Although the 2017 season is about to start, I found this small collection of last years pre-season volunteers day…!! So thought it should be published.
Although the 2017 season is about to start, I found this small collection of last years pre-season volunteers day…!! So thought it should be published.
On Thursday 24th November, Steve Thomas, Meg Warren and myself (Mike Coleman) attended the Marjorie McClure School for their annual Awards Presentation. We thought we were just there to present certificates to the students that had attended Wealden Sailability sessions throughout the season and attained Entry, Bronze and Silver Level sailing certificates. So we were totally blown away to ourselves be presented with a Marjorie McClure F.L.A.M.E Award, and the highest “Gold, Four Star, burning brightly” award at that..!!
Here’s a copy of the award certificate.
According to the Marjorie McClure website “Our Olympic Flame Award legacy project (set up in the wake of the 2012 London Olympics) is being developed as part of the Sky Living for Sport Challenge. The focus is on recognising pupil achievement and progress using the values framework of the London Olympic Games. Competing to achieve best is at the heart of the award.”
The award we received from the school today was a reflection of the part that WS has played in helping the pupils achieve the aims of the Award, so we were very honoured to receive the Award on behalf of all our Volunteers.
Clouds covered the sky from horizon to horizon when I arrived at the lake just before 9am but they gradually started to break up and eventually the sun appeared – just in time for the last Race of the 2016 Wealden Sailability racing season. We welcomed nine WS Racers to Chipstead to participate in the final Race together with others who had come along to enjoy the day but were not able to sail. What a fantastic end to a wonderful season that saw the front of the fleet still up for grabs.
Final result: 1. Kim; 2. Peter G; 3. Mike B; 4. David M; 5. Mark; 6. Steve; 7. Fay / James; 8. Mick / Helen
“How much of a good thing can we take?” – I hear you all ask! Today was another fabulous day for sailing, albeit the strong winds that WS Racers had to battle on the last three race days and which were predicted to be with us again today did not materialise. But we did enjoy a dry, sunny day with a brisk and chilly wind.
With the course set, the beat upwind, from the Start Line at Mark A, to Mark C and the reach across to Mark K were both affected by the trees on the north shore disturbing the flow of the NNE wind and resulted in random wind shifts and eddies. Only the downwind leg of the course from Mark K to Mark A gave the Racers a consistent wind.
So the combination of the course and the wind’s behaviour around Mark C and across the lake to Mark K made sailing very tricky and challenging for everyone – except perhaps for Peter Gregory whose Red Torpedo was sailed skilfully and majestically through the fleet. Peter needed less than 20 minutes after starting sailing to be at the head of the fleet. (Well done Peter! Ed) This performance has put Peter in first place for the Summer Series, just one point ahead of Kim, with one race to go.
The usual schematic that shows where each Racer was across the Start Line and then at the end of each Lap and at the end of 40 minutes, and the final result for today’s race, is shown below the pictures of some of the WS Racers who took part and the summary results for the Summer Series – with just one race remaining – can be seen by clicking the Racing / Results tab above.
Final Result: 1. Peter G; 2. Kim; 3. Phil / Helen; 4. Mike B; 5. Nick / Chris; 6. David Mason; 7. Steve; 8. Fay / James: 9. Bill Garry; 10. Mark / Mike; 11. Malcolm / John; 12. Lisa / Paul; 13. Peter W.
