Whitstable Yacht Club

Club News

WYC Socials for July & August

Posted: Friday, 12 July, 2024

JULY
Sunday 14th, 8pm - EUROS FINAL, SPAIN VS ENGLAND – join your friends and watch in the Sea room. You will all have used up so much energy cheering you will need some supplies, so we'll have delicious hot dogs at 7.30-8 and half time £1 each! Bar open till match finishes.
Starting 26TH - OLYMPICS ON THE TV - We'll have the live coverage from the Olympics on the TV in the Sea Room, so come and watch your favorite events!
AUGUST
Wednesday 31st July to Sunday 3rd August - WHITSTABLE WEEK SOCIAL EVENTS - Cadet Night, Band Night, Quiz Night, Cocktails and Live music, and Prize Giving!
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th – ART SHOW by local artist – Sue King in the Sea Room. 30% of all sales will go to the Gamecock restoration fund – see attached leaflet
Saturday 17th August 2pm – GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT - 6 songs sung by Dave Rogers, who's playing 12 gigs in the day in an attempt to take the Guinness World Record. Come along to witness this achievement!

Tea, Coffee, drinks and food for members

Posted: Friday, 21 June, 2024

We are delighted that the tea bar will be available to members as follows:
1 ½ hours before racing Saturday and Sunday. This will be for all drinks, snacks, sandwiches and toasties available from Keith's hut.
If you would like something to eat after racing (full Keith’s menu then available) please place your order and time required before racing to avoid a queue.
After racing a reminder that if Keith's is closed, tea, coffee and snacks are always available from the bar.
Any questions or issues, please contact the Club Manager!

Summer of Socials at WYC

Posted: Sunday, 16 June, 2024

We've got a great summer (yes, it'll come!) of social events at WYC this year. Keep an eye out on the website and Facebook for details, but highlights include:
A great party planned for this year's Merlin Rocket and Taser open on 22nd June, with not one but two club bands: Merlin and the Rockets, supported by Point Break. Music from 8pm, all members welcome.

The Dead Pelicans will be playing Whitstable Yacht Club the the Saturday evening LaserFest social on 6th July. Music from 8pm, all members welcome, come along for the legendary LaserFest party!

This year's Whitstable Week has some great socials planned. Come down for the whole week of sailing and social, from Wednesday to Sunday, or just join us in the evenings for some great entertainment:
Wednesday 31st July: CADET NIGHT
Thursday 1st August: WYC CLUB BAND NIGHT – Live music from our very own talented club members from 20.00.
Friday 2nd August: PHIL & IAN’S LAYED BACK QUIZ - First question at 19.00. Teams of 6 max.
Saturday 3rd August: COMMODORES COCKTAILS and LIVE MUSIC from Sold on Soul. Cocktails served between 18.00 – 19.30, music to follow.
Sunday 4th August: PRIZE GIVING after racing.
Find out more at www.wyc.org.uk/on-the-water/Whitstable_Week

And don't forget the England and Scotland Euro matches on the big screen, wyc.org.uk/news/watch-the-euro-2024-first-round-england-an-scotland-matches-at-wyc

WYC Bar Opening Times

Posted: Thursday, 06 June, 2024

The club bar opening times have been extended for the summer. For the updated serving times, go to https://wyc.org.uk/about/social.

John Baker

Posted: Thursday, 06 June, 2024

We regret to report that John Baker passed away on Sunday. John was a long time Whitstable Yacht Club member, and loved all things nautical. He was an excellent Condor sailor, winning the championships in 1978, and was a larger than life character, to be found in the bar when not on the water. He joined WYC from Tankerton Bay Sailing Club in 1972, and was a regular on the Condor sailing event circuit across Europe. John worked building Condors at Zygal Boats in St Peter’s street Whitstable, then on the harbour doing the same.
His Committal will be on Thursday 20th June at 2pm at Herne Bay Crematorium, followed by a Reception at WYC from 3.30pm. Further funeral details can be found at www.dignityfunerals.co.uk/funeral-notices/02-06-2024-john-william-baker/.

