Whitstable Yacht Club mid-season update
by Steve Gray 11 Jul 2024 02:48 NZST
Discover Sailing © E Doggart
Whitstable Yacht Club held its annual RYA Discover Sailing open day on June 8th supported by our friends at Holidaycottages.co.uk offering the public the opportunity to try sailing or powerboating, review the types of boat sailed by club members, learn about the club's activities and tour the facilities.
There was the opportunity to sail for 30 minutes in a wide variety of club or members boats, with the majority of sessions fully booked online before the day. Young and old alike returned to shore with smiles and enthusiasm with 65 taking to the water, some later in the day just a little damp due to the increasing wind and waves!
The club was busy throughout the day from the beach to the bar and it was great to welcome 21 new members who joined the club as the result of the day.
At the halfway mark of the year the club's activities are in full swing - open meetings have been held for Toppers, Merlin Rockets, Tasers and Wanderers with many visiting racers being welcomed to the club. The club championship was held over the late May bank holiday weekend and saw a popular win for Robert Govier and club commodore David Figgis in their Tornado catamaran.
We have also held 11 cadet sessions for children of 8 years old and above, 11 improver sessions for a mix of children and adults and a course of 4 'transition to racing' sessions aimed at those wishing to move into the club's wider racing activities. We've also welcomed local schools St Mary's and the Joy Lane to a programme of 7 RYA On Board sailing sessions which finish at the end of the summer term.
In the meantime, it's Whitstable Week at the end of July and Cadetfest, a week of fun for the young in mid-August.
Thanks especially to holidaycottages.co.uk for supporting so many of the club's activities, especially with the youngsters in the cadet sessions, schools outreach and Cadetfest.