Author: Pat Shaw

If you’ve been thinking of learning to sail, 2021 might just be the year. Going afloat is the perfect stress-buster, and you’ll learn new skills to make the most of our beautiful local area. Even if the virus is long behind us next year, sailing is a great way to slow down and just enjoy what’s around us. Or, if you’re more of a speed demon, go blasting around on the river… There’s now a plan in place for a full programme of training for our members in 2021 which includes activities for adults and children. This includes monthly sail…

The Sprint 15 (previously known as Spark and Dart 15) is a small cat dinghy and has been a thriving class since its launch in 1976.    A straightforward boat to rig, launch and sail, great fun to sail and also versatile with the ability to sail one up, with a crew or on your own with two sails and a trapeze – its design has stood the test of time. There has been a strong fleet at Marconi for decades and Marconi has hosted Sprint 15 Traveller Events for thirty years – the figure of eight race around Osea…

Up for a challenge next time you go on the water? Try this! Choose a course Red or Green from the course card shown. Take a note of the wind direction, wind force and tide direction. Complete the course and take a note of your time. You can time one lap or complete multiple laps and take an average. Submit your entries via the Google Sheet Printable Instructions for those that like hardcopy 🙂 You can enter as many times as you wish and on either course – and using different boats. Paddleboards and Kayaks also welcome (Red Course recommended)…

Marconi Virtual Regatta Like many sailing clubs around the world, the announcement of lock-down spelled disaster for the sailing season at Marconi SC. It came just as plans were put in motion to lay both moorings for the cruisers and race marks for the dinghies. So we had to go back to the drawing board and work out how we were going to feed our sailing addiction. A group of us who had already been playing on an app called Virtual Regatta got together to scheme. Headed up by the youth section in the form of David Nickalls, the normal race…

The Marconi SC Dinghy Cruising Group have been sailing locally and enjoying the delights of the River Blackwater. Within the current restrictions placed upon us all for very good reasons, they are still finding sociable sailing is possible. With boats being filled with household groups – this group is quite family centred even in unrestricted times so only some minor adjustments have been required for them to be able to enjoy some day sailing trips. Active Group Sailing This very active group is led by Colin Wardell (contact details on first page of year book) . They also have a Facebook…

Standup Paddle Boarding is nothing new at Marconi SC – some club members have been paddling for a while now. Paddling allows you to enjoy the river in a way that is very compatible with the current restrictions in place. Recently we have noticed a few more members deciding to get out on the water any way they can and choosing to Standup Paddle Board. In fact if your just a little adventurous its a great way to really get to know the river, take a picnic and make a day of it, at low tide its surprising how far…

The Board has taken the difficult decision, in conjunction with the Cadet Week Committee, to cancel Cadet week for 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis. Cadet Week would have run Monday 27th July to Friday 31st July 2020 Cadet week involves teaching groups of people of all ages from different households ashore and then smaller groups, but still from different households, on the water. Social distancing would be very difficult to maintain in this scenario. It requires a lot of volunteers to organise and run it which increases the number of people on site and in contact with each other. Government guidelines for…

CLUB SITE INFORMATION If you or any member of your household have suspected Covid-19 symptoms – you MUST stay at home in line with government regulations and you must not visit the club during the self-isolation period. Social distancing must be maintained at all times at MSC in line with the government’s regulations. Social distancing also means that you cannot rely on other club members helping you with tasks in the way we would normally take for granted.  So, consider what you want to get done whilst at the club and ensure you can safely do so on your own.    Access…

Stay safe and keep well. Following HM Government’s publication of ‘Our Plan to Rebuild – The UK Government’s Covid-19 Recovery Strategy’, on Monday 11th May https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/884171/FINAL_6.6637_CO_HMG_C19_Recovery_FINAL_110520_v2_WEB__1_.pdf and a ‘Board’ meeting held in the evening of Monday 11th May 2020, we wish to update you as follows:MSC Clubhouse (including toilets) and Outbuildings These will remain completely closed for the time being in line with government guidelines on social distancing. We are currently looking at ways of opening the clubhouse/parts of the clubhouse in the future and when government guidelines allow us to do so. Organised MSC Club Activity In line with social distancing guidelines…

Hello everybody! Our very own David Nickalls has been busy and has put together the below opportunity to get involved with some sailing …………….. I hope the lockdown hasn’t left you missing the water too much. If you are after some action in a boat, there is a way of doing this without breaking the government guidelines! It may not be as exciting as a classic Wednesday night drift, but this can be done from the comfort of your own home. ‘Virtual Regatta: Inshore’ is an online sailing game with an app for Android, iPhone and is also playable in a browser on a Computer.…