Following on the heels of a successful Cadet Week for youngsters, Club Week saw competitors aged from four to over 80 taking to 128 boats to compete over six days, topped off with the standalone Regatta.
Summer 2023 finally delivered, with warm sunshine and perfect sailing winds providing sailors with ideal conditions and some memorable sailing on the upper reaches of the Blackwater Estuary.
There were 11 fleets in Club Week, run from 13 to 18 August, ranging from Optimists to Fast Cruisers. The largest fleet was Medium Handicap boasting 32 boats, followed by 23 Lasers, 15 Wayfarers, 14 Mirrors, nine Sprites and eight Fireballs.
The Club, in Heybridge, Essex, excelled with the logistics of launching, starting, finishing and returning them all within the confines of the tide.
Those not worn out by the sailing could enjoy a host of social events, from a quiz night to a 70s disco.
There was close racing all week, with the winners of each class competing for the 'Cock of the Club' in the recently-purchased Zest dinghies. Short races were set in front of the clubhouse, with participants cheered on by the crowd, each supporting their own class champion. The overall winner was Finn sailor Dan Dixon, showing once again his infamous ability to make any boat go that little bit faster.
The Regatta on Saturday 19 August finished the Week with a total of 61 boats in 11 classes, including Optimists, Mirrors, Toppers, Teras and Fevas, Fireballs, Medium Handicap, Lasers, Wayfarers, Sprites, Fast Handicap plus Fast and Club Cruisers.
Class winners of Club Week were:
Optimist - Callum Marshall
Mirror - Andy and Florence Pickering
Topper / Tera / Feva - Josephine Bernard (Tera)
Fireball - Charlie Stewart and Sue Gibson
Medium Handicap - Dan Dixon (Finn)
Laser - Ted Coday (Radial)
Wayfarer - Graham Hoy and Rob Haigh
Sprite - Hilary, Ina and Anna Gallo
Fast Handicap - Mike Iszatt (RS600)
Fast Cruiser - Nicky Johnson (Rascal)
Club Cruiser - George Whitchurch (Ffumbler)
Full results are on the Club website.
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