Bewl Day

Being at Bewl is always a pleasure. The scenery, clubhouse, facilities and foreshore are second to none. Even the journey to and from is easy. The sailing is usually great, given a halfway decent amount of wind. However every now and again the odds conspire against you and the conditions are less than ideal. Bank holiday Sunday was such a day.

Lyn and I arrived mid morning to be met on the launching ramp by Laurie Bridges, Richard Cannon, Mike Stevens and Robert Britton who were there for the weekend. I got Over Easy rigged in double quick time and launched straight away. That sail turned out to be the best of the day. I even managed to get her up on the plane a couple of times ! I stayed out a couple of hours and as I came back in the Beachmaster hailed me. He said a couple of folks were looking for the Aquarius crowd.

‘The folks’ turned out to be Phil Courtney and his girl friend Anne. While I was talking to them, another old friend from the Hawker SC turned up from Germany

with his wife and kids. Things were getting crowded on the pontoon. In the middle of everything ST368 sailed in. Problem solved ! Take experienced helm from one party and novice crew form the other, put in dinghy and shove them off. Take remaining folks from both parties and introduce to club restaurant for lunch.

I sailed in the afternoon but the wind was dropping all the time. By four o’clock most of the dinghy’s were coming off the water. I packed Over Easy up and Lyn and I made our way back to The Grasshopper at Westerham for dinner. The others stayed down for the Monday racing.

I suppose some folks might say that going all the way to somewhere like Bewl Water just for a few hours sailing is too much hassle, and they might be right. I guess that if you’ve only ever sailed on the river then you might be satisfied, but if you’ve ever experienced the buzz of sailing on open water then an opportunity to sail at Bewl is just not to be missed. If you doubt me, next time we go, come down and I’ll personally take you out and show you what you’ve been missing !

Mike (Over Easy) Baker