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Wayfarer Nationals at Dabchicks SC.

The Wayfarer Nationals took place on 29^th June to 2^nd July at one of our neighbouring clubs on the Blackwater, Dabchicks with an entry of 28 boats. We had a strong contingent of four boats from the Blackwater SC taking part. The first thing to say it was really windy on all three days, but all our club boats managed to finish all nine races. There were some spectacular results with the Blackwater winning several of the trophies. The winners of the National Championships were Andrew Wilson and Tom Wilson from Datchet Water SC.

The Blackwater SC won the trophy for best club overall, which is amazing as the Medway SC has won this for many years.

Graham Hoy won the best newcomer trophy and with crew Rob Haigh won the silver fleet.

Nick Evans and Bill Huntington-Whiteley won the Junior Trophy.

The overall results were Graham Hoy and Rob Haigh, 2^nd place, this is a tremendous result.

Martin Hare and Dave Evans, 8^th place, this is also a very good result in tricky conditions.

Nick Evans and Bill Huntington-Whiteley, 14^th place.

Alan Hoy and Wills Sargeant 15^th place.

Full results here https://www.sailwave.com/results/DSC/UKWA%20FinalResults.htm

The Coronation Cup races took place on 8th May on the start line at Maldon Yacht Club. There was a good entry of 25 boats for the main race and 10 boats in the short course race, mainly Blackwater boats. The long course took the boats round Osea and Northey Islands and the short course just sailed round Northey. The main race was won by Mike Iszatt RS600 2nd was Alex Williams Blaze and 3rd Dave Nichols Phantom. The short race was won by Andy and Florence Pickering Mirror, 2nd Howard Knott Mirror and 3rd Callum Marshall Optomist. The full results are on the website.

More than 250 people visited our Open Day to try sailing and find out more about our award-winning Club.

Sunny weather graced the event on Sunday 7 May, drawing visitors keen to go out on the water and have a look around our wonderful facilities on land.

Taster sail on the lake. Photo: Anna Lau

Experienced instructors took out many children and their families on taster sessions in Quest dinghies on the training lake, which offers a safe environment for those new to sailing.

Quest dinghies on our training lake. Photo: Ian Barratt

Those wanting to experience the estuary were taken out on powerboat and yacht trips, giving them a feel for the beautiful experience of being out on the water between Heybridge, Mill Beach and Northey Island and enabling them to see up-close the dinghies competing in the Britannia series.

One of the vessels offering river trips. Photo: Anna Lau

The Clubhouse was buzzing with activity and nearly 60 people joined up as members on the day.

Allan Hunt, Rear-Commodore, said: “We were thrilled to have so many visitors to our Open Day. People had travelled in from north London, Chelmsford, Brentwood, Billericay, Colchester and further afield to look around our fantastic facilities and give sailing a go. We’ve had wonderful feedback at the event and on our social media channels.

“I would like to extend a sincere thank you to all our volunteers who helped put on the event. Sailing is such a wonderful past-time and we cater for all abilities, from complete novices to those wishing to compete. We were pleased to welcome them all to our friendly Club and inspire them with the opportunities for enjoying our beautiful stretch of the Estuary, which put on an excellent show in the sunshine!”

The event was held only months after Blackwater Sailing Club was named the Royal Yachting Association’s East Region Club of the Year.

Whether you’ve never been on the water before, are a seasoned sailor and new to the area or just fancy a family day out, Blackwater Sailing Club’s Open Day is for you!

The annual event offers people the opportunity to try sailing and have a look around our Club’s wonderful facilities overlooking the Blackwater Estuary.

Held on Sunday 7 May between 11am and 5pm, visitors can drop in at a time that suits them and find out more about one of the leading sailing clubs in the country.

There will be taster sessions on the training lake, where people can experience sailing in a safe environment whatever the tide is doing. Experienced instructors will helm a range of dinghies, taking adults and children aboard with all buoyancy aids provided by the Club.

For those wanting more of an open sea experience, there will be trips on the Estuary, giving them a feel for the beautiful experience of being out on the water between Heybridge, Mill Beach and Northey Island.

Refreshments will be available from the Clubhouse along with tours of the facilities. Club Members will offer a warm welcome and will be able to discuss membership options and answer questions.

Taster sail in the Quest on the Club lake at Open Day 2022. Image: Nigel Butler

Allan Hunt, Rear-Commodore, said: “We are a membership Club and our annual Open Day gives anyone interested in sailing the opportunity to find out more in a friendly and welcoming environment. Many people who come along to the event have seen boats on the Estuary and are just curious to find out what it’s all about.

“We’re proud of our Club and the new Clubhouse with all its stunning facilities so we will be very pleased to give more information to anyone who comes along to the Open Day. Membership enables you to use the Club and access a whole range of adult and children’s sailing courses so we hope people will leave inspired to give it a go!”

Sailing on the Estuary will be available around high tide at 2.45pm so we would encourage anyone wishing to have a taster trip on the river to come along around 1pm. Lake activities will be available all day.

The event is being held only months after Blackwater Sailing Club was named the Royal Yachting Association’s East Region Club of the Year and 18-year-old cadet Charlie Dixon was crowned the Yachting Journalists’ Association’s Young Sailor of the Year and the UK Windsurfing Association’s Windsurfer of the Year.

Blackwater Sailing Club's Charlie Dixon has been crowned Young Sailor of the Year!

