OCR March Newsletter

Brass Monkey Race – Bournemouth

Well done to Jeremy and Graham who braved the elements to take part in this pre-season race. It was a good idea that the race was on the Saturday as Sunday was a blow-out in both senses of the word!!!!

Committee

The new committee held their first meeting at Bournemouth on the 2^nd February. It was a positive meeting with fresh ideas for the future.

Unfortunately Jason Walker has resigned as Treasurer since he has found it difficult to commit fully to the new committee bearing in mind his location. The committee would like to thank Jason for all his efforts over the past year as Treasurer. He has however accepted the position of Euro Representative.

Phil Bennett has been put forward as a replacement and has accepted the position of Treasurer for the 2008 season.

This still keeps a committee of 7 strong and would give the necessary support and backing when important decisions are taken. We realise that there will be many issues to cover over the coming months but with a strong and varied committee, we are equipped to address any issue as it may arise.

Calendar

Well this has been interesting to say the least with ‘All Class’ races and date changes etc.

Firstly, the committee would like to explain the reason for ‘back to back’ race weekends this year.

Despite our efforts 'back to back' races were unavoidable this season due to date changes by other clubs.

Unfortunately OCRDA is only one of the clubs who sit on the RYA Clubs & Classes Committee and therefore we only have one say with regard to the Calendar and all issues.
We realise that the calendar makes life difficult for everyone, but if you have a specific problem and the committee can help in any way please don't hesitate to contact us.
I hope this clarifies the situation.

Please find attached an ‘Intent to Enter’ form in the download area. Please note this is not a legally binding document, it is merely to gauge the attendance to each race. Please assist us by returning your completed form.

The National Calendar to date is as follows:

Allhallows - 19th & 20th April

Torquay - 10th & 11th May

Teignmouth - 25th & 26th May

Plymouth - 14th & 15th June

Gravesend - 5th & 6th July

Illfracombe - 12th & 13th July

Dover - 2nd & 3rd August

Salcombe - 13th & 14th September

Torquay Finals - 20th & 21st September

Please also note the following Invitation/Basic races:

Poole - 7th & 8th June

Stewartby - 21st & 22nd June

Teignmouth

Hi to all
I would just like to update you all on the schedule for Teignmouth Weekend 2008 but firstly I would like to thank Bekki Boorer (Topcat Wayne's better half) for all her help in organising the social evening, I couldn't have done it all by myself. Cheers Bekki, you're a star xxx

The Schedule for Teignmouth 2008 23rd-26th May
Friday Daytime/evening-Arrival followed by lots of Beers or Bacardi in my case
Saturday Daytime- Racing
Saturday Night- lots more Beer/Bacardi
Sunday Daytime-Racing
Sunday Night- We have been given Teignmouth Rugby Club free of charge and have organised a social evening with a disco and barbeque for the princely sum of £5.00 per head. We have also arranged a charity auction for Devon Air Ambulance Trust and have been donated some excellent items to raise funds. They are a Signed Torquay United Football Shirt, A family ticket to watch Exeter City F.C a pair of Tickets to watch Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club and a Virgin Yamaha Polo Shirt signed by the 2 riders and pit manager, a website built and maintained for 1 year, some bottles of wine and also a few other goodies.

If possible I would like to be able to collect the ticket money at Torquay so I can go do the shopping for the grub so I will be wandering round the pits, please buy your tickets up front that will help me a lot with the organisation. Any other items that can be donated for the auction will be willingly accepted.

Monday Daytime- Basic Race. I have been sent sponsor forms from the Air Ambulance Trust which I will also give out at Torquay and thought that it would be nice to run the race the same way as RMYC do for Cancer research. There is a Trophy for whoever raises the most sponsorship money to keep (forever) and it’s really nice. I know because I'm buying it!!!
I look forward to seeing you all at Teignmouth and having a fantastic weekend.
Fi (kranky)

Plymouth

1983 saw the City of Plymouth host its first OCR powerboat racing event. Even Paddy ‘The Legend’ Reilly raced here back in the day!

There has been some spectacular racing over the years with crashes and bashes galore. Plymouth Sound is the ideal location with spectacular viewing. OCRDA have worked closely throughout this time with the local club The Royal Plymouth & Corinthian Yacht Club (RPCYC) who have always provided first class facilities and a fabulous viewing point for spectators.

There are always some ‘hold your breath’ moments as the fleet power into club house turn. This has been a mark of the course for some 25 years and it has made many crew members wet along the way!!!!

