Dinghy News & Gallery

Training Info: To download Dinghy / Instructor  info click the links:

2012 Courses - Application Form  
Youth Sailing Check sheet
National Sailing Check sheet
B.C.S.C H&S Policy and Operations Manual

2012
To download a full Duties list with work party info click here.

Race Officers please send your race report to the web master for inclusion a.s.a.p

Saturday 5th May RYA Level 1 & 2 Course - Week 1

Nine members, Amanda Wibroe, Bec Collins, Derek Pitt, Rob Easter, Diane Holland, Cathy Whitehead, Megan Warner, Joss Lambert and Morgan Archer took part in the first day of a four day sailing course at the club. It was not only a first time on the water in a dinghy for many of the students, it was also Steve Archer and Ian Rumble's first day as fully qualified RYA Dinghy Instructors.
We used the club Wayfarer, Bosun and Enterprise for the adults and the Pacer for the two juniors who were doing RYA Youth Sailing Scheme stages 1 & 2. Also sailing was 10 year old Morgan Archer who was working towards Stage 3 of the Youth Scheme.
After an initial joyride with instructors John Williams, Robin Counter, and Ian and Steve at the helm, today's on water sessions included 180 degree tacks beam reach to beam reach, upwind sailing, learning to slow the boat down before laying to the wind, getting out of irons as well as shore based sessions on choices of sailing gear, knots, tacking technique, reefing, the 'No Go Zone' and the 5 Essentials. Meanwhile Morgan was being put through his paces by Mike Ker and demonstrated is skills in upwind sailing, coming alongside a moored boat, man overboard recovery technique and picking up a mooring.
Everyone enjoyed the steady, if somewhat chilly breeze and did really well.
Thanks as ever to all the instructors for giving up their time to put something back into the sport, and to David Parmenter for manning the safety boat.
Richard

Opening Series 7&8. Sunday 15st April 2012

Seven boats took to the water for Spring points today. Weather was mostly pleasant in sunshine with a slight chill to the westerly breeze. Interestingly, there were seven different classes and if you include the RS500, Wineglass, Mirror and GP14 that didn't race, there were eleven boats out and none from the same class. Not sure if this is a good thing or not...
In the first race, Scott Ker got away well in his Laser EPS and led from gun to gun, with Ian Rumble second (Blaze) and Roger Candish (Laser) third (see reults section for winners on handicap).
In the back to back second AM race, Ian started better and swapped placed with Scott with Roger again third. Peter Wibroe (Supernova) eventually passed Steve and Morgan Archer (Pico) to take 4th. Peter Fitzpatrick rounded out the top six in his Wanderer, crewed by John Williams.
In the afternoon, Sue and Steve Roberts (Snipe) joined the racing and took second behind Ian with Roger third again, and in the final race, The Roberts' team took the gun in a two horse race followed by Ian.
Richard Lambert and Neil Foulds were race officers, Jason Grafton and Mike Wilkinson operated the safety boat and Nicky Lambert provided lunch in the galley.
Richard Lambert
2 groups of photo's by Richard & Dave

  

Opening Series 5&6. Sunday 22nd April 2012

No report, but a few pictures taken from the safety boat by Ian Keep.

Opening Series 3&4. Sunday 1st April 2012

No report, just one picture from the day, and with such light and shifting winds it also felt like trying to sail uphill.

Opening Series 1&2. Sunday 25th March 2011

The morning started cloudy and cold, but with a 8-10 knot breeze forecast to strengthen a course was set to use the full length of the lake. With the am series being back to back and 4 boats registered, the 3 lap race was just under an hour, and race 2 shortened to 2 laps@ 40 min, both races turned into a procession with Jason leading, Mike following and Steve and Morgan in 3rd, followed by Peter (before handicaps).
After lunch saw a better turnout for the pm series with 6 boats registered and a shorter course set for 6 laps, and with the sun finally breaking through an interesting start which saw Jason over the line and having to take a penalty, this didn't however stop his quick return to the front of the fleet and the same 3 in top order continued . The final race was tight across the start line, and with Jason once again taking the lead and staying there, this time it was Steve and Morgan coming in ahead of Mike (again before handicap).

