Please select your home edition
Edition
CompareBoatInsurance Leaderboard

Work Parties and Storm Eunice at Blackwater Sailing Club

by Christine Brown 26 Feb 2022 10:42 GMT
Aftermath of Storm Eunice at Blackwater Sailing Club © Zoe Nelson

February often brings us the worst of winter. At Blackwater Sailing Club traditionally this month is a time when no racing is scheduled. The opportunity is taken to carry out maintenance on the race marks that have been brought ashore, ensuring that they are kept in good condition.

This time they have all had nice new labels attached; this greatly helps anyone racing. Also, they are very useful for anyone else navigating our waters; its always reassuring to see a familiar landmark and in recent times there has been a huge increase in river activity with paddleboarding particularly becoming more popular.

Our sailing committee has been busy revising the race courses. This has been done to accommodate the increasing range of craft that regularly race at the club. Short course races have also been introduced in recent years and these are very popular with many members.

At the beginning of the month we held one of our regular winter work parties. Word must have spread about the tasty jacket potatoes on offer for lunch.. At 9am on a Sunday morning the heavens opened, the wind was howling. Despite this horrendous weather there was a great turnout with over 70 members helping on the day. There was a team of busy bees deep cleaning the main galley, and another group preparing the lunch in the members galley.

Meanwhile, others were battling against the elements outside. Trailers were moved to enable grass cutting, and these were then neatly lined up like soldiers. Hedges were trimmed, the members workshop was cleaned and tidied. The dinghy park was tidied up; dinghy access at the training lake was improved. All this and many more jobs that members quietly get on with. The BSC self help ethos enables the club to run like a well-oiled machine.

The day coincided with Accession Day, 6th February. This year marked 70 years since The Queen acceded to the throne on the death of her father, King George VI. At lunchtime the Commodore proposed a toast to Her Majesty and we look forward to celebrating her Platinum Jubilee in June.

And then along came Storm Eunice. Winds at the club reached 85 miles per hour. Flood alerts were in place along the Blackwater but the sea wall was not breached. This was probably due to the wind coming from the South West, which was very kind to us.

It was a very different story a few days later as the pictures show. Due to high winds from the North East and a Spring tide, the River Blackwater was again on flood alert. The Environment Agency flood gates were breached and the footpath became impassable.

There is a feeling of Spring in the air now. Racing will resume, cruisers will be launched and a new season of sailing begins. If you would like to visit the club with a view to joining then please contact our membership secretary by emailing

For more details see www.blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

Related Articles

Blackwater SC hosts successful Open Day
A relaxed and friendly introduction to the joys of dinghy sailing The Blackwater Sailing Club is delighted to announce that it hosted a successful Open Day on 17 May at its stunning location at Heybridge Basin. The event welcomed over 180 visitors of all ages, offering them a relaxed and friendly introduction. Posted on 30 May
Snipe open weekend at Blackwater
A superb weekend of racing at a superb venue The Blackwater Sailing Club proudly hosted a highly successful Snipe Open Weekend on 10-11 May welcoming sailors from across the country for two days of outstanding competitive racing and warm camaraderie. Posted on 22 May
Blackwater SC open day preview
New Commodore delighted to be ready to welcome public on 17th May The Blackwater Sailing Club, one of the leading clubs on the East coast is pleased to announce that Sheena Berney, Commodore, will be hosting the Open Day on Saturday 17th May 2025 and invites members of the public to come along. Posted on 3 May
Blackwater SC cadet training weekend
Sunshine, sailing and ice-cream for 70 sailors The Blackwater Sailing Club proudly hosted an inspiring, busy and successful Cadet Training Weekend 26-27 April welcoming more than 70 enthusiastic young sailors from aged 8 to 18 for two days of skill-building, fun and adventure on the water. Posted on 1 May
Blackwater SC celebrates excellence
Three members honoured in the East Anglian Maritime Awards scheme The Blackwater Sailing Club (BSC) is proud to announce that three of its members have been honoured in the East Anglian Maritime Awards scheme (EAMA); Jess Haigh and Lucy Shelter in the Proficiency category and Steve Jarred awarded the Young at Heart. Posted on 14 Feb
Blackwater Sailing Club welcomes new Commodore
Sheena Berney has been an active member of the Club for over 40 years The Blackwater Sailing Club is proud to announce the appointment of Sheena Berney as the new Commodore, making her only the third woman to hold this prestigious position in the Club's 125-year history. Posted on 11 Dec 2024
The Dyer Cup 2024
The Blackwater Sailing Club's End of Season trophy race The Blackwater Sailing Club's last race of the sailing season, the Dyer Cup was held on Sunday 3rd November having been postponed from 20th October due to Storm Ashley's terrible weather and force 7 winds. Posted on 7 Nov 2024
Blackwater Snipe Open
12 Snipes for the 2024 South Eastern Championships 12 Snipes came together at Blackwater SC on the River Blackwater to compete for the South Easterns on the 5th and 6th October. The weather was kind with a southerly force 3 to 4 on the Saturday generated perfect conditions for the time of year. Posted on 10 Oct 2024
Blackwater Wayfarer Open
Craftinsure National Circuit resumes over the weekend After a short gap following the double header of National Circuit opens at Arun YC and Aldeburgh YC and the Northerns at Leigh and Lowton, the Craftinsure UK Wayfarer National Circuit resumed over the weekend of the 5-6th October at Blackwater SC. Posted on 9 Oct 2024
Optimist Open and Training at Blackwater
A bumper entry list in the East Last weekend a fleet of almost 70 Optimist dinghies descended upon Blackwater Sailing Club, for a full weekend of sailing. The weather gods played in our favour as we hung on to, what still felt like, Summer. Posted on 27 Sep 2024