After two weeks of camping another successful Camping Fortnight at Marconi Sailing Club has drawn to a close. Cadet Week is an annual event that the club has held for over quarter of a century. This year saw no let-up in numbers as over 70 Cadets participated in a week of sailing tuition and fun on the River Blackwater. This year’s event was held from 29th July – 3rd August.
On Monday after the traditional photocall of Cadets, Tutors and helpers, Capsize Drill was the order of the day where the Cadets learnt how to right their boats. The younger children were held tethered in the shallows while the older more able children took to the water in strong winds to capsize their boats.
Strong breezes remained largely throughout the week which made for perfect conditions for a few new additions to this year’s Camping Fortnight. The Catamaran Clinic was held on Tuesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday and was run by Lee Harrison, Doug Turnnidge and Peter Richardson. The Cat Clinic gave the Cadets an opportunity to try out sailing on Dart 16’s. For many it was a first time experience to helm a multihull boat and judging by the reaction certainly won’t be the last! A handful of Cadets were also fortunate enough to have the opportunity to sail with Peter Ward’s yacht McGregor IV as he gave them a taste of what it is like to race a cruiser. Peter participates in the annual BJRC series of races together with races further afield.
The strong winds continued on Wednesday which gave the older a Cadets an ideal opportunity to practice their race line starts from a Committee boat, together with some involuntary capsizes! Further up the river in Maylandsea Creek the resident seals were paid a visit by the Starfishes – the revised name for the group previously known as the beginnners. Later on in the day there was a great turnout for the evening pursuit race – again in challenging conditions. Tina in the galley had dinner ready and waiting for everybody once the race had finished.
On Thursday the Sun came out almost as if it had been booked, together with a steady breeze to make perfect conditions for the Long Distance Race to Thirslet Spit with temperatures reaching 34 degrees. The various different fleets of Cadets left the sailing club at approximately Midday. With a good wind and an ebbing tide, it took just under an hour for the race leaders to reach the shingle bank which only appears at low tide in the middle of the Blackwater. After enjoying a picnic on the spit and a quick bask in the sunshine the return race was set back to the sailing club.
Following on from previous years Friday was dedicated for the Sail For Gold – Push The Boat Out event. This year it took the form of a relay race with 8 different Laser Picos. Each Cadet was grouped in teams according to age and ability and had to complete a short loop from the Club out to a mooring and back. A quick changeover of helm was required – together with a good shove on the stern of the boat to guarantee a victory. In the evening the club put on their annual Karaoke evening which seems to attract a number of people keen to show off (or more often than not crucify) their favourite song.
To round off the week the Cadet Regatta was held on Saturday. This year over 25 boats entered competing in a series of 3 races. Prize giving followed in the evening which not only gives an opportunity for the Cadet’s to show off their hard earned prices but also enables the club to thank the countless number of volunteers who give up their time to make the week happen year in year out.
After all the hustle and bustle of the first week, the second week of camping fortnight took a more leisurely pace. Club members took part in the annual quiz night on Tuesday evening and club member Jenny Ball organised a number of cruising in company events – one of which was a trip to Maldon for chips and ice cream!
Plans are already afoot for Cadet Week 2014 and the dates will be announced in due course.
