In the absence of our usual on the water activities, we are all set to run the following virtual racing events:

Summer Evening Series (every Thursday) – starts Thursday 21^st May to Thursday 2^nd July. 3 races will be held each evening starting at 7pm.

Jubilee Regatta – Sunday 31^st May – 5 races back to back starting at 10 am.

There will be prizes for the winners of virtual racing events to be given at our Annual Prizegiving Dinner in November.

Race Officer of the day for each event will be your Commodore (Pseudonym ‘St Cath’s DJ’) who will be online for a pre-race chat via a Zoom call prior to the racing.

If you would like to join in with this racing, register for free on the Inshore area https://www.virtualregatta.com/en/inshore-game/

Race Entry – please register your intention to race by sending your name and ‘Pseudonym’ to Dave at drjonesjersey@gmail.com There are only 20 places so first come, first served. Get practising!

Congratulations to St Catherine’s Laser dinghy sailor Will Dengate, who has been awarded the 14th annual Jersey Clipper Bursary, worth £1,000, which will assist greatly in his attendance at offshore training events to realise his ambition of representing Great Britain in future European and World Championships.

Congratulations also to university student Lizzie Ellison who has been awarded £500 to help her gain an RYA Yachtmaster qualification. Lizzie, currently studying for a PhD in oceanography at Imperial College London, has been a keen dinghy sailor at St Catherine’s Sailing Club for many years.

Well done to you both!

Well done to all those who took part in the virtual regatta on Liberation Day.  Once again, the Raimbault boys showed everyone a clean pair of heels until a certain 1980’s Fireball Maestro turned up and surprised everyone by winning the last two races!

Fast, frantic and good fun!

Virtual Liberation Regatta Results

In the absence of the scheduled Liberation Regatta, we are all set to run three races back to back as a Virtual Regatta event on Saturday 9^th May starting at 10:30 am. Virtual racing will take place in 49er’s in the Portsmouth bay area.

Whilst it would not be appropriate to award the actual trophies for this regatta series, it has been agreed by your committee that prizes will be given for the winners of each race at our Annual Prizegiving Dinner.

Race 1 ‘Virtual Vega’

Race 2  ‘Beagle Bit Coins’

Race 3  ‘Virtual Liberation’

Race Officer of the day will be your Commodore (Pseudonym ‘St Cath’s DJ’) who will be online for a pre-race chat via a Zoom call from 10am.

If you would like to join in with this racing, register for free on the Inshore area https://www.virtualregatta.com/en/inshore-game/

Race Entry – please register your intention to race by sending your name and ‘Pseudonym’ to Dave at drjonesjersey@gmail.com There are only 20 places so first come, first served. Get practising!

Owners of leisure vessels can now spend the four hours outside their home using their boats for recreational purposes, but are being urged to minimise the risk of getting into difficulties at sea by preparing properly.

The owners of leisure vessels, including yachts, jet skis and other craft, are being advised that they must:

– adhere to the latest Stay at Home instructions, which restrict time outside the house to up to four hours each day
– adhere to latest Stay at Home instructions on social distancing and meeting others from outside of your household
– log a Transit Report with Jersey Coastguard on VHF Channel 82 before leaving harbour
– remain within Jersey territorial waters at all times
– if planning to visit outlying reefs, give consideration to requirements for social distancing and time periods permitted out of the house
– maintain social distancing within public areas such as piers, marinas, pontoons, ramps and facilities

Read more here: https://bit.ly/2zQW14y

 

The world’s biggest one-day fundraising event, the Virgin Money London Marathon, was due to take place on Sunday 26 April. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation of events across the world and with it, the loss of income from many fundraising events. The 2.6 Challenge has been created to help save charities. Many charities have had to reduce or stop services at a time when vulnerable members of society need them most. Some charities may not survive the next few months – so please get involved and help support our local charities!

You simply need to choose a physical activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and complete it on Sunday 26 April, the day the 40th London Marathon would have taken place.

 

It could be something as simple as pledging to walk, run or cycle 2.6 miles as part of your two-hours daily exercise, doing 26 star jumps or press-ups, or taking part in an online exercise class for 26 minutes.

