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150 Cadets Take to the Water

Blackwater Sailing Club Cadet Week

The Blackwater Sailing Club’s Cadet Week which took place from 3-8 August is an annual six-day extravaganza of racing, RYA training and onshore fun and games. This year was no exception with 150 cadets enjoying a packed timetable of onshore activities in the morning followed by the hotly contested racing for trophies on the river and then the evenings’ entertainment.

This week gives cadets, aged from 8 to 18 and of all sailing abilities, the opportunity to have fun and enjoy being on the water whilst building confidence, friendships and sailing skills. Under the supervision of the highly experienced and well qualified instructor team, they attain their different RYA levels as well as learning to race.

Typical British weather presented daily challenges to the sailors from glorious sunshine with little or no wind when beating the tide became the focus to the strong gusting force 6 winds and rain by the end of the week. The skilful safety boat teams were kept busy.

Jess Haigh, the cadet commodore said: “We had an amazing week. With six fleets and 11 races there was some fantastic competitive racing on the river including our plucky young cadets in their opis and toppers.

Our cadet committee laid on an exciting programme of events for everyone - with team building games on land and the training lake, ice-cream relays on the river, the tractor pull which was won by the adults although they were subsequently disqualified for cheating! Also fancy dress competition and film and curry night – an exhausting time was had by all, it is huge fun though and really one of the best weeks!”

Sheena Berney, vice commodore, said: “Organising our cadet week is a mammoth task and it’s all thanks to the army of volunteers, some 130 people who give up their time to make it happen so smoothly. We are hugely grateful. I’d like to particularly thank Rob Carver our Cadet Skipper as he steps down after his final cadet year at the helm – his energy and hard work has been inspirational.”

At the prizegiving the worthy winners across all the fleets were:

Optimists: 1st Daniel Hall, 2nd Isabelle Miller, 3rd Evie Truman

Toppers: 1st Austin Edwards, 2nd Thomas Doggett, 3rd Natasha Adkins

RS Feva: 1st Flo Evans & Katherine Carver, 2nd Hattie Garlick & Hector Johnson, 3rd Alice Ruston & Isabelle Foy

Lasers full/radial: 1st Hugh Andrews, 2nd Dominic Carver, 3rd Osea Evans

Lasers 4.7: 1st Jess Welch, 2nd Stanley Johnson, 3rd Mara Thomas

General handicap: 1st Jess Haigh & Lucy Shelter, 2nd Sam Glover & Charlie Bourne, 3rd Hermione Cook & Bella Elderton

Pink Flag Tankard: Best results in a handicap fleet not winning the first prize - Dominic Carver

Evans Endeavour Goblet - Oliver Keeble for his perseverance

Challenge Trophy: Best points for the week - Hugh Andrews

Blue Flag Tankard: Girl’s best points for the week - Jess Haigh and Lucy Shelter

Heron Spoon: Most Resolute Cadet - Natasha Adkins

Best crew Medal: Katherine Carver

Cock of the Cadets: 1st Hugh Andrews, 2nd Jess Haigh, 3rd Dominic Carver

285 members, 92 boats, 13 commodores, 7 families of 4 generations & 2 of 5 generations

The Blackwater Sailing Club was delighted to host a special regatta as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations on Saturday 20th July.
Setting Sail for the Regatta (photo:Zoe Nelson)

On one of this summer’s first glorious days, the Club welcomed over 285 members and their guests and 12 ex-commodores, the earliest, Chris Collins having held the post from 1980 – 1982 and Gill Pain one of only two lady commodores in the Club’s history travelling down from Edinburgh to attend.

The regatta featured 92 boats taking part in a series of class races including fast and medium handicap, lasers, mirrors, fireballs, cruisers and sprites, the Club’s own classic racing fleet.

(photo:Zoe Nelson)

Onshore events included the popular crabbing event with 140 crabs caught in total, the entertaining greasy pole as well as swimming and cork races. Tea and delicious homemade cakes by members were also part of this traditional day with £554 being raised for the RNLI.

The Club founded by 12 local men has grown into one of the biggest on the estuary with a membership of around 1,100. It is still very much a well-loved family club run by its members to the extent that at the prize giving cadets of families that are now in their fourth and even fifth generation of membership were given certificates celebrating these long-serving families.

The 125th anniversary has created a wonderful opportunity for members’ reflections to be documented and included in the already excellent historical records of the Club. These date back to its beginning and provides a great insight into both the social history of the club and local area generally.

(photo:Zoe Nelson)

As part of the regatta celebrations, all the club's past commodores were invited to the day. This was a great opportunity to get a photograph.  These are the commodores who were able to attend, see how many you recognise.

Chris Collins, Gill Pain, David Goldsmith, John Bolingbroke, Anthony Sinclair, Michael Ferrier, Bryan Southgate, Mike Foster, Tricia Parker, Chris Nichols, Richard Pusey , Steve Jarred, Alan Hoy

Sunday 7th July was the first of 125 Year Anniversary events with more than 125 boats on the water. The weather was not kind to us and it got pretty windy. The club looked splendid with all the special bunting and every boat taking part was given a 125 year anniversary pennant for the event. We had BBC Look East at the club so we made the news bulletin!  The 125 year anniversary committee have worked hard  to lay on all the celebratory events and thanks to all who helped on the day.

Our thanks to Ian Morrin for this video of our memorable day

What a superb fleet of Mirror Dinghies turned out for BSC Mirror week, we had 16 dinghies of varying ages and rigs plus some with spinnakers all competing for the Mirror Week Goblet and the Mirror Week Tankard series of races.

