Blackwater Sailing Club

Our Open Day was a tremendous success, attracting more than 250 visitors to the Club for a fantastic day of sailing, sunshine, and family fun. With warm weather and excellent conditions on the water, guests enjoyed a memorable introduction to the Club and the wide range of activities on offer.

Throughout the day, an impressive 190 test sails took place on the lake, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the excitement and enjoyment of sailing first-hand. In addition to the dinghy sailing sessions, visitors were also able to enjoy trips on the river aboard Club’s cruisers and RIBs, which proved popular with guests of all ages.

The event also provided a major boost for the Club, with over 40 new members joining on the day and further applications expected in the coming weeks.

The success of the Open Day was made possible by the efforts of Club members who volunteered and worked tirelessly to create such a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere both on and off the water. The Club would like to extend its sincere thanks to everyone involved in organising this important event — those who took visitors on sailing trips and tours, the membership and galley teams, and the many other helpers whose hard work ensured the day ran so smoothly.

We look forward to welcoming many new faces to the Club in the near future.

If you missed our Open Day and are interested in joining you can arrange a visit by emailing [email protected]

Photos Zoë Nelson

Huge congratulations to our Blackwater Sailing Club cadets who represented the club at the prestigious RYA Eric Twiname Junior Championships at Rutland Water!
With nearly 300 of the UK’s top young sailors competing, our cadets delivered outstanding performances — helping the East Region secure both Championship trophies!
A special shoutout to Callum Marshall for winning the ILCA 4 title after an incredible series with five race wins!
Well done also to Matthew Marshall, Leonie Fairhead and Amelie Fairhead for their fantastic efforts and sportsmanship throughout the regatta.
Proud moments for BSC and our thriving cadet programme!

Two Opens and a Grand Prix!

A very busy weekend at the club with two open meetings for Snipes and Wayfarers, and the third of our Grand Prix (“GP”) series events: the Britannia trophy for General Handicap and Short course; and the Calamity Cup for Sprites. We had an excellent turnout for all three events, and after a shaky start were lucky to get a reasonable breeze fill in on both days, albeit quite a shifty one.

Huge thanks to David Evans, Richard Marshall and their armada of helpers for organising the open meetings which were very well attended; and congrats to our BSC prize winners: Graham Hoy/Rob Haigh (2nd overall in the Wayfarers), Clemency Evans (1st lady Wayfarer helm), and BSC Cadet Jess Welch (normally seen on a Laser 4.7, finishing as 3rd place crew in the Snipes).

For the four races of the Britannia trophy Julie Nelson took the short course prize in her Mirror, whilst Laser sailor Rory Munro took the win in the general handicap. In the Sprites Marcus Gallo and Gill Callander were the victors in the Calamity Cup.

After the first three GP events Charlie Steward leads the way with an impressive 149 out of 150 possible points, closely followed by Julie Nelson on 148 points, with Jonny Garlick ten points behind in third place. Although Charlie scored all his points in a Fireball albeit with four (!) different crews, Julie achieved hers sailing both a Laser and a Mirror in the short course fleet.

Rob Carver

Photos: Zoë Nelson

Come to our Open Day this Saturday 9th May 2-6 pm. Visit our great club and find out all there is on offer for our members. From RYA training for children and adults, to an active club racing program and a thriving social scene. Saling yachts enjoy trips in company in the East Coast and dinghies race or just sail for fun throughout the year.

This Saturday you have a chance to try sailing — we’re welcoming new members of all ages and experience levels.

On the day:

Members will take visitors on free test sails on the lake
River trips on sailing yachts, RIBs, and other boats
Meet current members and find out what the club offers
Bar open all day

Whether you’re keen to learn, get back into sailing, or just enjoy time by the water, there’s a place for you here.

Come and see how you can get involved—and maybe start your sailing journey with us!