Charlie, from Maldon, won the prestigious Yachting Journalists' Association title on 25 February 2023 and was presented with an enormous trophy at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show at Farnborough International Exhibition Centre.

He won the award a day after he turned 18 and only weeks after he was named Windsurfer of the Year by the UK Windsurfing Association.

Charlie had a fantastic 2022, finishing the year Youth National IQFoil Champion, iQFoil Youth European Champion, iQFoil International Games Gold Medallist, iQFoil World Champion and World Sailing Official Youth World Champion.

Charlie (second from right) with the trophy. Photo: RYA

Blackwater Sailing Club was also named East Region Finalist in the Club of the Year 2023, an award from the RYA and Sailing Today with Yachts and Yachting Magazine to recognise and celebrate the hard work that goes into making the UK's 1,000 clubs successful. 

Nigel Butler, Club Commodore from 2020 to 2022, collecting the Club of the Year East Region Finalist award. Photo: RYA

Charlie said of the Club: “The Blackwater is a great place for windsurfing and a place I love to call home. It provides flat water no matter the wind strength and a massive area for flying around. It can be sailed in any wind direction and it never disappoints.

“I am lucky enough to be able to windsurf all over the world for events and training but I still love to come home and love to come back to the river - on its best day nothing compares to it!”

Charlie now has his sights set on the Paris Olympics 2024 and Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 and is training regularly with the British Sailing Team in Weymouth.

Photo: Sailing Energy

If you would like to support Charlie’s Olympic campaign you can donate on his Crowdfunding page

The evening commenced with the Vice Commodore, Sheena, addressing the haggis and then the Selkirk Grace was read by the Rear Commodore, Allan. We then tucked into haggis, neeps and tatties expertly cooked by Steph, Simon and Alex. Julian Berney said a few words about Robert Burns and recited a poem. We then had dessert, a delicious cranachan with whisky cream. The bar was well stocked with whisky and tasting was available. We then danced the night away with the Cumberland Reel, Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant, Virginia Reel and Strip the Willow.

Thanks to everyone involved who helped make it a great night

We are delighted to announce that 17 year old Blackwater Sailing Club cadet Charlie Dixon has been voted the UK Windsurfer of the Year 2022.

He was nominated alongside three other top athletes from different disciplines of windsurfing for the UK Windsurfing Association 2022 title and won the public vote. 

Charlie had an incredible year in the Olympic iQFoil class, finishing 2022 youth National Champion, Youth European Champion, International Games Gold Medallist, World Champion and World Sailing Official Youth World Champion.

Charlie said: “It has been an amazing year and I will remember it forever! It started off with me being not known on the windsurfing circuit - just a normal boy who had a love for windsurfing - and ended by being known as the boy who could not be beaten by anyone else in the world.”

Charlie now has his sights set on the Paris Olympics 2024 and Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 and is training regularly with the British Sailing Team in Weymouth.

Charlie is a great ambassador for the Club and for the sport and an inspiration to our cadets and adult members. If you would like to support Charlie’s Olympic campaign you can donate on his Crowdfunding page

Read the full article on Yachts and Yachting

Photos © Sailing Energy, Dixon Family

Blackwater Sailing Club is proud and honoured to have been chosen as the RYA East region finalist for the prestigious Royal Yachting Association and Sailing Today with Yachts and Yachting Magazine 2023 Club of the Year award.

Please CLICK HERE and vote now! 

There are over 1000 sailing clubs in the UK, 136 in the East region and 12 finalists, but only one can be crowned Club of the Year 2023! Our selection is testament to the commitment and dedication of the many volunteers who help make Blackwater Sailing Club such a successful, friendly community where all are welcomed to enjoy sailing and watersports.

The finalists now go through to the public vote with the winner announced at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports show on Saturday 25 February 2023.  

This has been a brilliant year for the club, but we need to get more votes than all the worthy finalists to win this fantastic award which would be an amazing accolade to recognise our achievements.

Thank you for your support and thank you to everyone who has voted for us already.

Santa has been busy at Blackwater Sailing Club keeping up with our festive social programme!

On Sunday 11 December 35 children had a fun time at their X-mas party with a brilliant entertainer, party tea and all enjoyed getting a present from Father Christmas. The parents all joined in with the Hokey Cokey at the end.

On Thursday 16 December the Christmas lunch returned to the beautifully decorated main clubroom. After a delicious traditional X-mas turkey meal followed by X-mas pudding, we enjoyed a sing along with a variety of favourite carols. There was some particularly enthusiastic participation to “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with each table in charge of a day!

On Friday 23 December Santa will be back to watch the beautifully decorated boats enjoy a festive sail before the Friday sailors X-mas lunch. Adults who have been good will get a chance to sit on Santa’s lap and get a gift from his sack!

With best wishes for a very happy Christmas to all our members and friends and a sailing filled 2023.

Photos © Nigel Butler, Tracy Haigh

Massive congratulations to Blackwater Sailing Club sailors who have won the famous transatlantic ARC race from Gran Canaria to St Lucia. ‘Sunbeat VI’ finished the crossing in 18 days to not only win their monohull class D but they also achieved the fantastic result of first overall out of the 95 competing cruisers!

The Dehler 42 was skippered by Steve Kuhl and crewed by Drac Norman, Tim Gratey, Angela Docherty, Ed Sadd and Nigel Clark with shoreside support from Andy Pickering.

The full results can be seen here