Could not have been better

Hello all,

I must say, today's regatta was fantastic!  Huge thanks to the parents and leaders who made it all happen.
Photos are up on our gallery site (https://picasaweb.google.com/109310999096060098606/OnepotoRegatta2012)

Conditions were pretty varied all over the course, with a good breezy bit around the bottom mark, and completely dead pocket up near the top mark.

So when you were tacking around the bottom, you had to let the main out or too much power would come on too soon.

And this was a slightly weird course in that the top mark was quite close to the start line which made for a full crowd around the first turn before everyone had a chance to spread out.  Please do take care with the boats - even a little bump against another boat can cause a significant amount of damage. 

That dead pocket was a 'wind shadow' caused by the big hill directly to the west.  So it was a bit amusing to see a dozen boats beetling for the top mark then stop dead just before getting there!  The clever ones went a little further out into the harbour to keep the wind as long as possible and have some speed going into the turn.  You could see the wind pick up again literally meters past from the mark... it must have been so frustrating to get caught there.

At the end of the day, however, it was a fantastic event, and especially since it was our first of the season!
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This coming Thursday is our last night of the term and I'm hoping the glorious weather will hold.  Bring your sailing gear as chances are good we'll be back out on the big blue.
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And of course, Saturday 15 December starting at 7:30 will be our end-of-term/end-of-2012/possibly-end-of-the-world campfire.  Bring the whanau, chairs and a stick for roasting something sweet

Cheers,
R

today's den work

Hello all,

Thanks so much to everyone who dropped by the den today!  We got SO much done, and everything looks fantastic.

Scouts will resume this Thursday night but at our 'summer' time of 6:30pm.  This week we will get started on our trolleys, so bring down some wheels, wood and imagination.  The trolley derby is planned for 03 November in Whitby, Raumati is the host group, and I will forward details as they come out.
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The phone book deliveries are still scheduled for the 26-28 October weekend.  This is our major annual fundraiser for the entire group and is definitely an 'all-hands-on-deck' situation.

For our new families who have not done the phone books before, here's a brief description.

• Friday night is packing night.  Absolutely everyone shows up at a warehouse and joins a huge humming hive of activity where we group white and yellow pages, bag them up and load pallets. 
• Saturday is the major delivery day.  Anyone with a road-legal trailer, cube van, or horse-and-dray please show up and get ready to explore the highways and byways of our great region with a team of willing Scouts, Venturers and Cubs.  You will get to pick the routes you'll be delivering to which is a super opportunity to head into suburbs that you might not ordinarily see.
• Sunday is also delivery day.  Any runs that didn't get completed on Saturday should get covered today.  Any extra phone books (usually just four or five... hundred ) will need to be brought back to the den, and the warehouse will need to be completely cleaned up.

All along the way we'll have a variety of exotic refreshments available, such as sausages and raro, to keep the energy up.

I have not heard exactly where our warehouse space is yet this year, but will post as soon as that information becomes available.  Does anyone have a spare 1100 square metre space...?
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Cheers,
R
--
Ngati Toa Sea Scout Troop
http://ngatitoaseascouts.blogspot.com/
http://picasaweb.google.com/ngatitoa.seascouts

End of Term coming up

Hello all,

This week upcoming looks to be a busy and satisfying way to wrap up the term.

On Tuesday night we are hosting the annual prizegiving for water activities in the region.  Our troop has maintained our standing in the past year and there will be a lot of shiny hardware returning to it's place on our shelves. I would ask that those Scouts and Venturers who participated in regattas over the past year to please attend in uniform and show NTSS pride.  The programme begins at 7:30 but please be at the den no later than 6:45 to help set up tables, chairs, refreshments and ensure the trophies are cleaned and presentable.
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Thursday night will be our last night of the term.  The programme calls for a lamb BBQ, but stay tuned for additional details. 
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A reminder about the Mad Butcher sizzle on 30 June (next Saturday).  The roster is available online.  If for whatever reason you cannot attend your timeslot, please let me know as soon as possible.

Thanks for an excellent term!

Cheers,
R

Jamboree fundraising

Hello all,

Looks like we've come around again to that time when we begin fundraising for Jamboree.

Ask any of the Scouts who went to Jamboree 2011 in Hamilton, or just have a spin through the photo gallery.  It is one of the single best Scouting experiences your son or daughter can have.

It's not an inexpensive venture, however.  We at Ngati Toa have been extremely fortunate in the past to have been able to have the group fund a large portion of the cost of sending nearly the entire troop, but we can only do that if we all pull together on raising those funds.  Many other troops were not so fortunate and in some cases families faced costs north of $1000 per Scout.

Therefore...

