Blackwater Sailing Club upcoming events

Tuesday Evening Talk (14/04/2026)

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:30:00 GMT

A Sailing Adventure in the Gulfs of Persia & Oman

by Julian Berney

This will be the last talk of the season on Tuesday 14th April at 19:30.

Before the escalation of the conflict with Iran the waters of these two Gulfs told a very different story. This talk illustrates sailing in the region through competing in the Muscat to Dubai race where crews have to navigate shifting winds, international waters with broad exclusion zones, and long night passages. Set against a region on the brink the race becomes a snapshot of a fleeting moment – when the Straits of Hormuz was still a corridor for tourism, sport, and crucial shipping lanes.

The Osea room bar opens at 18:30 and the talk starts in the main upper deck club room room at 19:30

No need to book, just turn up. Non members from other sailing clubs welcome.

BSC Topper Open (19/04/2026)

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

BSC Topper Open

Sunday 19th April

BSC is hosting a Topper Open meeting on Sunday 19th April. We hope to run three races; racing will be from the club line and around the club marks. Visitors are very welcome but should register in advance. Registration is £5 for members and £15 for visitors.

Registration closes at 5pm on Saturday 18th April.

NOTE: BSC Sailors will need to register seperately for race coaching on the 18th April

Notice of race

Sailing instructions

Depending on the number of entries we may run a coached regatta fleet, and/or have seperate prizes for 5.3 and 4.2 rigs. Please indicate your preferences on the form. Rig sizes can be changed at registration.

Entrants must be confident river sailors with their own boats (BSC Tango or MG BSC training groups). Cadets of primary school age must have a parent on-site at all times. All visitors must have a responsible adult on site at all times.

As always, we need adults to help this event run smoothly, people to help launch and recover boats, a bridge team, race coaches to help less confident sailors, and crews for the safety boats.

Approximate Timings:

Registration opens (lower deck): 1000
Briefing (lower deck): 1100
1st race starts after: 1215
High Water: 1452
Approximate finish time: 1600
Target time for prizegiving: 1730

This is not a catered event, however BSC has a well equipped members galley where you can prepare and cook your own hot drinks and food.

Please complete the registration form using the 'Register' link on this page, or contact Cadet Events for more information.

cadet-events@blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

Wayfarer class training (01/05/2026)

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Wayfarer Class Training

Multiple time Wayfarer champion, Michael MacNamara, has kindly agreed to run a class training session at the Blackwater Sailing Club on Friday, 1st May. This timed to take place the day before the Wayfarer Open meeting to be held at the Club on Saturday, 2nd May (register here: https://blackwatersailingclub.org.uk/event-6620152 ).

The cost for the training day is £40 per boat. Entry is limited initially to eight boats although a waiting list will be in place if the event proves popular. At least one person per boat must either be a member of the UK Wayfarer Class Association or a member of the Blackwater Sailing Club.

The Blackwater Sailing Club is located at: Basin Road, Heybridge, Maldon, Essex CM9 4SD. The event organiser is David Evans and he can be reached by email to: evansdch@gmail.com or by telephone on: 07956 479987.

The timetable of the event will be announced a few days beforehand but it is expected to start no later than 10am and will run all day. The event is “self-catered” and the club has a galley where hot drinks and light meals can be prepared. Participants attending the Open meeting are welcome to camp at the club on the Friday evening.

Blackwater SC Snipe Open Meeting (02/05/2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Snipe Open at the Blackwater Sailing Club

Registration is now open. Only 1 registration required per boat.

Saturday 2nd May HW is 14:05

Sunday 3rd May HW is 14:37

Camping available for the weekend.

Contact richardmarshall77@gmail.com for more details.

Notice of Race

Sailing instructions

Blackwater SC Wayfarer Open Meeting (02/05/2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Wayfarer Open at the Blackwater Sailing Club

Registration is now open. Only 1 registration required per boat.

