Sailing News
Yorkshire and Humberside Travellers Series - info evening
On Wednesday 24th February, 7.30pm start, Claire Bailey will be hosting an evening talk at the club for parents and children about the Yorkshire and Humberside Travellers series. Many youth sailors from Rotherham Sailing Club have taken part in this series in the past and apart from developing sailing competence, it has enhanced personal and social development and has been really good fun. Please contact Claire if you need any further information or can't attend on the night and would like to know more.
Dinghy Instructor Training
Please note both the clubhouse and the water will be in use for Dinghy Instructor training from the 5th to 7th and 12th to 14th February 2010.
This is to help build the wealth of experience and available trainers at the club.
The water and clubhouse will be in use on the following dates/times
Friday 5th and 12th (clubhouse only) - 6pm to 9pm
Saturdays 6th and 13th - 9am to 9pm
Sunday 7th - 9am to 6pm
Sunday 14th - 9am to 5pm
Update - Congratulations to our 6 new Sailing Instructors who all passed the assessment.
Reports
Enterprise Open 27th September 2009
On the 27th September Rotherham SC hosted their Enterprise Open Meeting which was part of the Cock of the North Series.
Race 1 saw Tim Brownell and Will Burkitt 2304 from Ulley SC round the windward mark first, closely followed by a group of five other boats. Positioning on the next run was key to gain the inside rounding at the gybe mark, Russ Short and Kate Fry 23219 achieved this to hold the lead until the next windward leg where Paul Young and Phil Harrison from Midland SC gained the lead. Eventually Short/ Fry regained the lead to take the first race.
The second race followed an excellent lunch prepared by the galley. Visitors Nigel and Diana Peppedine 20518 from Staunton Harold rounded the windward mark first and extended their lead on the subsequent run. The pursuing boats slowly gained ground, helped in part by the sometimes fickle wind near mark 8, 23219 jostled for position over a number of laps with the Pepperdines before Short/ Fry sneaked ahead, to take the second race and the meeting.
Race 3 started in the strongest wind of the day with a new course that proved spectacular for all the wrong reasons. John Holmes crewed by Margaret Mettam sailed a blinding windward leg to round the mark on the wrong side (later retiring on lap 2 realising their error), subsequently extending their lead from the turmoil that followed to near horizon proportions. Meanwhile back at the mark Paul Young and Phil Harrison trying to round the mark on the correct side (whilst also being on starboard!) had a very tough time, helms and crews slowly realised the error of their ways, and started to unwind. The battle for second commenced between Young/ Harrison and the Pepperdines, 22901 needed to win the race and held the lead for much of it, 20518 had to start to climb from 9th place. On the second lap 20518 nearly snatched the lead by sailing to windward of the pack, 22901 gybed away and found more pressure on the leeward shore, a great deal of covering both up and downwind then followed. At the finish it was Young second with the Pepperdines third with Short/ Fry first.
Thanks to all the visiting boats for attending, the OOD's of the day and the galley for preparing such wonderful food.
1st 23219 Russ Short and Kate Fry Rotherham SC
2nd 20518 Nigel Peppedine and Diana Peppedine Staunton Harold SC
3rd 22901 Paul Young and Phil Harrison Midland SC
4th 2304 Tim Brownell and Will Burkitt Ulley SC
5th 20687 Dave Staniforth and Mark Burkitt Ulley SC
6th 09097 Simon Fleetwood and Lavinia Ody Rotherham SC
Southport 24 Hour Race 2009 19th-20th September
Some arrived on Friday and some arrived on Saturday. Some were Southport regulars and some were new comers but everyone had one thing in common, we were there to represent Rotherham Sailing Club and have a good time to boot.
Labelled up as number 22 we started the race on a bright, sunny Saturday in a light wind, which was to remain for pretty much most of the weekend. Making sure that everyone who wanted a sail got one, the 24 hours was divided up into time slots, Helen and Jonathan started the race with canons firing. Luckily they missed our boat and the gruelling 24 hour race was on, who would get to the bar first!
