Dodging the rain and wind changes the JYS and MAST sessions at the club on Saturday were full on. It started with everyone rigging boats, but not knowing which one was theirs. We then ran through rigging a Pico / Topper for those who didn’t make the last session. We then talked about sail setting’s. Upwind/beam-reach/downwind.
Once on the water we all sailed up river and used the area inside the top-most boat and the barge. When we all arrived we started using what we were shown on-land by playing follow the leader. Sailing around the area going up and down wind, putting in plenty of tacks to bring whoever was last back up to the front we then had great fun going round the Safetyboat.
A little later we moved back down to in front of the club and practiced sailing up to a mooring. With the sun out and the wind not being too strong we all stood up in our boats and rocked them from side to side, great for the confidence and a way to move the boat forward. You may see everyone standing up on their boats in the backgound of our Youtube update.
The JYS and MAST groups we have at the club at the moment are full of enthusiasm having built on their skills completing their Level 2 Dinghy Sailing qualification. After running through how to rig the boats on several occasions, the boats are being rigged correctly and a lot faster which gives us more time on the water and with the Club Lasers recently had some attention, checks and maintenance in the next few weeks we expect people to be out in the Laser’s freeing up other boats for people recently completing their Level 1 or 2 course.
During the session we watched as Europa – a rather large liner made its way upriver.
A little later one of our club members used the pontoon to come alongside and load and unload provisions all watched with interest from the clubhouse by members preparing the clubhouse for our upcoming Club Open Regatta on the weekend of 7-9 October.
