Main Sheet September 2026
Published 09:39 on 18 Sep 2026
Message from the Commodore
Welcome to the second edition of mainsheet. The committee recognises that regular communication with the membership is important and has worked hard to bring this to you in addition to looking after the club.
The closing paragraph contains a request for volunteers to come forward and help so the work does not fall on too few shoulders. If you fancy getting involved, just contact Jason.
Our new steward and his team have been settling in well and getting to know us all. If visiting your club has rather fallen off your radar, I would ask you to make a special effort as your support is vital.
Outside of the Club we have enjoyed a marvellous summer with much pleasure being derived from racing, rallying and cruising. With thoughts turning to the autumn our newly formed social committee has a number of events planned to ease you into winter.
Franchise Update
The new catering and bar franchise, The Galley, has now had two months to build up capability from a standing start, and whilst some aspects are still bedding in, a significant number of members have commented favourably on the quality of the food.
The Galley hosted a full house for an excellent lunch to watch the Battle of Britain Air Display. The Club has been made aware of a couple of instances where the clubhouse has been closed earlier than the published times, and is liaising with the franchisee to ensure that we meet members expectations. The Club has also been made aware of some recent problems with the telephone system that meant members could not get through to book a table. These have been fixed.
Club officers will be working closely with the franchise to ensure a quality and good value catering and bar service. A new Franchise Committee has now started meeting formally on a monthly basis with Mario to review all aspects of performance. Your feedback will be one of the recurring agenda items. It is important that, in the interest of balance, you let Jason know if you have been really happy with your experience in the club house, as well as any issues.
Mario is always receptive to suggestions and feedback. Recruitment is now largely complete, and Mario is pleased to introduce the team. Name badges have been ordered and are awaited.
Bar
Sundays and Bank Holidays: 08.45 22.00
Monday Wednesday: 09.00 - 22.00
Thursday Saturday: 09.00 23.00
Food Service
Daily Breakfast: 09.00 11.30
Daily Lunch: 12.00 14.15
Thursday Saturday Dinner: 18.00 20.30
Rallies Update
Our rally to St. Quay-Portrieux over the August bank holiday weekend was severely impacted by the high winds forecast for the weekend. We were keen to pay a visit to a sailing club there that we were previously unaware of. The Vice-Commodore and the Chair of Sailing on Tenui Matu were joined by the crew of Lottie in advance of the winds and a brave Morrina IV in the teeth of the storm on the Saturday, to meet up with our new friends for a welcome drink and meal. We joined them for a friendly race around the rocks on Sunday, followed by a visit to their clubhouse for drinks. We will definitely be going back there next year.
The weather gods smiled much more favourably on the following rally to St Cast, last weekend. Fifteen of our boats joined the rally and enjoyed fabulous sailing conditions on the Friday and a few other SHYC members boats made the trip too. A few more sailed down in an RCIYC race on the Saturday, in slightly less-than-ideal conditions. The rally enjoyed a welcome drink and a meal in Le Ptit Mousse. The weather stayed beautiful all weekend and everyone enjoyed exploring the great selection of restaurants and shops.
The Rallye Hubert is scheduled on Saturday the 26th of September, with a sailing race back from Granville for the Trevor Beaton Trophy and Mourant Cup. The Rallye Hubert is a fun event that includes a pursuit race, a treasure hunt around Granville and a quiz. It has been moved forward from its usual October date to reduce the risk of bad weather. Visit our Yacht Racing page for event details.
Your Rally Committee has already finalised the schedule for the 2027 season. We hope to see many friends, old and new at one of our events next year. Please do join us if you have not done so previously; all are welcome.
Finally, we are looking for a couple of people to join the Rally Committee for next year, so if you would like to lend a hand, please contact us by email at rally@shyc.je or via the office.
Social Committee Update
The new Social Committee is excited to announce the Laying Up Supper on 17th October. Top local band Parish 13 will be there to play a set after dinner. If youre not familiar with them, their music has been described as fast-paced, rhythm-driven tunes centred around themes of drinking, seafaring and nautical life a mix of folk, gypsy, punk, shanty and storytelling.
The Social Committee encourage you to wear something nautical to reflect the theme of the evening. The Galley have laid on a special menu, places are limited, and the majority have already been booked. To avoid disappointment, call the Galley now to book your table on 721307.
Annual Dinner 21 November
We have just opened up bookings for our Annual Dinner, once again to be held at the St Brelades Bay Hotel. The Social Committee have been hard at work finalising plans for the menu, ticketing arrangements and detailed plans for the event, including discounted rates for those looking to stay over. The band Into the Blue, who did such a great job last year, have been booked again. This event invariably sells out so sort out your table groups and book your table, and if you want to stay over, your accommodation.
Save the date New Years Eve
Plans are in train for a barnstorming New Years Eve party, featuring a dinner and then live music with the irrepressible Side Salad Bob and the Vinaigrettes, playing a lively collection of rockabilly and classic rock nroll hits from the 50s and 60s. More details to follow but block out New Years Eve in your diaries now.
2026 Butterfield Jersey Joint Clubs Regatta
This was the first time Bank of Butterfield have sponsored this regatta, one of the main sailing events in the annual calendar.
The regatta opened on Friday morning with a brisk south westerly breeze for the cruiser classes sailing to the Canger Rock buoy.
Friday afternoon featured sunshine and breezy conditions and racing in the sport catamaran, dayboat and dinghy classes.
The overall Regatta and IRC Championship results were based on three races on Saturday and two on Sunday for the cruiser classes and three races each day for each of the dayboat, sport catamaran and dinghy classes.
Saturday's conditions proved to be calmer and sunnier with a constant light north-westerly breeze that lasted throughout the day to enable all races to be completed in spectacular fashion.
Whilst the cruisers completed their programme in light airs the same could not be said for the final races for the dayboat and dinghy classes that suffered abandonment and shortened courses to close the programme in the early afternoon.
This was, as ever, a great social event for the racing community with a lively social programme hosted by SHYC and the RCIYC over four days. The packed noisy presence of sailors and volunteers in St Helier Yacht Club on Sunday evening reflected the event's overall success. Commodore Bruce Harrison opened proceedings by thanking Butterfield for the sponsorship, North Sails for supporting the IRC Channel Islands Championship and all who had contributed, afloat and ashore, to making the Regatta such a success.
The Galley delivered an excellent meal and bar service to a very packed room.
Full results can be found at www.jerseyregatta.com
Congratulation to the following Class winners:
IRC Class 0: The Dogs….! Allen Brown
IRC Class 1: JAX David Jones and Geoff Blackstone
YTC Class 3: Solan Goose Ben Rogers
Quarter Ton: Genie Peter Morton
Dayboats: Jamesina Malcolm Annan
Flag Pole maintenance
The flag pole will be dropped for a week for maintenance next week (21-29 September) which means the disabled parking bays will not be available.
Would you be able to help with Main Sheet?
The club would love to hear from members, especially but not limited to those with experience in marketing and public relations, and/or journalism, who would be willing to help with developing future editions of Main Sheet, and developing the Clubs profile on the island. Please get in touch with the office if you think you can help.