Felpham and XOD sailors celebrate great year on the water

The clubhouse at Felpham Sailing Club was full to bursting with excited children and proud parents as a wonderful season of youth sailing was celebrated.
Felpham SC youngsters celebrate a great yearFelpham SC youngsters celebrate a great year
Felpham SC youngsters celebrate a great year

More than 70 children were present to receive accolades, trophies and fun prizes from MC Paul Miller, ably supported by Kate Miller and club president Michael Harris.

Many local businesses and club members sponsored prizes which ranged from elegant perpetual silver trophies through to one-off prizes for excellence at capsize drill or just simply turning up late every week.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cadet captains Molly Ayling and Will Palmer presented a summary of the highlights and thanked those who had helped them sail, including the safety boat crews, beach team and kitchen crew who all make Youth Fridays a success.

Through the season the youngsters participate every Friday night, sometimes on Saturday afternoons, sometimes with ‘Women on Water’ on Thursdays, and often in regular club racing on Wednesday evenings and Sundays.

On Fridays youth attendance has often been between 40 and 60.

Besides regular awards for podium positions, many awards were for achievement and development. Attendance is also noted, with the person who attended every Friday Youth Sailing Session being 11-year-old Jed Cheeseman.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jed is in his second year at Felpham and he loves sailing with his friends. He has now become a confident sailor and can sail a Pico on his own.

Paul Miller congratulated all the young people on their achievements whether it was just sailing and having fun or taking part in RYA zone and national squads for Toppers and Fevas.

In particular he congratulated them on their outstanding individual and team performances at the West Sussex Schools and Youth Sailing Association Regatta at Chichester Yacht Club.

He ended the presentations by asking the youngsters to give three cheers to their parents who give time and energy to support them.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Roger Belton, the club’s training principal, thanked Paul for his efforts in leading the young people through the year and announced a new perpetual award, gifted by Steve Sampson, called the Guiding Star Award, for excellence in youth development.

Commodore Pat Cullen presented the award to Paul and thanked him for his efforts and everyone else who has helped him this year.

The evening was concluded with a curry meal cooked by two parents, Justin and Gina.

ITCHENOR

Racing has finished for the XOD fleet at Itchenor Sailing Club for this year and what a year it was – brilliant racing, challenging conditions, competing with the best sailors in more than 100 races.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The section have given out over 40 trophies and 35 glasses as awards for races won in the different X fleets. Congratulations go to all who have contributed to another fantastic season in a really friendly club.

Some 33 members of the X fleet enjoyed a superb evening at the laying-up supper, a great way to celebrate the end the season with plenty of chat, banter, a delicious meal and cheering on the winners who collected trophies.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking sports news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

Share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Related topics: