Whitstable Yacht Club - News

Club News

B14 Europeans returning to Whitstable this September

Posted: Thursday, 07 July, 2022

The B14 European Class association are pleased to announce Original Cottages (Kent & Sussex) as the title sponsor for the two events. The Original Cottages (Kent & Sussex) B14 European Championship and Original Cottages (Kent & Sussex) B14 National Championship are being held at Whitstable Yacht Club from the 1st – 4th September.
Entries are now open on the WYC website, see www.wyc.org.uk/on-the-water/events. The first 20 paid up entries will be entered into a draw to be drawn on the morning of the briefing. The lucky winning teams will receive a card with credit for each team to spend over the bar during the championships.
With the reduced restrictions now in place with regard to Covid, we are looking to see entries, from France, Germany, Switzerland and possibly other European countries. This will be the first meeting up of the European fleet since 2019, so shall be interesting to see who rises to the front. New B14 owners, this is a fantastic opportunity to come and meet the rest of the fleet and tap into that knowledge and get help in setting up your B14.
Whitstable is a popular venue with tourists, so you will need to check out the club accommodation list as soon as you book your entry. The fall back is either the Premier Inn or camp sites which are walkable. Teams wishing to get in some practice are welcome to turn up early and park their B14 in the dinghy park.
www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/251237/B14-Europeans-return-to-Whitstable

Max Hunt - 2022 ILCA6 Great Grand Master National Champion

Posted: Monday, 04 July, 2022

Congratulations to Max Hunt, who has been crowned the 2022 ILCA6 Great Grand Master National Champion. The UK ILCA Masters National championships was held over the weekend at Stokes Bay with a total of over 100 boats competing in the ILCA6 (Radial) and ILCA7 (Standard) fleets. Friday and Saturday saw epic conditions in 20 knots, with three challenging races each day, followed by two races on Sunday in more moderate conditions. With fleets from Apprentice to Legends, Max Hunt was crowned ILCA6 Great Grand Master National Champion.

Wanderer Open - Report now available on Yachts & Yachting online!

Posted: Tuesday, 28 June, 2022

The seven boats entered for the Whitstable Wanderer open meeting were greeted by a bright and breezy morning. Unfortunately two boats had previously withdrawn owing to Covid.
Following a quick welcome from Richard Maltby and a briefing from PRO and Wanderer fan John Boorman, the fleet launched and headed out towards Slotty Dawes (the committee boat) where in the strengthening breeze assistant RO John Cooper had set up a triangle, sausage course with the windward mark bearing 180 degrees.
The Wanderers shared the start line with Whitstable club racing and were first start away in a fresh force 4 gusting 5 with regular shifts of up to 20 degrees. Tide was ebbing with the current broadly even across the course and with the wind resulting in relatively smooth water. Tim Barr with crew Mark Skipper sailing 1282 were first off the line and led at the windward mark...
For the full report, go to Yachts and Yachting at yachtsandyachting.com/news/250846/Wanderers-at-Whitstable.

Ray Bissill

Posted: Monday, 27 June, 2022

We regret to report that Ray Bissill passed away on 25th June.
Ray was the Social Secretary of the club in the early 60s and a member of the General Committee. He sailed an Enterprise and then a National 12 (Dolly). He leaves two sons, Adam and James.

Summer bar opening times from 1st July

Posted: Wednesday, 22 June, 2022

We are extending our bar opening hours from Friday 1st July so that you can make the best of the club while the sunshine is out! For the updated hours, see www.wyc.org.uk/about/social.
The bar can also be open longer for special events or parties. If you want to hold an event at the club, please contact the office or bar committee.
The bar is also looking for Members to train as bar assistance, to help out during busy periods, also great opportunity to meet other members, if interested please contact Magda bar supervisor.

2022 WYC Members Survey Results

Posted: Saturday, 11 June, 2022

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our survey. Overall, the results are both positive and informative. Congratulations to the member who was randomly selected from the submissions and has now received their £50 voucher to spend at the Dinghy Store.
At the time of the survey there were 564 individual members, including cadets. There were an additional 206 children included as part of family or social memberships. All members were invited to take part in the survey and 220 responded, representing 39% of individual members.
When asked if they would recommend the club, 85% of respondents gave the club a rating of 7 or above on a 10-point scale. Using the industry standard ‘Net Promoter Score’ method, the survey delivered a satisfaction rating of +46, which is considered "very good".
142 members left very positive comments in the open text box, with ‘friendly and welcoming’ being the most frequently expressed sentiment. Additionally, 20 members expressed varying degrees of dissatisfaction with the club through their ratings and their open comments. All comments are taken seriously and will be considered by the club’s General Committee over the coming months.
This is a positive outcome, but we know we can make the club even better, and there are clearly some areas that need improvement. In order of priority, members who took the survey cited the following areas as priorities for future investment:
1. Quality of changing rooms
2. Provision for cadets and young people
3. Sail training
As we develop a plan for the club’s next five years, these areas will form a key part of our planning. We aim to hold a series of small focus groups with members over the coming season to help with this process.
A more detailed version of the survey report can be downloaded here: WYC 2022 Member Survey.
Happy sailing,
Andrew Jackson
Commodore

