Castle Cove Sailing Club centenary celebrations in 2023
by Jon Emmett 20 Jun 2023 21:07 UTC
Castle Cove SC centenary celebrations © CCSC
Castle Cove Sailing Club celebrated 100 years of sailing in Weymouth in style last weekend. A reception for over 100 guests was held on Friday evening as the start to a weekend of activities for the whole Club.
Saturday was a day of fun for everyone and there were opportunities to take part in a number of different activities or just enjoy the atmosphere. The lack of wind in morning meant that the match racing planned became a straightforward race but the wind filled in enough in the afternoon for the treasure hunts for both keelboats and dinghies.
Meanwhile the younger members of the club took part in a Cadet challenge where they were put into teams and completed different exercises on and off the water. Later in the afternoon they joined in the Tug of War on the beach and managed to beat all the other teams.
Saturday concluded with a Barn Dance and Ploughman's Supper for 140 members, with the band, Tree Fellahs, keeping everyone on their feet until late in the evening.
The highlight of the weekend was on Sunday which started with a pursuit race followed by a Sail Past in Portland Harbour.
With grey skies and rain early in the morning the number of boats taking part was in doubt but by the one o'clock start over 100 boats gathered in the start area. The start was signalled by the Commodore on board the Club Committee boat and a fly past by Bulldog and Tiger Moth planes. The boats, many dressed overall, then sailed past the Commodore hooting their horns and accompanied by the bagpipes played by Sea Cadet, Freddie Brown, on board the club ferry. Also watching the Sail Past on board MV Freedom were ten past Commodores.
The icing on the cake was the appearance of two dolphins alongside several boats making for a spectacular occasion.
The weekend came to an end when members gathered for a sumptuous cream tea followed by a prize-giving, cutting of the Centenary cake and a toast to the next 100 years by the Commodore. Members finally gathered on the Clubhouse balcony for a group photograph.
One long-serving member said the weekend had been a "stunning success" while another said "it was the best weekend at the Club since he had been a member".