Capsize and recovery training
2017 Dinghy Regatta winners
Close sailing 2017
SSC Pirates 2017
Cruise to Shipwrights 2017
SSC News - 2017 Summer Sailing
SSC News – 2017 June to September - Summer sailing at Seasalter.
The annual club regatta held during the May bank holiday was well attended with one closely fought race over two hours won by SteveW (cats) and DaveA (dinghies) followed by a very welcome BBQ organised by our keen team of cooks some of whom also sailed!
Prior to the Sprint 15 TT the club timetable of sailing includes an opportunity for those who wish to practice capsize and recovery of their craft, to undertake this in the presence of the duty teams afloat on patrol boats for reassurance and advice where needed. Several members welcomed this chance in the warm waters and calm conditions on 17 June providing entertainment for those who preferred to enjoy the tropical sunshine and warm seas from the balcony whilst relaxing! The weekend was concluded for some with a gentle cruise to the Shipwrights Arms, a short way down the Swale. The first of many!
August saw the annual Dinghy Regatta which occasionally brings out boats that spend much of their summer in the field! It also gives any cat sailors a chance to show that they are capable of sailing a dinghy, not believed by some! The 13 boats, many sailing 2 up enjoyed fantastic close sailing in perfect conditions. The worthy winners were NickF and LouiseN in their Enterprise, followed by RobS and CaroP on the club Miracle and JohnH and JudyW in a Pacer. Thank you to Steve and JulieL – fleet captains for organising the day and providing an excellent spread of endless food afterwards.
When the school summer holidays are well underway the club holds a camping week in early August, 5-11th, offering the chance for families to enjoy the facilities and sail or play around in the water, whichever is preferred! CaroP, RobS and Siggy organised a fun filled week with patrol boat cover on some days. Ashore Siggy had kindly arranged craft activities each day including tie dying t-shirts and flags – “pirate themed” and using shells and driftwood gathered while beach combing to make pirate necklaces. Several club members took the opportunity to sail with friends, just enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. The week ended on Friday with Pirate Day, when sailors invaded the shores of Shellness on the Isle of Sheppey, sailing in a choppy Force 4 to 5 westerly wind. All sailors young and old were dressed as pirates, faces painted and armed with “weapons and water pistols”. Boats decked with suitable flags the fleet, accompanied by Judy and MarkD-W in patrol boat, claimed the Island, chatted to the friendly locals and enjoyed a snack of ships biscuits before a very brisk return to Seasalter. As we came ashore we could smell the BBQ wafting across the beach, cooking already underway with Julie, Steve, Siggy and many others helping prepare a massive feast. A big thank you!
An evening tide ended the weekend on Sunday with another cruise to the Shipwrights, seal watching on the way and enjoying the sunset on return, a perfect evening.
Whitstable YC have a young Cadet sailing group who enjoy an annual sail and picnic hosted at SSC. This year, on 21 Aug they invited any young SSC sailors to join them as they arrived in a gentle easterly wind. Each year the event becomes more popular, this year 20 boats mostly 2 up arrived, accompanied by 4 patrol boats and many, many supporters armed with hefty picnic food hampers!! They spent a few hours enjoying the beach and clubhouse facilities, then returned to conclude what was for many an exciting adventure to “distant shores”. Watch for this event next year and try to join in if you can!
As August draws to a close the traditional long distance races are held in warm waters but we always include Swale evening cruises which whole families can enjoy, negotiating the tricky Faversham Creek moored boats to arrive at the Shipwrights again for a leisurely pint perhaps?
The first weekend in September was such a busy sailing weekend for everyone, whatever experience level. The club’s annual long race to Fowley Island, Conyer Creek down the Swale was held on the same day as the Isle of Sheppey Round the Island race. Both events were enjoyed by many club members with challenging conditions for all at some point. The Swale was buzzing with craft of every description afloat. Whitstable YC also held the Forts race, a very long distance race for large cats only. This too was a must for SSC Tornado sailors KevinD and DaveO who won it in high winds, flying the flag for Seasalter again as they have done many times this year already.
What will autumn bring who knows? Seasalter sailors are ready for anything…..lets wait and see!
J