Lower Thames Rowing Club’s recent visit to Whitstable Yacht Club

Posted: Saturday, 04 June, 2022

The trip to Whitstable is always a brilliant trip. We set off from Leigh-on-Sea at 06:30, so the outgoing tide would take us to the forts
– always an amazing place to visit. We had estimated it would take four hours of outgoing tide to reach the forts but due to the good conditions and a
beneficial tailwind we arrived at the forts by 09:30.
More ›

Previous Jubilees at WYC

Posted: Thursday, 02 June, 2022

Some history from Catherine Pierces's archives showing how Whitstable Yacht Club and the town celebrated the Coronation in 1953 and the Silver Jubilee in 1977.
There's lots going on again this weekend with the Beacon Lightning Ceremony at Whitstable Harbour on Thursday evening, the band Merlin & the Rockets on Saturday evening, a Family street party (bring your own picnic!) from 2pm on Sunday, extended bar opening hours all weekend, and of course, there’ll be plenty of sailing, with 2 races every day from 2pm for the Club Championships, and the WYC Cadet session on Saturday afternoon.
We look forward to seeing you here!

The Forts Race Weekend - Report on Y&Y

Posted: Tuesday, 31 May, 2022

Whitstable Yacht Club hosted the Forts Race Weekend over 28th and 29th May, after a Covid-enforced absence of two years, welcoming the top UK catamaran sailors back to the club for the iconic event, and kicking off this year's Allen Endurance Series. Unlike most sailors who arrived at the event by road, the endurance started early for Martin Law and James Vandervord in their Hobie 21, sailing unsupported to the event on Friday morning from Minnis Bay, 16 miles down the coast! William Sunnucks was also taking the endurance aspect to the extreme...
To read more, go to https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/249721/The-Forts-Race-2022

Whitstable Yacht Club Discover Sailing Day - Report on Y&Y

Posted: Monday, 23 May, 2022

Whitstable Yacht Club held its annual open day under the RYA's Discover Sailing banner on Saturday May 21st. The weather was warm and sunny with light winds making conditions ideal for the 96 guests who had signed up online to experience sailing and WYC, many for the first time... To read more go to yachtsandyachting.com/news/249391/Whitstable-Yacht-Club-Discover-Sailing-Day.
If you weren't able to attend, but still want to try out sailing check out out Training page at wyc.org.uk/on-the-water/training, or to join go to wyc.org.uk/members/New_Members.

Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller Open at WYC - Report on Y&Y

Posted: Thursday, 19 May, 2022

28 Merlin Rockets arrived at Whitstable Yacht Club to bright sunshine but very little wind on the morning of Saturday 14th May for the next round of the Craftinsure Silver Tiller. However, as forecast the wind filled in nicely, meaning just a short delay to the start time. Race 1 began in 12 kts, with the tide just beginning to build, pushing you upwind. Will & Alex Warren started well & led early on, before Christian Birrell & Sam Breary took the lead...
To read more, go to https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/249220/Merlin-Rockets-at-Whitstable.

Tasar Open at WYC - Report on Y&Y

Posted: Tuesday, 17 May, 2022

On the 14th & 15th May the Tasar fleet gathered for their first Open Meeting of the year at Whitstable Yacht Club hosted in conjunction with the Merlin Rocket class. Arrivals on Saturday were greeted with warm sunshine and little wind; but whilst rigging the sea breeze filled in and a great day's sailing was ahead...
To read more, go to https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/249134/Whitstable-Tasar-Open

Updated guide to doing a Race Officer duty

Posted: Sunday, 15 May, 2022

The club's guide for doing a Race Officer Duty (or assisting as an Assistant Race Officer) has been updated to make doing your duty even easier! As well as the RO guide, the page has information for Safety Boat crews, as well as links to the Sailing Instructions, Racing Rules of Sailing and other useful information. It's well worth a read, even if you don't have a duty this year, as there's lots of useful information on courses and start sequences that can help improve your understanding of club racing. Go to http://www.wyc.org.uk/members/Club_Rules#RaceDuties to download the documents.

Derek Emery

Posted: Friday, 13 May, 2022

We regret to report that Derek Emery passed away on 6th May.
Derek was a keen competitive National 12 sailor from 1960 to 1980, and a member of the club for 40 years. He was the centre of the clubs wilder social activities during this era and loved to party. In his later years he built a cruiser in his back garden called Mystere and afterwards bought his yacht called Minx and sailed with his beloved wife Barbara. He and enjoyed competitive racing and cruising in company. Derek like nothing better than anchoring or mooring up after a long day’s cruising, opening the wine box and inviting fellow cruising members over for an evening of laughter and fun.
Our thoughts are with his family Ian, Philip, and Alison.

Why not try something different at the bar this weekend?