General Information
More weight needed! © Marion Heming
We sail dinghies in the River Yar, sometimes venturing out into the Solent for races or trips “abroad” to Keyhaven, Totland, Newtown, etc. when we are often accompanied by cruising members in their bigger boats.
The sheltered waters of the river are an excellent place for learning to sail and race, as well as providing a beautiful setting for some extremely competitive racing. The only down side is that we have to work round the tides as we are not able to launch our boats or get to the moorings when the tide is low.
Our main fleets are Scows, Picos, and Optimists, with a few Laser 4.7s, RS Teras, Herons, Gulls, Mirrors, Toppers, etc. joining the Picos to make up a handicap class. Racing takes place every Saturday and Sunday from the beginning of April to the end of October and we have fun races, trips further afield, and quiet sails throughout the season.
You can download our Standard Sailing Instructions and Aides Memoires for patrol boat crews and race officers from here (see below).
The Club has a fleet of 2 Scows, 3 RS Teras, 6 Picos and 8 Europtis (similar to Optimists but sturdier). They can be hired by members for £10 a day and are also used for training.
Quiet Sails
Approximately once a fortnight, when the tide is right, members can take part in a Quiet Sail. We have patrol boats on duty and sailors who may not be confident to take their boats out without some support can get on the water and practise their skills. We also run a week of these during Cowes Week.
Special Events
Our annual two-day Regatta will take place in 2013 on 24th to 25th August.
Scows Week – an open event for wooden and GRP scows – takes place in late July or early August. In 2013 it will be held from 22nd to 28th July.
Sailability
Sailability is the RYA’s arm which supports groups providing experiences on the water for the disabled. The Cowes Sailability group (based at Cowes Corinthian YC) visits us once a month over the summer and their members sail in Scows with our members before getting together for a picnic lunch.
OnBoard
The Club is an RYA OnBoard partner. This is a programme which assists us to form links with local schools and youth organisations, the aim being to introduce more than 500,000 children nationwide to water sports over a ten year period, and keep 10% as regular participants. At the end of 2011 we achieved recognition in the form of the award of “IOW OnBoard Club of the Year”.
Enquiries about sailing matters should be directed to the Rear Commodore, Melinda Measor, n.measor@btinternet.com
