Whitefriars Sailing Club

23/09/2026

🏆 Congratulations to Amy Heyburn, who has won the SW Tera Sport Traveller Series! 🏆

Her unwavering focus, determination and impressive "will to win" saw her secure the 7-stage series after just four rounds, a huge achievement, and no doubt some very proud parents.

After winning the Sport series at Starcross SC last weekend, today she switched her focus to the larger, fully-battened Pro sail and, true to form, went on to win the Open at Bowmoor.

Also flying the WSC flag was Sam Akehurst, who dominated the Sport fleet today and won the Sport Open! Sam has had a great season of results, which has led to him being accepted into the sought-after Draycote Youth Sailing Academy, run by renowned coach Steve Irish. Sticking with the Sport for another season, Sam is definitely one to watch on the circuit.

The series takes place across the South West from Fowey to Bowmoor, with WSC kicking off the series in May. It promotes the Pathway class, development of sailors, friendships and engagement across the clubs.

Next up is the RS Tera End of Season Championships, the final major event before our travelling Teras settle into their winter training squads.
However, there's no rest for their boat fairies, with training once again spread across the SW.

Thank you to all our WSC members, Juniors and our race coaches who have supported our sailors from the first time they stepped into a boat to travelling to Germany this year representing the club and GBR.

20/09/2026

⛵ Sunday Racing: The John Vines Cup ⛵

This Sunday’s racing was a Cup Day, where all four races counted towards a single trophy, rather than forming part of a longer series.

The John Vines Cup is named in memory of John Vines, a long-standing Merlin Rocket sailor and former Sailing Secretary and Rear Commodore (Sailing) during the late 1980s and early 1990s. John played a key role in modernising how Whitefriars Sailing Club recorded and displayed race results, and was well known for his enthusiastic approach to reminding members about their duties, often via a timely phone call and the occasional good-natured name-and-shame for no-shows!

The trophy includes a wooden plaque featuring a Merlin Rocket and a tribute to one of John's most memorable trademarks. Rather than a burgee, John was often spotted leaving a trail of pipe smoke around the club, making him easy to find both on and off the water.

Today, around a dozen boats took to the water for four closely contested races, with sailors of all ages and abilities enjoying some competitive racing.

Congratulations to Richard Gimmler, who claimed overall victory in his RS Aero and took home this year's John Vines Cup. 🏆

A special mention also goes to Robin Kidd, who received a spot prize for taking part in his first Cup Day. Robin sailed an one of the Junior fleet’s ILCA’s and embraced the challenge with enthusiasm.

Well done to everyone who raced, volunteered, and helped make the day a success.

More photos in the comments.

📷 Thanks to Rob Panting for videos and photos.

27/05/2026

Whitefriars SC was proud to host the opening round of the 2026 RS Tera South West Traveller Series on 16 May and this year’s RYA Pathway Club Championship qualifier. The event welcomed 19 young sailors from across the region.

A steady breeze set the scene for some brilliant racing, with Amy Heyburn leading the way to take the overall win for Whitefriars, followed closely by Jonas Spicer (first Pro) and Oscar Lee, also Whitefriars in 3rd. It was fantastic to see determined performances right through the fleet, including first‑time open‑event sailors growing in confidence race by race.

Prizes were generously donated by RS and Rooster. Spot prizes also went to sailors showing great effort, improvement and spirit on the water - Tilly White (Bowmoor SC), William Redshaw (Draycote Water SC), and Hugh Fitzjohn-Sykes (Stoke Gabriel) for effort and consistent racing. Abigail Redshaw (Draycote Water SC) and Charlie Hesling (Whitefriars SC), both for competing in their first open events

Huge thanks to all our volunteers who made the day such a success. The series now heads to Exe SC on 23 May — full details at rstera.org.uk/southwesttraveller2026.

26/05/2026

What a brilliant Bank Holiday on the water — sailing boats drifting by, paddle boards out exploring, geese shepherding their goslings, tents on the shore and even a bit of relaxed rowing. A weekend escape to relax, recharge and make memories on and off the water.

10/05/2026

🌟 Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Open Day! 🌟

We had a fantastic day welcoming so many new faces and showcasing everything that makes Whitefriars Sailing Club such a great place to sail, learn and socialise. We hope you enjoyed getting a feel for the club and what we offer both on and off the water.

If the Open Day has inspired you to get involved, we’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re completely new to sailing or already experienced, there’s a place for you at Whitefriars.

For membership information, please contact our Membership Secretary, Jen, at [email protected], or visit:

👉 https://www.whitefriarssc.org/join-us

Missed the Open Day? Don’t worry! If you couldn’t make it but would still like to come and see the club, just get in touch and we’ll be happy to arrange a visit.

And finally, a huge thank you to our club members who gave their time and energy to help make the Open Day such a success — thank you!

We hope to welcome new members soon — see you on the water! ⛵

06/05/2026

Our Whitefriars Juniors did the club proud at the Eric Twiname Championships at Rutland Water this weekend. We entered three sailors in the Tera Sport Class.

Amy absolutely smashed it and powered to 3rd Top Girl; Oscar delivered his best championship performance yet with a race win; Sam fought every race with real determination and cunning tactics.

Amazing sailing from all three in a huge 48‑boat RS TERA fleet!

The Eric Twiname Foundation supports youth sailing throughout the country. They have supported WSC by heavily subsiding the purchase of our three Mk2 Tera’s and organise events such as this which is free to enter.

https://www.erictwinametrust.org/news-1

Next up is the Whitefriars Tera Open on the 16th, which kicks off the SW Tera Traveller series. There are still club boats available for members.

