RYA sailing coach, Melvyn Cooper, the inspiration and founder of the highly successful HISC Get Racing Club, was named runner up in the 2015 Sports Coach of the Year in Havant last week . . . Launched in April 2014, Melvyn (of Melvyn Cooper Sailing) has been the driving force behind the new Get Racing Club which encourages new sailors to have a go at racing in a fun and informal format at HISC . . . more . . .

The 500 Club February draw has taken place . . . Congratulations to the winners. It's ever so easy to join our 500 Club, and very painless - Please do it now, and thanks . . . more . . .

The second GHC winter talk will take place at 2 pm on Saturday 7 March in the Over 18s bar when HISC’s Marine Manager Mitch Webb will present a helpful, and possibly race-winning, guide to Chichester Harbour tides . . . Both previous GRC participants and regular racers will know how important the tide can be in influencing the race results and Mitch’s presentation could be just the thing to give you that winning edge . . . Don’t miss this vital talk together with the chance for discussion and catch-up in the bar afterwards . . . All welcome . . . more . . .

The Marine Department will be starting to put the yachts back in the water from the 2 March, for 2 weeks . . . During this period, we kindly request that you park on the causeway as the car park will be closed whilst the tractor and hoist are moving around the site.

Hayling Rescue is currently at ABC Marine (Pepe's Boat Yard) where she was originally built 15 years ago . . . She is in there for some vital maintenance, mainly getting the hull stripped off to have some badly needed new tubes fitted . . . more . . .

Put a spring in your step and single handedly make a date for coming to the last GODS event of our Winter Season – on Thursday 12 March . . . The talk is by the renowned dinghy sailor, journalist, yachting historian and correspondent in Yachts and Yachting and All at Sea, David Henshall . . . The intriguing title is ‘Seven days that changed sailing’, about the 1965 performance single-hander trials . . . more . . .

If you are visiting the club why not check out the new menus for the Dining Room, Snackbar and main Bar . . . New menus have been posted on the website for Breakfast, Dinner, Children's Early Tea and the Snackbar . . . There is also a new Wine List . . . more . . .

We are experimenting with a new rig on Sandy so bear with us . . . We have switched to Rope to extend its lifetime and we have switched to a buoy that is better at dealing with current. More visible for sailors but also more visible for larger boats to avoid . . . Apologies it’s slightly out of place. It will be moved west at the next opportunity . . . more . . .

Have you checked your email lately? The club now sends out emails on important club matters to members who have registered their email address with the Office . . . These are not the general chat Yahoo emails but direct emails on specific club matters . . . so check if You've Got Mail ?

The Hayling Island SC 2015 SailRacer Round Hayling Island Windsurfer Race will take place on Good Friday, 3 April. The event will include Open Canoes (OC1) and Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUP) with their own course just off the beach . . . SailRacer will be providing the event website, online entry, GPS tracking and live coverage . . . An event information page has been set on HISC website and on-line entry details etc will be available on the SailRacer event website. more . . .

Throughout HISC website you will find dedicated calendars for the many activities of the club . . . Race fixtures, Open events, Youth race and training fixtures, Social events, Social Sailing and Committee meeting dates . . . All entered and stored, together with the entire website content in one place . . . the HISC website common source database . . . more . . .

The Flagpole Gardeners have been hard at work maintaining are beautiful surroundings . . . The year started with the usual massive prune of the Elaeagnus which grows profusely and flowers with a delicious scent at the end of the year. The pampas was tidied and the roses pruned and finally all the dead leaves cleared . . . There is now a notice which thanks people for not parking in front of the Memorial Stone and, simultaneously, not obstructing the loading area! . . . more . . .

The Open Meetings for the International 14, RS700 and K6 classes will take place at Hayling Island SC over the weekend of the 25 and 26 of April . . . The Int 14 class will be racing for the Hayling Hull . . . Notice of Race and Event Page now available . . . more . . .

A reminder that we have our Annual Cruising meeting coming up at 4 pm on the 14 March. This is a chance for you to catch up with matters that effect the Cruisers at HISC, such as what bow and stern props you'll need to have for next winters layup, what's happening to the hoist, can you catch up with the social sailing program and where are the family cruising weekends going this year? more . . .

Instructors and Assistants Wanted for HISC Youth Training Week 26 – 29 May 2015 . . . If you are interested in teaching the next generation of HISC superstars how to sail please contact Mitch . . . more . . .