Sailing Camp ; well for our first camp we had seven keen learners who couldnt wait to get on the water and with the weather conditions just perfect with winds on the first day around 4/8 knots which made the instructors job just that much easier . Abby and Edwina sailed with all the newbies on day one showing them what happens while tanami and Tegan worked on tacks and gybes although it soon became evident that they were doing more laughing than sailing . By day two all the instructors were either on the safety boat or on shore as we had succeeded in getting everyone up to sailing their own boat even Tanami who had never sailed an open bic before was just cruising around the course which we set from the club to the canal in a 6 knot easterly . We even had someone who fell out more than Tazman does and that was Griffin who every time we turned around he was in the water at least his brother got plenty of POB practice '
8.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
With a couple of kids from the recent camp and a few of the regulars out there we soon had the boats rigged and after a short briefing we set everyone off in around 4/6 knot w/n/w . It became a bit flukey at first so Charlie was running around moving buoys but it soon settled again and we even had Aidan and Aithan in the bics gybing at the inner mark and reaching off to a mark set in the middle of the channel . Everyone else started on the short course but were soon of to the outer marks with the bics . Jack and Dean sailed Teras separately and sailed well but I had a few tips for them for the 10.30 training session later .
10.30 am Training ;
With the weather improving and the winds coming more from the N/N/E at around 6/10 knots we sent Charlie out to demonstrate roll tacks and gybes showing not only the technique but the extra speed also ( jack and deans tip! ) especially in the light conditions . Once everyone hit the water we set their course from a buoy at the club to the outer red channel marker , so the jade a broad reach and then a close hauled return . In no time Abby and Edwina had it nailed and where Abby showed great speed upwind Edwina showed the same down wind so they were virtually neck and neck for the whole session . There were a few capsizes as well with Jackson , Jade , Jack and Dean all coming unstuck on the broad reach by just letting their sails out too far so hopefully a lesson learned . We did tow Jack in as he was buggered after capsizing and getting stuck in the no sail zone , there,s always next week Jack !
Upcoming ;
Both Youth and Open Racing begins on Sunday the 2nd of February
Introduction to Sailing Day at Varsity Lakes on Saturday thye 18th of January from 10 am until 2.00pm should be great fun
CU on the water
J Murphy