Wednesday evening racing for cruisers and dinghies starts on 25 May 2022 from the Medway Yacht Club line and is open to all. Warning signal is at 1850h for cruisers and 1900h for dinghies. The series will run through to 27 June and comprise of 10 races, six to count for the series win. The racing aims for an hour on the water followed by full evening galley service. Trot boat service is provided. Please see the MYC website or contact the MYC office (01634 718399) for the NOR and entry forms.
Two of the five entrants for the famous single-handed transatlantic race are members of local sailing clubs and have similar boats built in Kent. The Jester Challenge was created for skippers of small boats who want to test their skill and self-reliance and is a uniquely successful experiment in single-handed ocean sailing. This year it’s the “full” race to the Azores and on to Newport Rhode Island, starting at Plymouth on Sunday 8 May, 2022.
Bernie Branfield from Hoo Ness Yacht Club has previously competed in the shorter Baltimore Jester Challenge in 2017, across to Ireland. Bernie’s boat is Louisa, an Invicta 26. John Apps is a veteran solo ocean sailor from Medway Cruising Club. John’s boat is called Arelia of Hoo, a 25ft Invicta Mk 1.
John Apps has had to turn back after a massive wave knocked out his electrics. Bernie Branfield from Hoo Ness Yacht Club in Louisa is one of the two skippers still in contention. You can track their progress here: https://jesterchallenge.wordpress.com/jester-challenge-2022/
Nigel Stevens writes, “The Swale Regatta is a long standing local event traditionally held over three days, starting on a Friday in the Swale off Harty Ferry, and finishing in the Medway on the Sunday. It caters not just for regular racers but also especially for cruisers who would just like to give sailing with others a go. The Covid restrictions saw last year’s event cancelled but this year fifteen boats from various Medway and Swale clubs managed to get together for the regatta.” See Nigel’s full report below…
Nigel Stevens writes: The plan this year is very much a do what we can approach given the way Covid has dominated much of our lives for the past year or so. Despite the formal documents (below) we are really trying to keep the fun spirit of the regatta alive so would really encourage entrants from nervous first time “racers” as well as perhaps the more seasoned skippers. If people approach it with the attitude that it is long weekend of cruising in company then they hopefully won’t be disappointed.
Unfortunately the Swale Regatta website has crashed and we haven’t been able to get it back in time, so all entrants are asked to drop me an email at Nigelstevens8071@hotmail.co.uk with some basic details and I can get back to them as necessary.
This bi-annual cruising/racing conference is aimed at the motor and sailing yacht fraternity within the RYA London and SE region and is for RYA personal members, and members of RYA affiliated clubs and organisations (including the MSBA) as well as members of stakeholder organisations in the region.
It aims to provide interesting and cutting-edge talks and workshops to inspire sailors for the upcoming season, providing a forum for networking and discussion on topical issues. The event schedule can be viewed here.
The conference is free to attend with an optional £12 pre-bookable hot lunch payable at the latest on the day. Book here
Mike Wood, Cruiser Captain of Greenwich Yacht Club, invites us to join the annual Frostbite Race from Greenwich YC to Erith YC on Sat 23 March and back again on the following day. This is a well-established open event. For an entry form, sailing instructions etc please email Mike at cruiser@greenwichyachtclub.co.uk or visit http://www.greenwichyachtclub.co.uk/activities/racing/open-racing-forms/category/frostbite
Liz Rushall
Dave Selby
Will your club exist in ten years’ time? Our 2019 conference will focus on the future of our local clubs, which still form the core of active boating on the Medway and Swale. A major report has highlighted a decline in participation in most but not all watersports. Sailing in particular is in free fall. So what exactly is going wrong and what are we going to do about it? Key speakers Liz Rushall and Dave Selby will present different views on how our clubs can adapt to a changing world. Other speakers will present how local clubs are successfully dealing with ageing membership and new styles of boating. Get your earlybird ticket here…
The RYA London and South East Region is putting on a conference that will appeal to many Medway/Swale boaters. It will be held at Newline Academy near Maidstone on 24 Feb 2018. This is likely to be a biennial event interleaving with the MSBA conferences, of which the next will be in spring 2019.
The RYA conference will be free to attend and is aimed at boaters connected with RYA affiliated clubs/associations and training centres. The day will be full of presentations and workshops that will cover a wide variety of topics for the cruising and racing sailor, such as:
The main focus will be on providing help and advice and there will be ample opportunities for attendees to ask questions of the presenters. Lunch and refreshments will be also be provided and will be free on the day.
The Swale Regatta website is now working. Details are also on our calendar.