--Sailing at Lee--
Sailing is
organised by the Sailing Committee under the leadership of the Rear
Commodore Sailing. The Committee meets monthly and is always happy to
receive constructive suggestions from members who wish to improve the
programme, or offer their help and expertise. The Committee also organises
maintenance of the signal station and boat park as well as all sailing
equipment including the club’s dinghy fleet, RIBs and radios.
Club racing takes place on Tuesday evenings, Saturday afternoons and
Sundays, with additional racing at Bank Holidays and during the popular
Solstice Regatta. There is always safety boat cover for racing, but of
course the safety of a boat and her entire management including insurance is
the sole responsibility of the owner and sailor. Members should not venture
on to the water if they do not feel able to cope with the boat and/or
conditions.
A member of the sailing committee sets courses, and racing members are
expected to undertake either race officer or safety boat duties (about 3 or
4 times during the season). Training is provided for newcomers and those
that need it. Duty members are asked to be in position an hour before the
scheduled race start. The sailing committee member on duty has the final
decision on whether racing will take place.
Most racing is on a handicap basis, with single starts on Sundays and fleet
starts on Tuesdays and the longer Saturday races. There is also a series of
pursuit races, one of the popular ones being to the Royal Victoria Sailing
Club at Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight. We also compete against the other
Solent clubs for the valuable Turk Trophy, currently housed in Gosport’s
Town Hall.
Beginners to racing are welcomed. Established racers are always willing to
give help and advice. Several have volunteered to operate a buddy system to
coax new racers on to the water and help with tactics and tuning.
The club has experimented with committee boat starts, but more usually the
start is from the shore. Racing is competitive but friendly. Protests are
almost unheard of, but the club boasts judges of international standing
should they ever be needed.
Prizes are awarded for each of the race series at the annual Laying Up
Supper, an event not to be missed, even if you are not due to collect the
silverware. Race and series results are posted regularly at the clubhouse
and on the website.
The club hosts open events, the more popular being the RS open and the Skiff
Open Event. Well over a hundred boats are attracted to these events, and
many sailing members assist with on the water, beachside or administrative
arrangements.
For more information on club racing click here
Several club
members own cruising yachts, and day and weekend cruises are organised
around the many attractions of the Solent. This is a relatively new
development that is being encouraged by the club in an effort to extend the
range of sailing opportunities.
There are dinghy cruises too, shepherded by the more experienced members who
ensure everyone returns safely. Safety cover is also provided by one of the
club’s RIBs. The confidence of some of our more timorous members has been
greatly enhanced by their first crossing of the Solent.
For more information click here
The club has
a long tradition of Cadet training, with some graduates even going on to
forge a career in the sailing industry. In recent seasons training has been
extended to adults, and includes everything from level 1 to race training in
the RYA scheme. There is also a training programme for safety boat crews.
Training takes place on Saturday mornings, and the more advanced are
encouraged to participate in the afternoon race.
There is a
fleet of Optimists for younger members, as well as Toppers and Wayfarers –
all of which can be hired at very modest rates. The club also has some wet
suits for hire for those who need them, so all you need to get on to the
water is a buoyancy aid, footwear and a towel.
For more information on the club's RYA training click
here
Sailing is not restricted to race days. A number of members use their boats
at other times. The key to the changing rooms may be obtained from the main
clubhouse. Members who wish to take advantage of casual sailing on a
regular basis may wish to purchase their own key. Members may use the
showers and hose for boat cleaning, but are asked to ensure that the
changing rooms are left in clean condition with the water turned off.
There is no safety cover for casual sailing, so members should be confident
that they can cope with the conditions, and should ensure that someone is
aware of their intentions.
The compound
has been extended recently and there is room for 140 boats. The annual
berthing fee is based on the size of boat, with a reduction for second
boats. Members are allocated a particular berth and are asked to display
their berthing sticker on their boat. For more
information on berthing click here
There are
male and female heated changing rooms with hot showers. There is also a
galley and small viewing area. Peter the chef serves light refreshments on
training and race days with welcome warming mugs of steaming tea or coffee.
The race officer’s platform is above the galley and it is equipped with
sound, light and flag signal systems. The race officers are in constant
radio contact with the safety boats. There are public toilets a short
distance to the west. For details on the location of
the clubhouse and signal station click here.
There is plenty
of free parking at the main clubhouse, on the road, and in the large car
park to the east of the compound. Members are asked not to park in the boat
compound, other than for the loading and unloading of gear and the
transportation of boats.
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