Dave

Sunday 13th November

A few pictures from the safety boat

Saturday 29th October - International Topper Class Association Training Day

On October 29th the club welcomed a training squad from the ITCA South East region. Twenty or so very high calibre young Topper sailors were put through starting, mark rounding and upwind tactical sailing drills from a top regional coach. It was great to see the lake awash with lots of young and very talented Topper sailors. The sessions were debriefed in the clubhouse as the team watched video footage of the sessions.
Many thanks to Mike Ker, Robin Counter and John Williams for assisting the coaches, and to Nicky Lambert for providing a tasty lunch.
Richard Lambert

Saturday 29th October - 2nd Cliffe Scouts Unveil OnBoard Plaque at Bluey

On 29th October some scouts from 2nd Cliffe came to the club to receive certificates for taking part in the Sailing Taster sessions we ran in the Summer. The sessions were part of our application to become an RYA OnBoard centre. OnBoard is a nationwide scheme to give young people the opportunity to try sailing for the first time, and then to learn to sail or windsurf with a follow up course. Now that Blue Circle has OnBoard status, it will give the club access to grants from the RYA for new equipment and to train more sailing instructors.
Danny and Sammy were chosen to unveil the OnBoard Plaque, and then Alex and Charlotte had a game of bar boats which was narrowly won by Charlotte. She sportingly shared her prize of a tin of Celebtations chocolates with everyone.
Many thank to Gavin and Lucy Taylor who run the scout group at Cliffe for their support in making the taster events possible, the Mums and Dads for coming down today, but in particular the scouts of 2nd Cliffe for giving sailing a try. Hopefully we will see them back next June and July for the Learn to Sail course.
Richard Lambert
Training Principal

Cliffe Challenge Cup - 2nd October 2011

As RO today I thought I'd write a short report about the racing today for the website:
Three races were sailed in the sizzling Autumn sunshine. A welcome variety of classes crept to the start line for the first race, sailed in virtually no wind. Jason Grafton led from start to finish in an RS600, skillfully keeping the boat moving around the 'P' shaped course. With a late burst of speed, Peter Wibroe in his Supernova glided past the static Ian Rumble (Blaze) and downwardly immobile Scott Ker (Laser EPS). Young Morgan Archer showed remarkable patience and no little skill to guide his Topper to a good finish.
Mercifully the wind filled in for the two back to back afternoon races. The course was extended in an 'M' shape, taking the fleet down towards the second lake and giving everyone an enjoyable broad reach back towards the lap gate. Mike Ker joined the fray having kindly passed up the chance to sail in the morning to help with catering arrangements for the excellent buffet lunch. He soon got out in front and continued to extend his lead over the three lap course. Second over the line were Sue and Steve Roberts in their Snipe. Unfortunately Jason's morning glory turned to an afternoon nightmare as he became rather too closely acquainted to the daggerboard (the bit of it that usually stays underwater...)
By the start of the final race the wind had freshened to an enjoyable F3 and again Mike Ker soon made his way to the front of the fleet. The Roberts were second over the line again and further back there were good finishes from Ian Rumble, Roger Candish (Laser), Peter Wibroe and John Bright and John Marshall (RS Vision).
The day was embellished with a excellent impromptu barbecue lunch provided by Nico, Claudia and Diane. Many thanks to all.
See results section of the website for full results.
Richard Lambert

