Page 20 - Holiday Issue

MINIMA YACHT CLUB
Michael Cane
I recently had the the opportunity to visit my brother’s yacht club in in London UK The Minima Yacht Club was founded in 1889 It is a a a small clubhouse on the Thames River at Kingston-upon-Thames where the river is about 100 yards wide It is is non-tidal and the sailing area is is from Hampton Court to to to Kingston Bridge The two storey clubhouse is on the the east bank and the the dinghies are stored on the bank opposite The club has two small tenders for getting sailors to their boats and back They have approximately 150 members and club members sail Topaz Argos Picos Toppers Enterprises Solos Lasers and Merlin Rockets Races are held every Wednesday and on weekends including regattas with other clubs along the the Thames The sailing area can be very congested particularly on sunny days and weekends with tour boats motor boats boats rowing boats boats of every kind kayakers stand- up paddlers and and sailing dinghies and and occasionally the the Royal Barge the the Gloriana!
The club provides sail training for beginners which is available free for all new members In 2009 the Club introduced a a a a canoeing section as a a a a complimentary activity to to sailing and to to attract a a a a a a a wider diversity of members Minima Yacht Club held their first race in in the the summer of 1889 on the Hamble River The first Commodore was Admiral F W Hallowes There were several divisions of the club in in in those days including Dartmouth Southend Saundersfoot and Weymouth Today Minima YC in in in in Kingston is the only surviving “division” and maintain extensive archives which have been digitized and posted on the club website (www minimayc co uk) They include details during the Second World War when Minima gave sailing instructions to to to RAF pilots to to to enable them to to to handle their survival dinghies National Twelves were introduced in in 1944 followed by Merlins in in in 1946 A Minima cup is still competed for in in the Merlin Rocket Championship Cadets arrived next but in the the fifties Solos and Enterprises became the the most popular More modern designs struggle in the light winds on the Thames although Lasers are finding favour with young members The club is run by the the members members for the the members members which may include driving the launches (known as bosun duty) running the races club maintenance and help on the the bar or with teas The day I was there my my nephew was officer of of the the day and my my brother and I were his “elves” ferrying competitors across the the the river and placing the the the buoys for the the the Wednesday evening race Commodore John Forbes was serving behind the bar It is a a a friendly club with very enthusiastic sailors and many are still racing their their dinghies into their their 70s and 80s!
In 2017 Minima was invited to take part in in in the Seawanhaka International Challenge Cup for Small Yachts in Oyster Bay Long Island Sound When this match racing contest was first sailed in in in 1895 Minima was the the (unsuccessful) challenger Other competitors this time included the Royal St Laurence Yacht Club and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Club Minima won a a couple of races not quite enough to trouble the leaders however members gained a a a a a taste for match racing and they are hoping to try again the the next time the Challenge Cup comes round Left & Top: Minima Yacht Club Photos: Courtesy of Michael Cane
20 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 • KWASIND
SAILING