A reminder about the special foodie event we have organised in partnership with the Mediterranean Food Warehouse.  I have attached the flyer to this email, but the details are pretty simple:
7pm Tuesday 19 June at the MFW in Paraparaumu.
Tickets are $35 and you get to learn about Anitpasto, Main, Dessert.  You walk away with delicious food ideas plus a glass of wine PLUS a $5 voucher from MFW!  Can't go wrong!
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And at the other end of the scale, I have booked us a Mad Butcher sizzle for Saturday 30 June.  For those who have not helped out at one of these before, it's super easy!  Time slots are 90 minutes each; pick one that works for you, and come down to the Mad Butcher with an apron.  Everything is provided, or readily available in-store. These sizzles usually raise us over $300 on a good day, so they are one of our very effective tools.

Use the links below to send me an email to reserve your spot.  First in, first signed.
0800-0930 Pavelich
0930-1100 Bell
1100-1230 Mutton-Shaw
1230-1400 Serci
1400-1530 Rennison

Cheers,
R

Re: Overnight cycle trip reminder

Hello all,

That jacket I emailed about last night has been located, so no worries, it will get back to its shivering owner on Monday night at the beacon fire.
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It's time to begin planning for our coastal bike trip from Paekakariki to Paraparaumu on the weekend of June 9-10.

First and most importantly, this event is comparable to a Scout camp so participation is strongly expected.  This activity will be counted toward badgework and milestones.

The leaders need to plan for catering and gear transport, so we need to know how many Scouts, leaders and parent helpers will be attending.
I ask that all families please notify me by next Wednesday via email the following details:

• whether or not their Scout(s) will be participating;
• if so, how many in total will be coming along including any parent helpers
• whether you can transport gear, firewood and/or food to and from the Paraparaumu Beach Scout Den

The plan for the trip is to gather in Paekakariki on Saturday 9 June at 1pm at the surf lifesaving club car park (far north end of The Parade)
The cycle group will travel along the beach and pathways north through QEII Park to Paraparaumu, ending up at the Scout Den on Te Kupe Road (see here for location). The ride should take maybe three hours if we stop for photos and snacks occasionally.

Once at the den we'll run some games and activities both indoors and at the adjacent Te Atiawa park.  If it isn't hosing down we might have a fire in the pit later on and ritually sacrifice some marshmallows.

On Sunday morning after far too little sleep we'll eat and pack up, clean the hall and have a few more activities.  At around noon we'll set out back to Paekakariki to a target arrival time of 3pm at our start point.

We did the bike safety and maintenance programme last week.  If you were not there or did not have a bike, please ensure that you have a bike in good mechanical condition.  We won't have a support vehicle following us and it's a heck of a long push through QEII park.

Your Scout will need to have ready for the trip:

• a bike and lock
• a helmet
• layers of clothing appropriate to conditions (check the forecast on Friday please)
• a small day pack with water bottle and snacks for both trips that they will carry with them
• tyre puncture kit
• sleeping bag, ditty bag and necessary toiletries (will be transported by helpful parents!)

I think that's all for now.  Again, all families please advise me by next Wednesday with respect to the details above so we can make this a very memorable excursion.

Cheers,
Randall

We can't sink the cutters yet...

It seems that the Waka Ama Championship people will have our den until late Sunday, so we will shift the swamp test to the next Sunday (29 April) at 1pm.

Cheers,
R

Would you rather sail a cutter, or...

...would you rather sink it?

Rarely does an opportunity come along to deliberately sink our sailboats, but here we are!

As part of our cutter survey certificates, we occasionally need to perform what's called a 'swamp test' to evaluate the buoyancy of each vessel.

Basically it's a chance for some good fun in the water, and we'll throw on some sausages and hot drinks to warm you up afterward.

We'll do this at the den on Sunday 29 April (updated), starting at around 1pm.  Come on down, bring your togs, and be ready to play Captain Of The Titanic!
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Thanks to those who came out last weekend for the fun sail.  There was a good wind which made for some quick tacking practice.  It would be awesome to do this several times over the off-season to keep our skills sharp.

Cheers,
Randall

New Picasa Web Albums Activity

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Ngati Toa Sea Scouts added 37 photos to Worser Bay sunburst regatta 2012

Apr 4, 2012 2:44:08 AM

Ngati Toa Sea Scouts shared an album with you.

You are invited to view Ngati Toa Sea Scouts's photo album: Worser Bay sunburst regatta 2012 Worser Bay sunburst regatta 2012 Worser Bay, Wellington - Apr 1, 2012 by Ngati Toa Sea Scouts View Album Play slideshow If you are having problems clicking the link, copy and paste the following into your browser: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=109310999096060098606&target=ALBUM&id=5727478403258746641&authkey=Gv1sRgCOnXiceetbKCsgE&invite=CJOUk9YC&feat=email

Napier Regatta cancelled

Hello all,

The weather has done in the Napier Regatta this year.  I just got the call from the host who says the conditions are simply atrocious.

