A 10hour Endurance race in memory of Des Allen-Rowlandson, a member of Emberton Park Sailing Club for many years. The chosen charity this year was MK Christian Foundation. The race is open to 2 man boats with a minimum of 4 crew per boat. To effect the necessary change overs.

It was a misty start as the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Brin Carstens got the race underway at 10am on the 10th September. The wind was very light and the boats slowly made their way to the first mark, led by the Grummitts team (Ent'tertainment) followed by Malcolm Kirby (Scouts About) with Mark Blomfield (Forever Hopeful) third round, followed by Ian Dixons (Party Nuts) with David Coles (Blackshadow) bringing up the rear. Navigating the course was taking an hour a lap, so to send a crew on a second lap would be condemning them to another hour in the boat, but most of them entered into the spirit of the event and carried on, at least it wasn't raining.

Ent'tertainment continued to lead and made some quite slick changes from one crew to another, often only changing one in the boat, which kept the continuity going. The wind was beginning to pick up as the race progressed, and apart from the leading boat a few positional changes were taking place, and the crews were enjoying the day, so no one was really concerned about where they were in the race.

The VIP's lunch was served in a small marquee, by Marie Collins and her helpers. Whilst the tea and cake tent was manned by the MK Christian Foundation, and burgers etc were being served up by club members, and still the sailing went on.

As more experienced crews came to the boats so the positions changed, and a computer programme with a result sheet every two hours was able to show crews how they were progressing. But with the Ent'tertainment boat having the best all round crews there was little the rest could do to reel them in, but everyone tried their hardest, and with the wind beginning to drop again as the sun went down, it was decided to finish the race an hour early as it wasn't going to affect the overall positions in the race.

So the Mayor of Olney rang the finishers off at 1900hrs, and joined the rest of the club members for supper, but not before presenting the Trophys.

The Winners of the Charles Wells Trophy---Ent'tertainment

Mixed Ability Trophy-----Forever Hopeful

Junior Trophy------------- Party Nuts

Novice Trophy------------ Scouts About

The teenagers with the Christian Foundation had a terrific time in the canoes, this was overseen by John Sweet, the clubs Vice Commodore and once some of the canoeists got wet, they went for a swim as well.

Emberton Park S.C. celebrated 50years of sailing on Saturday 8th of July 2006.

The President of Emberton Park S.C Peter Willcocks welcomed the Mayor of Milton Keynes Councillor Brin Carstens and Councillor Paul Watson Mayor of Olney Town and his wife who were honoured guests .He then went on to give a brief resume of the clubs history.

The club was formed in 1956 and started sailing at Woburn Park under the name South Beds Sailing Club by a small group of families. They were there for 14 years before relocating to Emberton Park and changing name, where it has remained for the past 36 years. The pond at Woburn probably has Hippos in it now.

When the founder families arrived at Emberton there were no facilities, and the changing room area consisted of a caravan with a blanket across the centre separating the male from the female, with audible signals indicating when one or the other would be invading the space to leave the caravan.

Confronted with just a flat piece of land, the first task was to lay two slipways, these were subsequently lengthend to account for the water levels dropping. The building (in brick) of the clubhouse commenced and was done in two halves, the changing facilities quite naturally got priority and was officially opened by the Mayor of Newport Pagnell (whos Rural District Council had approved the move initially into Emberton Park) in 1971. the second half , a year later, it was completed by club members, who were very proud of their achievement, the final act being the burning of the caravan. The planners would only allow a flat roof at the time, but a new pitched roof has since been built and all the windows and doors double glazed.

Councillor Carstens responded and thought it was commendable that club members over the years had kept working to improve the facilities for the benefit of everyone who used the club both socially and for the sailing programme we produce every year. Councillor Watson echoed these sentiments.

Three founder members were located and invited along with Flag Officers of other local clubs, past members and families with present members and families making a large group to join in the celebrations.

