Following another packed sailing calendar during the 2013 season members at Marconi Sailing Club are making preparations to hibernate over the winter period. For some this will be taking down their masts and tying their boats down for winter; others may be partaking in a winter series at other local clubs – or some may simply be enjoying a brisk walk along the seawall followed by a drink in The Mamgu Bar. As another season draws to a close we look back at some of the highlights of the 2013 Marconi Calendar.
Open for Business
Visitors are always welcome at Marconi and this year the club hosted a number of Open Events. Kicking off the season in early April the Sprint 15 Traveller event drew a fantastic turnout of 26 boats. Competing in 4 races, club member Jenny Ball took the crown closely followed by brother David Ball. The Junior Catamaran Championships were held on 17th and 18th August. This is the second year the event has been held at Stansgate which saw 8 teams participate with the sailors aged between 9 and 16. The winners were helm David Nickalls and his crew Ben Cross. The respective Kestrel and Solo Class Associations were again welcomed to the club for open events this year also.
East Coast Piers Race
After raising over £14,000 last year for The Cirdan Trust and Essex Air Ambulance, the 26th Annual East Coast Piers Race sponsored by Wildwind was held at Marconi. Previous participants of the race will know that the preparation and experience the club have go a long way to ensure people come back year after year. 2013 was no exception and saw over 50 entrants take part in the long distance races up the Essex Coast. The winners of this year’s race were Grant Piggott and Simon Farren. The Colne Point Race was won by Robin Leather from Gurnard S C. It is hoped a similar amount of money will be raised from this year’s event.
Further Afield
A number of members have been flying the club flag away from the River Blackwater this year. William Harrison who came 1st out of the Under 11’s at the Topper Open at The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Burnham-on-Crouch in June. Over the August Bank Holiday 3 members took part in the Sprint 15 Nationals at Pentewan Sands Sailing Club along with nearly 70 other entrants. Jenny and Dave Ball along with Kevin Kirby all finished within the top 15 with Jenny securing the prize for First Lady.
Clocking up the most air-miles however by a considerable margin was Team Marconi at the Tornado Nationals in Ibiza. Andrew and Michaela Dowley, Steve Glynn and Tom Duckmanton and Paul and Lee Harrison traded the muddy waters of the River Blackwater for the Club Nautico Santa Eulalia. Highest ranked was Andrew and Michaela achieving a 21st place finish.
Sport England
Earlier this year the club received some welcome news from Sport England. An application had been made to try and secure funding for a new RIB to help improve support cover for the club as a whole and to enhance the training provided to Marconi’s cadet fleet. In July the club announced they had been successful in securing the grant of £10,000 which will be carefully used by a special committee set up by the club to ensure the RIB being purchased is to an exacting specification to meet the club’s needs.
Looking Ahead
The Marconi AGM will be held at Stansgate on 1st December 2013 and the annual Winter Dinner Dance will be once again held at The Chichester Hotel in Rayleigh on Saturday 18th January where the final sum of money raised at this year’s East Coast Piers Race will be revealed.
