Start Sail Cancelled

 We had planned some more lessons for this morning, but they have been cancelled, so we may not have learnt and practised enough to improve for the races tomorrow at the club. These are short sprint races where we have to be quick off the line - usually we are last and fast up and down the course and we are certainly not that.

Working together

 Progressing from sailing single-handed to going double-handed in a Wayfarer. Learning to work together to drive the boat forward as a team.

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.