Sailing Report - Summer 2009
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In an effort to introduce new faces to the Race Team we held a meeting in March to encourage fresh talent. As a result we have two new regulars in Janet Dore and David Shove plus this event gave new Sailing Secretary Jeremy Pocock a chance to get to get to know the race team. We have a few others yet to get on to the water so it was a good result for us.
The racing season got off to a slow start with five flying fifteens out for the Uffa Fox Pennant at the start of April, won by Colin Ward and Tim Hammick in ‘Sea-Jay’. Then mid-May saw the annual visit by Sea Fever for some racing and a good time in the clubhouse on Saturday. In the Red Funnel Keelboat Regatta at the end of May ‘Audax’ had four bullets in the Daring class while ‘Jerboa’ managed three firsts and a second in the Dragons. Five X-boats turned out for their first ever Red Funnel regatta with us and three different boats scored wins.
Following on from last year’s Sonar ‘Two Sail’ regatta as a training event for the Paralympics, six boats came this year. The GBR team of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas claimed victory over French and Norwegian competition as well as other British competition including Andrew Millband. Andy Cassell has put up a trophy for an Annual Sonar ‘Two Sail Regatta’ which we will be promoting hard in future years.
We are now planning for Cowes Week with Willie Sanderson leading our race team on the Black Group Committee Boat. Cowes Week will be a challenge for the organisers this year, with no title sponsor and as a result CCYC will not be getting any expenses again which is a significant hole in the sailing committee income. Let us hope for success in securing a sponsor going forward. If you are sailing in Cowes Week have a great regatta.
Mike Dixon
Rear Commodore Sailing