The Elphinston car park was also part of the very first event back in 1983 and it really hasn’t changed much! However it is ideally suited overlooking Plymouth Sound. With help from the Mayflower Sailing Club over the past couple of years OCRDA have enjoyed great facilities at this fabulous historic venue. As Sir Francis Drake once said:

"There is plenty of time to win this game, and to thrash the Spaniards too." Sir Francis Drake c.1540 - 1596

OCRDA will for the first time organise an ‘All Class’ event with assistance from ORDA and Honda F4SA. With some 30 - 40 boats attending, we hope that this will create a great spectacle to celebrate our 25^th Anniversary of The City of Plymouth Powerboat Race.

Stewartby

Stewartby Watersports Racing Club (SWRC) has very kindly found us a new date 21^st & 22^nd June. I know this event was a big hit last year and those of you who went thoroughly enjoyed yourselves. This year promises to be very exciting as we will be part of the following:

World 350 Hydroplane Championships European 1 litre Championships

Formula 4 Circuit National Junior Circuit Racing

SWSC are looking forward to OCR returning in 2008 and so if you haven’t been before, give it a try!

SE Rep

Unfortunately, we haven't had too much information through from AYC about the Gravesend and Allhallows races yet but we hope to meet with them in the very near future.

Obviously most of you know that Allhallows is situated on the Thames Estuary. Well Gravesend is a bit further up the river towards London. This will be a different experience for many of you as Gravesend is not a seaside venue; it is situated in the middle of town. However, any of you who think this might be a flat race could be very much mistaken, as it has a busy shipping lane for deliveries to London.

Preparations are taking place for ‘The Dover Grand Prix’. We hope to have a meeting in early March with UKFFORC and the Dover Authority’s to discuss this year’s event. Hopefully we will be able to improve on what was a very good weekend last year.

UKFFORC is formerly WANDA Offshore.

We have been promoting OCR in the South East and we hope to have a few locals interested in attending as Basic boats. You never know we may even be able to convince them to race National!

I hope your pre season preparations are going well and you are looking forward to a good seasons racing!

Regards Phil

Charity Donations

The money raised during the 2007 season was £732.

On the 8^th February Mark & Jason Walker along with our Chairman presented Lady Williams with a cheque for the ‘Macmillan Nurses’. The cheque was handed over at the Cancer Day Care Centre in Gibraltar.

OCRDA would like to thank ‘The Gringos’ for their efforts throughout the season.

If anyone has a worthy charitable cause that they would like considered for the 2008 season. Please contact the committee.

RYA Licences

Please remember to get your Licences in to the RYA quickly – 7 days notice £50, 24 hours £100 additional charge.

FREE LICENCE - A Newcomer’s provisional licence will be free of charge if the competitor has never held any RYA Event Licence or full RYA licence before.

Officials /Safety /Volunteers

Please note: We are always looking for volunteers or trainee officers for the club. The RYA are hoping to put on a "Officials Seminar" before the start of season and are looking for clubs to put forward any would be Officials. If you or anyone you know would like further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

If any member is interested in crewing the club rescue boat ‘Top Cat’ for the 2008 season please contact Bob McCarthy: bob@ocrda.freeserve.co.uk

Pit Talk

What’s this I hear ‘Bens got a black one’!

Rob likes to shine his on a regular basis!

Ally has to help Steve with his!

I’m sure everyone is busy preparing their boats for the start of the season which is looming towards us very quickly (6 weeks I believe!). The first race of the season is always interesting, this is when the tails and rumours of the winter months come to fruition and the fleet is there for all to see! Who’s racing with whom, in what and who will be the quickest! As the saying goes: the **** stops when the flag drops!

Maybe we will see some ‘old’ faces around the circuit over the summer both on and off the water. It would be good to encourage them to come back and have a go at racing OCR. After all it’s still the place to be.

A11 is the team to beat and we hope that many of you will be able to rise to the challenge in 2008! Keep the racing exciting but above all keep it safe!

P.S. Apparently - there’s a fibreglass shortage in Kent!

Joke Time

Chairman : - Have you seen the Official Ventriloquists web site? guggleyewguggleyewguggleyew.ventriloquist.com!!

Treasurer : - What’s the best thing for sea sickness? Strawberry jam sandwiches - at least they taste nice on the way back up!!

Secretary : - Why are men like lava lamps? They are fun to watch but not very bright!!

I’m sure you all have some better ones, please forward for inclusion in the next Newsletter!