Sailing News February 2024
Published 12:02 on 8 Feb 2024
The start of the 2024 racing season is (as I write) a matter of 10 days away with the first two races of the Seapower Marine Spring Series on 18th February. Theres racing under both IRC and YTC handicapping systems in order to make this series accessible to all types of boat.
Please let us know if you need help getting either of the ratings. The IRC club scheme enables skippers to secure an IRC certificate at a 15% discount (please contact james.kent62@gmail.com for details) and the YTC handicap is at no cost.
The RYA YTC system has been developed as a way of encouraging new or less experienced sailors to the world and, dare I say, joys of yacht racing. The application form of the RYA YTC website is down, as I write but dont let that deter you, we can issue you with a provisional handicap until the official site is again up and running. The application process is much more straightforward than that of the IRC. So, why not come out to play?
No crew/no boat? We are currently in the process of refreshing the crew wanted and crew available sections of the clubs website so that the information is up to date and hence useful. Please use this resource either by uploading your own information or checking the area regularly.
The printed race calendar cards (wonderfully handy) are now available at the club and the information about all this years events are also available on the clubs website. We continue this year with the Hettitch IRC evening series and after request for more inshore sailing in the summer months, have added a four-race summer series in St. Aubins Bay which we hope will appeal to new and perhaps fair weather sailors.
For the more adventurous and experienced, we will again be returning to Biscay in the summer. Owing to French primary port entry requirements, we will be bound for Brest (after just dipping into the Bay of Biscay) departing on Saturday 27 July. We will be running a series of coastal races back along the North Britanny coast with a view to getting those with limited time, back to Jersey by 4th August (i.e. within a week). If you dont fancy the long race, perhaps you could join us for some or all of the coastal (fun) races. Currently, we plan to race from Brest to LAberwrach, Roscoff, Treburden and Tregieur although all this is subject to confirmation. Well shortly be sending out a request for expressions of interest (or commitment, if youre sure) to members but please put the date in your diaries for now.
The sailing committee continues to work hard to make the racing programme as attractive and varied as possible. Weve added events and moved certain events around to accommodate requests weve received. There is work to do and, following the loss of two committee members recently, wed really appreciate a couple of extra peeps. Please consider this request carefully. Compared with many other clubs both here and in the UK, we request/expect/require very little in terms of time and energy support from our members in order to make things happen even though we arrange a very full social and sailing calendar. Please call the office or email shycsc@gmail.com if you could volunteer. We have a couple of big events that were hosting in the summer so it could be an ad-hoc offer to volunteer for the odd day here or there.
Fair Winds and I hope to see you on the water soon (Its SOOOO mild).
Nick OHare
Chairman of Sailing Committee