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‘Just a perfect day’ as the song goes.

Visitors were treated to a first class introduction to windsurfing and our Club. A very confident, calm, professional, and friendly (our trade mark) operation. Go to our facebook page for pictures and comments – click here.

Well done and a special thanks to the support team– JT, Trish, Phil, Graham, Jeff, Geoffrey, Julie, John, Ros, Kathy, Dick, Darren, Paul, Martin, Philip, Gareth, Simon, Anita, Richard, Robbie, Tone, and Noah.

We have received some very sad news; Paul passed away yesterday, 22 February. Please click this link for a post from Neil Greentree at Quayside. I understand Paul was a regular at Wells and Hunstanton, and if you have sailed there then the chances are you will have met Paul and Michelle. Ben and I had met Paul a few times, a thoroughly nice man. Paul, you will be greatly missed. (Pic: windsurfing at Wells).

I’ve been meaning to get this video completed and uploaded for a while, although it’s been edited so much that it’s more of a trailer than a video. Hope you enjoy it.

Turn on the sound and click here.

This is also on the Hickling Windsurfing Club facebook page.

This was as much a social as an AGM. The meeting purpose was to formalise the end of the club year and agree committee members for 2014. Four new committee members were appointed; Neil, Ros, Jeff, and Wendy. Two key promotions with Gareth as Vice Chairman, and Simon bravely taking on the Membership Secretary role. Special thanks go to Pat for VC support for longer than anyone can remember, and Philip for providing an exceptional membership secretary service for the last few years. Sadly Graham has decided to retire from committee life.  A key ‘helper’, previous news letter editor, and major contributor to committee meeting AOBs. Graham, thanks and look forward to sailing with you soon.

Finances, membership numbers, and website traffic continue to be strong. Some challenging weather in 2013 resulting in the annual Fun day being cancelled, but the Come and Try day was successful despite some extreme conditions. A membership survey will be carried out in 2014 to check for member satisfaction and seek new ideas. A Hickling Windsurfing Club facebook page will be trialled through 2014 to help the club engage with it’s members on-line.

It was good to see that the function room at St. Andrews Football Club had been updated. A good turn out but the out of town location was not quite as popular as previous City centre venues.

Regrettably the forecast was rain and we couldn’t get the retractable roof to close, so the fun day was cancelled.

We have had good weather over the years, this year our luck ran out.

The weather has been really odd this year and today was no exception. Anyone who was driving through the ice and water in Norwich earlier in the morning would have thought it was December.

It’s quite amazing that budding windsurfers made the trip to Hickling and took to the water in 20 + mph winds for their first sail. Very satisfying to see everyone doing so well, and in particular the children for showing so much gusto (our future windsurfers?) – wow well done guys.

The operation ran like clock work with cakes, tea/coffee, booking systems, changing tents, pontoons and support staff all being in the right place at the right time to put on a show to be proud of.

Apologies to those members that turned up for a sail. We realise there was a gap in our communications this year and thank you for bearing with us today.

A great relief to know that it’s business as usual down on the Broad after such a cold start to the year. This is backed up by a flurry of emails and forum updates reporting some excellent windsurfing conditions in the last few weeks. We also have the comfort of knowing that last summer was one of the wettest on record, so surely the prospects for good conditions has to be better this year.

Happy surfing.

We had a great turnout for the AGM in the Wherry Bar, a nice nautical touch. More like Santa’s grotto with Santa Dave and his helpers on the main table.  We heard it’s been another successful year at the club, lots of windsurfing, some great events, steady membership numbers, sound finances, and a popular website. We also had a good laugh and sampled the delights of the fine selection of beers. The Ribs of Beef has loads of character built on a few centuries of serving up booze. Quite a contrast to the ultra modern Virgin Lounge where we met last year. It’s a reminder of just how much diversity Norwich has to offer.

Next years quest is to find out why the occupants of Beijing, and Seattle are so interested in our website – please email us if you are viewing this page from afar.

Blues skies + great bunch of people + delicious lunch + force 2/4 = another successful club fun day.

Warm and windy – all the weather forecasts got it wrong. An Olympic theme this year, with 400 and 800 metre races, and of course a relay race. In all 6 gold medals and loads of well deserved prizes were awarded.

Thanks goes to Tony (Chief Judge), Philip (Pro photographer), Wendy (Chef), Kathy (Cake maker) and to everyone for being such good sports and great Olympians. I didn’t know that cakes could taste that good!

The highlight has to be the relay race. Despite extensive R&D the batons were vulnerable to breaking into two, in the hands of highly enthusiastic competitors, making the handover process even more complex. A major test of board control, balance, and navigation skills. John and Robert being the first ever windsurfing relay gold medalists.

Thanks to everyone for making this a fun day to remember. Click here for the pics. Full write up in the news letter here.

(Regrettably the come and try day rescheduled for the 18/8 has been cancelled as too many helpers are on holiday.)

* All members are welcome.

* Training by big G and our other RYA qualified instructors.

* All levels catered for.