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Club News

Reminder: No car parking on the beach

Posted: Thursday, 18 June, 2020

Members are reminded that cars should not be parked on the beach.

Virtual Racer - May/June Evening Results and the Cat & Mono Cups

Posted: Thursday, 11 June, 2020

Well done to Kevin Dutch who won the May/June Evening Series of virtual racing with a strong lead. The 10 evening, 30 race series saw some very competitive racing, with Rick Perkins in 2nd place, Tom Oliver in 3rd and Steve Gray in 4th! Next week we start something a little different on Virtual Racer, with Tuesdays being the 'Cat Cup' and Thursdays being the 'Mono Cup'. Both will last for 6 weeks, sailing across the range of catamarans and mono-hulls twice in that period. The third race on each day will be 'open' (no code) to give the WYC racers some extra competition.
The full schedule can be seen at https://tinyurl.com/vvd2j5p and the results spreadsheet at https://tinyurl.com/tb72wjq. More ›

LaserFest Postponed

Posted: Sunday, 07 June, 2020

The LaserFest team have taken the decision to postpone this year's event, which was scheduled for 11th and 12th July. The date for the event will be dependent on how the Government restrictions around Covid-19 change, but we hope to be able to reschedule for September.

Beach Lease and Forge licensing application

Posted: Thursday, 04 June, 2020

The General Committee is aware that an application has been made by the Whitstable Oyster Company Limited for a Variation of Premises Licence at the Forge. WYC will make the relevant representations to the Licensing Panel. Individual club members are also able and encouraged to make their own representations to the Licensing Panel.
The GC has also commenced the legal process of serving Notice to Renew our Lease on the beach. We have received our first formal response to the Notice and there are elements of the response that may align to the License Variation request. As Serving the Notice is part of a legal process we have engaged the club's solicitors to manage it and represent us, we will take advice from them on the timing and content of our briefings to members in order that we do not prejudice the proceedings.

WYC Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response - Update Wednesday 3rd June

Posted: Wednesday, 03 June, 2020

Following the recent government announcements on the easing of lockdown restrictions, the GC Covid sub group have revised the Return to Operations Matrix, which can be downloaded from the website. There are no changes to the club’s current status resulting from the announcements. More ›

Safety Advice for Free Sailing and Water Sports - Reminder

Posted: Tuesday, 02 June, 2020

Members and visitors who want to take to the water while there is no organised sailing or club safety cover are reminded that they should always respect and follow Government and RNLI guidelines, and WYC safety advice for free sailing and watersports. Always check the weather forecast before you go out, and make sure that you are prepared for a significant drop in the wind as well as an increase!
As a reminder, the club remains closed, and there are no organised sailing or social activities. The WYC General Committee sub-group are having regular virtual meetings and working on plans to restart organised activities and re-open the club when further restrictions are lifted. We are following the guidance of the RYA, RNLI and the Government. Members now have access to the external storage areas (Upper Rigden’s and Stroud sheds), but should maintain social distancing, minimise time inside, and the surfaces you touch. Please take personal responsibility by using hand sanitiser, wearing disposable gloves and/or wiping down the surfaces you touch where-ever possible.
If you go onto the water, you do so at your own risk.

WYC Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response - Update Thursday 21st May

Posted: Thursday, 21 May, 2020

The WYC General Committee sub-group are having regular virtual meetings and working on plans to restart organised activities and re-open the club when further restrictions are lifted. Following guidance from the RYA, we have created a draft Return to Operations Matrix. This is a living document and will be updated as Government advice changes. Some operations may take time to restart once restrictions are lifted, but by using this matrix, and the significant additional level of detail that feeds into it, WYC should be on the front foot when changes come through. The draft matrix can be downloaded from the website here.