Club members and guests then launched their boats for a short race, 20 boats taking part in this, followed by tea. The Mayor of Milton Keynes then had to depart for another engagement, and it fell to the Mayor of Olney to cut the celebration cake and present the Trophies for the race, but not before his mandatory sail at these occasions (without getting his feet wet) and not missing out on an opportunity, both Mayors went away with application forms in their hands.

Lots of reminiscing was taking place and the weather stayed fine, a very pleasing and successful day was had by all, and many thanks must go to all the club members who made it possible for a 50 year celebration to remember.

The first Midland Travellers Open of the season took place at Emberton Park on Sunday 26 th March in dry but blustery conditions with a good fleet of Solos representing ten different clubs.

The first race got underway to a clean start, with Richard Pye (Draycote Water SC) leading the fleet to the windward mark, followed by Ewan Birkin – Walls (Grafham Water SC) with Chris Brown (RYA) in third, and Andy Miles (RYA) fourth, Jon Clarke (Rugby and Daventry) in fifth spot, Pye maintained his lead but Birken –Walls briefly took the lead but was re-passed by Pye, Clarke then passed Miles into fourth place. These positions were held to the line, Pye, Birken – Walls, Brown, Clarke, and Miles, in that order.

The second race had one general recall before getting underway with Miles leading the fleet to the windward mark followed by Birkin – Walls, Pye third, Brown fourth, and Clarke fifth

Birkin – Walls then passed Miles and into first place, Clarke started to make up places, to pass Brown then Pye into third spot, then passing Miles into second place, but Brown came back from fourth place to pass Pye Clarke and Birken – Walls all in the space of one lap to gain pole position.

Clarke dropping to third, Miles fourth and Pye fifth. Birken - Walls wasn't finished yet though and regained first place at the expense of Brown to take line honours, with Clarke holding third, Miles fourth and Pye fifth.

In the lower order Keith Lancaster (Rugby and Daventry) held sixth place all the way through the race, but Brian Fisher (Melton Mowbray) Ben Elliott (Cransley SC) Matt Robinson (Sandwell Valley SC) and Karl Richardson (Emberton Park SC) were changing places from lap to lap and Richardson got the best of the exchanges finishing seventh, but David Granville (Banbury SC) couldn't make any inroads to these five, the blustery conditions having a telling affect on all boats during the race.

The third and final race got off to a clean start, with Birken – Walls leading the fleet to the windward mark, closely followed by Brown and Miles with Fisher in fourth and Pye in fifth. Pye soon passed Fisher in fourth spot, but the three leaders were holding their positions and drawing away from the rest of the fleet, Lancaster then passed Fisher who now dropped to sixth place. The blustery conditions caused three retirements during the race, but Birken – Walls took line honours and won the event.

Both Emberton Park Sailing Club and the National Solo celebrate their 50 th Anniversary this year and the Club presented the sailors with an appropriate Birthday Cake, most of whom took theirs home in paper napkins in traditional style.

Final results.
1st - Ewan Birken – Wallis, Grafham Water
2nd - Chris Brown, RYA
3rd - Richard Pye, Draycote Water
4th - Andy Miles, RYA
5th - Jon Clarke, Rugby and Daventry
6th - Keith Lancaster, Rugby and Daventry
7th - Brian Fisher, Melton Mowbray
8th - Karl Richardson, Emberton Park
9th - David Glanville, Banbury
10th - Matt Robinson, Sandwell Valley
11th - Ben Elliott, Cransley
12th - Peter Baker, Emberton Park
13th - Thurstan Ollerearnshaw, Stewartby

Overall Results:
1st 23056 Richard Adams and James Holmes (Soulsailor RA ) 2pts
2nd 22320 Martin Davies and Laurence Davies (Rugby & Daventry SC) 4 pts
3rd 23058 Steve Graham and Chessie Sanders (Hollowell SC) 5pts
4th 22901 Paul Young and John Hackett (B/Vale & S/Hill) 5pts
5th 22629 Neil Parsloe and Siobhan Ladyman (Broadwater SC) 7pts.

Laser Open Results: