It was an absolutely thrilling finale at BSC for our Grand Prix series. Going into the final weekend Julie Nelson had already sewn up the short course trophy, with Tracy Haigh in a reasonably secure second place, but third place was still up for grabs with Oliver Keeble, Victor Iszatt and Kiley Gooch with just five points between them. In the general handicap series, Jonny Garlick was in the lead but family commitments meant he wouldn’t be taking part in the final two events. This put Jon Simpson, Gill Callandar, Rob Carver and Mike Smith all in the frame with a chance of winning.
Saturday saw the Dyer cup… and it was windy! For safety reasons Race Officer Paul decided to stick to a club line start rather than the traditional downriver send off. The main fleet were sent down river to ‘the doctor’ where they enjoyed some very lumpy waves courtesy of the wind against tide, with gusts of near 30 knots. Naturally there were a few swims. There was a well deserved victory for Maria Richards and Luca Batley in the fireball. Callum Marshall was just one second back on corrected time in an ILCA4, with Rob Carver and Ronnie Bartlett finishing third in their RS2000. In the overall series this gave Rob some crucial points as he gained on Jon (5th), Gill (6th sailing a Sprite with Steve Jarreed) and Mike (8th as a fireball crew for Richard Thomas).
The short course fleet avoided the worst of the weather with a truncated course. Oliver Keeble laid down the gauntlet for the other podium contenders with an emphatic victory in his Oppie, over 3 minutes ahead on corrected time. Carlie Jenkins was second in an ILCA4, and Julie Nelson and Kylie Gooch finished third in their mirror.
At the end of the day the numbers were crunched. Oliver was now on 245 points, 7 ahead of Kiley. With double points in the final Kiley would need to beat him by four places overall to snatch back third in the overall GP series. In the general series Jon Simpson took back the lead he has held on and off all year. But he was just nine points ahead of Gill and 16 ahead of Rob. With double points on offer Jon couldn’t relax yet.
The morning of the final dawned with lighter winds and a tense atmosphere in the boat park. A brutal format for the final awaited the main contenders – double points, two races, and no discard. Nobody could afford a disqualification, but everyone was very keen to win. Hence it was no surprise to see an individual recall in the general fleet, with nobody taking any chances and going back even if there was a hint they were over the line.
Conditions clearly suited the ILCA6, with Callum, Austin Edwards and Jess Welch taking the top three places. However with none of them in contention for the overall series it was the action behind that mattered, and they finished in their overall series order: Jon 4th, Gill and Steve Jarred 5th, and Rob and Ronnie in 6th.
Meanwhile in the short course it was another oppie victory with Jenson Edwards taking the win, followed by Howard Knott. Olivers third place kept him in contention for third.
The final race of the day was far too tense and exciting, with the general fleet very badly behaved on the start line resulting in a reluctant use of the general recall flag. When they got away cleanly it was a tight race in lighter and shifty winds. Victory went to Ben and Rob Haigh in their Wayfarer, with Jon in second and Rob and Ronnie taking third. Steve and Gill were fourth.
The short course start was less contentious, and Howard took the win. Chris Briggs was second in an ILCA6, with Julie and Kiley third. Oliver was a disappointing fifth – would this spoil his victory party?
After the computer software had done it’s work, the GP final event results were; in the short course: 1st Howard, 2nd Jenson, 3rd Chris Briggs. Oliver finished 4th, one point ahead of Julie and Kiley, securing him the final short course podium position in the overall GP series.
The general results were extremely close, with 1st and 2nd tied on points; and then just 3 points back 3rd to 6th also had to be separated on count back. Callum’s race win gave him 1st place ahead of Jon; whilst third place was taken by Rob and Ben. Rob and Ronnie were 4th, Steve and Gill were 6th, and Richard and Mike were back in 9th. This gave Jon the overall GP series win, but wasn’t quite enough for Rob to overtake Gill who finished four points ahead of him.
Everyone gathered for the prize giving to give away numerous bottles of wine, chocolates and scented candles. We also awarded two new trophies to the overall winners. Each trophy is named after a valued member of the BSC racing community who we’ve lost in the last 12 months: Brett Townsend and Phil Newman. The Townsend trophy was given to Julie Nelson for winning the short course, and the Newman trophy to Jon Simpson. The latter was particularly poignant as Jon was sailing Phil’s old Finn.
General series winners: Steve Jarred, Mike Smith, Jon Simpson, Gill Callander, Rob Carver
Fleets:
Fireball 1st Richard Thomas, 2nd Mike Smith
Fast 1st Mike Iszatt, 2nd David Styles
Optimist 1st Oliver Keeble 2nd Victor Iszatt
Topper 1st Daniel Hall 2nd Amelia Gilbert
Feva 1st Esme Thomas 2nd equal Florence Fenton, Hannah Thomas, Hector Johnson, Oliver Crickmore
ILCA 1st Jonny Garlick, 2nd Tracy Haigh
Solo 1st Drac Norman, 2nd Steve Goldstone
Wayfarer 1st Rob Haigh 2nd Graham Hoy
Mirror 1st Julie Nelson 2nd Kiley Gooch
Sprite 1st Gill Callender 2nd Steve Jarred
Medium 1st Jon Simpson 2nd equal Rob Carver, Ronnie Bartlett
Short course:
Cadets: 1st Oliver Keeble, 2nd Jenson Edwards 3rd Victor Iszatt
Ladies: 1st Julie Nelson, 2nd Kiley Gooch, 3rd Carlie Jenkins
Overall: 1st Julie Nelson, 2nd Oliver Keeble, 3rd Kiley Gooch, 4th Carlie Jenkins, 5th Tracy Haigh
General handicap:
Cadets: 1st Austin Edwards, 2nd Callum Marshall, 3rd Jess Welch
Ladies: 1st Gill Callander, 2nd Ronnie Bartlett, 3rd Nikki Johnson
Overall: 1st Jon Simpson, 2nd Gill Callander, 3rd Rob Carver, 4th Mike Smith, 5th Steve Jarred
Rob Carver
Hon Sailing Secretary
Photos © Zoë Nelson
Read the Yachts and Yachting report
Photo: Alan Adkins
The Blackwater Sailing Club’s recent Open Day proved to be a tremendous success, attracting around 250 visitors for a fantastic day of sailing, sunshine and family fun.
Blessed with a sunny day and a brisk easterly wind, the excellent sailing conditions gave guests a memorable introduction to the Club with a wide variety of activities available both on and off the water.
Throughout the afternoon an impressive 190 test sails took place on the Club’s freshwater lake, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the excitement and enjoyment of sailing first-hand under the guidance of experienced members and RYA-qualified instructors. In addition to the dinghy sailing sessions, visitors were taken out on the river Blackwater in RIBs which proved especially popular with guests of all ages.
Onshore, families appreciated demonstrations, one-to-one chats with the Club’s officials and other members, guided tours of the Club’s outstanding facilities and clubhouse as well as enjoying refreshments and homemade cake.
The event also delivered a significant boost for the Club, with 40 new members joining on the day itself and further applications expected over the coming weeks.
“What a tremendous Open Day!” said Joe Bird, Rear-Commodore of the Blackwater Sailing Club. “It was only possible though thanks to the incredible effort and enthusiasm of our members. From taking visitors out in the boats, supporting membership enquiries and ensuring everything ran smoothly throughout the day, our volunteers in their customary friendly way did a fantastic job. We are extremely grateful to everyone who gave their time and energy to make the event such a success – and look forward to welcoming new faces and building on the growing interest in sailing and membership activities.”
The Blackwater Sailing Club (BSC) is proud to announce that four of its young cadets proudly represented the Club at the prestigious RYA Eric Twiname Junior Championships over the early May Bank Holiday weekend, hosted at Rutland Water Sailing Club
Established in1980 the Eric Twiname Trust continues to play a vital role in supporting junior sailing and funds a wide range of events that help develop young sailors both on and off the water. The Eric Twiname Trust Junior Championships, widely regarded as one of the highlights of the youth sailing calendar, combine high quality racing with a strong emphasis on fun, friendship and enjoyment onshore as well.
This year’s three-day regatta attracted almost 300 of the country’s best and most promising young sailors, competing in optimists, toppers, windsurfers, RS Teras, RS Fevas and ILCA 4s.
BSC was superbly represented by Matthew Marshall and Leonie Fairhead in the Optimist fleet, Amelie Fairhead in the RS Feva and Callum Marshall in the highly competitive ILCS 4 class. All four sailors delivered outstanding performances against exceptionally strong national fleets reflecting both their dedication and the continued strength of the club’s thriving cadet programme.
The results achieved by BSC sailors also contributed to the East Region securing both the coveted Eric Twiname Regional Dinghy Trophy and the overall Eric Twiname Championship Trophy
A special mention must go to Callum Marshall who sailed an exceptional series to win the ILCA 4 event outright. Over the ten-race series, Callum led from day one and demonstrated remarkable consistency and composure, recording top three finishes in every race including an impressive five race wins. It was a truly outstanding achievement and a fitting highlight to an excellent regatta for Blackwater Sailing Club.
Jonny Garlick, Cadet Skipper at the Blackwater Sailing Club, said: “We are incredibly proud of all four sailors for representing the Club with such skill, determination and sportsmanship at one of the UK’s premier junior sailing events. Their performances are testament to the hard work they put in throughout the season and also to the enthusiasm within our cadet section. Congratulations to the East Region too on winning both Championship Trophies.”
The first Cadet weekend of the year got underway with the Cadet Frostbite races, marking an exciting start to the sailing season at the Club.
With a full fleet of Cadet boats taking to the water, sailors enjoyed by sunshine and light winds—ideal conditions for close, tactical racing. The gentle breeze tested skill and patience, rewarding those who could stay focused and make the most of every shift. The weekend also saw the official christening of the club’s pristine new ramp, which was a great improvement on the old one and thanks to the efforts of those involved was ready just in time for the weekend. The racing was expertly organised under the experienced eye of RO Tricia Parker and her newly qualified Bridge Crew. Whilst on the water the Cadets had coached racing by experienced club racer Jake Fairhead and Ex Topper World Champion Rob Carver. The Cadet’s also had a busy time on the water with a PB2 course and Adult Wayfarer Training also being run that weekend.’ With strong participation and great spirit on display, the Cadet fleet is now looking ahead to what promises to be a fantastic year on the water.
The clubhouse stepped back into the Roaring Twenties for a brilliant Murder Mystery evening, as members arrived dressed as gangsters, flappers and shady characters of every description. The room was transformed into a lively speakeasy, setting the perfect scene for the night’s intrigue.
Volunteer actors from the club delivered wonderfully over-the-top performances, producing plenty of laughs as members sleuthed from table to table gathering clues and trying to discover ‘whodunit’.
The evening was topped off with a superb Italian-themed supper - bruschetta and a delicious lasagne, followed by Pears Belle Hélène pavlova — prepared by Gill Callander and her helpers.
A big thank you to our Social Secretary, Julie Shelter, and everyone involved in organising such a fantastic and memorable evening.
Belinda Hunt
BSC Cadet Callum Marshall kicked off 2026 in style, captaining the team representing the UK at the Monaco International Optimist Team Racing Championship. Callum qualified for this event after winning in the 2025 Nationals. This is likely to be his final international competition in an Optimist – and what a venue to sign off! After a light-wind practice day spent exploring Monaco, racing got underway following a delayed start. Day 1 saw mixed results in challenging conditions, while Day 2 was dominated by postponements and very light winds. Despite frustration, the team stayed focused and determined. The final days brought better breeze and strong performances, with the British team winning all three races on the last day. The team finished tied 5th on race wins with the USA, taking an impressive 6th overall on points. A fantastic achievement and a brilliant way for Callum to conclude his international Optimist sailing. Congratulations to Callum and the team on a great result in Monaco!
Photos: © Yacht Club de Monaco
A sunny but crisp winter morning greeted more than 60 club members as they arrived—shovels, strimmers and loppers in hand—for this year’s Winter Work Party. The impressive turnout set the tone for a morning filled with hard work, muddy clothes, and plenty of camaraderie.
Volunteers got stuck straight in, clearing ditches, tackling the muddy ramp (and inevitably getting covered in it), cutting back brambles around the Lasers, widening the sea wall footpath, organising the dinghy park and giving the race box, galley and office a much-needed tidy.
Meanwhile, Mike made himself indispensable, buzzing around on the quad bike to shift boats and other heavy kit, while Zoë followed with the tractor, scooping up heaps of branches and brambles as fast as they were cut back, and moving rocks with the digger.
Mark, armed with his trusty chocolate bag, did the essential work of keeping spirits high with sweet treats and encouraging words.
A mid-morning tea break—with biscuits and festive mince pies—gave everyone a chance to thaw out and swap stories before heading back to the tasks at hand. And after hours of graft in the cold, the Galley team served up a very welcome baked potato lunch, topped off with Zoë’s delicious bakes.
This year’s Work Party also marked a special moment for Julie as she passed the Warden’s baton to her successor, Mick. In recognition of her remarkable nine years of dedication, she was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers - a well-earned thank-you from the whole club.
With festive music drifting across the grounds and mulled wine prepared by Tommy and Karen to warm hands and hearts alike, it was a day that embodied what makes our club so special: community, commitment and a shared love of sailing.
Here’s to another year of teamwork—and to the volunteers who keep our club thriving.
Continuing our series recognising volunteers across BSC, the Web & Comms team is delighted to shine a spotlight on Mike Ayton, who has quietly and expertly guided the Club through one of its most important negotiations recently.
Mike has been a BSC member since 1987, first drawn to the Club when he met his future wife, Gay Waller, then a long-standing cadet member. He already had some sailing experience from his years living in Uganda, where he sailed on Lake Victoria. Back in the UK, he quickly became the “heavy weather” crew for his future father-in-law Martin in the Albacore fleet. He and Gay later inherited Honeybee, and today they can be found afloat in their distinctive orange-hulled Kestrel, EasyWet.
