AOAC Newsletter
 

The Week Ahead and some:

Wednesday 6 March - Open Social for potential, new and existing members - 7.30pm
Upstairs at The Boardroom, St Nicholas Street
This is an opportunity to understand how AOAC works along with a short talk about the various activities we run and how to get involved in them. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions. Please come along and join us.

From 20:00 it is a general social evening for existing, new and potential members.

Saturday 9 March - 40 mile Road Ride
 Pace will be a gentle 10-12mph. Ride is flat(ish). We will head to Sand Bay where we will stop for coffee and a snack with great views,

It'll be a fun sociable ride and not a race.

Sunday 10 March - 2nd Leg Offa's Dyke
This is the second leg of the Offa's Dyke national trail from Bigsweir Bridge to Monmouth.

This section is 12 km (8 miles) and includes some steep climbs.This is a moderate walk, and the pace will be leisurely to enable us to take in the sights along the way.

Tuesday 12 March - Climbing - Redpoint - from 5.30pm
For anyone who knows how to put on a harness and tie in to the expert gravity defying cool climbing cats. Meeting anytime from 5.30pm to 9pm; there are usually a few club members around the Centre. 

Best to put a note on the forum asking who's going so that the guys know to meet you. 

Wednesday 13 March - Mountain Biking by Torchlight
Mountain biking round Leigh Woods and Ashton Court at night using your brightest and best head torches and/or bike lights. 

The plan is to do a loop of both Yer Tiz and Nova and head on home or go and find a friendly pub. 

Saturday 16 March - Mountain Biking for Beginners and Improvers
A few hours round AC and LW and any other areas that might be of interest. Riding the trails and a little off piste. For all but the complete beginner. Coffee Tea and Butty at the end. 

Sunday 17 March - Marlborough Downs 10 mile Walk
Following a small section of the Ridgeway, this will be at a leisurely pace to enjoy the views, red kites, skylarks and the company!

Date for your diary:
AOAC Social - White Lion Clifton - 29 March 2019
Join Kev and Carol for another great social.

Sailing Trips
There are places available on both trips.

Both trips will be sailing under the expert guidance of the fabulous skipper, Pete, on his luxurious Beneteau 57 sloop, so no previous experience is required. This is the chance however to learn to and/or improve helming, navigating, sail trimming, skippering and generally helping to run a world girdling 58 foot yacht.

I'm not a sailor but I did the trip last September around the Ionian Islands, and I can thoroughly recommend the experience. It's not just about the sailing - we had time to swim, snorkel, take the tender to the nearest island for an explore, do a bit of yoga/pilates on the back of the boat, relax, sunbathe, have a laugh, and of course enjoy the delights of Greek restaurants in the evenings. Breakfasts and lunches are provided, as are all fuel and mooring fees, all you have to do is book your flights. On occasion we anchored in a bay and prepared our own evening meal, keeping the costs down and providing a different experience. All in all, we had a fabulous week, and, if it wasn't for the other holidays I've booked this year, I'd be back there again like a shot!

So, if you've ever thought you'd like to try sailing then this is your best opportunity. We have secured a really good price for both trips on a yacht bigger and more luxurious than we can usually charter. Book on now! Contact Wendy to express your interest or speak to Esmie our sailing co-ordinator at [email protected].

Descriptions of the two trips:

Cyclades - 6-13 July 2019
One week sailing in the Cyclades starting in Mykonos and finishing in Kos.  If you have seen pictures of perfect Greek islands with whitewashed houses on sun-drenched hillsides and thatched roofed windmills, it’s likely a picture of one of the 200 or so Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. These are the islands that define Greece.  Sailing from Mykonos to Kos you will explore beautiful bays and coves, historic sites and scenic beaches, quiet villages or busy tourist destinations depending on the weather and the plans you make with your fellow crew.  The sailing conditions could be calm to fresh winds ideal for fast sailing between the islands, both of these conditions and any longer legs are handled perfectly by this Beneteau 57 (58 ft sloop). 

Dodecanese Yacht Sailing 1 or 2 Week Options - 7-21 September 2019
Starting and finishing in Rhodes, sailing around the Dodecanese islands, a diverse group of 12 main islands and numerous small islets nestled along the Turkish coast in the south-eastern Aegean.  The liveliness of Rhodes, where once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World straddled the entrance to the harbour, will soon be left behind by sailing away to enjoy the peaceful, unspoilt and diverse outer islands.  It is with these smaller islands that you'll enjoy their sandy beaches, warm waters, rich history, enchanting character, traditional tavernas, Venetian architecture, Byzantine churches and medieval castles. You'll find traditional fishing ports and quiet waterfront restaurants.  The swimming and snorkeling is superb in many locations.   The winds are likely to be gentle in the mornings rising moderate or fresh in the afternoons, again, conditions which are handled perfectly by this Beneteau 57 (58 ft sloop). 

Cycling News
We are happy to announce that we have yet another new road cycling leader. Well done Chris. Look out for rides organised by him on the calendar soon. Eight other riders have been through the theory stage of the Road Ride Leaders sessions and will take their practical assessments in due course. Looks like there will be many more club rides this year...good news! Many thanks to Guy for his hard work on this front. Much appreciated.

Wednesday evening road rides are going on the calendar from April. Keep looking and checking.

Guy is planning a “Tech Evening” to demonstrate the use of online route plotting tools such as Mapometer and Strava. Does anyone have access to a higher resolution projector (1024x768 or above) or know of a venue with a large TV? Please let Guy know.

A Cycling Development meeting will be coming up in April or May. This will be a chance to say what sort of rides you wish to see on the calendar and to offer your help and support. Start thinking about it now and bring your ideas along.
 

If you have an event you particularly want me to advertise or you have any interesting news you'd like to share, a story to tell about an event you've participated in, or any more tips that may help club members, please let me know at [email protected] . Thank you.

See you soon
Cathy x

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For activities that are weather dependent, there are often ad hoc events posted on the forum close to the day. It is worth subscribing to these as you will receive an email with the content of the message and a link to the page. Then you won't miss out on that last minute walk/climb/paddle/ride. Also, we have a Facebook page, a Twitter account (@aoacbristol) and an Instagram account (aoacbristol). If you haven't already, join the Facebook group where you will find postings of ad hoc events and photos of past events and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

If you want to know more about how the club works and how the committee makes decisions then please do look at the minutes. 

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