Troman Trophy Pursuit - 24th July 2011

Perfect weather greeted the 16 competitors in 11 different classes (420 - 1, Blaze -1, Laser - 5, Laser Radial - 1, Laser II - 1, Laser EPS - 2, Lightning - 1, Mirror - 2, RS 400 - 1, RS Vision - 1, Supernova - 1) for the Troman Trophy Pursuit race.
Three, one-hour long races were set by race officers Richard Lambert and John Williams and marks were well spread so that seldom seen areas of Alpha Lake's 140 acre expanse were visited upon by the competitors.
First off was Graham Davies and Jake Hirvella in their Mirror, and they held the lead for a good 50 minutes before the more modern craft reeled them in. A thrilling broad reach as the clocked ticked towards 60 minutes involving Mike Ker (EPS), and Kevin Harvey/Mick Janman (RS 400) saw Ker doggedly defend his hard earned lead to take the hooter at the hour mark with Harvey/Janman second and Chester Candish (Laser) third.
It was great to see Chester back at the club, and in the second race, he demonstrated that his skills in the Laser had not left him with a fine demonstration of downwind sailing, using windward heel and the full extent of the mainsheet to sail by the lee directly to No 1 mark, while the RS400 and EPS had to sail a longer distance with a series of broad reaches. Candish took the hooter for race two at the hour mark, followed by the RS400 with Ker third to set up a thrilling finale for the final race. Further back, Peter Wibroe showed good speed to post a fourth in his Supernova, and it was nice to see Dave Crowhurst sailing a in proper class like the Laser!!
Graham and Jake crossed first to start race three but promptly retired having given a good account of themselves. It may have been closer still had Graham packed his spinnaker. This left Nico Daudet who recently qualified from the Start Racing course in May to lead the field in the final race in his newly acquired Mirror. On his heels was another successfully qualified member from the course, John Bright in his RS Vision. But it was the main protagonists who came to the fore as the hour mark approached and this time Harvey and Janman made no mistakes with their asymmetric spinnaker hoists / drops to establish a clear lead from Chester Candish, with Mike Ker third, and the overall positions remained the same as the finishers in race 3.
1st Kevin Harvey/Mick Janman (RS400)
2nd Chester Candish (Laser)
3rd Mike Ker (Laser EPS 'B' Rig)

Richard Lambert.

2nd Cliffe Scout Pack Take Sailing Taster at Blue Circle

24 Scouts and Explorers from the local pack at Cliffe came down to the club on consecutive Friday evenings of 15th and 22nd July to try sailing for the first time. The session was part of the Club's ambition to become an RYA OnBoard centre, an RYA programme to introduce sailing and windsurfing as a sport for young people. Over ten years, OB is working to introduce half a million children into sailing and windsurfing.
Friday 15th was quite breezy but the Scouts seemed to really enjoy the thrills and spills of sailing at a good speed. The boats used included two Snipes, a Wayfarer and a Pacer and so it was a bit of a squash to get twelve Scouts into the four boats, but nobody seemed to mind too much. A series of on water games brought out the competitive streak in the Scouts - not to mention the Instructors too, as they had to race over to some balls that had been dropped into the water and pick up as many as possible, then find the floating Tupperware with the most sweets inside. We even managed a kind of basketball as each Scout had to throw a tennis ball into a moving bucket held up by the crew in the safety boat. Week two was less breezy but equally fun for the Scouts.
Many thanks to Kevin Nisbet who operated the safety boat for both sessions, Adam Gray who came down from Gravesend Sailing Club to take one of the boats out, Assistant Instructors Ian Rumble and Roger Candish and Dinghy Instructors Mike and Scott Ker, Robin Counter, John Williams and Brian Gregory for giving up their time to make the sessions possible. The scouts had a fabulous time and can't wait to be invited back next year, and some of them will be applying to join the club.
Richard Lambert

Summer Series Races 7&8, July 10th 2011

Very light winds so Dave went to catch up the fleet and take some pictures from his Kayak.

