Saturday Skimmers

Back in Action from Saturday 7th April 2018! (see below for other key dates)

Saturday Skimmers runs from 9.30am to 1pm almost every Saturday from the beginning of April till the end of September. We aim to run three group sessions according to ability.

Racing group: half an hour of on water race coaching followed by three races back to back each week as part of the Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer and Autumn Series.

Intermediate group: introduction to racing and the opportunity to practice skills before moving on to the main racing group.

Beginner group: learn how to sail using the Club's Optimist dinghies. Please be aware that for this group it is sometimes necessary to restrict the numbers of boats on the water or to hold a shore-based session instead if there are strong winds or adverse tide conditions.  

We have a few other Club boats available for those who don't yet have their own boat. Boats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that if a boat is borrowed it is the sailor's responsibility to ensure it is cleaned of any mud and is packed away properly at the end of the session. It is very likely that the younger sailors will need parental assistance, particularly in bringing their boat up from the beach to the dinghy park after sailing.

Skimmers, run entirely by Club volunteers, caters for juniors aged 7 to 18. A parent/guardian needs to be on site during these sessions if sailors are under 16 years. Try up to six sessions free before joining. For membership details click here.

Adults are encouraged to help support the Skimmers programme - we need drivers and crew for the safety boats (drivers need to hold the Safety Boat certification), assistance in the race box (no prior experience necessary), help with launch/recovery of the dinghies on the beach, and help in the kitchen every week!

Lending a hand with the running of the programme from time to time or regularly is a great way to get to know other members and their families and to enjoy the benefits of the Club. Please do volunteer - the latest rota is available to view each week upstairs in the clubhouse and it is easy to sign up, just add your name to a vacant slot. If you would like to know more about what is involved in helping out, please ask one of the Skimmers Team or other parents.

Outline programme for Saturdays:

9.30 a.m. Arrive, rig boats and move them to the beach, change into sailing gear (wetsuits/buoyancy aids available)
10.00am Helpers launch safety boats & Racers have briefing
10.15am Racers launch for on water coaching/briefing for Intermediate & Beginners groups
10.30am Beginners/Intermediate groups launch
11.00am Start of first race or training sessions
12.30pm Boats ashore and short group debrief
1.00 pm Session ends - sausages/snacks and drinks for sale in the Clubhouse

We ask that you arrive promptly at 9.30am and sign in so that we know how many sailors are participating and who is available to assist on the day to enable us to allocate resources appropriately.

Other dates for 2018

Wilsonian SC is hosting the KSSA New Racers Regatta on 16th June. This is aimed at sailors who have just started racing e.g. at the end of 2017/during 2018, suitable for Topper, Optimist, Tera and Feva sailors in particular. Please pre-register www.kssa.co.uk. Owing to this Regatta we will not be holding our usual Skimmers sessions that day but we will of course need parental support to run the event. More experienced sailors interested in assisting at the Regatta, please let the Skimmers team know.

Medway Regatta - 14th/15th July. No Skimmers this weekend due to the Regatta but Junior racers can take part in this event.

Junior Week - 21st- 25th August (members only). This caters for complete beginners through to experienced racers and follows the RYA Stages 1 to 3 and Racing courses. The week culminates in the Junior Regatta which is also open to juniors who have not attended Junior Week.

Please note we will not be holding Skimmers on Saturday 18th August immediately prior to Junior week.

There will be no racing at WSC on Saturday 28th April; instead the Racers group may take part in the KSSA Opening Splash Regatta at Medway Yacht Club. Results will be extracted from this event and will count towards the Skimmers Spring Series. A Club RIB will be escorting racers to and from MYC and will be in attendance all day. Beginners and Intermediate groups will go ahead at Wilsonian as usual.

Skimmers in 2018 will end on Saturday 29th September with the Pursuit Race followed by the Skimmers lunch and prize giving for sailors and their families.