Racing fun, 16th – 18th September 2022 Programme of Events
Club events have been very successful for the start of the year and several members are now enjoying new skipper status and practicing their skills on the water. May mid-week sailing is happening as we speak and June mid-week sailing has a few spaces available to book if being on the water with friends is more appealing than working!
Another exciting club event is the Crossley Cup Regatta skippered each year by Phil Boden, who has kindly written a few words below on last years event. As he mentions, racing experience is not required just the enthusiasm to join in both during the race and for the celebrations after!
One of the club events arranged for members annually is the Crossley Cup Regatta, which previously formed part of the Barclays Bank SC participation in the Inter-Bank series of regattas. These have now morphed into the City Sailing Series, which includes various yacht clubs from the City. The Crossley Cup event has probably been held in excess of the last 50 years and is now held jointly with the Baltic Exchange SA Finn Trophy in mid-September.
In 2021, we entered Eagle with a crew of five, one of 19 boats in the two classes racing in the regatta. Two races take place on Saturday and one on Sunday; these consist of racing around sailing marks in mid-Solent, for about two hours, with the course sent by text message ten minutes before the start. You then sail the shortest course you can, allowing for tacking and gybing, as fast as you can…simples!
With boats of different sizes, handicaps play a big part in the corrected times for the race timings, so you are never quite sure how well you are doing during the race. Having the impeller working well & not refitting it incorrectly after cleaning it, also helps with speed calculations!
Part of the fun, and yes racing is fun, is the social side of the regatta. Race boats are berthed together, so there is the opportunity to share ‘war stories’ and mishaps that occurred during the race with other crews. Dinner for the regatta is held at the Royal Yacht Squadron, on The Parade, with a champagne reception to start, formal dinner and is then followed by the prize giving. The winner of the Finn Trophy (think the size of a bucket) is expected to fill it with champagne and then provide a drink from the trophy for each race skipper!
Have you tried racing in a regatta? No previous racing experience is necessary and having fun, whilst trimming the boat for greatest effect, is what we are seeking to achieve. Book your space onboard through the events calendar for 2022, and do think of trying something different this year. I look forward to sailing with you.
Phil Boden
Our non formal constructive activities are run by experienced club skippers to ensure that everyone gets the benefit of their expertise and knowledge, at a cost of £170 per person for weekend events, £220 for the 3 day events and £300 for the Five-Day Cruise including the cost of fuel, with just food, and moorings beyond Universal Marina as an addition.
If you would like to book a place, please don’t leave it to the last minute, book club events online by signing in through the members area of the website www.spreadeaglesailingclub.co.
Please do join our closed Facebook group ‘Spread Eagle Sailing Club’ where members regularly post pictures of their ventures on Eagle and other news including information on the Solent – hazards and maydays also posted on the FB page.
As always, please continue to share your stories and pictures of club or general sailing events with the editor jane@wag-design.com
Please contact Event Co-ordinator Ian Hyde if you have any questions.