Weymouth
Sailing
Club

The arrival of the French Olympic team happened to coincide with the installation of the long-awaited new steps on the wall outside the club, courtesy of the harbour authority. It was only natural that our visitors should be asked to unveil this welcome improvement, which was duly done by Sarah (Laser Radial), Camille and Mathilde (470) at the end of the first afternoon's training in rare and glorious sunshine.

Over forty young people from all over Dorset assembled at the Sailing
Academy on the 14th June to participate in the finals of the inaugural
Dorset Schools windsurfing event.

The moment he arrived at the club the other day, French 49er crew Stephane Christidis was off down the slipway with his fishing rod. There isn't much time for fishing on a 49er (unless things go pear-shaped at the leeward mark) and Steph is keen to try out the local waters, making me promise to take him out in the bay when they're training here next week.

Do you remember the downwind starts from the hut? Cherbourg Yacht Club have a neat way of starting evening races quickly and easily from the breakwater on the north side of the marina at Chantereyne.

It's not often that WSC members sail round the world, but Philip Smith and Sara Xavier are doing just that. They set out from Weymouth Harbour last week in their 55-foot ketch Lochmarin, planning to return in four years' time.

You can follow their progress here: http://blog.mailasail.com/lochmarin

Chris Hogg

I was lucky enough to get a ride on the 'Para' committee boat today and take some photos of the 2.4s racing in marginal conditions (two filled up and had to be rescued). After 6 races Megan Pascoe (pictured) is lying 4th out of 36 having achieved a 7th and a 3rd today.

As I waited on the WSC Squib pontoons to catch my ride I realised even before the 10 o’clock bridge had lifted that a lot of boats were going to take part in the Jubilee sail past. When the bridge did lift yachts and motorboats of all shapes and sizes began to pour out from the marina.

Viking driver required for Monday 11 June. If you are available please update rota on website or contact Shaun Kerigan

An all-women race team took to the water on Thursday night – She Taylor, Ann Chalmers, Deo McDine and Lesley Harvey with safety boat driver Lyn Matthews. Keeping them in order was Viking II driver Ernie Lee. The Squib crews have a night off when the helms have their single-handed race so instead of a night in with a bottle of Chardonnay, they take up the challenge of going out on Viking II to do a Race Officer duty. Well done ladies.

I thought as it's Jubilee weekend you'd be interested to see the brochure for the original 1953 Weymouth Coronation Celebrations. The brochure belongs to WSC member Sue Stuart, who tells me she attended the celebrations as a very young girl.

You can view or download the brochure here: http://tinyurl.com/dy28uez

Chris Hogg