Easter at Blackwater Sailing Club
by Christine Brown 20 Apr 06:06 BST
2-3 April 2021
The first race of 2021 at Blackwater Sailing Club © Belinda Sturge
Following our reopening on 29 March, Blackwater Sailing Club returned to racing in style over the Easter weekend on 2-3 April. Despite the cold, grey weather, with a biting NNE wind, there were lots of keen, happy racers out.
During the two days we had 11 boats in Fast Handicap, 22 in Medium Handicap, and 8 in the Short Course fleet making a total of 41 boats on the water for the first event of the season! To comply with our Covid-19 protocols, all participants had to register to race via the website or member App. A Ramp Marshal was appointed to control access to the ramp to ensure social distancing was maintained and the timing between starts was increased to avoid any crowding ashore. Unfortunately, current Covid regulations meant that the changing rooms had to remain closed, so participants were encouraged to come changed or experienced a very chilly change in the car park.
All fleets were racing around the new 2021 courses, using some of the new race marks; everyone had to think hard to work out where to go, and there were a few cases of boats rounding the wrong marks. On at least one occasion there was a whole fleet heading for the wrong windward mark!
There was close racing throughout, with multiple race winners. The Fast fleet was won with a race to spare by Maria Richards and Graham Hoy in their Fireball, the Medium Fleet was won by cadets Jess Haigh and Lucy Shelter in their RS Feva XL.
The closest finish was in the Short Course fleet, ending with three cadet Jessica's on equal points; Jessica Taylor and Jessica Garlick in their Toppers, and Jessica Welch in her Optimist. Jessica Taylor was the overall winner with the best individual race score being enough to split the three of them!
The Novice Optimist Winter Cup was won by cadet Callum Marshall, as usual smiling his way around the course and finding time for a friendly wave to his friends as he passed them on the river. Full results can be seen on the results page of our website here.
Thanks to all the volunteers who endured the cold and enabled racing to take place in a safe manner.
Club racing was cancelled on Saturday 17th April as a mark of respect for His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, former President and Honorary Member of the Royal Yachting Association.
Our annual Open Day will take place on Saturday 26th June when visitors are welcome to the club to see our excellent facilities and maybe have a trial sail. Meanwhile,
If you would like to visit the club with a view to joining then please contact our membership secretary, email . Covid restrictions may apply.
For more details see www.blackwatersailingclub.org.uk