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Yacht Class & Cruising: |
Updated throughout the year |
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The Yacht Class of the club currently consists of
about 125 members, ranging in age from those in their thirties to those
in their eighties! Some of us are purely social members, some ex-dinghy
sailors and there are even some intrepid long-distance sailors, but we
all have that common theme, the lure of the sea and freedom. It is not
even necessary to own your own yacht or motorboat to become a member, as
there are opportunities to join in any of the functions, which could
include crewing for the owners of the cruisers or racers. |
john(at)raydonhouse.co.uk
John Chaplin
Yacht Class Captain.
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Various activities are held throughout the year ranging
from lectures and training sessions to parties. Sessions on the latest
radio communication equipment, Global Marine Distress Signalling Service (GMDSS),
and Life rafts have been organised within the club.� Winter visits to
historical ports and harbours and that most important of groups, the
Coastguard, have also been arranged. To give the opportunity to meet, eat,
drink and be merry, there are various dinners, suppers and BBQs and even an
evening party dedicated to that most social of drinks, the Pimms punch!
The sailing season (usually from May to September) is
filled with cruises and races. The cruises range from a weekend on the river
Deben; exploring the East Coast rivers, which are numerous and all
delightfully different; Ipswich Docks; St Catherine�s Dock in London; to
long-distance cruises spanning many weeks to Brittany and Holland. All the
cruises are organised in house. Races are held both in the river and off
shore. Some are purely between fellow club members but others are pitched
against the other yacht clubs in the area. Of course, you are free to sail
on your own and not join in any of the activities, but you will always want
to tell someone about that great adventure you had!
To keep the club looking its best and functioning well,
there are also working weekends before the sailing season gets underway.
Members come armed with tools, enthusiasm and the ability to have a
new-season yarn with friends while they scrub, paint and polish the
clubhouse from top to bottom and maintain the work boats.
In addition to these activities, members are asked to
support the other sailing groups within the club.� As we have an extensive
dinghy fleet who have a full race programme, support is needed in manning
the numerous Marshall and rescue boats and in the galley. And to allay any
concerns, men are rostered in for galley duty as ladies are rostered out on
the rescue boats!
In this website you will find details of how to contact
committee members and get more details, but if you fancy a chat about the
club, then contact me on: |
