The Wealden Sailability 2023 season is now over.
2024 starts with presentations in January, February & March.
Racing, described below, begins in April,
If you’d like to join in regularly, or try it out,
get in touch at racing.wealdensailability@gmail.com.
Hope to see you in 2024
Wealden Sailability provides racing every Thursday morning throughout the season.
The regular format is a 1 lap practice race at 10.55, followed by a handicap race, at around 11.20. At mid and end season, there are 2 Regattas when racing is shared with Women on Water, with integrated individual & team results.
Racing takes place in Liberty’s, 303s (both single handed & crewed) & 2.3s. Registration takes place from 10am, with course briefings both at the Club & on the pontoon prior to launching.
Starting follows a 3/2/1 minute countdown to the start, supported by Race Officer announcements & countdowns, visual signals and help from crews on the Safety boat & Commando support boat.
Racing take place in front of the Clubhouse, so family and friends can follow every moment, enabling post race coaching, whether requested or not. The racers often lunch together, swapping tales of prowess and smart tactics until the reality of the handicap results is announced, when all participants, not just the winners, are celebrated.
Occasionally the start and some racing is videoed, which is generally enjoyed, apart from one racer, who, when caught on video over line, complained “Now we’ve got VAR”. Often racers self organise a series of short races on Thursday afternoons.
We encourage all to participate, whether single handed or with a crew. We are always delighted to see how quickly sailors can progress from being crewed to setting off single handed in a 2.3, 303 or ultimately Liberty. Last winter we provided coaching sessions on racing on our lake, racing rules, and have ambitions to add more coaching during the season.