Saturday 2nd May HW is 14:05

Sunday 3rd May HW is 14:37

Camping available for the weekend.

Contact evansdch@gmail.com for more details.

Notice of Race

Sailing instructions

Open Day (09/05/2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The Club is open to the public from 2 pm to 6 pm to come and have a look round and to have a taster sail on the lake and rib and cruiser rides on the river.

Guided tours of the clubhouse will be running all day and there will be refreshments (hot drinks & cakes) from the Upper Galley. The Lower deck Bar will also be open.

Come along with your family to see what is on offer from our splendid sailing club!

Blackwater Sailing Club, Basin Road, Heybridge, Maldon, CM9 4SD

Regatta Day 2026 (04/07/2026)

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

BSC Regatta Day 2025

Race briefing TBC

First Race start 14:30

HW 16:20

Separate fleets for Fast, Medium, Short, Wayfarers, Sprites, Mirrors & Cruisers. Instructions on the day on the race board. Pre-register using the link, when available. Registration is available on the day, but it helps the race officer if you can register beforehand.

Onshore activities (details to follow)

Crabbing Contest

Greasy Pole

Swimming races

Cork race

Regatta Tea & Cakes

RNLI

Upper Galley Catering & Bar open

Prize Giving

Evening social

Club Week 2026 - Racing & Social Info (10/08/2026)

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Club Week 2026

Monday 10th to Saturday 15th August

Start Times

Monday - Race start 09:15

Tuesday - Race start 10:30

Wednesday - Race Start 11:15

Thursday - Race Start 12:00

Friday - Race Start 12:45

Saturday - Race Start 13:15

Duty Days tbc

You need to be logged on as a member to access the following links.

To register for racing, please use the following link, when available.

We are happy to run a short course fleet, which will include the usual Topper, Tera, Feva classes etc , but also for those who have boats than would normally sail in medium, but are new to racing or don't want such a long course. Please add short course in the comments.

Social Events:

Details to follow

Reid Scott Junior Race Series (29/08/2026)

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 10:15:00 GMT

REGISTRATION CLOSES 9th AUGUST

Reid Scott Junior Race Series

29th - 30th August 2026

The briefing will be on the upper deck at the following times:

Date	High Water	Briefing
29th August (Sat)	14:28	11:15
30th August (Sun)	15:01	12:00

Please note that new for 2026 the Reid Scott Junior Race Series (Sat/Sun) will be run as a separate event to the Beastie Tour (Monday 31st August). This event just refers to the Reid Scott. Please register separately for the Beastie Tour.

Reid Scott is a series of races held over two days. We plan to run at least two races each day. It is open to Cadets and Junior members: All entrants need to be at least 8 years old, and less than 25 years old on 31st August 2026. All those who wish to enter must be confident river sailors with their own boats (For BSC sailors this means you were in Tango or MG training groups at cadet week 2026, or have reached this level if you are now a young member or ex cadet).

We anticipate that there will be the following classes:

Optimists

Topper / RS Tera

RS Feva

ILCA / Laser (all rigs)

420 / General handicap

Subject to demand and the availability of coaches, we may run separate coached regatta fleets in the Optimist and Topper / RS Tera fleets, and/or provide on-the-water coaching in both regatta and main fleets.

As always, we need adults to help this event run smoothly. We need people to help launch and recover boats, a bridge team, and crews for the safety boats.

Entry fee for Visitors: £22 per boat. Payable online in advance or at registration. BSC club members do not need to pay. All boats must sign on to race each day, even if they are registered.

Registration will open from 11:00 on Saturday, 29th August, and there will be a briefing at 11:15 in the lower deck.

Registration will open from 11:45 on Sunday, 30th August, and there will be a briefing at 12:00 in the lower deck.

Timings and Supervision Requirements

Date	Race Start time
	Provisional
Saturday - 29th August	12:30
Sunday - 30th August	13:00

Visitors under the age of 18, and BSC cadets under the age of 12, need to have a parent on site at all times (volunteering on a rescue boat counts as 'on site').

