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Joined: 13 Mar 15
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Posts: 332 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Woodburner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Clubs.
    Posted: 22 Apr 15 at 9:15am
I know which one I'd join if I lived up there, even if it is patrolled by Brienne of Tarth, don't get me wrong Grafham is a great club and the water extensive, but Hunts has just that bucolic welcome and certainly a more tactical water for the sort of 'interesting' sailing that close quarter single handers enjoy.

Grafham is big, littered with Cats, always some open meeting or other going on, I imagine you could rock up there, sail, change and speak to or know no-one other than those who came with you. Whereas Hunts you'd quickly be part of something.

Just a feeling I get, although the new Commodore at Grafham is certainly shaking the tree there, so I guess it depends on what sort of boat you want to sail, 3 sails and your hair on fire aint exactly going anywhere at Hunts, it must be the onset of age.
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Posts: 3048 		Post Options Post Options   Quote jeffers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 15 at 8:50am
Originally posted by NickA

My first ever go in a sailing boat (a GRP Ent called Zonda) was at what I guess was the original Hunts SC when it was on the Ouse at Hartford.  Boy, were we glad when Grafham opened for business!

... having said which, there is indeed something special about small, member run clubs for which a vast area of windy water doesn't always compensate.  And if someone had persuaded Redland Quarries to join all those gravel pits together - there'd be a lake bigger than Grafham.

Correct the original base for the club was on the Houghton Whale (which is now mainly Hartford Marina). The club sold that site some years ago after it was decided that we would never return to there as a base. 

As for the gravel pits, nice idea except that some are very shallow and there is a small thing called the Cambridge Busway that now goes through it.

To be fair if we were bigger than Grafham one of the club would struggle to survive. part of the attraction of Hunts and the lake is the fact that it is smaller than Grafham so perceived to be a safer and less scary place for your kids to learn (although my youngest is now champing at the bit to go sailing at Grafham).
Paul
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Posts: 784 		Post Options Post Options   Quote NickA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 15 at 9:40pm
My first ever go in a sailing boat (a GRP Ent called Zonda) was at what I guess was the original Hunts SC when it was on the Ouse at Hartford.  Boy, were we glad when Grafham opened for business!

... having said which, there is indeed something special about small, member run clubs for which a vast area of windy water doesn't always compensate.  And if someone had persuaded Redland Quarries to join all those gravel pits together - there'd be a lake bigger than Grafham.
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Posts: 332 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Woodburner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 15 at 6:58pm
I've just got back from a trip up to Hunts, and I have to say what a delightful place that club is, I've travelled up that end of the M11 hundreds of times over the years on countless trips to Grafham, but nothing until now has ever given me a) cause to drive by that delightful town St Ives and the picturesque view up the river, nor b) to visit that club. OK it was a bright sunny spring day, but nonetheless what a pleasant location for a sailing club, just off a major roundabout, easy access, population centre nearby and a fair sized piece of water.

Got to get a highly recommended that one.

Not to mention Vanessa organising her most hated web warrior a cup of tea..
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