Bexhill Sailing Club's fun in the sun

During the summer Bexhill Sailing Club likes to squeeze a few evening races into the schedule. Wednesday Evening Series Race 2 was sailed on 24th June in 30 degree heat and a very light easterly wind starting at 6pm. The dinghies set off on a beat towards Hastings around a large triangular course.

Rick Parker (Laser 4.7) picked the perfect starting point at the shore end of the start line, reaching the first buoy minutes ahead of everyone else. Once past the first buoy it was an easy broad reach to the gybe mark then a reach back towards shore, followed by a tricky beat against the tide back to the first buoy, where places were won and lost.

Cristina Terrazas (Comet Xtra) won Slow fleet, having caught Rick Parker by the fourth lap, sliding him into 2nd place, with Rachel Wynn (Comet Xtra) 3rd. Tony Witham (Supernova) won Fast fleet, Sam Coffey (Laser full) was 2nd and Tony Lane (Laser full) 3rd. Surprisingly no entrants from Novices, and unsurprisingly no Catamarans in such light wind.

Saturday 27th June had the Learn To Sail students out on the sea again, practicing their tacking. They wouldn't have minded a capsize or 2 in the 29 degree heat, but all stayed dry in the light breeze.

Saturday evening was a special event organised by the Social Committee. Paul Andrews was 'One Man And His Guitar' acoustically playing rock'n'roll classics from the 1950s through to the 2000s. Towards the end of the show there was an awesome rendition of Wonderwall additionally featuring Tony Lane on vocals.

Sunday 28th June's Summer Series races 4 & 5 were scheduled back-to-back commencing 10.30am. What a difference in weather from the previous day! 5 dinghies signed on for the race, but 1 dinghy didn't launch into the 20mph wind and 5ft/1.5m waves.

The course was laid in a rectangle, with the start being a beat towards Eastbourne. One of the four brave helms went the wrong way at the start, and never made it onto the course! The father-and-son 'Tod' combo in the Topaz almost made it around the course, with a few capsizes, but were swept onto the beach before they could round the final buoy.

That left Arne Lovius (Laser Radial) in Fast fleet, who managed his first capsize as a dry step-over, but the following 2 capsizes were wet. He said afterwards that climbing back into the boat was really easy, he just waited for a huge wave to pick him up and throw him back into the boat! Sorted! It paid dividends, because Arne won first place in Fast fleet.

Even the incredible boat handling skills of experienced sailor Bob Palmer (Topper) didn't save him from a capsize and swim, but he did make it around the course, winning Slow fleet. Just the one lap was sailed before Race Officer Commodore Judith Warren decided enough was enough and finished the race after only 17 minutes. Race 5 was abandoned and all members made it safely back to the clubhouse for warming cuppas all round.

The Learn To Sail students hope to be back on the water on Saturday 4th July. Summer Series races 6 and 7 are scheduled for Sunday afternoon 5th July. If you would like more information about joining Bexhill Sailing Club please contact [email protected] or pop in and have a chat when the flags are flying at the weekend.