Chipstead Chipmates

Performance Bursary for young Chipstead sailor

Performance Bursary for young Chipstead sailor

Aspiring young sailor Mim Asker (14) from Lewisham has received a Performance Bursary from the RYA London and South East Youth Training Fund.

 


Photo – Mim on the water, credit Jon Bentman

The bursaries provide modest financial support to young sailors to help fulfil their recognised racing or coaching potential. In return, recipients pass on their experience and enthusiasm to help inspire others through their club and regional training events.

Starting and progressing…

Mim learned to sail at Chipstead Sailing Club (CSC) in an Optimist dinghy and has been an active member of the club since her first session on the water.
Over the years she has sailed and raced regularly at CSC, taken part in Kent School Sailing Association (KSSA) events, some regional International Optimist
Class Association events and the RYA Regional Junior Championships.

In 2021 she progressed to sailing a Topper dinghy – initially a 4.2 – which she sailed as part of the Kent team at National School Sailing Association event in Plymouth and received the Endeavour trophy. Mim was selected for the International Topper Class Association 4.2 squad 2021/22, although she missed out on some of the training due to breaking her wrist.

Moving up……

Since summer 2022, Mim has sailed a Topper 5.3 in a range of CSC race series including the Commodore’s Cup in which she came first, the Junior mid-Summer Regatta (1st girl), and the Junior Handicap series 2022 (1st girl).

For the past two seasons she has crewed on one of the Heron dinghies at the club in the Sunday afternoon Heron series. The first time Mim took the helm of the Heron was for the Novice’s Cup event in 2022 which she won. She has been asked by one of the other juniors to sail with him in the Feva Nationals in 2024 and is looking forward to this.

Contributing…..

The awards depend on the winner’s commitment to contribute to their club or class association. Mim trained as an Assistant Instructor and coached the beginners on Saturday mornings throughout the 2023 season as well as during the Chipmates summer camp. She intends to continue doing this and is keen to get involved with the development of double-handed sailing within the Juniors Class.

She is a regular volunteer at Wealden Sailability based at Chipstead and Tideway Sailability in Surrey Docks so
development of her skills will also benefit these organisations.

Mim has recently been awarded the Ian Walker trophy at CSC. The trophy was given by twice Olympic silver medallist and Volvo Ocean Race winner Ian Walker, MBE, for a junior sailor who makes a significant contribution to sailing and the club through teaching, coaching and encouraging less able sailors to sail.

What’s next…..

Jenny Johnson, Vice Commodore of KSSA, said in nominating Mim: “She has really developed a love of all aspects of sailing
despite a few challenges this year, and would really benefit from some specific Feva coaching to develop her skills further. She has great enthusiasm for the
sport and very keen to develop her racing ability.”

Mim will use the award to fund some Feva coaching, ideally on tidal water, to develop her skills and to better prepare her to participate in the Feva Nationals 2024

From Mim….

Mim said of receiving her bursary: “It was a lovely surprise to learn I’d been awarded the bursary which I’m planning to use on some double-handed coaching.

“No-one else in my family sails so I didn’t really have any experience of double-handed sailing until I was paired up with Carol, one of the older Heron sailors at Chipstead. I’ve crewed for Carol for the past two seasons and have learned a lot about double-handed sailing from her, and I’m hoping to go to the Feva Nationals with one of the other Juniors in May so the bursary will benefit both of us.”

 

Photo – Mim receives her award from Rob Brown, Junior Class Captain

From the Youth Training Fund….

Dave Ellis, Chairman of the Youth Training Fund, says: “It’s fantastic for young sailors to be able to experience a range of opportunities, both in the UK and internationally, during their development as they learn so much. But the costs of travel, accommodation, food etc. all quickly mount up and the bursaries provide some assistance to our young sailors as they develop their sailing careers”.

“We have an abundance of talent in the region and we want to give our young sailors, whether destined for ‘podiums’ or as coaches, the best chance to realise their ambitions.”

Might you be eligible for a bursary? Find out more

Image of sailing shed with masts rolled neatly down the left-hand side. Central storage area for rudders and daggerboards has been organised by dinghy type. There is one set of foils per slot.

Winter Working Parties 2024

Winter Working Parties 2024

Sunday January 7th – Sunday February 11th  from 10.00 until 1300

 

Note There is one Working Party on Saturday February 3rd 2024

 

Happy New Year to you all.

We shall be carrying out our annual Winter Working Parties to do the routine maintenance around the sailing club.

All the work we carry out helps to keep the club looking good, functioning well and it helps to reduce our costs in running the club.

1. There will be a blackboard inside the club house with a signing on sheet and details of the tasks which each fleet has been assigned to do. If you are in any doubt please speak to your class captain or myself.

2. Bring your own tools, strimmers and equipment plus boots, gloves etc.along with the appropriate P.P.E. to wear.

3. There will be a notice to advise you of the First Aider on site each week.

4. Hot drinks and refreshments will be available during the work party.

5. We have our own compost system, so please bring some bags if you wish to take some away. It is sited at the end of the Comet dinghy park

I look forward to welcoming you to this season’s activities at Winter Working Parties 2024

 

Jane Marshall
Administration Secretary

Ian Walker Trophy nominees 2023

At the end of each season, the Ian Walker Trophy is awarded to a Junior member of Chipstead Sailing Club in recognition of their achievements during the year, and the qualities that make them a role model for the Junior and Youth membership.

