Blackwater Sailing Club End of Year Round-Up
by Christine Brown 29 Nov 2021 10:08 GMT
Blackwater Fireball Open © Zoe Nelson
It's been a busy year at Blackwater Sailing Club. With the relaxation of some Covid restrictions there were lots of things to catch up on during the summer when we were able to run socials using our excellent outside space.
The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Jennifer Tolhurst carried out the official opening of our club house rebuild on Regatta Day and this was coupled with another important event. Rear Commodore Sheena Berney was at last able to be presented with her Royal Yachting Association's (RYA) Volunteer Award 2020 which in normal times would have been presented to her at a ceremony in London by the President of the RYA, HRH Princess Anne.
This award recognises volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport and was awarded to Sheena in recognition of her voluntary work at BSC over almost 40 years. She is an experienced race officer and runs club racing and open meetings as well as social events. She played a major part in the design and organisation of the club's recent rebuild and it was fitting that she was presented with the award by RYA East Region Chair Doug MacEwen alongside the official opening of the new building.
'The Outstanding Achievement award was most appropriate as Sheena was repeatedly thanked in speeches throughout the ceremony' said Doug.
Volunteering is the key to the success of BSC and members have already been busy at winter work parties carrying out such tasks as gardening and maintaining the exterior of the building. At the November session over 50 members attended.
Some of our more hardy cadets have been representing the club at racing events during November, the International 420 End of Season at Grafham and the IOCA Optimist Winter Championship regatta at Rutland. There were good results all round for them.
Meanwhile, racing continues at BSC with the winter series taking place throughout November to January. There is social sailing too, either on the lake or the river, and sometimes just chatting and making plans for the next season.
If you would like to visit the club with a view to joining then please contact our membership secretary, email .
For more details see blackwatersailingclub.org.uk