Weymouth
Sailing
Club

So, Lockdown 2.0 ended. The dinghies tried and as usual the weather gods ensured they failed, and so it turned to the Keel Boats and Squibs to restart the delayed winter sailing at Weymouth Sailing Club.

Those who live north of Portland woke up to be greeted with a cold and frosty Sunday morning. Sometimes this would have put a few off, but after 4 weeks without sailing, there was a childish excitement among the cove pontoons on the morning of Sunday 6th December 2020, and no one even noticed the fickle NNE blowing, and it was only just above freezing. We all just wanted to go sailing!

Squib “Second Wind” – where is she now? … And news of “Quicksilver”!
By Rear Admiral John Croydon

Some of you might remember me and my Squib, “Second Wind”, racing regularly at WSC until old age forced me to sell her in 2014. I bought her from new in late 1978 and thoroughly enjoyed my sailing over 30+ years. The highlight was probably the first race of the Squib Nationals at Weymouth in 1980 which we won, and went on to record 5th overall that year! I was crewed by my son, Greg, who now sails a Dehler 36 as a member of the Club.

With RORC’s season cancelled for the first time in its history, the Drheam Cup event presented the only chance for most sailors to take part in an offshore race in this oddest of years, and so was well subscribed with nearly 100 boats entered.

Having volunteered back along before the lockdown to assist, I was keen to get across the Channel, even though, when the moment came and I could use a steady NW breeze off Portland to get the assymetric kite up, it still felt a bit strange - but I can recommend the Channel for social distancing!

Very welcome to see racing again on a perfect evening (except the wind shift)
Simon