Access to locker storage within the club

Posted: Monday, 18 May, 2020

Based on the new Government guidance, from Wednesday 13th May, people can go out on the water. The club building remains closed, and there are no organised sailing or social activities, but some members may still have equipment stored in the changing room and lockers. If you need access, on a one time basis to retrieve kit stored within the clubhouse, please contact Robert Govier at rear.comm.sailing@wyc.org.uk to arrange a convenient time.
Note that members now have access to the external storage areas (Upper Rigden's and Stroud sheds), but should maintain social distancing, minimise time inside, and the surfaces you touch. Please take personal responsibility by using hand sanitiser, wearing disposable gloves and/or wiping down the surfaces you touch where-ever possible.
If you go onto the water, you do so at your own risk. Please respect and follow Government and RNLI guidelines, and WYC safety advice for free sailing and watersports.

Virtual Racer - Results and next races

Posted: Sunday, 17 May, 2020

Well done to Tom Oliver who came 8th overall in the RYA eSailing Club Championship London & South East Final. There were over 500 entrants in the championships from across London and the South East, so this is quite an achievement!
In club eSailing, Kevin Dutch has won the Spring Series with a strong lead after 30 races over 10 Saturdays and Sundays. Second place was Tom Oliver, and third was Robert Govier. The final results can be found here.
As the weather is getting better and some restrictions on getting out and about, and sailing in real life have been lifted, we are stopping weekend eSailing for now, but we can bring it back if there's the demand! Evening racing on Tuesday (8pm) and Thursdays (8.15pm) will carry on, so please log on and join in!

Found in the archive - rare colour documentary on the 1967 Admiral’s Cup

Posted: Thursday, 14 May, 2020

One of several reels of film found in the club archives,showing a rare colour documentary on the 1967 Admiral's Cup. We think that this was a film that was sent to select Yacht Clubs by the sponsor of the event to be shown to members, and Whitstable was lucky enough to receive a copy and store it in our archives. Go to the WYC Youtube channel to see the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt5ToIUWkogM.

From the RORC website: "Australia returned down under with renewed vigour towards the event. Sir Robert Crighton-Brown commissioned Balandra, built to the same design as Quiver IV, while Bob Miller collaborated with Ted Kaufman to design Mercedes III. These joined Caprice of Huon for her second attempt. In Britain, Firebrand, after modifications, rejoined the team with Noryema V and Prospect of Whitby. 10 years after the first event, there were now eight teams – it was the first time both Finland and Spain had fielded entries alongside Holland, France, Germany and the USA. In the Channel Race, France took the overall lead with solo star Eric Tabarly on Pen Duick III, but Australia took the team lead, 26 points ahead of Britain. In the Britannia Cup a series of almost farcical events by the French and US handed the Australian team further points although only one more than the competitive British team. In the New York Yacht Club Cup, the USA regained some pride to win but the universally strong performance of the Australians took them 17 points ahead of Britain and the USA. In the Fastnet Race Pen Duick III took the win but the Australian team continued to perform to win the race on points and take home the Admiral’s Cup for the first time with an overall margin of 107 points." For more information, see http://www.rorc.org/admiral-s-cup

WYC Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response - Update Tuesday 12th May

Posted: Tuesday, 12 May, 2020

Based on the new Government guidance, from Wednesday 13th May, people can go out on the water. The club remains closed, and there are no organised sailing or social activities. The WYC General Committee sub-group are having regular virtual meetings and working on plans to restart organised activities and re-open the club when further restrictions are lifted. We are following the guidance of the RYA, RNLI and the Government.
Members now have access to the external storage areas (Upper Rigden's and Stroud sheds), but should maintain social distancing, minimise time inside, and the surfaces you touch. Please take personal responsibility by using hand sanitiser, wearing disposable gloves and/or wiping down the surfaces you touch where-ever possible.
If you go onto the water, you do so at your own risk. Please respect and follow Government and RNLI guidelines, and WYC safety advice for free sailing and watersports.

