you very much!
Wishing the coming Captaincy the best of luck. Have a nice day and a better week
Cris
[Big, big thanks to Cris for three years as Captain and dealing with the most unprecedented circumstance for at least half of that - Ed.]
Dates for your diary:
- July 25th - Barnes & Mortlake/Borne joint regatta
- July 31st - Henley Town & Visitors
- August 10th - LTR 'Graduation'
- August 13^th- Henley Friday
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