Professionally, Mike is a Chartered Surveyor specialising in commercial agency and development in Cambridge — particularly in the office, tech and life-science sectors. When long-serving Club Surveyor David Goldsmith retired, Mike stepped into the role, advising the Club on its property interests. While BSC owns the freehold of its buildings and land, it leases the foreshore — including the moorings area — from Maldon District Council.
Recently, Mike completed a major piece of work: securing the renewal of the Club’s foreshore (moorings) lease. It may sound far removed from negotiating a cutting-edge laboratory lease in Cambridge, but in practice both are commercial agreements governed by the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954.
The renewed lease covers the launching ramp and the 120+ moorings stretching from Ballast Hole to a point precisely 170 metres south of the southern Club boundary, extending out as far as the main channel, Colliers Reach.
Negotiations first began when the previous lease expired in 2015. Mike advised on the commercial terms and worked to ensure the Club avoided any onerous obligations, liaising throughout with Allan Hunt’s legal team at Mitchell Plampin Partnership. A decade-long process might test anyone’s patience — especially as a succession of council staff and lawyers brought shifting views on how the lease should be structured — but thanks to the protection of the ’54 Act, the Club’s position remained secure throughout.
Mike recalls some of the more unusual moments along the way.
“At one point, the draft lease was reviewed by a solicitor at another council who seemed unaware that the lease refers primarily to water. They suggested the “property” should be kept clean and in good repair — prompting clarification that, fortunately, the Club is not responsible for cleaning the estuary, only for maintaining the ramp.”
The new lease was finally completed in August this year, securing the Club’s continued use of both ramp and moorings for the next 20 years — an invaluable outcome for BSC and its members.
A huge thank you to Mike for his persistence, professionalism and good humour throughout this long process. His work ensures the Club can continue to enjoy and manage its moorings well into the future.
If you know a volunteer who should be featured in our spotlight series, please email news@blackwatersailingclub.org.uk.
The Blackwater Sailing Club (BSC) is proud to announce that two of its outstanding cadets Austin Edwards and Stanley Johnson have been awarded the highly respected East Anglian Maritime Awards (EAMA) Certificates of Excellence. Now in its third year, the awards are a unique opportunity to recognise the achievement of young people who participate in maritime activities.
The Blackwater Sailing Club also had the honour of hosting the EAMA awards ceremony on 12 November welcoming young people and their families as well as distinguished guests and representatives from across the region and was delighted to provide a fitting venue to celebrate all the achievements.
What started as a love for kayaking and paddleboarding for Austin Edwards soon turned into a full-blown passion for sailing. Learning at age 10 he hasn’t looked back and is now racing in ILCA 6 at national competitions and the UK’s top sailing venues including Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy. He thrives on challenge, strategy and the thrill of speed on the water. With ambitions to become a dinghy instructor and work in the maritime sector, Austin is charting an exciting course towards a future built on passion, perseverance and adventure.
Stanley Johnson’s family has a long history with the BSC as his great grandparents were members, so he’s spent much time on the water including a month aged 4 cruising around France with his grandparents. As a cadet aged 8, he progressed rapidly from an Optimist, even though vowed never to sail again after a scary first day training, to Topper and now racing and winning awards in his ILCA6. Stanley enjoyed a week’s work experience at the Club helping the Stewards with moorings, rib maintenance, cleaning changing rooms and maintaining the boat park giving him valuable insight into the challenges off the water; with the independence, confidence and sense of achievement he has gained from sailing, he is on a good course for a bright future.
Joe Bird, Rear Commodore Blackwater Sailing Club said: “Many congratulations to Austin and Stanley. These awards, with their broad and inclusive criteria aim to recognise those who show commitment, community spirit and enthusiasm for maritime activity and I’m delighted to see that our Cadets’ achievements have been recognised through this important regional initiative.”
The East Anglian Maritime Awards celebrate young people who make a meaningful contribution to the water environment whether it’s in sailing, conservation, engineering, boatbuilding, volunteering, lifeguarding and wider maritime community life. The awards are given in four categories - conservation, proficiency, resilience, and water safety and focus on improving life chances, increasing confidence, raising aspirations and strengthening local communities through voluntary and community participation.
EAMA chairman, retired Rear Admiral and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Essex Roy Clare, gave a warm welcome at the Award Ceremony whilst Mrs Jenny Tolhurst, The Lord-Lieutenant of Essex highlighted the importance of maritime excellence in the County and presented the Awards.
.png){kind=spacer}
