Please select your home edition
Edition
CompareBoatInsurance Leaderboard

Fleetwood Schooners Wednesday

by Tony Wilson 13 Aug 2016 14:12 BST 13 August 2016

Pirate ships, Clippers, gaff rigs, big boats with multiple sails, these are all the things that come to mind when someone mentions schooners. Every Wednesday at 2pm the Fleetwood Model Boat Club have their weekly bash with the Schooners.

On formal race days with the other club classes, you will rarely ever see more than 10 skippers - not so with the Schooners. Each Wednesday there must be at least 30 club members milling around the boatyard, either tinkering with their prize possession or at the busy end airing it for an afternoon outing on the lake.

Depending on hull length, boats are categorised into 3 classes A, B and C the lady class with a strip of different coloured ribbon. Rules are, rudder servo only allowed, no winch. For some this must be a bit of a headache in knowing how to trim your boat, with trying set your sails to beat up the lake and some sort of compromise for the return when on a run.

For many years this class has been the backbone to the great success and comradeship of a good club.

The procedure for the day is to sail as many laps in your class within 1 hour.

The same 2 buoys are used each week at either end and a central mark midway at the side to add a bit of variety. Some skippers prefer this method of sailing as it's not as intense as the usual man on man racing and you can just mellow in your own little world while walking up and down the pathway, while trying to beat and improve on your own lap record each week.

At the end of the session, scores are collated, boats are rinsed off and a quick chat over a cuppa back in the clubhouse.

Related Articles

DF95 Spring Series Event 4 at Barton's Point
The forecast 9kts dropping to 0-1kt proved accurate The forecast 9kts dropping to 0-1kt proved accurate, but the tree free banks of the coastal park allowed 12 races to be completed. Of the 14 skippers there 12 competed, with Ralph Wilkinson as RO and Rob Owens as observer. Posted on 25 Apr
IOM National Championship at Lincoln
Easter weekend chosen to avoid the weed The International One Meter radio sailing boat is raced all over the world and wherever you go the fleets are fiercely competitive. The UK Nationals is the pinnacle of our calendar and all the top contenders were out to gain valuable ranking points. Posted on 23 Apr
IOM European Championship in Rogoznica, Croatia
Robert Matulja clinches gold in a highly competitive fleet of 98 participants Croatia once again solidified its prominent position in the International One Metre (IOM) class, hosting a truly exceptional European Championship in Rogoznica. Posted on 18 Apr
Huntingdon Radio Yacht Club IOM Open
33 entries for round 2 of the IOM East District Series Huntingdon RYC hosted round 2 of the IOM East District Series on Saturday 5th April and were delighted to have 33 entries which included 5 skippers from outside of the district. Posted on 7 Apr
Record-breaking IOM Europeans in Croatia
100 boats at the start in Rogoznica After the European Championship in 2018 and the World Championship in 2022, Sailing Club Val from Šibenik will once again host the European Championship for the International One Meter class. Posted on 6 Apr
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 10
A blast for the end of the series A great breeze from the NW and showing just over 20 knots to run the last race in the Winter Series. This is the last race before sailing on much bigger dinghies and yachts for most of our racers. Posted on 2 Apr
DF95 Winter Series final event at East Kent RSC
Ends with perfect weather at Barton's Point Coastal Park, Isle of Sheppey East Kent's 16 boat DF95 Winter Series was completed in perfect weather with winds varying from 4 to 14 knots. Peter Jackson set the windward-Leeward course on the west side of the lake. Posted on 28 Mar
Medway RC Laser Club Winter Series week 9
Where was the wind? Where was the wind? Not a breath for the course setting but for the 10am start there was just enough. Posted on 23 Mar
IOM Ranking 1 & 2 at Wykeham Water
55 skippers race at Scarborough Model Yacht Club Scarborough Model Yacht Club welcomed 55 skippers to Wykeham Lake to start the season of 2025 ranking events which this year has a little extra emphasis with the forthcoming World Championships to be held at Datchet Water in May 2026. Posted on 22 Mar
DF95 Winter Series event 9 at East Kent RSC
Twelve skippers found warm light winds, flat water and sunshine Twelve skippers found warm light winds, flat water and sunshine for the penultimate East Kent Winter series DF95 event at Sheppey. Ralph Wilkinson ably ran 16 races on courses set and adjusted by Alan Hounsell, who also raced. Posted on 21 Mar