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Home > News > New 2021 Course Card and New Sailing Instructions from 1 May
Home > News > New 2021 Course Card and New Sailing Instructions from 1 May

New 2021 Course Card and New Sailing Instructions from 1 May

Published 14:49 on 30 Apr 2021

A brand new club racing Course Card and an updated set of club racing Sailing Instructions have been introduced and will come into force from 1 May. Copies of the course card will be available from the race office over the weekend and can also be downloaded from the website, along with the new Sailing Instructions, which confirm the Fleet Racing fleet splits for the May Mugs.

New Course Card & Slow Handicap "U" Courses

1 May 2021 sees the introduction of a new BSC course card incorporating a new BOD racing mark, a new set of "U" Courses on the back page, and a colour scheme to make it easier to check you've got the right card!

These new Course Cards will be available behind the bar to buy when normal conditions return, but until then the Race Officer will have a stock in the Sailing Management Centre. Please make sure you pick up a new Course Card before racing.

New BOD Blue Racing Mark

BOD will be returning as a Blue "BSC" barrel, in place of the Yellow cone limit mark on the CYC start line that we have used for a couple years now. Located slightly closer to the Creek, this avoids using the CYC start line and helps with the new "U" Courses.

Supplementary Illustrated Course Card for "U" Courses

The new "U" courses are aimed at making club racing more accessible to those new to racing and provides shorter courses for the Slow Handicap, Mirror and Cadet fleet racing.

Shorter than A courses, with fewer buoys and a condensed race area, we really hope to provide an opportunity for all to participate in club fleet racing, a big part of our club's calendar.

By still offering windward, leeward courses we'll be able to offer good two-lap courses for more experienced Mirrors, Cadets and Slow Handicap fleet, but provide a single lap to the slower boats and those less confident.

We want to make the step into club racing as easy as possible, so we are happy to answer any questions and give guidance to those who want to join in for the first time or return after a long break.

As part of this aim, we have created an additional special U-Course card with illustrations to help explain the courses, all of which are within sight of the promenade:


Whilst this change is squarely aimed at offering our cadets a stepping stone, it is also aimed at our less experienced and social sailors who want to try out racing.

There is no pressure to be competitive and you can happily just follow a course that doesn't go too far from the club. We want to be flexible with dinghy classes, therefore we will include slightly faster boats in the Slow Handicap fleet for those wanting to get involved but are worried their boat doesn't fit in the normal Slow Handicap PY groupings. Just talk to the OOD about participating in the Slow Handicap.

We hope this will combine with BSC's existing social, supported and transition squad sailing offerings to give more opportunities for members to participate.

If you are interested and have questions, please ask, we hope you'll come and get involved. Questions can be addressed to Stephen Cross on courses@sailbrightlingsea.com.


Last updated 12:28 on 4 March 2024

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