Monday Night Rookie Race - Something Different for West Mersea Yacht Club

Monday Night Rookie Race at West Mersea YC © WMYC

As a club, it's important that things evolve. Over the last couple of seasons, there has been great debate about whether the club should own its own boats. Within the last eighteen months, the club has acquired a Folkboat and two Sonatas. With this purchase comes responsibility and dedication from volunteers to keep them active and sailing as much as possible.

Under the watchful eye of Vice Commodore Ian Low and the club's Sailing Secretary, Joe Kershaw, a sub-team of enthusiastic volunteers has come together to manage over 50 people who are dipping their toes into sailing and racing for the very first time.

The result is that this new opportunity, for both established members and those new to sailing, has proved so popular that some members with their own boats are now inviting people on board to give them a taste of what we do.

On Monday, 3 August, our normal training night was transformed into a race. We had our three club boats racing, plus six privately owned yachts skippered by their owners, with crews in the early stages of their racing journey. We effectively ran our first "Rookie Race" to give everyone a real taste of yacht racing.

On board the committee boat Windrunner, a course was set, and three newcomers came on board to help with the flags, timekeeping, and horn blowing, all under the guidance of Race Officer Paul Wood and Ian Low. This gave them an insight into another important side of yacht racing that few people get to experience.

The Sailing Instructions were kept simple, with financial penalties payable to the RNLI should any boats be over the start line early. The course lasted just under an hour, with Middle Ground, No. 17, No. 5, and No. 14 all to starboard before a windward leg to the finish line.

In unbroken sunshine, the sea breeze softened as the race progressed. The club's Sonata, Frank, was the first boat home, followed by Escapade, a Prospect 900, and then Fantasma, a Jaguar 27.

Paul Jackson calculated the handicap results

Handicap results:

1st - Frank: Alan Jones, Jane B & Jenny
2nd - Fantasma: Donna, Keith & Kelly
3rd - Escapade: David, Gina & Sally
4th - Spring Sonata: John Munns, Jacqueline & Sam
5th - Jamble 3: Bryan Gasson, Conny & Daf
6th - Lahloo: Richard Bailey, John & Sally
7th - Enrico: Chris Baker, John & Bea
8th - Scherzo: Robert Hawkins, Paul & Kim
DNS - Rio: Mel, Sam & Clive - unfortunately a DNS, but they still enjoyed an evening sail

Committee Boat - Windrunner: Paul Wood, Ian Low, Patricia, Jules & Mike.

It was a lovely evening, with a real buzz in the yacht club bar as the winners received their glassware prizes.

If anyone would like to join this group of rookies, become a member of the club, and sample racing on our boats, please email Vice Commodore Ian Low at .