Wealden Sailability (Beta)

Result of Dragon Boat Team

Our fantastic team managed to come 12th out of 15 teams. A brilliant result as our aim was not to come last. We knew that it would be impossible to come first against a rugby team or the builders. It was a great day at a great venue. It showed CSC at its best. There must have been close to 1000 people. The guide being the queue for the bar which at times was to the front door. Peter Wagner and Keith Eeles managed to raise £84.38 in cash, Peter Ashwell ‘worked’ the crowd for volunteers, and a number of volunteers and clients turned up to support the team. It was really good to see so many pink WS polo shirts as it helped bring awareness of WS. Photos will be available on our gallery in a few days.

DRAGON BOAT GALA – AUGUST 28TH

We have a team competing in the gala which is being held at Chipstead Sailing club. Please come and support us. The gala is a charity event. Donations will be split between Wealden Sailability and the Leonard Cheshire home which is situated next to the club house. Food will be available and the bar open. Should be great fun.

Wealden Sailability 2023 Racing News

27th July, 2023

After the completion of the Sailability Spring Series, the planned race for combined race Sailability & Women on Water (WoW) took place.

The outlook had not been good with a forecast of strong winds and heavy rain, but the morning was much better than anticipated, though still somewhat damp. But we are sailors after all. The wind was good with a steady breeze from the South West, though there were moments when it was moving around by nearly 90 degrees. The course was set as a start to A, then C, K to port and then to SAS, an area outside Sailability’s normal boundary.

To keep the fleets apart, WoW started at 11.17, 3 minutes ahead of Sailability with their regular start time of 11.20. Starts went well with no recalls. By the end of the race at lap 3 for WoW, they had just started to lap Sailability, so there was a straightforward finishing process, with Sailability’s race shortened to 2 laps.

There was a lot of positive response to the event and enthusiasm for more this year, and we’ll be looking at what can be arranged. The results were out by 12.20 and are attached below.

End of season 2022 volunteers dinner

Monday, 28th November saw the very welcome return of an End of Season celebration for the volunteers after a gap of three years because of Covid. More than 90 people gathered at Chipstead to enjoy a great evening, with the Clubhouse beautifully transformed and a stage set up by Peter and Jayne Coulcher, ready for the ventriloquist entertainment provided after dinner by Jimmy Tamley, ably assisted by two unsuspecting ‘volunteers’. Big thanks to them; to Faye Stanley, David McKee and all who collectively prepared and served a wonderful meal; to Mike McKenzie for co-ordinating the event; to David Barker for the photos and, finally, to Anne Frewer, Steve Farmer and Bob Fisher for their generous liquid contributions!

Jof Buttery Elected as New Chairman and another Honorary President

At the Trustees’ meeting on 10th November, David McKee tendered his resignation both as Chair and Trustee of Wealden Sailability. His dedicated service in both roles has been hugely valuable to the Charity over more than 12 years.

His charm, good humour and inexhaustible supply of funny stories may have been the most visible part of his involvement to all volunteers and clients while his wisdom and fine leadership of the Trustees and the whole operation have been more ‘behind the scenes’ but no less valuable in making Wealden Sailability what it has become. Our sincere thanks and appreciation have been well and truly earned.

It is great to report, however, that David has agreed to join Brian Stanley as an Honorary President and will be continuing his close association with WS as a volunteer, attending sessions regularly whenever he is not off sailing in Scotland or travelling elsewhere.

Someone has to take on the tricky task of following in his footsteps as the new Chair and the Trustees have unanimously elected Jof Buttery to that role for the initial three year period as set out in our constitution. He has been quick to state that he is only one amongst equals when it comes to both the Trustees and the whole body of volunteers – Wealden Sailability is very much the sum of the contributions of everyone involved and he looks forward to working with everyone to make sure the Charity and its whole operation continues to offer the relaxed, safe atmosphere that is enjoyed and valued by both our client sailors and the volunteers.