49th Snipe Open Meeting 2011

If at first you dont succeed is a saying that came true this weekend at Blue Circle Sailing Club for the 49th Snipe Open Meeting. After 29 years of trying, Mark Antonelli crewed by Tracey Norris took the honours in what was to prove a test of patience over 2 days and 4 races. 13 boats lined up for the first start on Saturday in what from the outset was to be a closely fought battle. Mark and Tracey led to the first mark, a lead they maintained for the first half of the race until they were eventually overhauled by Iain Marshall and Ewan Harris. Ian Knight and Caroline Murdoch had crept their way towards the front and it became a three way battle for the lead. On the final run, Mark and Tracey snuck through to take the honours with Ian and Caroline taking second and Iain and Ewan taking third. The second started in less breeze which was shifting significantly around making the race officers job very tricky indeed. Mark and Tracey appearing to be revelling in the light and shifty conditions led from start to finish with Eric Paalman taking second and Alan Williams in third. In Race 3, the introduction of a Windward Leeward course in Race 3 made no difference to Mark and Tracey's dominance as they built an unassailable lead taking the final gun of day 1 with Iain and Ewan taking second and Andy and Carol Gibson taking third. Sunday dawned with prospects of a good days sailing as there was a gentle breeze that was drying the dew from the tents as the fleet enjoyed their bacon rolls and cups of tea. The attempts of the public transport system to deter our French Visitor from joining the racing did not succeed and after a short postponement, the fleet launched to make their way to the start. During the postponement, there were some strange dances going on to encourage the wind to increase however upon launching these majestical moves appeared to have failed as wind slowly decreased. Race 4 saw Alan Williams and Liz Pike establish an early lead to head the fleet round the course in relative comfort. As the wind continued to decrease, the fleet were left wanting for every breath of wind to grace their sails and give them any amount of speed above zero miles per hour. The race officer took the sensible decision to shorten the course after one lap around the lake leaving only the final beat to the finish. With Alan and Liz still in front, it became a case of hunting out any patch of breeze and Mark and Tracey seemed to have mastered their treasure hunt skills slowly but surely realing in Alan and Liz. At the finish Liz and Alan took the gun by the narrowest of margins ahead of Mark and Tracey with Sue and Steve Roberts taking third As the fleet returned ashore for lunch to see if breeze was to increase, it duly did but only for the sail back to the club. Once ashore, the diminishing wind transformed the surface of the lake into a mirror like finish. The Race Officer made the sensible but disappointing decision to abandon the final two races. Despite testing conditions the organisation by our newest fleet captain Ian Rumble was second to none and I am sure that next years 50th Blue Circle Open Meeting will be something exceptional.
Written by Iain Marshall - Blackwater SC - Snipe 29501

Open Day June 12th 2011

With an awful forecast families were somewhat thin on the ground and it was only the hardy who took to the water in the ever increasing winds.
The lack of numbers resulted in a 'fun' race being set for the morning and leaving the afternoon dedicated to running the single handed and family races in the hope that a few more would turn up, but with the weather getting worse that didn't materialise. So it was a two boat race in both races and an early finish.

Start of the summer points series June 5th 2011

Race Officer was Brian Gregory. Assistant Race Officer was Anne Gregory.
Four races were held all with windward marks to start. Two before lunch and two after.
For the first and second races the wind blew from the NNW force 3, producing uniform wavelets across the lake. A figure of eight course was set, which avoided the east bank as it was a windsurfer training/practice day.
There were seven entries in the first race and six in the second. In the first race one boat required to be rescued and retired after running aground on the islands near the former number five mark.
For the third and fourth races the wind veered to SES and increased to force 4 to 4.5, producing ranks of small waves, this was also accompanied by rain. The dinghies became much livelier.
The Club’s Wayfarer, crewed by a father and son team was sailed well from starting line to finishing line to beat, on finishing position, the Snipe crewed by Ian Rumble and Becky. (raw positions before handicap).
Two boats started the last race and one finished (a two man laser).
Brian

Members Successfully Complete Start Racing Course - 28th May 2011

Andy Ker, an RYA Racing coach came to the club in April and delivered a course to add a racing endorsement to our RYA instructors' dinghy sailing qualification. This enabled the club to offer for the first time a Start Racing course, designed to help any of our members who might want to join in with the racing we offer on Sundays, but lacked the confidence to do so.
During the four Saturdays in May, six members signed up and all successfully completed the Start Racing Course at the club. Using three Snipes and three Picos, Vickie Baynard, Nicolas Daudet, Cameron Morrison, Sam Pickard, David Peek and John Bright were all put through shore and water based sessions which covered boat handling, starting, mark rounding, tactics, upwind and downwind strategy, right of way rules, tuning and meteorology.
It was very encouraging to see how they all improved as the course progressed and feedback was very positive.
Thank you to instructors Peter Wibroe, John Williams, Mike and Scott Ker, Jason Grafton and Robin Counter who all gave up their spare time to deliver the course. Thanks also to David Parmenter and Kevin Nisbet for assisting with the safety boats.
Richard Lambert