Found in the archive - Amateur colour footage of the 1959 Flying Dutchman Worlds at WYC

Posted: Wednesday, 06 May, 2020

One of several reels of film found in the club archives, we think that this amateur colour footage shows sailing during FD Week held at Whitstable Yacht Club in July 1959. It was run in conjunction with the FD World Championships and there is brief footage of this event. It was the year before the Rome Olympics and attracted competitors from across the world. Most notably it was the first time competitors from Russia, Poland and East Germany had competed this side of the Iron Curtain. There were also two boats from South Africa.
Competitors were in two fleets sailing Olympic courses of a triangle, loop and beat. The World Championships with one competitor from each country went first and the FD Week, which was open to anyone, went 15 minutes later. Local sailor “Slotty” Dawes (K36) who features prominently in this film, won FD Week and went on to represent GB at Rome where he finished 7th. Five Whitstable crews competed in FD Week.
The Flying Dutchman was a new Olympic class in 1960 and had been introduced into the UK by “Slotty” Dawes. “Slotty” was President of the International FD Class Association. Whitstable was the centre of UK FD sailing and went on to run many international events including the Europeans.
The cream coloured motor boat used for finishing belonged to local builder and Club member, Jack Philpott. Note also the marks which were black square or triangular top marks mounted on old Fairey duckling dinghies or old carley floats that the Club had bought in bulk.
Note the film has been reversed on the reel and sail numbers read from right to left! https://youtu.be/ANXc836AQGs

An update from the Commodore. 30th April 2020

Posted: Thursday, 30 April, 2020

On behalf of General Committee I’d like to thank all members for their support as the lock-down continues with all club activities, organised and non organised, suspended. Although the club is closed and we are all in lock-down, background activity continues (remotely and via online meetings) with committee members continuing to manage the impact of the current restrictions on our employees (now furloughed), our members, future events and club finances.
Whilst there is no sign of an immediate end to the current restrictions we have started to consider and plan for how the club could operate in what will be a very different and challenging environment, determined by any ongoing measures necessary to comply with the letter and spirit of Government directives. As the situation changes we will provide further briefings. Meanwhile, thank you for your ongoing support and as always, keep safe.
Kelvin Tolson - WYC Commodore.

Found in the archive - Film of the 1959 Flying Dutchman Worlds at WYC

Posted: Thursday, 30 April, 2020

One of several reels of film found in the club archives, this short video shows black and white footage of the Flying Dutchman World Championship and FD Week held at Whitstable Yacht Club in July 1959. It was the year before the Rome Olympics and attracted competitors from across the world. Most notably it was the first time competitors from Russia, Poland and East Germany had competed this side of the Iron Curtain. There were also two boats from South Africa. It attracted a lot of media interest, and The local paper even reported what the Russians had for breakfast they seemed so alien at the time!
Competitors were in two fleets sailing Olympic courses of a triangle, loop and beat. The World Championships with one competitor from each country went first and the FD Week, which was open to anyone, went 15 minutes later. The World Championship was won by Mario Capio of Italy, followed by Adrian Jardine (K17) of Great Britain. FD Week was won by local sailor “Slotty” Dawes (K36) who represented GB at Rome where he finished 7 th. The Flying Dutchman was a new Olympic class in 1960 and had been introduced into the UK by WYC sailor “Slotty” Dawes. “Slotty” was President of the International FD Class Association. Whitstable was the centre of UK FD sailing and went on to run many international events including the Europeans.

RYA eSailing Spring Club Championships - WYC qualifying round winner!

Posted: Sunday, 26 April, 2020

Well done to Tom Oliver, who beat 5 other WYC sailors in the WYC qualifying round of the RYA eSailing Spring Club Championships in some very close racing. After 5 races the results were a tie, with Tom beating Andrew Guerin once RRS A8 was applied. Ali Nicolson was only 2 points behind the leaders to come in third place, with Robert Govier just getting forth place despite tieing on points with Jonny Musgrove, and Ruth Oliver came in 6th only place 10 points behind the leaders.
Tom now goes through to the South East Regional qualifying round, and if successful, through to the Nationals! There are over 230 clubs taking part, so that's a lot of competition!

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