Boxing Day Regatta

Many thanks to ALL who contributed to making the Boxing Day Asprodico Regatta such a success!

Our primary objective was well and truly achieved with the grand sum of 1280€ being raised… Natalia, Naomi, Paloma and myself shall be visiting Asprodico on the 3rd of January to discuss the installation of the new ramp and step.

As well as raising money we also managed to ruin the TV viewing figures as we prised more than 40 people away from their après Christmas lethargy and cold Turkey sandwiches to enjoy the sunshine and the Mulled Wine and Mince Pies generously supplied by Pritpal and Neelam of La Diva Restaurant.

We are also very grateful to the Hotel Costa Narejos for generously providing a nights accommodation and bed and breakfast for the winners of the prize draw…This was won by Russell Dougall who also managed to raise the most money of all the competitors. He will be enjoying a great nights stay in the fantastic 4 star hotel (having been previously wined and dined at La Diva restaurant) before enjoying a day of sailing at Pro-vela.

Ahhh…there was some racing too! With a course set close to shore by Race officers Mike and Barbara (and expertly laid out by Dave Hillman) an hour of handicap racing for the 10 boats ensued…..This saw the first 3 places taken by the Rs Q’Bas of Kiko, Alan and Maria followed by the Laser 2000 of Bob and John…following the adjustment of times based on how much the crews had bunged the race officer Kiko was declared the winner, the Laser 2000 sneaked into 2nd with Maria in 3rd.

Kiko was adjudged to be the most deserving of the 3 Osteopathic sessions donated by Russell Dougall with Bob and John making off with a monster bottle of wine provided by La Diva…and Maria winning some wine and glasses generously donated by David and Gloria.(she promised to share with her Mum and Dad)

Other worthy mentions were the Weta skippered by Janice who raised a fantastic amount for the charity as well as Pritpal and Russell fighting it out for the first capsize prize. Many thanks also to Jack and Oakley (and I am sure I saw a third???) in the second shoestring boat the Gamba raising a princely sum for Asprodico and eating the most mince pies. The Pro-Vela Spanish instructors also made an appearance in the Bahia though were predictably late for the start and did not disturb the time keepers from there on. The Balaton also graced the race course for the first time and if the start had been the finish they would have been laughing (crossing the line 2nd).

It did not really matter who won and lost…..a great time was had by all and the kids of Asprodico have a new ramp coming their way! Many thanks also to Geoff Cox who took the attached photos!

Thanks again and have a happy and healthy new year.

Alan Hillman
Pro-Vela

 

Note from John Down about the Regatta:

 

Just to let you know the charity fund raising was really successful and raised 1280 Euros,it was more than enough to buy the stairs and walking ramp for the children. Bob and I were on Tres and Jack Oakley and Roger T. where on Uno, Carol Sibson and Robert Cheshire where on the Balaton. The rest of the crews where from Alan’s pool of friends mainly on the Laser single hander.

Bob and I got a poor start some 30 seconds or more adrift, but then Bob made a good decision and went deep and got us up to the first buoy in the lead, we maintained this in spite of going into irons on the third buoy and sliding onto it. We had to do a 360 degree turn as a penalty and then carried on and held the lead right to the finish.  However on handicap this was not far enough in front to win it outright we were in fact short of just 25 seconds to have won it according to Mike Harding who was the Officer of the Day. We came 4th so it was really close and I think Jack and co. came 6th.

Then the sponsor donations of money were changed into seconds and deducted from our times,  thanks to the donations you gave Bob and me our position was revised to 2nd place and we won a large bottle of wine.

So guys thank you very much and if you could see Alan’s daughter running around the boat park you would see just how much difference the new stairs and ramp will make to kids in the future.

Happy New Year when it comes

John D.