Wealden Sailability

Just Giving
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

Well it’s the start of another year of Wealden Racing and it’s all change in how the races are organised and run. Hopefully it will make it easier for whichever volunteer is running the race to keep on top of who is ahead on the course….but only time will tell if that is the case…!!
For those still not too sure what’s happening, the big difference is that we are now running each race on the standard (like most sailing clubs) “handicap” format, where every boat starts together, races for a set amount of time, then are finished the next time they cross the finish line. Their total time taken, along with the number of laps completed in that time, is put into a formula along with a magic number known as a “Portsmouth Yardstick”, which give their “calculated” finish time, allowing for the difference in each boats performance. So just because the fastest boat crosses the line first, does not make it the winner…!!
Another big change that several racers commented on, were the strange “BING’s” emanating from a hut near the club house, and a voice “coming from the sky”….. The hut is the club’s race hut and the voice was just that of the race officer of the day, trying to help everyone understand what was happening..?!?!

Anyway, on to the results for the very first Wealden Sailability Race run under the handicap format:

  • 1st Peter Gregory
  • 2nd Mike Blatchford
  • 3rd David Mason
  • 4th Bob Fisher
  • 5th Peter Wagner
  • 6th Faye Watson
  • 7th Steve Farmer
  • 8th Ann Frewer
  • 9th Brian Mac
  • 10th Mark Cayzer
  • 11th Andy Wallace

On Thursday 24th November, Steve Thomas, Meg Warren and myself (Mike Coleman) attended the Marjorie McClure School for their annual Awards Presentation. We thought we were just there to present certificates to the students that had attended Wealden Sailability sessions throughout the season and attained Entry, Bronze and Silver Level sailing certificates. So we were totally blown away to ourselves be presented with a Marjorie McClure F.L.A.M.E Award, and the highest “Gold, Four Star, burning brightly” award at that..!!

Here’s a copy of the award certificate.

marjorie mcclure flame award

According to the Marjorie McClure website “Our Olympic Flame Award legacy project (set up in the wake of the 2012 London Olympics) is being developed as part of the Sky Living for Sport Challenge. The focus is on recognising pupil achievement and progress using the values framework of the London Olympic Games. Competing to achieve best is at the heart of the award.”
The award we received from the school today was a reflection of the part that WS has played in helping the pupils achieve the aims of the Award, so we were very honoured to receive the Award on behalf of all our Volunteers.

Wealden Sailability Drunken Sailors..?!?!

setting up
cool girls arrive early
yeah…he really helped!
nah..not a winner
well dressed pirates
never without a glass
a dangerous man
johnny Depp?
enjoying the moment
absolute embarrassment
getting in to the mood
crowd trouble
the good the bad and the ?
they were actually very happy
the male model
lovely folks?
great decorations,thanks Jayne
would you be smiling sitting beside trouble?
Strictly next year
cool chick no 17
not strictly
ahh, professionals
looking good
champion racer…no 2
will she come again?
two auld b******
female model
he better beware!!
the nice one
the boss…great job Jayne
the men from Ulster
good food
and plenty to drink!
disgraceful at his age
Fay’s girls
he should be behind the bar?
happy times
happy times
a serious table?
two little kids
happy times
attentive??
mmmmm…best say nothing
a tall handsome *****?
great singing
and playing…proper drums Peter
the gathering
the choir
the end

It was an unexpectedly sunny day today (Thursday 27th October). Perfect for everyone at Wealden Sailability to enjoy their lunch on the lawn outside the Chipstead  Sailing Club clubhouse and to celebrate warmly the achievements of all the sailors who had participated in the 27 WS Racing Spring and Summer Series races.

It was an opportunity for everyone associated with Wealden Sailability to recognise the achievements and successes of the 22 sailors who had competed in the 14 race-long Spring Series and the 27 sailors who had competed – up until the last race during the morning – in the 13 race-long Summer Series. Certificates were awarded to all those helms who had completed at least 5 races in each Series and thereby qualified! Unfortunately some WS Racers could not get to the lake today but their success was heartily applauded in their absence and their Certificates will be posted to them.

All the results are shown in the Results Summaries on this website and here are some photos of Trustees David McKee and Bob Marsh warmly congratulating each recipient as they handed them their well-deserved Certificates, whilst the other racers, their families, carers and supporters and volunteers applauded.

In response to the awards and to mark the closure of the season, Peter Gregory spoke on behalf of all the sailors and said “Thank you to all the Wealden Sailability volunteers, because without your commitment, effort and encouragement, we would not have been able to sail and have such fun from April to October!! ”