Photos © Zoë Nelson, Anna Lau, Shark Theory Media

BSC Cadet Callum Marshall kicked off 2026 in style, captaining the team representing the UK at the Monaco International Optimist Team Racing Championship. Callum qualified for this event after winning in the 2025 Nationals. This is likely to be his final international competition in an Optimist – and what a venue to sign off!

After a light-wind practice day spent exploring Monaco, racing got underway following a delayed start. Day 1 saw mixed results in challenging conditions, while Day 2 was dominated by postponements and very light winds. Despite frustration, the team stayed focused and determined.

The final days brought better breeze and strong performances, with the British team winning all three races on the last day. The team finished tied 5th on race wins with the USA, taking an impressive 6th overall on points.

A fantastic achievement and a brilliant way for Callum to conclude his international Optimist sailing. Congratulations to Callum and the team on a great result in Monaco!

Belinda Hunt

Photos © Yacht Club de Monaco

Good luck to our Cadet **Callum Marshall** who’s off to Monaco after being part of the team that won the UK Optimist National Team Racing Championships🏆⛵️

The team has now qualified to represent the **UK** at the **Monaco International Team Racing Championship** — an incredible achievement!

Sending our very best wishes from everyone at **Blackwater Sailing Club**

Happy New Year!

Many congratulations to our cadets Stanley Johnson and Austin Edwards who have received Certificates of Excellence at the East Anglian Maritime Awards.
These Awards celebrate young people across the region who are making a positive impact in maritime activities.

Many thanks & burnham Standard for the lovely coverage

It may seem like a distant memory now, but Club Week 2025 was a corker. Featuring shifty winds, sea shanties and a Celebration of the Sea!

This year’s Club Week kicked off on Wednesday 20 August with the Wayfarer fleet on duty. Thanks to perfect tide times and a steady Force 4 breeze, over 80 boats took to the water for two thrilling back-to-back races — an incredible start to the week!

Thursday saw the Fast Handicap & Fireball fleet take charge, with me helping out on the bridge and Charlie Stewart masterfully running the ramp. The second race brought high drama with two fleets finishing from Lock and four shortened at Millbeach — keeping us on our toes and grateful for the trusty Line Camera! The evening rounded off in style with the ever-popular Quiz Night, brilliantly organised by Hattie Norman and supported by Drac & Marg. With 13 teams battling it out, the finish was nail-bitingly close!

On Friday, the Sprites took over. A slow start with very little wind (shifting a full 270 degrees!) meant a 45-minute postponement, but things eventually settled at NNW Force 2. Fleets were launched, though conditions were tricky, leading to shortened courses for three fleets and the Cruisers. True grit shone through with Victor Iszatt (Optimist) and Amelia Gilbert (Topper), both refusing offers of a tow and determinedly completing Course 1 in over two and a half hours! Spirits were high later at Fleet Night on the Terrace, with plenty of fun and games.

Saturday was another action-packed day, with the Short Course & Optimists fleets running two races. Meanwhile, the club transformed for my Commodore’s Supper, themed “A Celebration of the Sea”. The costumes were incredible — from Chris Mills’ larger-than-life Jellyfish to Alan Coday’s creative Seaweed! Alison from Annie’s Caterers wowed us with a hearty fish pie supper and a show-stopping meringue dessert. Entertainment was top notch too, with the Motley Crew from Brightlingsea leading us in rousing sea shanties, followed by music and dancing on the terrace with Sam from Friday Sailors and his band.

Sunday wrapped things up with the Medium Handicap fleet, run by Guy Welch. Only one race went ahead before the legendary C**k of the Club showdown. Excitement was sky-high with 2 heats of 5 boats in our Club Zests, and a 6-boat final that kept everyone on edge. In the end, it was Mike Iszatt who sailed to victory and claimed the title!

The week concluded with a celebratory Prize Giving, led by Rear Commodore Joe Bird and myself. A huge THANK YOU to all the volunteers, organisers, sailors, and supporters who made this week such a success. What a fantastic Club Week — full of racing, fun, laughter, and memories to last until next year!

Commodore, Sheena Berney

Photos: Zoë Nelson