Unfortunately the TT at Grafham marks the end of our sailing season. But don't be downcast - come along and make sure we go out on a high! What's more we shall be racing as part of the Grafham Cat Open, so there are even more prizes to be won.

Grafham Water is a large reservoir with clean wind providing excellent sailing, so it should give us a great last event, the memory of which we can treasure through the winter months. The Club, which is situated in Perry on the south side of the lake, is well run.

The entry form is on the Club website www.grafham.org . Please note a major change from previous years: YOU CAN ONLY ENTER IN ADVANCE (DEADLINE THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER); ENTRIES ON THE DAY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The entry fee will be £23 for the weekend.

 

Forms and cheques should be sent to:

Grafham Water Sailing Club
Perry
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE28 0BU                                 (The £5 prize levy for the Association will be collected on the day.)

 

There will be 6 races with 5 to count; 3 back-to-back on Saturday and 3 back-to-back on Sunday. We shall be racing as part of the Medium Handicap fleet on Course B. The warning gun for the first start on Saturday will be no earlier than 11.55 with a briefing at 11.00. On Sunday the earliest warning signal will be 10.25. The Notice of Race is on the Club website Camper vans and tents can pitch themselves in the club grounds - but not caravans because of planning regulations. There is a charge of £5 per night, and you must pre-book using the entry form. It is on a first come first served basis, and if you are not pre-booked you will not be allowed to stay. If you have any queries you can contact the Club Secretary, Pauline Lidderdale, or her assistant, Heather Dance, on 0845 644 2548 or 01480 810478.

There is a long list of local B&Bs, guest houses, inns, hotels and self catering accommodation on the Grafham website, which is reproduced below. Plus there are camp sites at Shooters Hollow (Mr EJ Mann, 01480 810298) and the Old Manor caravan site in Grafham village (01480 810264, www.old-manor.co.uk), so it should be easy enough to find somewhere good to stay. Tourist information can be obtained from 01480 388588.

 

Those wanting to do a bit of sightseeing can wander among the dreaming spires of Cambridge, or enjoy the delights of nearby Huntingdon, Godmanchester and St Ives  Nearby stately homes and gardens include Woburn Abbey, Bushmead Priory, Wimpole Hall and Houghton House.   For the more active there is Xscape in Milton Keynes, while flying buffs will enjoy the Shuttleworth Collection near Biggleswade. Ely Cathedral and the Fens are also in easy reach. So there is something for all the family.

Nigel Harrison (nigel@performconsult.co.uk, 0114 2664509) has kindly volunteered to be the Association liaison person at Grafham. He hopes to organise a meal at a local hostelry on the Saturday evening (so don’t book the GWSC meal). He would be very grateful if you could let him know by Sunday 18 October if you are planning on joining in the meal, so he can book it.