 

Anyone can take part, whatever your age or ability.

 

It’s time to get creative! Your activity can be anything you like, based around the numbers 2.6 or 26. If you’re stuck for ideas or for more information please, take a look at: www.jerseysport.je/the-2-6-challenge/

Well done to all for joining in with a fun packed day, from home!

St Catherine’s Sailing Club’s first Virtual Regatta was a big hit this morning, with 14 Sailors taking part in a fast and furious event held over three races.

David Raimbault eventually came out on top with two 1st places and a 4th for a convincing win overall.

His brother Peter came a close second with a 2,3,2 score line, with Ollie Boyle third having scored 3,4,5.

We look forward to seeing you all on the virtual start line again soon.

Happy Easter!

Whilst we cannot be out on the water, your Committees have still been thinking sailing.  We have found some great resources that might be of interest and for those with a competitive spirit, an Easter themed Competition and some Virtual Racing.

So, to the activities:

Recycled ‘Egg Sailor’ Boat Competition – Build a small boat out of any scrap materials for example plastic bottles, cardboard, drinks cans that can support a painted egg sailor (sailor to be a hen’s egg). You can be as creative as you like.   Your videos or photos of your boat and sailor ‘floating’ will need to be submitted by 5pm on Easter Monday to any of the St Catherine’s Sailing Club WhatsApp groups or via our Facebook page – St Catherine’s Sailing Club, for judging by our Commodore Dave Jones.

Virtual Regatta – In the absence of our usual on the water activities, Dave (Pseudonym ‘St Cath’s DJ’)  is all set to run three races back to back as a Virtual Regatta event on Monday 13^th April starting at 10am.  Racing will take place in 49er’s in the Portsmouth bay area.  If you would like to join in with this racing, register for free on the Inshore area https://www.virtualregatta.com/en/inshore-game/ Please then register your intention to race by sending your name and ‘Pseudonym’ to Dave at drjonesjersey@gmail.com There are only 20 places so first come, first served.  Get practising!

Art – One of our members has been posting on Facebook free drawings to download and colour in, they are so intricate and beautiful, and of course, sea themed.  Have a look on Katherine Cadin Art.

The RYA has started the project #SailFromHome on YouTube and these sessions  are available on the British Sailing Team YouTube Channel or via Facebook.  There are some really great sessions covering strategy, interviews with Olympic Squad sailors, workouts and boat maintenance.

Hiking Bench – Perhaps you may have enough bits at home to make your own hiking bench so that you will be extra quick up wind, there are plenty of simple designs on the internet.

Have fun with your families and stay safe.

Your Committees.

Dear Members

It is with regret that I have to inform you that all sailing activities organised by St Catherine’s Sailing Club must cease with immediate effect and for the foreseeable future.

Racing and training events are now cancelled and all Club owned craft, dinghies and RiBs will remain on shore until further notice.

We are following the latest advice from Jersey Sport which complies with the requirement by the Government of Jersey for us all to practice social distancing to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. These measures are set to be in place for a considerable duration.

Private Sailing Sessions – It is of course feasible that you will want to sail privately as an individual or as a household, a very healthy option indeed.  If this is the case, please be aware of the safety factors involved and that it is your responsibility to take the necessary precautions without the benefits of the usual Club safety cover or equipment. Look at the weather forecast, sail in pairs, use a small inflatable dinghy with an outboard to provide cover for your children, tell someone ashore of your intentions.  Above all, be aware of the capabilities of every sailor and match this to the conditions in the bay.

Sailing is such a big part of our lives, a passion, an obsession!!  We are however, facing a global threat from the Coronavirus that puts sport, despite the benefits to health and wellbeing, into perspective and highlights the need for us all to play a part in looking after families and preventing the spread.

A strong family ethos and a thriving social scene has been at the heart of St Catherine’s Sailing Club since its establishment back in 1953, making it a place of healthy on the water activity, humour and joy.  As we face a prolonged period of time at home and away from our Club, please keep that social flame alive by posting your messages and videos on social media sites such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

Keep happy and healthy and I hope to see you all in the Club in the near future.

Best regards

Dave Jones

Commodore