Camping

Overnight camping is permitted on the BSC site on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Contact Cadet Events for more details at

cadet-events@blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

Beastie Tour (31/08/2026)

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:30:00 GMT

Beastie Tour

Monday 31st August 2026

The briefing will be on the lower deck at the following times:

Date	High Water	Briefing
31st August (Monday)	15:34	12:30

Please note that new for 2026 the Reid Scott Junior Race Series (Sat/Sun) will be run as a separate event to the Beastie Tour (Monday 31st August). This event just refers to the Beastie Tour. Please register separately for the Reid Scott.

ELIGIBILITY

All entrants need to be at least 8 years old, and less than 19 years old on 31st August 2026

Entered in one of the following boats:

Optimist
RS Feva
RS Tera
ILCA 4 / Laser 4.7

Full Notice of Race to be posted here Spring 2026

For BSC Sailors you will need to have participated in an MG group during Cadet Week 2026

Cadet and Junior End-of-Seasons Race Series (24/10/2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT

REGISTRATION CLOSES 4th OCTOBER

Cadet and Junior End-of-Seasons Race Series

24th - 26th October 2026

The briefing will be on the lower deck at the following times:

Date	High Water	Briefing
24th October (Sat)	11:56	09:00
25th October (Sun)	11:39	09:00* *Note DST ends
26th October (Mon)	12:20	09:15

The End of Seasons is a series of races held over three days. We plan to run two or three races each day, depending on the weather. It is open to Cadets and Junior members: All entrants need to be at least 8 years old, and less than 25 years old on 31st December 2026. All those who wish to enter must be confident river sailors with their own boats (For BSC sailors this means you were in Tango or MG training groups at cadet week, or you raced in the Reid Scott).

We anticipate that there will be the following classes:

Optimists

Topper / RS Tera

RS Feva

ILCA / Laser (all rigs)

420 / General handicap

We hope to provide on the water coaching for less experienced sailors.

We welcome visitors for this event but you must register in advance and there is a nominal charge; please indicate if you are a visitor on the form and you will be invoiced for the cost which you can pay by bank transfer.

Please pre-register so we can plan the event. It will also be very useful to know if you are able to help out as a volunteer: as always we need adults to help this event run smoothly; we need people to help launch and recover boats, we need a bridge team, and we need crews for the safety boats.

Note that all visitors under the age of 18 and BSC cadets under the age of 12 need to have a parent on site at all times (volunteering on a rescue boat counts as 'on site').

Contact - Cadet Events for more details

cadet-events@blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

EAMA (East Anglian Maritime Awards) Prize Giving (11/11/2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 18:30:00 GMT

By invitation only.

A celebration of the achievements and ambitions of young peple in or around boats, on water or ashore, across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Blackwater Sailing Club upcoming events

Tuesday Evening Talk (14/04/2026)

BSC Topper Open (19/04/2026)

Wayfarer class training (01/05/2026)

Blackwater SC Snipe Open Meeting (02/05/2026)

Blackwater SC Wayfarer Open Meeting (02/05/2026)

Open Day (09/05/2026)

Regatta Day 2026 (04/07/2026)

Club Week 2026 - Racing & Social Info (10/08/2026)

Reid Scott Junior Race Series (29/08/2026)

REGISTRATION CLOSES 9th AUGUST

Reid Scott Junior Race Series

29th - 30th August 2026

Date

High Water

Briefing

Date

Race Start time

Beastie Tour (31/08/2026)

Beastie Tour

Monday 31st August 2026

Date

High Water

Briefing

Cadet and Junior End-of-Seasons Race Series (24/10/2026)

REGISTRATION CLOSES 4th OCTOBER

Cadet and Junior End-of-Seasons Race Series

24th - 26th October 2026

Date

High Water

Briefing

EAMA (East Anglian Maritime Awards) Prize Giving (11/11/2026)