Sail Training Week

Sail training principal Malcolm Williams has a preference for 'Total Immersion'. He practises it often enough while racing, but also applies it to training schedules. Last week (Monday, July 30, to Friday, August 3) was 'Malcolm's Intensive Sail Training Week'. As in previous years, it was blessed with blue skies and a light breeze - perfect for learning to sail, apart from Friday which provided the trainees with ample opportunities to practise their capsize drills. Twenty-five intrepid trainees signed up for the week, including 20 juniors and five adults. Malcolm wishes to thank the instructors, helpers and parents for all their hard work during the week. Certificates and rosettes were presented to all the trainees who took part. All these trainees were working towards their RYA Sailing Levels and the RYA certificates will be awarded at the annual Laying Up Supper (is it that time already? The season has barely started! AM). Junior and Lady Helm Races

The week culminated on Saturday, August 4, with the annual Junior Helm and Ladies Helm races, presided over by the dynamic duo - race officers Tricia Crew and Sue Groves. Wind of Force 3-4 and a swell produced challenging conditions for the 11 starters, some of whom had started their sailing careers in more benign conditions only a few days earlier. Winner of the Junior helm was Ben Dancer (Topper) - not surprising, as Ben is competing to some purpose in the adult club races, was the only junior to finish and the only entrant not to make a close inspection of the water temperature. Winner of the Lady Helm was Debbie Tissiman (Fireball) in a reversal of the normal situation whereby husband Mark does the driving. Second Lady Helm was Nikki Johnson (Topper) - a newcomer to sailing, a survivor of the sail training week and wife of vice-commodore Paul Johnson; Third Lady Helm was Sarah Boorman (Laser) who has recently qualified as a dinghy instructor and whose daughter Megan was also competing in an Optimist. Not surprisingly in the sailing conditions, these were the only finishers! This mini-regatta was followed by a barbecue at the clubhouse prepared by chef extraordinaire, Graham Wellman, and the presentation of prizes.

Future Training Events

Each Saturday there will be 'no-points racing' primarily for sail trainees but open to all members, to further hone their sailing skills in an informal setting. The first is scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday).

Club Racing

Sunday, August 5: A rare burst of sunshine brought out a respectable field for the scheduled club races. Unusually, 12 started and finished the first race and the second race as well - no retirements with broken gear, hypothermia or any of the normal accompaniments to dinghy sailing in northern climes. No further details are available at the time of going to press, but results were: Race 1: 1. Nick/Govan Berridge (Osprey); 2. Leighton Price (RS300); 3. Mark Tissiman (Fireball); 4. Ben Dancer (Topper). Race 2: 1. Nick/Govan Berridge (Osprey); 2. Mark Tissiman (Fireball); 3. Leighton Price (RS300); 4. Paul Johnson (Solo)