RACING NEWS

Derek Braid has kindly provided us with some snaps of dinghy racing on 24/04/21. You can view them in this album.

Mat Ford has kindly sent on some pictures of our long-awaited return to racing action on 10/04/21.

28th March saw ELYC Race Squad have their first coaching session of 2021.  Covid restrictions have sadly meant a bit of a gap since the last one, but the cadets thoroughly relished their time on the water together.  The session was led by our very own Steve Fraser who kindly stepped in as the regular squad coaches were not yet able to travel to East Lothian.  Amid windy conditions, the squad practiced starts and triangular courses.  Roll on the next session!

Those in and around the racing, and training scenes at ELYC will be very aware of some of the very talented young sailors currently lining up on our start lines. Rory Ferrier is one such sailor. 

Rory has recently stepped into the Laser class and is showing a drive an determination which is an example to us all.

Having sailed his Laser just four times, Rory submitted an application to RYA Scotland's Performance Manager, Matt Toynbee and Laser class coach Iain McLaughlin, to be considered for two non-residential training camps to be held towards the end of November and early December. The selection criteria for the camps are as follows:

       •   Commitment to progressing along the pathway towards the British Sailing Team

       •   Potential to develop adaptive expertise and to excel in developing key skills

       •   Application of the British Youth Sailing Values and Behaviours

Rory had already impressed Iain McLaughlin at a recent RYA Academy session at Dalgety Bay, having given some older and more established Laser youth sailors a real run for their money. 

So much so that Iain and Matt penned a lovely email to Rory, inviting him to the first camp at Port Edgar this weekend (14/15th November). To be one of only five Laser sailors in Scotland to be invited to said camps, shows just how far Rory has come and how hard he has worked during his youth sailing career.

But wait.....there's more! Steve Cockerill from Rooster also learned of Rory's rise through the ranks and is not only sponsoring Rory, but has asked him to be an Ambassador for Rooster. 

Steve was impressed with Rory's passion and humility and wanted to do something for Rory. Quoted as saying "WOW young Ferrier, your story brought back memories of my youth. You WILL go far!" What an achievement!

Rory's Dad, Colin, had this to say. "For Rory and me, our hearts lie off the coast of North Berwick, the opportunities for Rory’s development often lie elsewhere, so when he’s around in NB, he’ll be keen to come down to sail at the Club and do what he loves most, exchanging stories and fun with the members, young and old".

Hard work personified. Go get em', Rory. ELYC will be cheering you on.

Commodore Nick Roche has kindly forwarded on some pictures of Autumn 3's Saturday racing.

The brave souls who took to the water managed to get two races in before beating a hasty retreat due to a heavy squall and a building swell.

Congratulations to Brendan & Ellen, Fi & Helen who finished 1st and 3rd respectively at the RS 200 Scottish Championships. Click for more.

Derek Braid, Nick Roche and Donald MacKinnon have provided us with some great photos of some of the action and activities of various club members, as we carefully and respectfully return to the water sports we love.

Enjoy!

Racing (for some) is back! The Lockdown Shakedown is on for this Saturday afternoon. If you have at least 2 seasons experience and participation in at least 10 sailing events in 2019 under your belt, register for one of the 3 racing flights departing this coming Saturday, via one of the following event links:

Flight 1 - 2pm start

Flight 2 - 2.20pm start

Flight 3 - 2.40pm start

There is a maximum of 5 boats per flight. Existing registrations should be visible on the event registration page for each flight to enable dinghy classes to self-organise. Club dinghy hire is not available at the present time so this is Own Boat only.

Please read and abide by the COVID-19 Operating Procedures, specifically:

Arrive ready to go afloat or be prepared to change outdoors. The dinghy park offers some sheltered spaces.

Stay in your allocated flight of five boats, do not interact with or join other flights on shore.

Allow flights ahead of you to launch before moving to the beach.

Do not use the harbour hose for wash down, fill a bucket before your launch and wash down in your dinghy space.

Race safe!

The ELYC open regatta originally planned for 6-7 June is, of course, cancelled. If sailing resumes this year, we will re-schedule the open regatta for a weekend in September or October and we will issue a NoR when it is safe and sensible to do so.