Commodores Cup Pursuit Race 2011

The first race was set for a duration of one hour, with Sue & Steve in Basil being hunted down by Mike in his Laser EPS with a minute to go closing fast but alas the seconds ticked away and Basil held onto the lead.
The secound race was of a 45 minute duration again the Snipes got away in a buildling force 4, Basil again finished first.
Only one boat stayed out for the start of the third race along with the lone windsurfer Turkey Pie.
The results are available on the website and congratulations to Sue & Steve Roberts sailing Basil Snipe 29611.

Spring Series 2011

The 1st day of May brough some very gusty winds, and despite a course being set, of the 3 boats that braved the conditions, one decided to just go for a blast, another spent more time bottom upwards (and I wasn't sailing!!) and the third finally crossed the start 5 minutes after the start and then missed the first mark. With the safety boat having to go from boat to boat it was decided to cancel the AM series races and see what the afternoon brought. With a couple of other boats now out this gave the opportunity to sail without the added pressure of racing and just concentrate in handling the challenging conditions.
After lunch only 2 boats showed interest, confidence wasn't high, therefore again the PM races were cancelled.
Ah well, time to windsurf!!
Dave Crowhurst

The Spring Series continued on the 17th April with fine weather.
The first two races had very little wind but that didn't stop those out from showing some fine sailing and really close racing, it was as much fun to watch on the bank as im sure on the water with positions changing almost between every mark. Scott Kerr showed how it's more fun to have close racing and stay in the front group (well unofficially wining) than worry about points in the series!
The afternoon was just as good racing with a very nice wind building up allowing the boats to use the full length of the lake and surprisingly still unbelievable close sailing mere seconds separating the front of fleet. And a confused Sue Roberts sailed along the finish line for several boat lengths before crossing it and still managed 1st place over Mikes Kerrs' Eps on py handicap!
Lets hope the rest of the season is as good!
Ian Rumble
Pictures from the day (to see individual photos click view all)

It was a lovely day for sailing on Sunday 3rd April. Despite it being Mother's day there was still
a turnout of 9 boats racing in the morning but that reduced to 4 in the afternoon as people left to go and spend time with their families. A few others were out but not racing.
The wind was light and variable in the morning but the course set made use of the whole of the lake. It was good to see Graham in the Mirror making use of his spinnaker and Ian Rumble in his new Blaze was looking more and more proficient as the day progressed.
The afternoon racing was blessed with more wind and those who stayed had a good sail.
There were a lot of legs seen hanging out, not from the side of boats but from under the men's changing rooms searching for stop cocks and other technical things that are necessary for it's demolishment!
It would be good to see a few more boats out on the water and with warmer days and lighter evenings sailing can now go back on your calendars!!!!!
Sue Roberts

The Spring Series has started with good weather, the forecast was good with a fair turn out for the AM series, Race one & two were sailed back to back, with race one winner;
LaserEPS 276 - Mike Ker
race two winner: Laser 77661 - Jason Grafton.
The PM series kicked of after lunch with the wind holding easterly 2>3 along with a General Recall.
Again the races were sailed back to back with Richard Smith winning both on corrected time.
Also a big thank you to John Williams & Mike Kent for stepping in to cover RO / ARO duties.

Opening Splash 2011

Race one & two was back to back, with race one winner; Laser 132110 - David Jones
race two winner: Laser 77661 - Jason Grafton. In race three any one of four could win the event,
as the results were loaded into sailwave over lunch for debate by all.
With the wind shifting more westerly as the day progressed. A change of course for race three saw
a figure of eight set, a port end bias start line paid off for some with remainder of the fleet
following at the windward mark. With positions changing thru out the race every second counted
as shown by the final corrected times.
Race three winner: Snipe 20255 - Richard Lambert & Nico Davdet.

The results are published on the web site, congratulations to Richard & Nico winners of the Opening Splash 2011.

However, being the first day of the season, some things don't change!!