Huge success for the first Get Racing Club event at HISC

by Sarah Johnson 1 May 2014 14:00 BST 26 April 2014

HISC Get Racing Club briefing © Melvyn Cooper

HISC Get Racing Club first event © Fiona Sayce

The brand new HISC Get Racing Club got off to a hugely successful start on Saturday 26th April with over 30 people turning up on the beach to experience racing for the first time in a fun and informal format.

With the weather forecast suggesting force 4 gusting 5 and a low tide, limited water was available for the Get Racing Club race course but all the participants were given a thorough pre-event briefing by sailing instructor Melvyn Cooper and Flag Officer Nick Peters together with explanations on the use of flags and sound signals. As the fleet of Get Racing Club boats launched a force 7 rain squall swept across Chichester Harbour forcing everyone ashore for several minutes!

Once the squall had passed the decision was taken to launch the club's fleet of RS Ventures and one RS200 with everyone piling in together and the race was able to start under blue skies and a gentle force 3. Get Racing Club participants were assisted in their racing by HISC mentor Andy Partington, Mitch Webb from the HISC Marine Team, Nick Peters and Greg Lamb from the Sailing Committee and sailing instructor Melvyn Cooper who has been instrumental in setting up the Get Racing Club.

The first event saw the fleet race from the club beach to the East Head race mark and back with helms changing over at the half way point; prizes were awarded and a race debrief was held on the beach following the finish.

Participants were delighted to have successfully completed their first race in a fun and informal format with mentors and advisors on hand to offer tips and encouragement; new friendships were made with like-minded members all able to take their first steps into racing as a group together.

Get Racing Club member Martin Down commented, "Thank you so much for a great afternoon - the best team event I have attended since joining HISC. Much more fun learning about racing with a like-minded group of people and sailing in the RS Ventures really helped - feel less intimidated by the whole process and learnt a lot from mentor Andy Partington. With a bit more practice I might get involved in the Wednesday evening racing. I really appreciate the time, energy and enthusiasm you all put in to make this such an enjoyable event. A big thank you!"

And Tony Sanders who is new to sailing commented, "I have to thank you for today's get racing. I, from a selfish point of view had a great time. However I also know that the club and especially you put in a huge effort. I only hope it keeps going. For someone like me it provides me with the opportunity to really take my sailing to the level that will allow me to race."

The aim of the new Get Racing Club is to encourage a wide cross section of HISC members who currently don't race to have a go at racing in a fun, and informal format. Over 70 members including lapsed racers, less confident sailors, those wishing to start racing, those keen to helm or crew for the first time and members without boats had previously expressed an interest in the initiative and more than 40 attended a launch party held over the Easter weekend. With over 30 attending the first sailing event the new initiative has had a very successful start.

The HISC Racing Committee has put together a group of more than 30 'racing mentors', regular HISC Club racers who are keen and willing to act as mentors, on and off the water, for the new Get Racing Club participants to assist them with their foray into racing.

The HISC Get Racing Club format comprises of 3 short, back-to-back races set within the harbour, either in members' boats or the club RS Ventures, with pre and post event briefings, on the water mentoring and fun prize giving.

Forthcoming dates for the Get Racing Club events are as follows:

Saturday 24th May & Saturday 31st May
Saturday 21st June & Saturday 28th June
Saturday 19th July & Saturday 26th July
Saturday 16th August & Saturday 30th August
Saturday 13th September
Saturday 4th October

For more information please visit the HISC website at www.hisc.co.uk or contact Leah at to register your boat or book a place in an RS Venture for the event.