Chew Valley ladies enjoy 'Lake and Cake' sailing sessions

Chew Valley Lake and Cake ladies © Manya McMahon

Ladies at Chew Valley Sailing Club have discovered the perfect recipe for improving their sailing skills and having fun on the water. Their monthly Lake and Cake social sailing events have given them confidence as well as enjoyment, and encouraged more women into racing at the club.

The Lake and Cake events began three years ago, when Vice-commodore Helen Martin realised how many female club members rarely went sailing or competed in races because they lacked confidence, were out of practice or had child-care issues. Inspired by ladies' sailing at Castle Cove in Weymouth, she suggested holding some Saturday afternoon sessions, which turned out to be very successful.

"I involved a couple of more experienced sailors, with a RIB for extra safety cover on the water, to give the ladies confidence," explains Helen. "We now run once a month from April to October on a Saturday afternoon. Often, we have someone available to take less confident ladies out in a club Wayfarer while others sail in their own boats. We have offered more formal race training on some of the sessions or a cruise up the lake, or just fun blasting up and down on a windy day".

"We go sailing, come ashore, have tea and a chat, and the real secret is the social bit afterwards – people soon started bringing and sharing cake and it's a really nice way to end the afternoon."

By the end of this season, between 12 and 15 women went out on the water at each session. The success of Helen's idea is clear: this year's ladies' race at Chew Valley had 22 entries!

"We encourage any women interested in sailing to come to the club and find out more," she says, "and if they're not feeling confident, a Lake and Cake session will definitely help!"

Sarah Tauwhare now organises Lake and Cake, and this year added to the opportunities available. She ran two Sailaway events for the ladies, taking them and their families to Weymouth for weekends of sailing at the Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre.

For more information about what plans the Lake and Cake ladies have next season, and how you can join them, contact Sarah at

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