CADULT sessions – what to expect

This group has grown out of the desire from adult club members to learn to sail in a relaxed and less structured way than racing or completing a RYA course, although many then go on to get qualifications and participate in our club races.

A typical session would involve arriving about 1 to 1¼ hours before launch to get the boats rigged, get yourself dressed into sailing kit, help launch the Safety Boats and be ready for safety briefings on the sailing areas and conditions. A range of volunteers will help by helming or crewing for you and drive the Safety Boats.

We usually launch about 2 hours before high water, and sail towards Alresford Creek where the river widens and we can sail off Whitehouse Beach. Weather permitting, on some occasions we have a long social sail starting on the falling tide and sail up to Brightlingsea or Mersea, spend the day with a picnic, and sail back with the tide in the late afternoon.

Once back at the Club, the Cadults are expected to wash and put away the dinghies and Safety Boats. Quite often the bar will be opened and a “bring-your-own” BBQ may be fired up so we can share tales of our adventures over a drink.

There are also on-shore training sessions on boat handling and “beery-theory” sessions arranged in the bar over the winter and instead of sailing on days when the weather prevents sailing going ahead.

We are not an RYA Training Centre so we can’t offer formal qualifications, but the volunteers are all experienced sailors and know the river.

Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteering activities include:
• Cleaning the Hards (the concrete and stone slipways) of mud. Normally this is done as part of an organised working party
• Boat maintenance (under supervision)
• Bar shifts (full training given)
• Safety Boat crewing for social sails and races (we can train you to crew and helm a Safety Boat)
• Gardening & Grounds Maintenance
• Helping at open days
• Building maintenance
• And any specific skills you can bring to the Club

Contacts are:
Bar:  Bill Wilson  email
Gardening:  Jenny Gifford  email
Hard cleaning:  Vice Commodore/Hon Sailing Secretary
Building Maintenance:  Alan Tyne  email