Book Nook at the Hub Garelochs
The Book Nook at the Helensburgh Community Hub is open on Mondays from 2-5pm, Tuesdays from 10am-2pm, Wednesdays from 10am-4pm and Saturdays from 10am-1pm.
There are lots of books for children and adults as well as jigsaws with plenty of great bargains to be had. Donations of books and jigsaws in good, clean condition are also welcome.
All funds raised from item sales go towards the Dolly Parton Imagination Library programme, which gifts free books to children in Helensburgh from 0-5 years each month, as well as the upkeep of the Hub and the development of future projects, activities, and events.
Call 01436 678088 to find out more or see the ‘Helensburgh Community Hub’ page or the ‘Book Nook at The Hub – Helensburgh’s secondhand community bookshop’ page on Facebook.
Tuesday, April 30: Seven Garelochs and their crews turned out with enthusiasm for the first race of the year, and were rewarded with moderate wind, steady by the standards of the Gareloch.
Steve Tidee had met John Blackie at a lecture and found himself crewing on Catriona.
Race officers Hugh Normand and Robin Young sent us down, then up the Shandon shore for two rounds, and Arke (the boat formerly known as Teal), Dione and Catriona approached the starting line in a leading group, in that order.
The shore end was favoured. Arke was a little early, Dione à point, Catriona distracted by tangled lines and negligently late. Dione got away well and was not to be caught.
At the windward mark, A, it was Dione from Catriona, with Arke needing to work with her spinnaker on the downwind leg so as to get clear of Circe and become secure in third.
On the moorings afterwards, there was talk from Ceres of gear failure. it is unclear what that was, but she claimed it delayed her. Hermes found herself off the pace, caught out by changes in direction of wind. There is a rumour Dione has new sails. Result: 1 Dione, 2 Catriona, 3 Arke, 4 Circe, 5 Thia, 6 Ceres, Hermes DNF Sunday, May 5: The first Sunday race of the centennial season presented a fairly grey day with light to moderate E/NE winds.
On the water race officer, Hermes, set the L8 course across to the Clynder shore and back to Shandon. The wind direction was not ideal for a classic starboard approach to the line, which led to some trying a port approach; words were said, with some boats being a bit pushy.
Dione was not prompt at the start but that, perhaps, allowed her to identify slightly better pressure to the left. Hermes was less fortunate on the right. Those in the middle started well but with the inevitable shiftiness towards Clynder lost out in the second half of the leg.
Dione led from the first mark, breaking in a new crew but also benefiting from a smooth bottom and new sails. Passing Blairvadach, it was good to see everyone having registered the new configuration of the second round giving another reach to Clynder and reach back. Maybe the wind didn’t favour L8 after all.
There was a tussle for last place between Luna and Hermes with Luna just squeezing ahead at the end.
Getting ashore was challenged by a spring low tide and a missing grating on the jetty stairs but all safely managed, Fergus without too much dignity.
Result: 1 Dione, 2 Arke, 3 Catriona, 4 Thia, 5 Circe, 6 Luna, 7 Hermes.