The light winds were to continue throughout the weekend which made for some racing that was frustrating at times but entertaining at the same time. Luckily the sun stayed with us as well which made the slow trundle around the course a little more bearable. Being a 24 hour race however the sun did go down and as the night moved in and the lights were lit the lake was a mass of red and green lights, apart from the one boat that had decided to go for blue fairy lights all the way up the shrouds, which prompted the suggestion that maybe we should do the same next year, although we'd do it properly and have red and green fairy lights, anyone know a good electrician?? Making the most of the atmosphere, Jonathan was soaking it all up and besides declaring his undying love to everyone he also promised that if the boat WAS lit up next year, and he could get some sponsorship for charity - he would sail the race next year in a gorilla costume, whilst wearing a pink tutu, and Simon has the recorded evidence to prove it, start digging deep now people!
By 7.30am on Sunday morning the wind had really died off and the Marine Lake looked like a mirror. Simon and Ollie came in to hand over to Mel and John. Despite only just setting off Mel decided he'd had enough already and moored up on one of the buoys marking the exit to the pit lane. At least that's what we thought he'd done but after much snarling and gnashing of teeth he set off on what was now little more than a crawl around the lake, managing just 1 lap every hour. Helen and Becky were due to take over at 9.30 for the Ladies race and this they did but still to little or no wind. It was going to be a long hard slog to the finish if this kept up. Jess and Jonathan took over for the final stint and at 12.10 the Rotherham Sailing Club boat crossed the finishing line, once again to canon fire (and once again they missed, they really are poor shots!) to finish in 49th place (or was it joint 48th).
Did we think we could have done better - almost certainly, especially if we hadn't turned up with the old sails! Did we enjoy ourselves anyway? Absolutely! Would we do it all again? Just try stopping us!!
Streaker Open Meeting Sunday April 19th
11 boats entered the second event on the Streaker Northern Paddle circuit with 4 Rotherham boats. Full Report
Easter Regatta Sunday April 12th
On a pleasant but quiet Easter Sunday racing turned into a battle between the two Short brothers in their Enterprises.
Andrew and crew, Sarah Morton, were in the lead on the water for much of the first race but then Russ and Kate sailed through to win.
This left Andy and Sarah determined to beat them in the second, which they duly did.
Everything depended on the last, which Russ and Kate eventually won with Mike Brown in his Laser second on handicap.
Easter egg prizes were awarded to Russell Short, Andy Short and Mike Brown with youth prizes to John Senior, Sam Bennett and Amy Bennett.
All the other competitors received small eggs.
Bloody Mary Pursuit Race
Queen Mary Sailing Club, London
10th January 2009
The day started leaving home at 7am with 2 Ents. - temperature at minus 4! The temperature rose on the journey down to minus 3 and then minus 2, and by the time we reached Queen Mary S.C. it was.......... minus 4. Wonderful!
The fleet of Ents started 22 minutes after the start gun at 12.22 in foggy, cold light airs force 2 or 3 conditions. Russell and Kate had a good first beat and through the race switched places constantly with Phil Kirk and Sarah Gregson having a good battle. Sarah Morton and I pursued them as 3rd Ent. throughout the race.
A great variety of boats competed, 180 in total, from foiling Moths, the huge Thames A-Rater and 49ers down to a few Toppers.
We had never sailed in such extreme conditions. Icicles formed on the gunwales, ice formed in sheets on the decks, water froze in the bottom of the boat. As the wind dropped on the final beat we were showered by ice as we tacked from water frozen on the sails. Russell realised his boat was shaking in the light airs - Kate was shivering!
Putting the boats away to travel home was a team effort - Hmm - Kate and Sarah went for a hot shower and some warm clothes leaving Russell and I to battle with the elements! The main sails were frozen to the booms, sheets were frozen solid to the jibs and the icicles still hung there from the decks............
Andrew Short
Click here to see photos.