Yours Aye

Juniors

https://www.sailwave.com/results/ET/ETTeraSport2026.html

05/05/2026

Race Report - Salcombe N12 Open

Two National 12s from Whitefriars headed west for the Salcombe Open over the Bank Holiday. Salcombe sits firmly on many sailors’ bucket lists, thanks to its stunning scenery and long maritime history — and it did not disappoint. We enjoyed three days of racing alongside Salcombe Yawls and RS 400s, in conditions that showed off the venue in all its moods.

Day One delivered a single race out to sea, beyond the harbour entrance. Conditions were “character-building”: rain, strong wind and plenty of waves. Ed Willett and Sarah Robinson were sailing N12 #3410 for the very first time since Ed restored her over the winter. #3410 is no ordinary Twelve — the very first Feeling Foolish ever built, and the mother (and grandmother) of many Foolishes moulded from her. No pressure, then.

Day Two brought two races, both inside the harbour. Trystan Leonard was sailing on the sea for the first time, crewed by Hope Halstad. Add in the tide, several other racing classes, and a lively collection of moving and stationary obstacles, and it proved rather different from the calm predictability of Whitefriars Lake.

Ed briefly surprised himself by leading the fleet — something he later admitted was slightly awkward, as he wasn’t entirely sure where the course went. The National 12s eventually caught the RS 400 fleet, who had started earlier. One irate RS 400 helm was heard expressing strong feelings about being overtaken by a National 12; Sarah politely pointed out that they could hear every word.

After a lovely pub dinner in town and the essential sampling of Salcombe crab, the Whitefriars sailors made their way up to Salcombe Yacht Club for drinks. We admired the view, the grand surroundings, and the walrus head — sporting a jaunty hat — above the bar entrance. Most of all, we enjoyed the warm hospitality and excellent company of the club and its home sailors.

Day Three saw only Trystan and Hope take to the water for the final race, earning the prestigious title of First Whitefriars Boat by default. Despite a forecast promising no wind, the day turned out sunny and breezy. Racing extended further inland to Mark 5 near Charleton Point. With the wind up, helm and crew were hiking hard when Hope missed the footstrap and exited the boat backwards in a textbook woman-overboard manoeuvre.

After recovering and heading back towards the main harbour, they found themselves crossing both the Salcombe Yawls and RS 400s once more. Having successfully ducked a Yawl, the tiller slipped from Trystan’s hands, resulting in their first — and only — capsize of the weekend. Properly baptised in Salcombe Harbour, they completed the full 2.5-hour race and returned to the slipway, ready for the journey home.

Huge thanks to Salcombe Yacht Club for hosting us. Fantastic racing in an iconic setting — we’ll be back next year for sure.

National 12

04/05/2026

Women on Water (WoW) is one of the thriving groups at Whitefriars Sailing Club, combining sail coaching with a friendly, social atmosphere. WoW supports women from RYA Level 2 onwards to develop sailing skills and confidence in a welcoming and supportive environment.

We run monthly on‑the‑water sessions during the warmer months and take part in a range of wider club events. The group encourages women to progress their sailing in whatever way suits them — whether that’s improving racing skills, building confidence on the water, or simply enjoying sailing and social time with other women.

So far this year we’ve held three WoW sessions, covering a wide range of skills including course‑made‑good, mark rounding, understanding wind shadows on our lake, roll tacks and man‑overboard drills. Coming up, WoW will be entering a team in the 8‑Hour Race at the club regatta, and we’re also hoping to organise a yacht sailing weekend on the Solent.

WoW will be at our Open Day on Saturday 9 May, so if you’re interested in sailing, meeting the group, or finding out more about Whitefriars Sailing Club, come along and say hello.

Who can join?
WoW is open to female Whitefriars Sailing Club members aged 18+.

Cost: £30 for the season — includes coaching and use of club boats.

Find out more here:
👉 https://www.whitefriarssc.org/women-on-water

2026 Sailing dates:

Sat 21 Mar
Sat 18 April
Sat 02 May
Sun 05 July
Sat 25 July
Sat 22 Aug
Sat 12 Sep
Sat 10 Oct
Sat 07 Nov

Club events with WoW participation:

09 May: Club Open Day
30-31 May: National 12 Open, crewing opportunities
27-28 June: Regatta Weekend
27-31 July: Adventure week - camping

03/05/2026

Last weekend saw some of our young Whitefriars sailors at Burton SC in the first of this year’s national RS Tera championships. In light, shifty and seriously challenging conditions — including an epic 6.5 hours on the water on Sat — all three of our sailors delivered outstanding performances, finishing inside the top 10 against the best in the country.

Huge congratulations to Oscar Lee (5th), Amy Heyburn (7th) and Sam Akehurst (8th). Their determination, skill and sportsmanship were clear to see, and we’re incredibly proud that Whitefriars had more sailors in the top 10 than any other club.

All three of these sailors came up through our fantastic Junior Section, whose volunteer coaches support and inspire young people on the water. If you’d like to see what junior sailing at Whitefriars is all about, our Open Day on Sat 9th May is the perfect chance to meet the team, chat to our instructors and find out how to get involved.

29/04/2026

Whitefriars is proud to be one of the first five sailing clubs to be awarded Para Pathway by the RYA. Congratulations to all involved in preparing the application and all our para sailors! 🎉♿️⛵️

First wave of Para Pathway Clubs announced!

Five clubs have received British Sailing Pathway status in recognition of their commitment to accessible training and racing for sailors with disabilities.

These Para Pathway Clubs will deliver affordable, high-quality coaching and racing, foster a supportive team culture, and provide safe, enjoyable environments for training and competition.

National Para Sailing Coach Brett Cokayne said the programme will expand grassroots opportunities, support talent development, and help build towards sailing’s return to the Paralympics.

Find out more: http://rya.org/RsXg50YQvtW