Learn To Sail course starts at Bexhill Sailing Club

Due to wind and swell conditions that were too strong for beginners to launch safely, they had a shore-based session covering rigging and de-rigging of boats and an introduction to points of sail and, in particular, tacking.

All the students felt that they knew a lot more at the end of the session than they did at the beginning. They are champing at the bit to get afloat for session two.

The Summer Series of races got under way on Sunday. Seven brave helms signed up for two very windy races. One helm backed down and decided not to launch due to the surf conditions.

Most boats capsized, including Richard Eagleton who represents Bexhill Sailing Club at National level, but he recovered to take the win in Fast Fleet. Bob Palmer was the only finisher in Slow Fleet, taking the win, after Rosie Norman capsized and lost her Topper's rudder, and her husband Roger thought better of continuing.

The most exciting moment of race one came when Flo and Abi Wright capsized and inverted their catamaran. It took them plus the assistance of the wonderful safety boat personnel to bring their catamaran back upright. No harm came to boat or sailors. Needless to say, the second race was abandoned!

This weekend free-sailing is available to members while safety boats are on the water. The Summer Series continues with races 3 and 4 on Sunday. There’s a midweek evening race on Wednesday, June 18.

If you would like more information about joining the club please visit www.bexhillsailing.club or email [email protected]