Off the Beach Racing

On behalf of the Sailing Committee and the Sailing Office I welcome you all to another season at BYS. It seems like an eternity since we last got together to enjoy everything the Club has to offer, so it will definitely be great to see all the old familiar faces, and welcome some new faces too, (in a Covid safe way of course).

Hopefully we will all be fully vaccinated by the start of the season so we can deliver our program in full and uninterrupted by restrictions. It will be wonderful to see the marina buzzing as recreational sailors are once again out on the water. And all going well, the members deck and dining room will once again be the place to spend time with family and friends. We’re also looking forward to the return of the legendary Club Captain’s Beach Party with the chance to get together and enjoy each other’s company.

But now to ‘sailing business’.

When you come to read the race documents you will notice some changes have been made. For OTB sailors there have been some changes to the courses. For Keel Boat sailors you will now have to complete a Man Over Board drill if you want your points to count.

We are also changing our sailing software to make signing on and doing the results in the tower easier. Skippers are reminded that all crew are required to be a member of a BYS or have a SailPass.

And just a gentle reminder – our racing program cannot happen without the passion and commitment of members who are happy to give their time and volunteer. So if you’ve ever thought about joining our dedicated team of volunteers, now’s a great time. There will be training opportunities as well as mentoring as required. Why not learn a new skill in the 2021-22 Season?

I look forward to seeing all of you out on the water and on the deck after racing or recreational boating. Happy sailing.

Richard Backwell