The Catapult fleet will be back at a favourite venue at Rutland, this time well into the summer season.

  The racing (tbc, based on 2019 event)

 There will be 6 races: 3 back-to-back at 12.00 on Saturday afternoon as part of the Club Cat Series, and 3 back-to-back as part of the club Big Pond Series at 11.00 on Sunday. One discard will apply once 4 or more races have been sailed. A briefing for visiting helms will be held at 10.30 in the clubhouse wet bar on the Saturday.

  The Saturday Cat Series races are windward-leeward, but the Club has agreed to lay a gybe mark for us and the Shearwaters to provide some reaches. They will record times for our Personal Handicap Series. The Notice of Race for the Saturday Cat Series and Sailing Instructions for both days  are available on the club website at www.rutlandsailingclub.co.uk.

  Cost
The entry fee will be 33 pounds (plus the Association 5-pound event levy to be collected by our event liaison person, Stuart Ede (07575 059339, or catamaranstu@outlook.com . )

   Please note the requirements to avoid the transference of non-native species to and from
Rutland Water. So before arriving be sure to CHECK, CLEAN and DRY your boat 

    Registration is between 08:30 and 10:00 at the office on Saturday.
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  Sailing at Rutland   The lake, the club and the local fleet are all substantial, and are matched by ample facilities.

 There is a wide grassy parking/rigging area, with four paths down through the parked club boats to the ramps. There is usually plenty of space on the beach to launch (photo below) partly dependent on reservoir levels.

 Starts are from the Committee boat, usually with port-rounding courses, round a combination of fixed and laid marks. Courses are customarily triangular, trapezoid or inverted-P.

The usual sailing area is in the southern arm of the lake, in front and to the right of the clubhouse, roughly bounded by the club, the prominent church on the southern shore (see romantic photo at foot) and the end of the peninsula forming the northern shore. With a wide lake and low-lying land around, breeze is largely unonstructed (except for dead patches near trees) but can oscillate a good bit.

 The water is shallow when close to the northern shore ---of tactical importance since in the prevailing westerly, local boats beat close to that shore (which is not what you would predict, thinking you would lose the breeze there) so there is the risk of a sudden stop.

 Given the size of the lake, in stronger breezes the downwind end will have more wind and some wave action---and anything south or westerly will be deceptively mild amongst the trees at the club end!       Alastair
   

  The club is on the south shore near Edith Weston and offers a full complement of meals. If you want evening meals, you are advised to book on the day.

   Accommodation: Rutland Sailing Club has 48 beds in 10 simply furnished bunk rooms, some with ensuite facilities. The accommodation is available throughout the year for visiting Open Meeting sailors and training groups and is ideal for families visiting the area.Rates: 13.00 pppn for en-suite shower and 11.00 pppn without. Clubhouse accommodation can be booked through the Office on 01780 720292 or by emailing: sailing@rutlandsc.co.uk. Please note that the Office is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Campers have the benefit of a campsite for tents, caravans and campervans just across the road (www.rutlandwatercampsite.co.uk). This costs 5 per night. The site has got more popular in recent years, so if you want to be sure of a spot or want more information you can contact Nicholas Makey on 07875 479533 or at info@rutlandwatercampsite.co.uk.

  In the surrounding villages and towns there are lots of B&Bs. A list can be found on the Rutland SC website. Tourist information is on 01572 724329, or check out Rutland Online at www.rutnet.co.uk. Rutland Water has its own tourist information centre on 01572 653026.

 There are lots of non-sailing activities as well. Hiking and cycle tracks that follow the shores of the lake are very popular because of the great views. Bikes can be hired locally. The famous Barnsdale Gardens are close by, and Rutland Water is renowned for its wildlife and fishing, too. Local towns and villages are very picturesque, especially Stamford, which was the setting for Middlemarch. Then there are any number of stately homes including Burleigh, Kirby Hall, Prebendal Manor, Stoke Rochford, Lyveden, New Bield, Deene Park and Rockingham Castle.

  For nature lovers there are reserves at Bedford Purlieus, Castor Hanglands, Hills & Holes and Cribbs Meadow, plus country parks at Burrough Hill, East Carlton and Burleigh again. And we mustn't forget the Nene Valley and Rutland railways for steam buffs.  So there's something for everyone in the family.

With so much to do there are plenty of reasons to come along to this perennially popular venue

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(Below: Rutland on a less-good day for sailing!)