We race on most Sunday mornings throughout the entire year. There are usually 2 races. The first race starts at 10.00, and the second finishes at around 13.00. If you want to join the racing we suggest you arrive around 09.00 to allow time to get rigged and sign on before the briefing at 9.45. (For those who just want to watch the racing or chat, there is a coffee break at 11.00 which is a good time to catch everyone). If you are new to racing, it may be worth coming down one Sunday just to watch and see what goes on, and then for your first few races, we recommend that you start behind everyone else, and follow the fleet round. You will soon improve and probably start catching up with the slower regulars.
Prizes are awarded over a series of about 12 races - for each of the two handicap fleets (fast & slow), a combined handicap fleet ("Burgee" races), a Personal Handicap competition and a Pursuit series. We organise several regattas each year for members - Easter Egg Cup (Easter Sunday), Summer Regatta (early June), Commodore's Cup ( Early November ) and Christmas Pudding Race. Non-members are not eligible for prizes except at the Open pursuit meeting.
Some dinghies are faster than others, we use a handicap system, which is generally based on the RYA's Portsmouth Yardstick Scheme. This schemee used by most clubs assigns a number known as the Portsmouth Number to each type of boat. These numbers provide the relative performance for various boats in average conditions with average helms which is used in results calculations.
Handicap races
In Handicap races we have a line start and split the results into two fleets – the “fast” fleet which includes Enterprises, Leaders, Lasers, Supernovas and the “slow” fleet which includes Comets , Zest and Mirrors. We say quote “fast” and “slow” here because the division is somewhat arbitrary and is based entirely on RYA Portsmouth Numbers. In the right light wind conditions, the so-called “slow” fleet can finish right up there or ahead of the fast boats (on the water, never mind on handicap).
Burgee races
Burgee races ( So name because orginally winners recieved burgess ). Results are calculated by the Race offcer ( RO ) using the boat PN's and number of laps completed and we email members soon after the racing has finished .
Personal Handicap races
The Personal Handicap series is run alongside the Burgee and handicap series using the same on the water results, BUT in addition to the standard boat handicap (the RYA's Portsmouth Number less the 11:30) a Personal Handicap (PH) is added for the helm . In this way the personal handicap competition aims to give everyone a chance of winning by factoring in their ability. The Wee Auld Mug is awarded to winner of each event.
Pursuit races
These are run as a single fleet but unlike handicap races the fleet does not all start at the same time. Instead boats are released in reverse handicap order ie. “slow”est boats (see Handicap racing above for comments on fast and slow) first and so on. This gives the faster boats a real challenge to chase down the slow ones.
The Punch Bowl Trophy
Our most famous pursuit race is the three-hour Punch Bowl Trophy. This takes place once every year in September. As usual WGCSC has its own inimitable format where each boat has to have two crews and must come in every one or two laps (depending on weather conditions) for a complete crew change. Some teams attempt clever change-overs, and this often leads to enormous hilarity among the spectators and provide photographic opportunities .
Mid Week Sessions
We have a "Sail Better" session on a Thursday evening and Leisure Sailing sessions on Tuesday and Friday mornings.
Thursday Evenings 'Sail Better' Club Sessions.
These are aimed at people who have some basic skill level, eg RYA level 2, and aim to help them improve and to get them racing. For insurance and other reasons, they will have to join the club, and boats can be hired from Better . This still works out as very inexpensive, so if you have any contacts who can sail, let them know. It's for all ages 8 years upwards.