As the summer boating season draws to a close, we are all enjoying the calm wind-free afternoons that are typical of this time of year in Perth. All sections are completing their programs for the year and preparing for the next year’s calendar while trying to predict the 12 month weather pattern, which has left us all confused with the variable weather at the height of the last summer season.

The summer sailing activities in the northern hemisphere are now powering up and the Junior Exchange Sailing Scheme (JESS) is actively seeking support to fund six young sailors in the 15 to 18 age group to travel to Europe in June and compete in significant youth regattas over a 7 week period, including Germany and Italy.

The six sailors selected are Martin Wright, Dylan Schroeder, Tom Johnson, Scott Sharpe, Rees Howell and Emily Pettersson with Coach John Cassidy. Their Manager, Scott Olsen, introduced Dylan and Tom to members at the club’s happy hour on Friday 19 May after which they introduced themselves and explained the JESS activities.

I encourage everyone to support the activities of these junior sailors who will be representing not only the Fremantle Sailing Club, but also WA and Australia. I have no doubt that they will do us proud – will sail to their best, and bring home a unique experience that they will share with younger sailors; as Scott has done before them.

After the successful improvements made to the Galley restaurant, the extensive renovations to the lower convenience area of the club are proceeding amidst much initial noise pollution – it will have subsided by now, much to the relief of the office staff. The new facilities will be a welcome improvement to everyone. A worthwhile step forward.

Additional building modifications have been made to the storage room alongside the Sunset Deck. This has been extensively modified to provide a Youth Entertainment Centre, which now provides TV/DVD/video facilities, a PlayStation-2 facility, an X-Box facility, a pool table and a lounge area for the cool dudes to chill out. This was opened on Saturday, 22 April to much enthusiasm by the young participants.

The BWB can now be seen at fsc.com.au as a fast download, user friendly browser, with pic expand. Email to your friends!

Keith Sandham
Editor