Weekly Safety Boat Duty

Safety boat duty is not about racing up and down the river; it's not about pulling sailors out of the river; it's all about watching and providing reassurance by just being there, giving new sailors confidence that if anything could go wrong, you are nearby to help.
 

Cool and damp

 The weather was much cooler, but the wind started to pick up and we had lots of boats out on the water including 4 Zests and two wayfarers and several other boats, braving to dampness in the air and being coached by our retired instructor Sally who was out in the Safety Boat offering advice to impve the sailing.

Time for more splicing

It's a hot day by the River. There is no wind. An ideal day to learn how to do some more splicing, joining ropes, making loops, fitting ropes around formers and learning to make neat end splices.
 

No wind, no racing

 No Wind, no racing. Many of the members brought their paddle boards, having got out into the stream we were going backwards, so we put on the epropulsion electric engine and went out. We had another go a little later with some success, but it was hard going in 2mph winds.

Lightning Meeting

 The start of the Lightning Weekend at the Upper Thames Sailing Club. This is the first time the club has hosted this meeting, and we had twelve Lightnings at the start.

Start Sail Progress

 This is what Start Sail is all about, Paul as crew, Philip at the Helm cruising up the River Thames and our instructor Mark shouting at me to pull harder on the mainsail and for Paul to pull the Jib tight and balance the boat from the Safety Boat.

More Start Sail

 More Start Sail tomorrow – but with the Lightning Open on too, we might double as a moving obstacle course! Ten novice-crewed boats drifting about? Navigational chaos incoming…

My wife is already scared, and she hasn't even got in the boat yet.