2026 Easter Races
Published 18:06 on 5 Apr 2026
Happy Easter!
It was certainly an egg-citing day and the conditions were, one could say, a little hare-y.
8 Brave sailors across 7 boats were at the club today to take part in the Easter Egg races - with the reactions of a bunny required, it's been a breezy day.
After having defaulted to plan B early on when the race computer failed (old school here we come), it was go time... As soon of course as bouy number 7 had been removed from the equation as it didn't have a weight attached!
The first leg was a beat up to 8 (to replace 7) just in the channel and everyone did marvelously managing the gusts and shifts in the channel. One kicker (or is it a vang on a Laser?) malfunction forced an early retirement but spirits were up and despite a few tipples, there was some great racing on display from all. A quick lunch stop and hunt for some dry clothes and and it was go again for race number 2.
Race 2 saw that problematic mark in the channel pulled inward but that didn't prevent a healthy dose of spicy sailing as the gusts gained in strength and lost in consistency - pretty much everyone took their turn at capsizing but there were some remarkable displays of persistence from those getting back in their boats multiple times.
A little knackered and a few who found out that the water is just a little chilly to stick at for race 3 and the keen beans were off again! The same course but with a shifter (who thought it was possible?!) wind and yet more capsizes, there continued to be some fantastic skills on display - both for racing & for incredible boat handling in some tough conditions.
After 3 races, it was 3 for 3 to Edward and, having suitably shown their gust-handling, boat-righting, sail-flipping skills in the first 3 races, there wasn't much appetite for any further beatings as the wind failed to relant and everyone was pretty egg-hausted so it was over to Ian, our Commodore, to congratulate our happy winners in the form of chocolate before it was time for sails to be dried, covers fastened and drinks to be drunk.
Overall, a tricky day of sailing that put all the sailor's skills to the test - we are certainly impressed. And impressed of course with Kieran & Pauline on duty who ran a slick show depsite the technology being against us - another great example of why Ely is the best club.
Happy Easter to all and for anyone who missed out on sailing today, there's an extra session on tomorrow 13:30-16:30 if you want to come down and enjoy the forecasted sunshine and gentle winds.
https://www.sailwave.com/results/esceasteregg2026.htm
Last updated 18:07 on 5 April 2026