News at Whitstable Yacht Club
Club News
WYC Working Party 2024 - Saturday 23rd March
Posted: Tuesday, 12 March, 2024
Please come and help your club get ready for the new season! Saturday 23rd March will see the return of our annual start of the season Working Party. We'll start from 10am (although feel free to come down earlier!) and it usually runs for 2-3 hours depending on the weather and jobs to be done. You don't need to bring any tools, but please dress for manual labor (boots and work gloves) and the weather! Tea & Coffee available to those helping.
Whilst your down at the club, preferably before the start of the session, please check that any equipment stored there is in the correct place and labelled clearly with your name (as per the storage policy). Unidentifiable equipment may be moved or disposed of as part of the tidy-up!
This year's jobs include:
GENERAL – (Mike Oliver organising)
Weeding all areas
Jet wash paving, deck area, paths, tea bar steps etc.
Painting fence around rubbish bins
Litter collecting
Clear rubbish pit into skip - leave tyres in pit
Clean all inside windows from top floor down including changing rooms.
Clean moss off tea bar flat roof.
Clean race hut in and out.
Scrub trestle table tops and wash down afterwards.
BOATS & KIT STORAGE – beach and Upper Rigden shed – Sally organising
Tidy beach.
Put covers back on boats that have blown off.
Move boats & kit as advised by Sally.
AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT OBVIOUSLY NEEDS SORTING!
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.
Bottled drinks only in the bar 7th to 20th March
Posted: Monday, 04 March, 2024
Due to works in the club cellar there will be no draft beer available from 7th to 20th March. Instead there will be a new selection of canned and bottled lager and bitter to tickle your taste buds! Your patience while we carry out these essential works is appreciated.
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
2023 season roundup
Posted: Friday, 22 December, 2023
Go to http://wyc.org.uk/news/2023-season-roundup to read the report.
More
2024 WYC CLUB PROGRAMME: ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
Posted: Monday, 20 November, 2023
The 2024 WYC Club Programme is currently being compiled. If you or anyone you know would like to advertise their business within the programme, please contact Sally for more details: sailing.secretary@wyc.org.uk.
Jon Blunt
Posted: Monday, 09 October, 2023
We regret to report that Jon Blunt, father of cadets Tom and George and wife to Naomi, has passed away following a severe illness, which he bore with immense inner fortitude while continuing to take as active an interest as possible in club and cadet activity.
Jon was an ever helpful contributor to WYC cadets, supporting Tom and George in sailing their 420, at the club and away at 420 class events, volunteering to drive and crew safety boats for cadets and club races. Even when terribly ill he took pleasure supporting the Topper Nationals in May.
Congratulations to WYC members Max Hunt and Finn Crockatt for winning major events during September.
Posted: Thursday, 21 September, 2023
Max was crowned European Champion in the Great Grand Masters age group at the ILCA (Laser) Masters European Championship held in Douarnenez, France. Max posted a remarkably consistent set of results to beat world champion Vanessa Dudley from Australia by a single point.
WYC hosted the Kent Schools Sailing Association annual regatta on September 16th with a turnout of over 50 youngsters racing in tricky light conditions that tested competitors and race organisers alike. The day was won overall by Finn Crockatt from WYC who won the last race and ended with just 3 points to beat the Topper of Sam Macnamara from Chipstead and 420 of Jacob Websdale and Winter IIhan from Margate. WYC claimed 8 of the top 20 places with 15 cadet members taking part. Thanks also to all the WYC members who helped out in making this event a success.
Membership renewals due in October
Posted: Sunday, 10 September, 2023
The Whitstable Yacht Club membership year runs from 1st October, so subscriptions are due in October. For more details on the membership fees for the new membership year starting on 1st October 2023, and for the new online subscription form for new and renewing members, see www.wyc.org.uk/members/Subscriptions
Wanderer National Championship at Whitstable Yacht Club
Posted: Sunday, 10 September, 2023
Ten Wanderers gathered at Whitstable during the last week of August and the first weekend of September. Wanderer East, a series of cruises up the Swale and over to the island of Sheppey was held during the week. On Saturday and Sunday the boats competed for the Ian Proctor Wanderer Nationals and Gavin Barr trophies over four races.
For the full report on the event go to www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/266251/Wanderer-Nationals-at-Whitstable.
Susan Barnes
Posted: Saturday, 02 September, 2023
We regret to report that Susan Barnes passed away on 29th August at home.
She was a long-standing member of WYC and wife of the late Brian Barnes (ex commodore).
The funeral will take place at All Saints Church Whitstable on Friday 22nd September at 1.30 pm to celebrate a much loved lady.
Whitstable Week 2023 - Report
Posted: Wednesday, 09 August, 2023
Whitstable Yacht Club’s biggest event of the year is Whitstable Week, which this year ran from Wednesday Aug 2nd to Sunday Aug 6th. The format for the event is a ten-race series with two races per day and socials each evening which included a cadet night, a quiz night, an evening that started with commodore’s cocktails followed by the amazing WYC music group, and a Summer Ball with canapes and fizz supported by a further band ‘Betty and the Swingtones’. Whitstable Week was sponsored by Holidaycottages.co.uk who have kindly supported WYC’s major events in 2023 and WYC’s growing cadet fleet.
Returning to WYC from his recent emigration to the USA was Race Officer John Boorman, who ran an excellent race series when the weather allowed. Such dedication to Whitstable Week earned John the ‘Spirit of Whitstable Week’ trophy.
Wednesday was forecasted to be wet and windy which sadly proved to be correct with 25mph gusts resulting in racing been abandoned for the day, but fortunately the bar opened early so all wasn’t lost!
The fleet were keen to make up the lost ground on Thursday with a light northerly wind as they launched. The wind then went southerly, south easterly, and just as the RO was considering binning the day, a NE force 4 sprung up under a dark raincloud. The first race was won by Rick and Sarah Perkins from WYC in their Tasar followed by Paul and Bronwyn Ridgeway from Australia and also in a Tasar. Chris Marsh who is a WYC member but sails his Laser/ILCA for Thailand finished third to set a somewhat international tone to the results for the week. Chris won the second race of the day from Rick and Sarah and Millie Lewis from Medway YC in her Laser/ILCA radial.
There were medium breezes on Friday, but rain made for a rather cold and unwelcoming racecourse. The one race held was won by Chris Marsh, with Millie second and the Ridgeway’s third.
Saturday saw more wind and rain which failed to diminish the fleet’s enthusiasm. The 1-2-3 was the same in both races with Paul and Bronwyn finishing ahead of Rick and Sarah and Chris Marsh on corrected time. Most notable were Adam Whitehouse and Mike Hanson who borrowed Adam’s Dads Fireball for the event, capsized with the kite up in race 1 putting Mike through the mainsail, but with the split taped up took 4th place in the 2nd race – not too shabby for a scratch crew!
So, coming into Sunday the points were tight between the leading Tasars and Chris’s Laser/ILCA, however Chris had departed to compete in the Under 21 ILCA Open Europeans which left the Tasars to tough things out. Conditions were described as ‘a proper foam up’ with a brisk northerly onshore wind giving some big waves which made launch and recovery something of a challenge. A single race was held which resulted in a further win for the Ridgeway Tasar followed by the Laser/ILCA of Harry Newton and the Laser/ILCA Radial of Max Hunt both from WYC.
Overall, Paul and Bronwyn took the week and the Tasar prize by just two points from Rick and Sarah with Chris Marsh third overall also taking the Laser and first cadet trophies. Millie Lewis came 4th overall and took the Laser Radial trophy, the Fireball of Adam and Mike the General Handicap class and 10th overall (and submarine trophy for most spectacular capsize), and cadet Joe Barton took the Topper and slow handicap prizes at 14th overall.
It was a tough week of racing supported by some amazing parties which stretched the brain with a challenging Quiz, showcased the depth of talent in the club’s music group and showed that WYC members can scrub up well for Saturday’s Summer Ball!
Thanks must go to John Boorman the PRO and his team of volunteers, especially the safety boat crews who braved the worst of the weather whilst keeping an eye on the fleet. Thanks also to our sponsors Holidaycottages.co.uk who supported Commodore’s Cocktails and the live band, and Laser supplier Sail and Sport who provided the fizz at the Summer Ball, and perhaps just the odd fuzzy head the next morning!
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