and the winner is......

After the Longshed opening and during the commodores punch party but before the Strictly evening there was the handbook cover photographic competition.

Such was the high standard of entries, that the collator Chris Hogg, exhibited nineteen choices.

After much debate, with the help of a few glasses of mulled wine (which had been lovingly crafted by Sue Stow) the votes were counted and it was a close run thing.

Nick Framptons snap of Ali and Phil Ashworth on their Merlin Rocket 'Leader' closely followed by two Squibs won the day with 18 votes. Second with 16 was a dramatic shot of keelboats during Bart's Bash whilst third (15) was a beautifully lit intriguing shot of two keelboats and three spinnakers.

Nick's shot will now adorn the front cover of the 2015 handbook of which there are a few pages left inside for trade adverts. See Euan MacNair if you want to advertise within.

A special mention should also be made of Jane Buckle's social sub committee team.

The planning for the events of Saturday started weeks previously, decorations put up, taken down only to be put up again. The organising of catering, movement and laying up of tables and the eventual tidying up could not have been achieved without them.

Lastly, the previous week Berry and Andreas had organised the hugely successful Christmas party, so thank you to them as well.

Submitted on 24th December 2014