Newsletter 12 11 25

We got lucky with the weather last Saturday for the Tidal Special. The forecast had looked promising all week and so it was on the day. Sunshine, mild with just enough wind to maintain progress against a 9 metre tide even for the slower boats. That held true until the wind dropped away in the second race when the ebb was running. Three of the faster boats that had started their third lap were really disadvantaged, so too the slower boats trying to finish their second lap.

However, most competitors, if not all, just enjoyed being out on the water in pleasant conditions. This included 12 boats sailed by the Introduction to Racing Group who were up for their first race on the tide. 

Dan Skinner sailing his International Canoe led the fleet round the course in both races but the leeward (a running start), windward, leeward course and the wind dropping off were not conducive for a good result on handicap. That wasn't the case for Jean-Louis Simons, sailing a Finn, who mastered the conditions to take a win on corrected time in the first race. But the star of the show winning overall on handicap was Gavin Roberts sailing a Laser. He came second in the first race and won the second race. He was very pleased with himself, judging by his cheesy grin, being first of the 8 strong Laser group in the second race. No doubt he was over the moon when he learnt that he'd won overall when the results came out on Monday. 

A running start and short first leg = togetherness

Gavin Roberts overall winner of the Tidal Special Sat 8/11/25

Seb Lord and his sister Aurelia were the youngest sailors, both sailing WKSC Club Optimists.

2nd overall was an Albacore sailed by John Carlin crewed by Thomas Teubner. Jean Louis took 6th in the second race but with his win in the first race kept his points score low enough to give him 3rd overall. Tony Clark (Laser) was 4th overall on handicap. Liz Potter 5th overall in her D-Zero with a 4th and a 5th. The 27 x boats competing. 

Just part of the 27 boat strong fleet competing in the Tidal Special

From R to L in the pic Gavin Roberts, Glyn Purnell, Andy Bell all sailing Lasers

The prize giving will be part of the Annual Prizegiving to be held on Saturday 22/11/25 19:30 

A few words of explanation by me (the RO) might be pertinent. Sailing Activity is KING in a sailing club. Maximising the numbers racing naturally falls under that banner. Its aways more attractive and interesting for competitors if there are plenty racing. But how to make it possible let alone fair on the tide with conditions usually favouring fast boats? 

Well …. there's no perfect solution but I will continue to try different formats. Here are some thoughts:  

• Starting races off the boat park can be good when there's enough water (on big tides) and not too much wind. Slow boats get a chance to make against the tide inshore. 
• Average lap time races just enable slow boats to get a result and enable most boats to be racing for more of the time available. We can try varying how the average lap time works to ensure that the maximum number of boats do get a result. 
• The RO being onshore reduces the resources required to run a tidal race.
• Racing close inshore attracts interest from those not sailing. Great for junior parents.
• However - very limiting in some wind directions.
• As the wind increases safety issues start to cause concern. Capsizing near to rocks is not pleasant.   

Sailing out on open water in a good breeze is always preferable BUT also has its challenges. How to give a diverse fleet of boats the maximum enjoyment. Our solution for many years has been to have a fast and slow handicap split. If we had enough resource to have an inshore committee boat and rescue boats for the slow handicap that would be ideal but not currently feasible. A course which has a common leeward buoy (or a gate)  but with two windward and two wing marks to cater for fast and slow boats is the best we can offer for regular tidal series racing.  Having a committee boat like Little Arvor  further improves course configuration. Why ? Because the start finish line need not be part of the course once the race has started thus getting rid of having to go through the line each lap which spoils a beat. The pin end buoy can be left in position but the committee boat can move away after the start.

All of this is written to encourage you to contribute to a discussion on improving tidal racing both as a competitor and as a race officer ! 
More on this soon.

 COMING UP

Thursday 13/11/25 Evening  17:30 - 19:00 Mirror Project Working Group.

Thursday 13/11/25 Evening 19:00 Singing Sea Shanties

Sunday 16/11/25 Lake Racing 11:00 Fast Handicap followed by Novice and Slow Handicap starts for Frostbite Series 5&6.

Thursday 20/11/25 Evening  17:30-19:00 Mirror Project Working Group.

Thursday 20/11/25 Evening 19:00  Talk by Tony Marston on the WKSC Mirror Dinghy Project

Saturday 22/11/25 Evening 19:30  Annual Prize Giving

Monday 10/8/26 to Friday 14/8/26 WKSC SUMMER SAILING EXTRAVAGANZA.  Racing on Tide and Lake + Adventure Sailing - Something for everybody and every class. Book the week off work .... if you work - many don't. Mow the grass or sweep the concrete the week before. Get ready for something new. Support your club. Join the party. More on this soon.

Tony Martson

Sailing Secretary

Click here for the link to the SAILING MATTERS section