All Optimist Sailors Welcome!
On Saturday 16th September Blackwater Sailing Club hosts it's Optimist Open Meeting.
- Main and coached regatta fleets on river
- Beginners Optimist training on the lake
- Bolognese supper
- Disco for sailors in Cadet room
- Lower bar open for parents
- Free camping Saturday night
- Event Tshirts available to order here
On Sunday, club racing is open to all Optimist river sailors and will support
Barts Bash! A short course with Optimist coaching will be available.
Please read the "Additional Event Information" at the bottom of this page as there's loads of useful info for the day.
Saturday 16/09/2023 - Open Meeting Timings:
- 10:00 - Registration opens upstairs "Osea Room"
- 10:00 - Bacon baps (£1 a bap) upstairs "Osea Room"
- 10:15 - Lake safety & helpers briefing @ the lake
- 10:30 - Lake Training sailors briefing @ the lake. Sailors ready to go
- 11:00 - Main & Regatta fleet sailors briefing on the patio. Sailors rigged & ready!
- 11:15 - River fleet safety drivers & crew briefing
- 11:45 - River Fleet launch (Main Fleet then Regatta Fleet)
- 12:30 - First river start
- 14:30 - High tide
- 16:00 - All boats ashore
- 17:00 - Prizegiving
- 18:00 - Bolognese supper & ice cream pud (£5 a head)
- 19:00 - Kid's disco "Cadet Room"
Sunday 17/09/2023 - Club racing (Bart's Bash):
- All guests welcome to join
- 13:30 race start
- 15:00 high tide
Sailing Instructions & Notice of Race:
The following documents are available to view and download:
Entry Fee & Costs:
- Non members (£10)
- BSC members (£5)
- Bolognese supper & ice cream pud (£5 a head)
Registration:
Sorry but the event is now fully subscribed so we can't accept any further registrations.
Payment Details:
Please make a bank transfer before the event using the details below:
- BACS Details: HSBC
- Account Name: Blackwater Sailing Club
- Account Number: 30132926
- Sort Code: 40-31-35
- Reference: Surname-Optimist
Which Fleet?
To help with more information and decisions on which fleet your sailor would be best suited for please read below.
Main Fleet: should be confident sailing in open water, racing around a course on all points of sail and able to self recover from a capsize. This fleet's race course will be positioned downriver from Blackwater Sailing Club (towards Osea Island) and start from a committee boat so may feel more "open water" hence require more competent sailors.
Coached Regatta Fleet: should be able to independently sail a course using all points of sail, ideally have some understanding/experience of racing and can recover from a capsize. The course will be nearer Blackwater Sailing Club so a bit closer to shore and there will be coach boats helping this fleet around the course
Lake Training: for new sailors and those still learning and needing a bit more confidence building.
There is a limited number of Blackwater Sailing Club "optibat" boats available (these are the GRP heavy training oppies). If there are more sailors than boats, the lake instructors work out a rota to give everyone some time sailing.
It's upto you and your sailor if they want to bring/sail their own boat if they have one.
It's my first Open Meeting and I'm worried: don't stress, Blackwater Sailing Club is a very welcoming place and there'll be plenty of people to help you whether it's worries about the right fleet, helping rig or getting a boat of a trailer.
Additional Event Information:
Important Reminders
- Lunch isn't provided. As there's nowhere to buy food on site make sure you bring something for you and your sailors
- Registration: everyone has to register to ensure payment has been taken and we know who's on site. We will also supply sail streamers and trolley tags that need attaching
- Volunteers: If you've volunteered for Lake or River duties please bring appropriate clothing
- Boat Insurance compulsory
- Parents must remain on site and ensure you're contactable
- Please do pay in advance using BACS details on site or in your email
- Volunteer if you can or just turn up and get involved
- Medical conditions: please contact optimist@blackwatersailingclub.org.uk to advise us of anything
- Photography: a photographer and drone pilot will be on site. Our terms advise anyone registering for an event has given consent. Any concerns please reply
Parking:
Given the number of visitors we need to keep space for car parking. As such please use the guide and map to park your vehicle or trailer.
Car Parking: drive past layed up yachts and camper/caravan parking and find a spot in the gravel rows on the LHS marked on the map in lime green. Please do not drive beyond the last row of parking.
Trailer Parking: find a space between the layed up cruisers marked on the map in blue. Please leave space for cars to get through.
For lake sailors with your own boats please take your Optimists on trolleys straight to the lake. No trailers by the lake please.
For river sailors, please take your Optimists on trolleys up towards the BSC club house. Again please don't take trailers up to the club house area.
Campers:
As with parking please use the guide and map below to help you find a spot.
Camper vans and caravans: please park immediately after the layed up yachts on the LHS marked on the map in yellow. There are electric pickups and water available.
Tents: as with Campers & Caravans, please pitch immediately after the layed up yachts on the LHS marked on the map in pink but towards the back of the row of dinghies. Don't use the gravel car parking and ensure people can get their boats out and cars can get through. FYI: The ground is VERY hard so bring tough tent pegs, hammer and airbeds!
Facilities: you can use the club galley kitchen and fridge space (if you can find any), loos and showers
If you've read through the above and still have a question please contact optimist@blackwatersailingclub.org.uk