The weather was kind to us but colder than expected the wind was not as forecasted and gave us some very challenging flukey winds to push the technical skills of even the most experienced of the 16. Everyone rose to the challenge and put in some excellent performances with Julie Nelson winning the Goblet trophy which was well deserved as her performance was consistent and strong all week . The Tankard trophy was won by Kevin Dowley in his newly built by himself Bermudan wooden Mirror which is not only beautiful to look at it’s very fast as well, so one to watch out for.

Not only everyone had a fantastic time out on the water sailing, on land we delivered a week of great socials including a quiz and a D Day sing along down at the basin which we all enjoyed. We rounded the week off with prize giving on Friday afternoon plus everyone received a participation Medal as a well done then a great BBQ was had by all.

The Mirror dinghy is a great little boat wether you are 8 or 80 you can sail in company or you’re own within a great sailing class of like minded people who like nothing more than sail in company then have a debrief over tea and cake.

Lesley Langley

Mirror Class Captain

Photos by Zoë Nelson

Despite the bitterly cold wind and threat of rain, 158 visitors braved the overcast weather and joined us for the Open Day on Saturday 27^th April to discover sailing and experience our wonderful facilities.

Picture:Anna Lau

The visitors including 57 children were given taster sessions with experienced instructors in Quests and Zest dinghies on the lake. Later as the tide came in they went out in cruisers and powerboats and appreciated being afloat on the estuary.

Picture:Anna Lau

Allan Hunt, Rear-Commodore said: “I was delighted that so many local visitors as well as those from further afield joined us, particularly as it was so chilly.

Everyone though said it had been very enjoyable and how much they had been made to feel welcome.  Some joined the Club there and then and others we hope will be joining us soon.
Picture:Zoe Nelson  

The day would not have been possible and run so smoothly had it not been for the huge army of helpers who volunteered. On behalf of the Club my grateful thanks goes to everyone for all your hard work and efforts.

To Zoe and Rob for moving cruisers to create a larger car park as well as ferrying visitors out on the river. The car park crew for organising the parking. Julie and the Friday sailors for coordinating taster sessions on the Lake and to those who helped on the pontoon and gave the river trips.  All went like clockwork.

Picture: Anna Lau

The welcome desk and meet and greet team did a wonderful job taking down the details of visitors before handing them over to the team of tours volunteers who showed them around the Club and answered questions.

To Peter Gould for his music and screen show and Alan Coday for the training presentations. The membership team in the main club room did a splendid job talking to interested visitors and as a result signing them up.

Finally and by no means least, thanks to Tracy and the Galley Crew and Tommy and his bar team for much needed food and refreshments throughout the day.

Gay Ayton
Publicity Officer

We’re so proud to announce that Charlie Dixon and Callum Marshall have been honoured in the proficiency category of East Anglian Maritime Awards 2024 (EAMA)

Created following the success of the Parade of Boats during the late Queen's Jubilee celebrations in 2022, the EAMA honour and celebrate the maritime heritage of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. With a focus on nurturing the maritime spirit among the youth, the awards recognise excellence across four categories: conservation, proficiency, resilience, and water safety.

Charlie Dixon aged 19 has an impressive list of achievements with numerous national and international championship wins and awards including: UK Windsurfer of the Year 2023, Young Sailor of the Year.  The EAMA award now recognises his dedication and willingness to inspire and mentor fellow sailors despite facing his own challenges including injury setbacks and exemplifies the true spirit of maritime camaraderie.

Cadet Callum Marshall aged just 12 and another rising star, has a string of Optimist achievements to his name from regional training squad selection to podium finishes in national championships.  His journey illustrates the essence of talent and perseverance in the maritime arena.
Sheena Berney, Vice-Commodore, said: “This is a fantastic attainment for both Charlie and Callum and a wonderful testament to their passion, determination and unwavering commitment at such an age is so impressive.  We heartily congratulate our young stars.”

The Club was also pleased to have hosted the EAMA Award ceremony which was attended by distinguished guests from the maritime community. They included representatives from sailing clubs, HM Coastguard, Sea Cadets and renowned personalities trans-ocean rower Dawn Wood and Olympic sailor Rob White.  Roy Clare, the EAMA chairman gave a warm welcome whilst Mrs Jenny Tolhurst, The Lord-Lieutenant highlighted the importance of maritime excellence in Essex and Jasmin Klimcke, an EAMA youth ambassador echoed the award’s inspirational value to Essex’s young generation.  Sarah West CEO of Harwich Haven Authority a key sponsor of the EAMAs emphasised the significance of the awards in fostering community spirit and maritime excellence.

Gay Ayton
Publicity Officer

Congratulations from Maldon Yacht Club on your 125th Anniversary.

Maldon Yacht Club are also celebrating this year, ours is the 75th Anniversary.
We would like to cordially invite BSC to enter a team into our Quiz Night, which is being held in our clubroom aboard 'Jim Main' at the end of Maldon Promenade.
Date - Saturday 11th May. Start - 7.30pm Teams of up to 6, £3 per. person. Bar open & some nibbles provided but please feel free to bring whatever snacks you like. Prizes of wine, beers & choccies. Entrance will be via the dump-end road.
We do hope you can join us for what will be a good fun evening.

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

OF THE MALDON & DISTRICT BRANCH

OF THE RNLI

The AGM of the Maldon & District Branch of the RNLI

will be held on Wednesday 15^th May 2024 at 20.00

at Maldon Little Ship Club, The Hythe, Maldon CM9 5HN

AGENDA

1.  President’s welcome

2.  Apologies for absence

3.  Minutes of the AGM held on 26^th April 2023

4.  Chairman’s Report

5.  Election of Officers and Committee

6.  Any other business, details of which have been sent to the Secretary 14 days prior to this meeting

We hope to have our new Community Support Manager, Sally Hutton, attending.

We will also have our good friends from West Mersea who are bringing a special 200 Anniversary film and some rescue footage.

We do hope you can support us.