Spooktacular Sailing @ Ely

Published 18:30 on 26 Oct 2025

Boo (AHH)! Or is it boo (aww)? Sadly it's the end of the 2025 sailing season for Ely SC (except for the Boxing Day races!) but we have certainly gone out on a high.

It was the Halloween Bowl trophy races today where 12 eager sailors took to the water in a suitably spooky West South-West (except when it wasn't!) wind.

The first race saw some terrifying conditions with a fair few sailors sampling the chill of the lake in October - some due to fluky gusts and some rubbish luck, others due to some very loose toestraps! But mostly there were smiles, albeit a few seasonally appropriate grimaces.

After a lunchtime pitstop and a much needed warm up, it was time for race 2 and whilst a boat decided to call it a day, another one came to play! And it was ghoulishly good fun for this nippy little course which made sure we all kept up with our rules knowledge - and for this race, not a capsize in sight. It was a close finish with plenty of finishers in a few seconds for the race box to keep up to.

Whilst awaiting the go ahead for race 3 and tying a bow on race 2, the clubhouse descended in to a little game of balloon keepy uppy to keep the blood flowing. Energised, it was to the water for the final race of the season... And for the 3rd race, the channel that had caught a few of us on race 1, was back. But, this time, we held it well - a little run around but no sogginess to be had.

It was close racing throughout and all came down to race 3 but overall, Edward will take home the trophy. Fergus though, in his spooky skeleton attire, was also a winner for his fancy dress - trophy and treats to be had at the Laying Up Supper this year.

Finished off with a game of skittles in the seasonal themed club, a warm shower and a drink at the bar - a fitting end to the season.

Well done one and all! And thanks as ever to the duty crew.

The bow on the season comes next Sunday with our Laying Up Sunday where there may be a cheeky last minute blast of sailing if conditions are fair but we'll certainly make sure all boats are snuggled up for the winter. And then of course the Laying Up Supper later in November.

Last updated 05:36 on 27 October 2025