8.30 AM SUNDAY JUNIORS ;
Well we started the day well with 15 keen sailors signing on and rushing around rigging boats including some bic skiffs and we soon had all the boats on the beach waiting for the briefing . As Charlie was away Ross stepped up to do the safety briefing and discuss the days sailing and I must say he showed a great enthusiasm for the job so well done Ross , Jason and Guy ran Sarah cooper yes the have been promoted well at least until Charlie is back ! So the conditions well lets just say terrible but luckily most of the group has sailed light winds before so they managed to find whatever wind their was especially the bics with Flynn , Tristan and Riley managing to at least get going but after half an hour it just died out so I was asked about capsize and of course said yes so next minute there were boats over everywhere with some good capsizes and some people just falling out . Luckily the water quality had improved greatly from early in the week otherwise the capsize request would have been no.
10.30 am Youth Training ;
With Daniel in his new Skiff and Taylah , Abby , Maddy and Ross keen to get out there we had a quick briefing and with the return of at least some wind we sent them down to the canal then back up to a buoy at the club making it a close reach down and a broad reach back in the e/s/e winds . At first the sailing wasnt the best with everyone on the broad reach going right out into the channel with the raging current ??? but we soon had them sailing straighter lines and round the marks much closer ok occassionally two close right Ross and yes he did his penalties . With Charlie away Casey was out there with me and she was really impressed on how everyone is progressing and I have to agree especially amongst the lasers with everyone showing much improved skills as they work towards the midwinter cup in june then Youth week in July.
1.30 pm OPEN RACING;
With our youth sailors now joining this group we had a fleet of 12 boats at the start line which Charlie set ( yes he turned up at 11.30 ) down at the canal with A set over towards crab and a third buoy back toward the club which set up a very tricky run to the finish . The current was so strong that we had to reset the start three times before she stopped dragging the anchor but finally we were ready to start . Ross tried a port start but was nailed by everyone on starboard which caused a collision but yes he did his penalty and still finished first ( Radial ) out of youth . Matt mixed it with the leaders as did Steve so each race was well contested . Race two saw Ross start on starboard with Abby close by and Taylah ( 4.7 ) starting with the group as well . As I said the run to the finish was tricky as you really had to sail in the lee to keep speed then as you approached the finish it was fifty / fifty if you gybed or not which made for some wild finishes as their was more to be gained by staying in the lee , just ask Matt how wild it was heading for the finish . Charlie is reallly learning the trade as when he set the finish he was chuckling to himself because he new it would be a tricky run to the line , I have taugh him well.
Upcoming ;
Closed Easter Weekend
First Camp 6/7 April ( Covid dependant )
Mid Winter Cup 26th / 27th June
CU on the water
J Murphy