Datchet Flyer

What a great event! Although we were inconsistent at best, it was brilliant fun lining up against some cracking sailors and unusual classes, although I confess to wimping out trying to weave through the fleet as much as the 14 was. The launching was interesting to say the least given it was so slippery, but launching at the downwind end with a large number of the Musto Skiffs meant that we were well placed to help out given there were two of us. Regarding the tracking, my parents both liked it, to keep track of us particularly in the first race, though from then on the website was apparently a little iffy. Seb

Originally posted by Timmus Makes you wonder why they didnt make QM like that when they built it.....or why they made Datchet like that when they built that!

Queen Mary was built before the last war: long before there was any thought of having sailing clubs on reservoirs. Datchet was built in 1976 and my understanding is the beach was specifically designed for sailing from.

How steep is it? I can't imagine that the BM can run if it's that bad? ??

Done quite a few BM from QMSC and used to be a member a good while ago and as long as everybody helps each other its no big deal yes its steep but easily manageable if you go down at an angle, have done in both 600 and 700. Not sure I would want to launch a wayfarer there though!!!!

My wife still talks about the occasion when, (I think we were just engaged and she was trying to show willing by being a keen and supportive trolley lady,) she dropped the front end of my brand new Contender as she was trying to help me launch at QMSC. I could not hold it on the ridiculously steep slope and it careered down the slip like a ship launch. She was convinced that that would be end of.... Well it was, sort of. Decades later she has far better thing to do on a Sunday but still remembers to ask how I enjoyed the sailing when I get home.