The Sailing Season is upon us. Although racing at the RBYC is officially starting over the Easter weekend with the Williwaw Series for IRC yachts (see Offshore report) and the Karen Paddison Trophy (see Elites report), to many of our younger sailors, the winter has been just another opportunity to get afloat.

Winter training: Not only have the RBYC’s young trained with Optimist and Cadet zone and development and Feva regional squads, but the RBYC has hosted a good amount of the training here at the club. We have already been approached by the UK Laser Class Association to host an event for them next winter and will again build up a good programme feature too the Optimists and Fevas to keep the club busy on what might otherwise be quiet winter weekends.

Jan Wise is Race Officer Plus: Whilst on the subject of training, congratulations to Jan Wise on becoming a qualified RYA Club Race Officer ‘Plus’. The ‘Plus’ bit meant Jan undertook a full weekend of race officer training, including examination! We look forward to seeing Jan’s Race Officering skills in practice shortly over Easter and during the season.

Whitsun Regatta: And speaking of not so quiet weekends, as well as your season’s Sailing Programme (which is fairly self-explanatory) included in this mailing is a flyer for the RBYC Whitsun Regatta. Plans for this, one of the club’s main events of the year, taking place Saturday 26^th, Sunday 27^th and Bank Holiday Monday 28^th May, are coming together. This is the regatta for everyone. Racing will be held for cruisers, keelboats at all levels of seriousness and youth dinghies. We shall especially enjoy watching, or participating, in RBOD racing!

Socially, it’s also great fun, so put the date into your diary now. Entry Forms and Notice of Race will be published on our website (http://www.rbyc.org.uk/) in due course.

Dinghy Park Fees and Race Fees: Enclosed with the mailing are Dinghy Park/Moorings fee forms and Season’s Race Entry Forms. Please complete and return to the RBYC office as soon as possible. The fees (for both racing and dinghy park/moorings) have all been kept the same as last year.

Marine Police and Security: Talking about the Dinghy Park, our community Marine Police officer is concerned that although our dinghy park is reasonably secure, there have been a number of thefts around the East Coast of powerboat, outboards and ribs of and from equipment left on trailers. If you plan to leave equipment outside on club premise, it would be well worth investing in a trailer lock or similar.

Crouch Harbour Dues: As in previous years, Crouch Harbour Authority fees are payable through the RBYC office. Please come in and see Helen to purchase your sticker for the year.

Cowes in Scows: A quick chat on the telephone with Mal Bass between coats of varnish tells me that all is well with the Cows and their Scows. The clinker is beginning to shine and the majority of the Scows should be afloat soon, albeit after a couple of weeks of ‘East Coast caulking’ in the mud off Althorne before gracing the foreshore of the RBYC.