Flying Dutchman returns to WYC

Posted: Monday, 03 June, 2024

After an absence of almost 35 years, a Flying Dutchman class dinghy has returned to WYC. This is a 1980 Bob Hoare boat built in Poole, and is the sistership to the FDs that Rodney Pattison won Olympic gold in Mexico (1968) and Munich/Kiel (1972). It had been in Bordeaux for the past 10 years and was towed back through France last week for it's first WYC sail on Sunday.
WYC was instrumental for FD racing in the UK, hosting World Championships in 1959, and numerous UK and European FD championships thereafter. There was a sizable fleet of FDs at WYC up to 1980’s, and we are delighted to see this stunning class back on Whitstable waters.
Club Members Louise and Andrew Provan are putting together a talk about “FDs at Whitstable” at end Sept 2024, and would welcome any thoughts, photos, stories and anecdotes from other members about this iconic class. Please get it touch if you have any information andrewprovan@outlook.com

Whitstable Yacht Club - Club Championships 2024 Report

Posted: Tuesday, 28 May, 2024

WYC’s annual club championships took place over the late May Bank Holiday weekend with six races over the three days. The weather exceeded the forecast on all three days with a good breeze on Saturday and Monday with the challenge of fresh to frightening on Sunday. To make things as fair as possible across the wide mix of classes, a single start per race is used with a trapezoidal course to give one spinnaker reach and one tight reach per lap. Most classes had their chance to shine given the range of conditions, but at the end of the weekend the faster boats, and catamarans in particular shone.
The first two races were under clear skies and were dominated by Robert Govier and Club Commodore David Figgis in their Tornado with two bullets. Max Hunt in his ILCA/Laser radial followed with a pair of seconds with junior sailor Joe Barton in his Topper 4.2 third overall.
Black Sunday saw winds gusting to 28mph which tested the sailors and safety crews alike. Dart 18 aces Dickie Ledger and Sarah Oliver came out to play in their Dart 18 to finish the day with a first and second, closely followed by the Fireball of Adam Whitehouse and Mike Hanson with a 1,3. Behind the leading two Rob and David’s Tornado cruised majestically through the carnage with 3,2 whilst steady progress was made by Max Hunt with 5,4 and Rick and Sarah Perkins in their Tasar with a 6,5. Abby Ledger (Dickie’s daughter) and Ami Moore were also proving consistent across both days until a capsize in race 4.
Monday was another brisk afternoon with a mix showers and sun – the clouds brought some stronger gusts which were enough for Dickie and Sarah to take two bullets in their Dart 18. Rob and David managed 3,2 giving then the series with no finish below 3rd, whilst Abby and Ami went 2,3.5 (a tie with Rick and Sarah’s Tasar) to finish 2nd overall just ahead of the Tasar in 3rd overall.
Joe Barton won the under 18’s trophy in 7th overall in his Topper 4.2, Charles Campion took the Laser trophy in 5th overall, Phil Emery and Julie Nuttel won the Merlin Rocket Johnson Cup, Max Hunt, who couldn’t sail on Monday with a damaged back, still managed to win the Laser/ILCA radials and Alastair Gould took the Asymmetrics in his Musto Skiff.
Despite the brisk conditions the turnout of 44 boats was impressive with a good sprinkling of youngsters coming through including a good number of Toppers.
None of the racing could have taken place without our volunteers, so thanks to the race officers, committee boat drivers, safety boat drivers and crews, the recorders and finally the hardy souls who helped out on the beach on Sunday to support the returning tired and broken sailors.

WYC member Chris Marsh - ILCA7 Winner at the RYA Youth National Championships

Posted: Sunday, 07 April, 2024

Huge congratulations to WYC member Chris Marsh, now double winner of the RYA Youth National Championships, this year in an ILCA7 (Laser), last year in an ILCA6 (Laser Radial). Just the 9 wins from 12 starts and following after some famous names winning this prestigious regatta. Well done Chris!

Updated Race Officer guide and links to note for Race Duties

Posted: Tuesday, 19 March, 2024

The Race Officer guide has been updated for the new season. There's lots of information on the website at wyc.org.uk/members/Club_Rules#RaceDuties for anyone with a scheduled Race Officer, Assistant Race Officer or Safety Boat Crew duty. As we're approaching the start of the new season, now's a great time to check when your duty is! Search on the 2024 sailing schedule for your name: wyc.org.uk/on-the-water/schedule.