This year there are three nominees: Dan, Mim and Toby.

Thank you to the 80+ CSC members who cast their votes. The supporting comments submitted with the votes highlight the contribution these three make to encouraging and inspiring others e.g. Dan is a great role model to other sailors for Chipstead, KSSA and at events around the country… Mim has really got stuck in this year devoting a lot of time to teaching our younger, less confident sailors. It was also great to see Mim out with Wealden Sailability supporting others who are less fortunate to take to the water… Toby is a mature and well-rounded member of the training team and real credit to the club. He has become a confident instructor and a positive role model for young people.

This year’s winning nominee received over two thirds of the votes… Mim! 
 
Mim with the Ian Walker trophy at prizegiving, January 2024
Mim receiving the Ian Walker trophy at prizegiving, January 2024

 

Three boys wearing Rooster bobble hats before the start of the Young Guns races.

Young Guns 2023

Twenty boats lined up on the start line in the October drizzle, hoping the forecast breeze would materialise. From the outset, Dan took an easy lead in his Laser Standard, chased by Topper sailors Max and Harry. With a fleet aged 7 to 17, time was made for an all-important Haribo break between races by which time the wind had started to fill in, leading to quite a different race. This time, the Feva (Mim and Aidan) was first over the line with Jim (Laser 4.7) and Dan in pursuit, followed by Emily (Topper). The double-hander held Dan off for a decent stretch but lost the lead to him as he raced off towards Tesco. 

All twenty boats completed both races and whilst OOD Simon G. and Izzy C. processed the results, boats were hurriedly packed away in anticipation of the AGM or more accurately, the Rooster-sponsored prizegiving. 

The AGM was well-attended and in outgoing Class Captain Jenny’s absence, Rebecca took us through a review of the year highlighting the progress made on 2023 goals, the achievements of Juniors whilst sailing at CSC or further afield and a look at dates already planned for the 2024 season. Niall was introduced as the new Class Captain and took us through his goals for 2024 before handing back to Rebecca for the prizes.

By 1.30pm we’d celebrated our Junior Handicap qualifers and series winners, awarded the highest attendance, gave certificates to the winners of the Commodore’s Cup series and presented medals and Rooster t-shirts to the winners of Young Guns 2023. Dan was crowned this year’s Young Gun before prize-winners were photographed.

Thank you to everyone who made today run so smoothly, especially Simon and his AODs, Izzy C. and Rebecca. And to Rooster for supporting this event.

Young Guns Trophy and Junior Class AGM – 28th October 2023

This coming Saturday 28th October is our Young Guns 2023 Trophy competition.

This event will consist of two races, with both races to count.  

The Start time is the same as for Saturday Club 09:00 sharp for a target 9:30 race briefing (changed and rigged). The first start is planned for 10:00am. The second is planned for approx.11:00 finishing at approx. 12:00.

The event is open to all CSC Junior and Youth sailors, with on the water coaching for the less experienced sailors – however you must be able to sail a triangular course.  

Please remember that you must book for this event via Eventbrite Registration is open https://young-guns23.eventbrite.co.uk/  – Club boats are available for this event (bookable on Eventbrite). 

CSC Junior Class AGM and Prizegiving

After the racing we will be holding the Junior Class AGM. Come along and see what members of the Junior class have been doing during 2023 and see what is also planned for the Juniors during for 2024. After the AGM there will be the Junior Class prize giving, this is a chance to recognise the effort put in by our Juniors throughout the 2023 season.

CSC Topper Open 2023

Mid-summer regatta

The Junior class was delighted to have thirty boats out on the water for the mid-summer regatta, including a handful of visiting sailors who belong to other Kent clubs.

Thunder, lightning and torrential rain during lunchtime resulted in lots of chatter about the likelihood of getting a third race in. At 2pm, with not so much as a ripple on the lake, a decision was made to call it a day. Although the skies remained moody, the rain held off for prize-giving.

Thank you to today’s duty team and everyone else who helped make the event run smoothly, and to Rooster for their sponsorship of the prizes. An extra special thank you to our brilliant class captain, Jenny for spending her birthday running this event!

Photos are of:

  • 1st rookie & 1st regatta fleet – Sophie
  • 2nd rookie & 2nd regatta fleet – Mia
  • 3rd rookie & 3rd regatta fleet – Abbi
  • 1st overall & 1st boy – James
  • 1st girl – Mim
  • 1st double-hander- Alex and Dan
  • 2nd boy – Seb
  • 3rd boy – Harry T
  • 1st under 11 (outside the top 3) – Adam

Chipstead Laser & ILCA Open Sunday 21st May

Hello Laser sailors

This years laser & ILCA open is scheduled for all day Sunday 21st May.  All laser helms welcome, including visitors.

 

4 races throughout the day giving everyone an opportunity to be successful! 

 

All Laser rigs welcome, 4.7, Radial & Standard, and the similar ILCA classes, ILCA 4, ILCA 6 & ILCA 7.

 

Many prizes for all levels available inc junior & youth.

 

Only £15 entry on the day, or £10 for 18 years & younger.

 

Please see attached, and forward on to anyone that may be interested.

 

Kind regards

Russell Levermore

Laser 218252

Topper Class Junior Race series