Second Try Sailing Session at Sutton-in-Ashfield Sailing Club

Saturday 2nd July saw the second of Sutton-In-Ashfield Sailing Club's 'Try Sailing Session' run with 'The Mill'.

After last week's frantic rush at 10am, my aim this week was to arrive early and get some boats rigged before anyone else arrived. I should have known better than try to beat Messrs Clark & Gregory to the club when I arrived at 8:45 they had opened up prepped the safety boat and Alan was in the process of cutting grass and cleaning the little presents left by the local bird population from the slip way.

Another concern was the significant shift in wind from last week, 15mph gusting 26mph would not allow us to let younger sailors loose in Picos without potential disaster (little was I to know, more on this later).

9:45 – news from The Mill – 20 signed up in 2 blocks one at 10am & one at 11am, which should be more manageable that last week's mass arrival.

With three of our boats (leader, GP14 & vision) and a cobble, from The Mill, rigged for the conditions we were set. Jonathan took the vision, brave man, Mike & Luke the leader, John the cobble and myself I selected the GP14 with what could only be described as a handkerchief for a mail sail, as ever I was being cautious, although I was called something else.

The guests started to arrive at 10, Jenny & Lorna where the welcoming committee and swiftly had the admin & running order organised. Once signed up the guests where pointed in the direction of the far cabin & Mr Buoyancy Aid, otherwise known as Martin Warner, who kitted them out ready for the big adventure and passed them onto Beach Master Anthony Hallam who showed them to their boats. The wind was picking up and someone mentioned that there would be some squalls coming through later in the morning.

By 10:20 we had all four boats out on the water; the vision was flying along and was reported to have been on the plane at one point. The leader was moving along at a nice pace, the guests on the cobble where shouting John's favourite chant "what a load of rubbish" which I think was aimed at me, although I thought we were doing quite well pottering around in a GP with a handkerchief sail.

11 o'clock and the second group started to arrive, we were becoming like a well oiled machine. Jenny & Lorna had them signed up and allocated to boats, Anthony was rounding up boat helms and ushering them back to shore to collect the next group.

Martin had them kitted up and ready to get before we had chance to get a tea,

Those clouds don't look too good was a comment heard, don't be daft was another, so off we went with guests in the cobble & GP14. Mike & Luke were in the Leader.

Well all was going well, but can you remember those squalls that where mentioned earlier, well they did make an appearance and despite my best efforts the GP, even with the handkerchief sail, decided to lie down and give up. True to form I stepped over onto the centre board, well I didn't want to get wet did I, unfortunately the same could not be said for the mother and daughter who had been in the GP with me, they were experiencing the delights of Sutton Reservoir.

The rescue boat was swiftly on the scene, both mother and daughter where swiftly recovered and taken back to the shore, at this point I was hoping that he would come back for me, the mast was well and truly in the mud. Looking up I saw a sight that made me feel a little better, the leader had also decided to have a rest and was now lied on its side, luckily no guest where in the leader at the time.

GP back on an even keel and the self bailers / transom flaps where doing their job, by the time I reached the jetty all of the water was gone from the hull. It was then that I noticed a worrying sight, both mother & daughter where stood on the end of the jetty with Jenny, was I in trouble. Expecting a tongue lashing I cautiously approached the jetty, Jenny shouts they want to go out again, must be a first after tipping them into the reservoir they still wanted to go out for more, even with me.

A great morning was had by all, again a big thank you to all who helped & please don't give me too much ribbing, it was a big squall.

Big Thank You to all who turned up to help: Jenny Wright, Lorna Mills, Mike & Luke Wilshire, Jonathan Twite, John Clark, Anthony Hallam, Martin Warner, Alan Gregory.