Sailing Secretary Report

Sailing Secretary Report - Richard Cannon

The winter sailing was brilliant and the official start of the sailing season on 25 March was also super with a NEE force 1 to 2 wind giving 9 boats a lovely sail; since 1992 we have only had more boats out for the first sail of the season in 1997 to 1999. The first couple of weekends in April were OK but then conditions deteriorated with the wettest April on record.

Fortunately on 28 April there was the Mid-Thames Trophy at Desborough SC; there was too much current to sail at Aquarius and it was just possible at Desborough.

From the end of April to mid May sailing wasn’t possible due to the the high current; the first time we have been unable sail in May due to current for over 20 years.

We were able to have boats on the water for the open days but on Saturday they had to be towed upstream.

The Sunday of the Queen’s Jubilee weekend was cold and damp but the East force 1-2 wind gave a good sail; Joan Bray brought in some Jubilee Mugs as prizes for a Race. The forecast for Monday was very cold, wet and windy and nobody went to Bewl for the scheduled visit; at Bewl the weather wasn’t as bad as forecast, although extremely cold (10°C air, 17°C water) and there were only about 6 Bewl boats out.

There was a SigneT Open Meeting within the Regatta on Saturday 30 June and fortunately the current had reduced, the SW wind was force 2 to 3 extremely gusty to force 5 and shifty; instant 90° shifts. Richard Cannon crewed by Liz Archer and Ken Ayres won the SigneT Open Meeting. Conditions on Sunday were similar although the shifts were not quite so extreme. It became very wet and windy when a squall went through; The weather station recorded a maximum gust of 28knts (force 7).

We need an improvement in the weather for the rest of the season but it is still very wet and making plans to suit the conditions as forecast is very unreliable.