No Joining Fee for Fireballs at Draycote
by Mike Deane 10 Apr 2015 12:10 BST
10 April 2015
The Fireball fleet at Draycote © Dave Hope
The first ten new members who join Draycote Water Sailing Club with a Fireball will have their joining fee paid by the Draycote Fireball fleet.
The DWSC Fireball Fleet has existed for almost as long as the club itself, and with over twenty boats is currently one of the largest in the country. Fleet spokesman Mike Deane attributes the Fireball's continuing success at the club to the size of the water and the suitability of the racing. "With over 650 acres, the Fireball has the space to stretch its legs. The maximum leg is about a mile long, so even with the spinnaker up on a windy day, you get over 3 minutes of high speed reaching. The courses are different every race, so there's always something new, and it's always 'round the cans' racing, which suits the boat far better than windward-leeward - although the latter is available should you want it. In the summer there are four races on Sundays plus one on Wednesday evening, and two races each Sunday during the winter."
Fleet Captain Helen Salisbury adds, "Draycote Water is high up, so the wind is relatively steady, there is plenty of space in the boat-park and no waiting list to get in. The current fleet boats are a mix of wood, composite and 'white' Winders, and encompass a large and diverse range of sailor skills and ages. We run Gold and Silver fleet series and head-starts to provide some balance, and we try to encourage everyone, regardless of skill or budget. Sailing and racing are so much more rewarding when done in company, and Draycote offers an ideal environment for anyone with a Fireball to join up and take part."
Draycote's joining fee of £50 per person is quite reasonable compared to some clubs, but for a couple of adults with a Fireball it's still £100 of extra expense. So the fleet, which has been saving up to buy itself something nice for the past 20 years, is offering to stump up the cash and pay the entry fee(s) for the helm and/or crew joining the club with a Fireball, up to a limit of 10 people in total.
The full details of the offer are here.