The KSSA’s 2024 AGM is to be held on Saturday 30th November at Chipstead Sailing Club after completion of the training day. Approximate start time is 4PM. The Agenda for the meeting can be downloaded by clicking here. Minutes of last years AGM can be downloaded by clicking here.
Applications are invited for a KSSA Environmental Ambassador for 2024/25.
If you sail regularly, and have an interest in looking after the Environment, then please apply to be our new up-and-coming youth coordinator on a project that will link sustainability and sailing. This roll was previously held by Enya Gibbs who has now moved on from KSSA.
I will give you support and suggestions for a suitable project and will ensure that it complements your school/college work. Your role will be to encourage younger sailors to learn look after our sailing areas, whilst widening your own CV.
Chat to me if you are keen to be considered and I will tell you about the selection process.
I have recently been to 3 schools in Kent running workshops on Microplastic build-up in the oceans, so know the concern of the young people about chemical pollution of the environment.
Elena Setterfield
Contact us here if you’re interested and we’ll put you in touch with Elena.
In partnership with Martello Lake Watersports and Redout SC.
Clubs represented:
A total of 13 participants entered.
Tom & Alex led the coached activities throughout the day which took place both on and off the water.
AM
Rigging session on land followed by a briefing for the mornings on water sailing activity which consisted of a reaching course and progression to upwind sailing to build what would shape a triangular course for the afternoon racing
All sailors demonstrated a good basic knowledge and were coached accordingly to help improve their boat handling.
PM
Upon launching, the sea breeze made an abrupt and spectacular appearance which immediately challenged the less experienced sailors and for many this meant capsizes – for one or two this was their first ever ‘real’ capsize! For these less experienced sailors it was soon apparent the conditions were too strong, and the sailors limped back to shore telling tales of gale force wind, large waves, and nose diving – their imagination clearly running wild (we’ve all been there).
The more experienced sailors continued to push themselves in the windy conditions which brought with it challenging gusts and a shifty wind direction.
We had parent involvement on the tally board and recording race results working alongside Elena.
Three races were completed in time for the scheduled prize giving which saw the following participants receive KSSA trophies and spot prizes.
1st Topper James Martin Winner – Master Apprentice
1st Topper Topaz Christopher Myles Winner – Cheswlk trophy
1st place Topper 4.2 Annabel Bickley
Spot prizes for perseverance
Feedback was positive among both the sailors and the parents.
Fun day on Saturday at Westbere in the sun, warmth and with a nice breeze that held on all day and enabled us to complete all races.
Well done to the winning team from Sevenoaks School who get to compete in the NSSA Single Handed Team Racing event later this year.
The full race results can be download here
Pictures are available in the gallery.
Building on the success of their 2022 All Girls’ training event, the KSSA and Downs Sailing Club once again joined in partnership to organise an event for 2023.
Knowing that the Coronation weekend would provide an additional bank holiday and the tides perfect for launching in Deal, the 8th May 2023 was placed in the calendar for a repeat of last year’s highly successful event. Once opened for entries all places were taken within hours, showing the need for this event the capacity of 25 sailors was exceeded.
Attracting girls from as young as 8 to 17 years from across Kent and beyond, whatever their sailing ability, the day saw girls with limited sailing experience sail together with those who were seasoned sailors.
Many clubs find that young female sailors are a minority and their teenage girls members drift away from the sport as it does not provide the social fulfilment gained from being part of a team. Building on the success of female team sports, the focus of the day was to show just how many girls there are spread around local clubs who share their enjoyment of the sport and that there are some amazing social opportunities for girls with the skills they learn through sailing.
Many girls learn to sail in single- handed dinghies and so lack the social interaction on the water that double handed sailing can provide. With this in mind, the event was arranged using double handers only. Fevas, Hartleys, 2000s and 2 420, were made available by Downs Sailing Club, parents and additional Fevas were kindly donated by RYA L & SE Youth Training Fund. The day provided opportunities to explore new sailing opportunities, either helming d/h, crewing, flying spinnakers as well as developing power boat handing skills and building new friendships.
Leading up to the event the weather forecast did not look kind, however following a wet and windy Coronation day, the organisers were bless with champagne sailing conditions off Deal beach which meant that as much time as possible could be spent on the water. 27 Girls were welcomed to Downs Sailing Club with free T shirts and breakfast. Many of the girls had come not knowing any of the other girls but barriers were soon broken and friendships begun as they joined one of the three coaching groups.
The coaching team of ladies was led by KSSA’s Vice Commodore, Jenny Johnson, a highly accomplished sailor, supported by female instructors from Downs and Sevenoaks School. KSSA current Youth (Enya Gibbs) and ex Youth Captain (Abbey Mumford) provided instruction on the water and acted as excellent mentors and support for the younger girls on land.
On the water action saw some girls get their first opportunity to helm with the support of more experienced crew. Seasoned single-handed sailors crewed and many for the first time, experienced the fun of flying a spinnaker. Abbey Mumford focused on supporting the two 420 teams passing on her extensive knowledge and experience to improve their skills.
This year we were delighted that the event was supported by the Magenta Project. Louise Clayton, a Magenta Project Ambassador, kindly joined the girls for the day giving inspirational talks on building confidence and making the most of opportunities. Sharing her wide and varied sailing experience which has taken her around the world, Louise gave a spotlight on the amazing opportunities and experiences sailing could provide. Focusing on the friendships that could be made through the support her key message was that the girls should have the self believe to say ‘yes’ to any opportunities which come their way and to believe in themselves.
