Meet 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month 7:30 to 10pm. We pick some songs to rehearse beforehand and get to play together as several bands.
Welcome guitarists, singers, keyboards, drums, percussion, flutes, fiddles… anything with a tune!
We put on a gig at the club every quarter, aim to showcase 24 songs.
Contact: Andrew Provan 0789 9662412
A reminder that masts should be taken down over the winter months. Please note that WYC’s equipment storage policy now states that due to health and safety constraints masts are not to be stored in upper or lower Rigden Shed. Masts can be stored on top of dinghies/catamarans or underneath boat covers where possible. To view the latest WYC Boat Parking, Equipment and Windsurf Board policy – 2022/2023, go to https://www.wyc.org.uk/members/Club_Rules#BoatParking. It was also sent out by email to members in September with membership renewal forms.
If you think you may have masts, spars or other equipment stored in the roof space in upper Rigden, please could these be removed as soon as possible. Please take great care for your own and others safety when removing items and seek help if you have any difficulty accessing your kit. We will be organising a working party before the end of the year to clear the roof space and any unclaimed items will be placed outside the Rigden shed behind the sea wall from where they can be collected.
If you plan to continue sailing throughout the winter and would like to keep your mast up, please inform your Class Captain and Sailing Secretary.
The Sailing Committee has decided that the results for the Autumn Series will be based on all-in handicap racing for non-Lasers. This is a change to the published programme, and has been applied to the results for races completed so far.
The club bar’s opening hours are being adjusted from 1st October. See https://wyc.org.uk/about/social for the updated times.
Whitstable Yacht Club is saddened by the loss of Her Majesty the Queen who was a long standing supporter of yachting and Patron of the RYA.
The Royal Family has a long history of seafaring. Over the centuries the Monarchy has sailed aboard 83 royal yachts, including the most recent, HMY Britannia, which often hosted the RYA Council meetings during Cowes Week.
Sailing and racing at our club will continue as scheduled this weekend. However, as a mark of respect, Saturday’s race starting sequence will be formally postponed by two minutes, during which time the AP flag will be flown. Members on the water may wish to heave to during this period.
Andrew Jackson, Commodore.
We regret to report that Roz Harnett passed away on Sunday morning. She died peacefully in her sleep.
Roz was wife to Martin, who was an active Enterprise and Laser sailor. Roz was known for her work in the ladies committee and the running of the cadets as well as a regular recorder on the bridge.
Mother to Dan, Richard and Louise, sailors at the club. Grandmother to eleven grandchildren, with five active sailors past and present, Meia, Elin, Mali Drystan and Joe. Roz will be sadly missed by all.
Her funeral will be held on 14th September. If you would like to attend mass, it is being held at 10 AM at Our Lady Immuculates church, Whitstable. CT5 2DE. This will be followed by committal at Barham Crematorium, Canterbury. CT4 6QU. All then welcome at 1pm to celebrate Roz’s life at Whitstable castle.
A full week with decent winds, racing every day, some epic socials and generally great weather made Whitstable Week 2022 one to remember!
The week started with challenging F5/6 winds on Monday which saw some epic downwinds (and capsizes) but 8 valiant finishers, headed by Rick and Sarah Perkins in their Tasar. There were much lighter winds on Tuesday which increased the entry to 35 boats across a whole range of classes – at the front end of the fleet Team Perkins and John Cooper/Hilary Bradshaw scored a 1st and 2nd each, with great battles throughout the fleet. Wednesday saw a return to windier conditions and 2 wins for Team Perkins, now being challenged by Charlie Campion, Nigel Brown and Kevin Hall in Lasers. Thursday saw another breezy day and the arrival of Dickie Ledger in his Dart who promptly won both races followed by Team Perkins and the first 3 Lasers. The last 2 races on Friday were held in milder conditions with wins shared between Rick/Sarah and Dickie.
Overall winner was Rick and Sarah in their Tasar with just 9.5 points (there was a dead heat in race 8!) counting 5 wins from 9 races. In 2nd place was Charlie Campion, followed by Nigel Brown and Kevin Hall in Lasers. Stephen Nation and Julie Puckett in their Tasar in 5th, returning ex pat Mark Holweger in a Laser 6th and first Merlin Jon and Phillipa Bloice in 7th. First Cadets were Angelyna and Harry in the RS 500 who was 10th overall counting a 7th on Monday and an excellent 2nd in the last race on Friday.
It can be safely said that the socials were enjoyed by all who attended – a quiet start with vinyl night on Monday was followed by a lively open mic on Tuesday with excellent organisation from Andy Provan and team, and the discovery of great talent in the club. Wednesday was Commodore’s cocktails (thanks to Tizzie and team) and the Commodore Andy Jackson’s excellent band. Thursday saw the return of the ever-popular Phil and Ian’s laid-back quiz, which wasn’t at all competitive (?), and thanks to David Lowes for a great BBQ setting the scene for the last night party with band Coco.
With 46 boats racing during the week and 13 completing 7 or more races it was an excellent week of competition and fun – and the weather helped too!
Due to the incoming hose pipe ban we will be removing hoses from the club’s taps. Where members need to wash kit down, please use watering cans or buckets, and use water sparingly. The only exception will be hoses for washing through the Support Boat engines.