So we shall have to give it another go next year.  In the meantime, enjoy your Easter weekend!

Cheers,
R

Worser Bay this weekend

Here is a reminder about our final local regatta this weekend at Worser Bay.
Location: http://g.co/maps/uaxt4

It's a sunburst-only event and the conditions look to be excellent (fine, 17 degrees, 10kt southwesterly).  Last year was a bit of a smashup so this year will feel pretty cruisy in comparison.

There will be an early start, however: arrive by 8, briefing at 9.  The good news is that because of the end of daylight savings time, it will only feel like 9 and 10.  We'll need to be at the den by 7 to hook up and go.  People able to tow or offer a spare seat please advise me.

Thanks,
R

Oh, and I will be following up with people about Napier by Sunday night ;-)

Great Onepoto Raft Race (rescheduled)

Sorry everyone, but the raft race will be pushed back to 25 March because of the weather.

Water, Fish, Fire and Dragons

Hello all,

Water
This past weekend saw the back-to-back Harbour Race and Hickson Regatta events hosted by Britannia at Evans Bay.  Conditions on Saturday were a bit slow so the course was shortened up to two smaller laps.  Sunday was fantastic, however, and our crews made the most of it.  It was a two-horse race between ourselves and Britannia and we managed to nudge them out with a couple of wins in the last two events of the day.  Well done to all our sailors!  Photos should be up on our site in the next day or two.

Nicky and Emma in a sunburst were victims of a hit-and-sail incident by an Eastern Bays cutter.  There was some damage to our boat so we will evaluate it and make repairs over the next while.

Our 'new' cutter Tuahine (83) has been surveyed, certified and made ready for action.  Her sailing rig is different from anything else we currently have so the leaders will have a look at the setup to ensure we understand it before sending Scouts out under canvas.  She is fine for rowing right now, so I'd expect we can put the oars in any time. 

I will mention it this Thursday, but our Great Onepoto Raft Race is set for this Sunday.  Some lashing practice wouldn't be a bad idea!  If anyone has spare inner tubes, please bring them along on Thursday or Sunday.

I should have full details about the Cutty Sark Regatta in Napier in a few days.  In broad strokes, however, it will be held at the Westshore Scout den on the Easter weekend.  It's a fantastic event, the weather (in my experience) is glorious, and all the kids have a blast.

Fish
Ross says: Tomorrow nights plan is to row the cutters out into Porirua harbour or the channel, anchor up, and all have a go at fishing. There will be a competition for the most fish caught and the biggest fish. What we need you to bring is something to fish with, either a fishing rod/reel or if you don't have access to a fishing rod, simply just a spool of nylon, a sinker and a hook will do (all available at the Warehouse for a low price)...you don't need large hooks – you can catch big fish on small hooks but you cant catch small fish on big hooks so don't go overboard and bring along a hook capable of catching a whale.

The fish that you might catch include pilchards, spotties, kahawai, trevally, john dory (see the photo of a John Dory caught by Ross using his bare hands behind the Scout den). There are also small school sharks that may be caught as well.

We will provide bait and we may have a limited amount of fishing gear available if you are unable to find any yourself. Richard might bring his net out that we can set as well.

Fire
A Kapiti Zone Campfire has been planned for Saturday 10 March starting at 6pm.  These are always special events and this one is doubly special because it is being held on the beach at Raumati!  Full details are in the PDF that went out with the email.

Dragons
Our dragonboat paddling was disappointingly blown out last week.  We have rescheduled for 16 March.  Please file decent weather requests (in triplicate) at least one week prior.

Cheers,
Randall

Change to dragonboat paddling night and other notes

Hello all,

I have just been advised that the dragonboat paddling we had scheduled in for 16 February has had to be pushed back to the following week, 23 February.
Also, the time has been shifted to 7-8pm instead of 6-7. This works out better for us as the 7pm start will allow more families to arrive on time and enjoy more of the experience.
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Many hands make light work, as the saying goes, and our Quartermaster David Arrowsmith has asked me to pass along a request for a few minutes of parent help tomorrow night.
We have a number of tents which are currently being stored in the boys' and girls' change rooms. As you can imagine, this makes it more difficult for the kids to get changed at the beginning and end of the evenings and generally slows things down.

So we are asking that parents please stay for a few minutes after bringing their Scouts at 6:30 to help move the tents out of the change rooms and back into the QM stores. All we'd need to do is wait until the sunbursts have been rolled out of the shed so we have room to work.
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The forecast for tomorrow night is rising northerlies which may mean rowing only, or may mean staying on shore depending on conditions. Please have your Scouts bring their wet gear anyway.

Cheers,
Randall