KSSA and Downs Sailing Club were delighted with the success of their second collaboration on this all-girls’ event and have agreed that, due to the interest and support this event was given, a third event even bigger event will definitely be in both club’s calendars for 2024.
Calling all past and present KSSA Sailors, Parents, Instructors, Helpers etc. 2021 was the 60th Anniversary of the formation of KSSA. Due to the unprecedented events of the past two years we weren’t able to celebrate properly.
KSSA has been an inspiration to many young sailors over its 60 years of promoting Youth Sailing. Come and help us celebrate on Saturday 2nd July 2022 at Medway Yacht Club during our Midsummer Regatta, by joining us at the evening barbecue for a reunion of friends. This will start at about 1930, cost £12 per person and be cooked by the MYC caterers on the Terrace overlooking the river.
Earlier in the day, for the keen, you are also invited to take part in the KSSA Allcomers Race which is held annually to raise money for the Air ambulance. This will be a handicap race sailed from the MYC Start line and starts at approx. 1630. Bring your boat and you wet kit. Young and old, all welcome. Entry fee is a donation to the Air ambulance.
Our 50th Anniversary was celebrated by a Dinner at RTYC and 70 guests attended. There’s a challenge! Spread the word.
To reserve your place, please contact Elena Setterfield via email at kssa60@kssa.co.uk
If you’re coming to NSSA at Grafham, or even if you’re not, you will want the latest design KSSA Hoodies and Polos.
This year they are available to order directly from Trews Embroidery We have arranged for orders to be delivered directly to the KSSA Summer Regatta and Camp event at Medway. In order to take advantage of this, you will need to order by 10th June. Please email these orders to sales@trewsworkwear.co.uk.
Venue: Redoubt SC / Martello Lake sailing centre.
Situated on the sheltered waters of Martello Lake (Hythe) the day started with a chilly northerly F3 wind that set the scene for a day which saw sailors experience gusty conditions and a wind direction that throughout the day veered round to the south east as the sea breeze filled.
New Racer participant Lee Windridge was lead coach with Harry Mitchell, also a previous New Racer participant, taking up the role of coach support.
To kick the day off a rigging activity and discussion was carried out which was followed by all sailors going on the water to take part in exercises including a reaching courses and ‘follow my leader’, both of which helped settle nerves and build the confidence of the sailors who were all recently new to sailing, with a small few who had never sailed at a venue other than their home club.
A lunchtime briefing by Race Officer Paul Reynolds saw the group split into two fleets and set out for a triangular course, with the faster fleet being two laps and one lap for the slow fleet.
The afternoon session saw the sea breeze fill and the wind veer from the north round to the south east making for fairly challenging conditions for the sailors.
Results
Slow fleet
Fast fleet
KSSA prize for Confidence was awarded to:
On Saturday the 7th of May the KSSA with Downs Sailing Club hosted a free, All-Girls training event. The aim of the event was to challenge any bias in the sport and involve more girls in dingy sailing; allow girls who love sailing to meet others with the same passion and show all the young girls what they can achieve, in a friendly environment.
The event was run by women from both the KSSA and Downs (with the help of some gentlemen) with a long background of sailing. We had 24 girls attend the event (KSSA events usually attracts a less than 5 girls at any of their events) from different parts of Kent, a variety of ages and sailing ability.
The day started with a free breakfast where the girls were encouraged to mix and talk about their interests and sailing. All girls were given a free event hoodie to build their group identity and to wear at future events. Following a briefing about the day we were sorted into our sailing groups. We only sailed double handers which meant that everyone could talk and make friends on the water. The boats sailed were Hartleys, Fevas, Laser 2000s and 200’s for the more advanced sailors. After rigging we launched in quite light winds, however it was good to familiarise the less confident sailors with the boats. We also swapped between boats to meet new people.
After a good morning’s sailing we went ashore for some lunch, followed by a team building activity- ‘the pasta polo race’- it felt quite chaotic but was a lot of fun! We then went on the water for the afternoon. The wind had picked up a little bit in the afternoon, so we ran 3 fun races.
I was really impressed by the group of girls I was on the boat with as they hadn’t had a lot of spinnaker experience however, as the wind picked up, they were still confident at putting it up and down, as well as gybing and tacking and working as a team, especially when one of the younger girls was putting down the spinnaker and it got stuck, they all helped each other.
At the end of the day we had a debrief, where everyone talked about their day, and KSSA talked about future events that can be found on the website. We were also lucky enough to have a prize draw from the RYA, as well as freebees accompanies by teas.
It was such a fun event for all ages and I look forward to KSSA hosting more in the future as the day proved that there are lots of girls in Kent who love sailing.
Enya Gibbs
KSSA Youth Captain
14 sailors enjoyed some great conditions for our first winter training of the year. The wind was a SW 15-28 knots. In the morning we had a group of Lasers and a group of Teras & Toppers. The session went well focusing on tacking on the whistle and follow the leader. The sailors had to learn quickly to depower their boats using the control lines as there were some strong gusts.
In the afternoon some decided they had had enough fun on the water already and stayed ashore for a great theory session by Charlie Baker including practical tips on improving their hiking technique. The rest of the sailors went back afloat in one group and continued to work on keeping the boat flat in the gusty condition.
Overall a great start to 2022 for KSSA. Thank you Bough Beech Sailing Club for hosting us and for all the support from the coaches!
PS. Sorry no photos from this event. As you may have guessed, the image above was not taken this time, but is from the archives. Bough Beech on a much warmer day!
