Storm Arwen causes Windermere Waterhead race postponement
by Mark Fearnley 10 May 2022 06:27 BST
28 August 2022
New roadway at South Windermere Sailing Club © Mark Fearnley
The move of South Windermere Sailing Club to its new location at the YMCA North Camp has involved a huge amount of work from club members. Since the contract was signed with the YMCA in the new year, the club has built roadways, converted a field into a boat park, built a bosuns store, built boat racks, installed a jetty, replaced the written off committee boat (thanks to storm Arwen), bought a tractor, and is now partly through the huge job of converting the old staff accommodation into new clubrooms, changing rooms, showers and a new galley.
And on the water activity has commenced. All the buoys for the new race area have been laid, and racing has started in the new massive race area.
SWSC is not a big or wealthy club, but the response of members has been amazing to get to the current functioning position, and work will continue over the spring and summer to get it finished.
But...
Storm Arwin had a huge effect on the Lake District, with thousands of trees blown down, and hundreds of boats damaged on Lake Windermere. Unfortunately this included a large oak falling onto the new clubhouse building, with others falling close either side. The roof was damaged, which led to leaking into the room which is destined to become the mens changing room. The ladies changing room is now completely refurbished, but the mens is having to wait for insurers to catch up and the roof to be permanently fixed before work can get going on refurbishment.
Some temporary changing is available, but not enough to host a large open meeting, so it will not be possible to hold the scheduled Waterhead open on 11 & 12 June. So the Waterhead long distance race is now postponed until 28 August, when full changing facilities will be available.
In the meantime there will be a Cruiser Rally at SWSC over the 28th and 29th May should people with Cruisers on Lake Windermere like to call in, with a BBQ on Saturday, and a Cruiser race on the Sunday.
For more details go to www.swsailing.co.uk