Blackwater Sailing Club Open Day to be held on 7th May
by Christine Brown 30 Mar 2022 03:34 PDT
Dinghy sailing at Blackwater Sailing Club © David Carr
Blackwater Sailing Club, based at Heybridge Basin near Maldon is holding its annual Open Day on Saturday May 7th between 11.30am and 5.30pm. We extend a warm welcome to everyone and will be delighted to show visitors all the wonderful facilities and activities on offer to members at our recently refurbished club house.
This event is supported by the RYA Try Sailing in May Campaign which aims to get as many people as possible on the water to try sailing
There will be opportunities for dinghy taster sails on the lake, buoyancy aids will be provided. Blackwater cadets will be demonstrating their skills and showing what fun there is to be had on the water. There will also be rigged examples of the boats generally used by the cadets and adult sailors.
During the afternoon visitors can watch dinghy and cruiser racing on the river Blackwater estuary and from 3.15pm the Club motor launch and a Rib will also be running free estuary trips. If conditions allow then there will be an opportunity to take a trip on a cruiser. Refreshments will be available until 3pm and the lower deck bar will be open in the afternoon. We may even have a visit from the Marine Police on their jet ski or Rib. All in all it will be a fun day with something for everyone.
Blackwater is one of the largest sailing clubs on the east coast and provides traditional dinghy and cruiser sailing and racing and was very proud to be awarded Eastern Region Club of the Year 2019 by the RYA and Yachts and Yachting magazine. It is also an RYA British Youth Sailing Recognised Club, a scheme to promote sailing for youngsters at grass roots level. It boasts a strong cadet section that offers sail training, coaching and racing for youngsters from the age of 8 years alongside social activities.
In addition to the excellent Blackwater Estuary, members have the use of our large training lake and there are many informal groups that meet there midweek and on summer evenings.
There is a thriving adult sailing group that meets on a Friday morning and novices are always welcome to come along and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge that is shared by all. These sessions take place on the lake or the sea as tides permit and are a great way to learn to sail or hone skills; an ideal opportunity to sail and socialise without being too competitive.
Adult members are also able to take advantage of the excellent RYA recognised training scheme operated at Blackwater, run by our qualified instructors. These small group sessions generally take place on the lake on a Friday afternoon over a series of 6 weeks. Alternatively, there are some weekend intensive courses available. These sessions are aimed at new sailors or those returning to sailing after a long break who simply need a refresher.
With access to a large section of foreshore that accommodates over 100 moorings, a ramp, pier and pontoon for mid tide access, extensive safety boat cover, ample boat storage and car parking, the club provides more facilities than any other on the east coast. There is even a sea wall bungalow for hire. There's much more on offer; go along on Saturday May 7th and see for yourself. It's a family friendly club; we look forward to seeing you. Meanwhile, if you need more information about joining our club please contact our membership secretary , or see our website.
For more details about events like this see blackwatersailingclub.org.uk