Well done WYC Youth Sailor Ralph!

Posted: Friday, 08 March, 2024

It's been a great few weeks for WYC youth sailor Ralph Hadley, who after being announced as a Barton Rising Star at the RYA Dinghy Show in February, went on to put in a great performance at the Topper NS2 - Winter Championships 23/24 at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy last weekend, coming in 3rd overall with two 1st place finishes in the very competitive 31 boat fleet racing over 6 races, only missing out on 2nd place overall by 1 point!
Definitely an up and coming sailor to watch.

WYC 2024 Handbook now available to download. 6 weeks until the start of the season!

Posted: Saturday, 10 February, 2024

It's 6 weeks until the start of the 2024 sailing season, with the Working Party on Saturday 23rd March and the first race on Sunday 24th March. The full sailing schedule has been on the website for a while at wyc.org.uk/on-the-water/schedule, and the paper 2024 Handbook is now at the printers, so now's a great time to start planning your 2024 sailing (and don't forget to check if you have a duty this year)!
You can also download a PDF version of the programme here: wyc.org.uk/images/uploads/2024_Club_Programme_Final.pdf.

Whitstable Yacht Club and HolidayCottages.co.uk partnership 2024

Posted: Tuesday, 06 February, 2024

Whitstable Yacht Club is delighted to welcome HolidayCottages.co.uk as a major sponsor in 2024, our third year of partnership.
The sponsorship will support a range of sailing and racing activities through the 2024 season including our premier racing event Whitstable Week, community outreach events ‘Discover Sailing’ to get non sailors on the water, ‘On Board’ linking with local schools and Cadetfest a summer weeklong fun event for cadets. The sponsorship will also provide bursaries for sailing courses both for new adult members and for children to encourage more people of all ages to be drawn to the enjoyable pursuit of sailing.
Stacey Turnbull, Senior Regional Communities Manager at HolidayCottages.co.uk commented ‘we are committed to supporting local communities in which we host our holiday cottage guests - and we know Whitstable Yacht Club to be a fantastic resource for the coastal town. HolidayCottages.co.uk believe in sustainable tourism, and water sports are a huge draw for holidaymakers.
HolidayCottages.co.uk offer accommodation to suit everyone, from fisherman’s cottages to chic sea view apartments. Visit www.HolidayCottages.co.uk to browse our collection.’
Whitstable Yacht Club Commodore Andy Jackson added ‘We are delighted to be working with HolidayCottages.co.uk for a third year following a range of successful sailing events and membership growth in 2023. The 2024 partnership builds on that success with a programme designed to promote sailing and expand membership across all ages.’

2024 Sailing Schedule now available on the website

Posted: Monday, 15 January, 2024

The 2024 Sailing Schedule has now been uploaded to the website at wyc.org.uk/on-the-water/schedule, and the Google Calendar has been updated with the dates. If you've previously added the Google Calendar to your account, you shouldn't need to do anything, this year's events should now be in your calendar. Now is also a great time to check for your 2023 duty and add it to your diary!
To read an introduction this year's schedule from our Rear Commodore (Sailing) Steve Gray, download it here: wyc.org.uk/images/uploads/WYC_2024_programme_-_introduction_from_Steve_Gray.pdf

Epic New Year’s Celebration at the Club!

Posted: Monday, 01 January, 2024

Happy New Year, Whitstable Yacht Club family!
What a start to 2024! Last night was nothing short of spectacular, with our club buzzing with the energy of 120 friends and members at a completely sold-out event.
As the music filled the air (thanks to the Dead Pelicans!) and laughter echoed around, the night culminated with all of us on the deck, marvelling at a breath-taking fireworks display.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone, especially our incredible bar staff. Their hard work and dedication were the backbone of this amazing evening. Their tireless efforts in keeping the drinks flowing and the spirits high truly made this celebration possible.
This unforgettable night was made even more special by the warmth and camaraderie of each of you, truly embodying the spirit of our club.
Here's to a 2024 filled with great sailing and more memorable events at the club!
#WhitstableYachtClub #NewYearsEve2024 #CelebrationOnTheWater
Thanks to Debbie Clifford for the photos