The Aldeburgh Junior Lapwing Fun Weekend, August 1-2 2015.
The inaugural Junior Lapwing Fun Weekend was held on the 1-2 August 2015. In near-perfect conditions about 30 children in 11 red-sailed Lapwings raced, rowed, cruised, picniced, crabbed and barbecued in Aldeburgh's own One Design Dinghy.
On Saturday morning there was a race for children. There was so little wind at the beginning of this that several of the boats spent the first 20 minutes drifting. A breeze soon picked up and although one boat retired, the others all finished the course and the winning boat was Quail. If the morning race was a little too gentle for some, the afternoon was much more challenging as the wind became much stronger for the adult and child race. The course was Halfway - Chapman's, twice round. One boat had to retire due to equipment failure, and one had a rather spectacular capsize, but the rest made it round with Tufted winning.
While all this was taking place, have-a-go sails were very popular, both in Phoenix and also in Swallow, not a Lapwing but the boat used in the 1974 movie 'Swallows and Amazons', kindly lent for the weekend by Sail Ransome. There were games in the marquee and beautifully painted Lapwing pottery made by Hannah Berridge.
The Junior Lapwing barbecue was held in Mrs Young's beautiful garden, where the adults drank Pimms and watched their children play cricket and other garden games. John Bartholomew cooked burgers and sausages for all.
Sunday started with a Seamanship challenge. This included rowing, rigging, a crabbing competition, a quiz (involving semaphore), and worthy winners were the crew from Whaup. After a quick lunch, eleven boats were rigged to sail up to Little Japan, accompanied by a flotilla of motor boats carrying parents, grandparents and other well-wishers, headed by the magnificent 1940s lifeboat, Valas. On the last of the tide, they sailed up river, some choosing to take the scenic route through the creeks, others going via Brick Dock and all making it to Little Japan without mishap. Here the children swam and built sand castles and ate rather a lot of cake, while the adults also ate a lot of cake washed down by tea and reminisced about their own Junior Lapwing sailing days.
Finally, a sail back to the club house, de-rigging, and prize giving.
Many many thanks are due to many people to make this happen. To all of those who lent boats, including the Liddell family, Philip Wake, Deb Mawson, Jill Fowles, and especially to Lizzi and Katherine Thistlethwayte who took so many children sailing in Phoenix. To the Junior Instructors, Roo Clark and Laragh O'Malley for running the racing on Saturday morning. To the barbecue team, John Batholomew and Paul Lewington, and most especially to Mrs Young who lent her beautiful garden. To Luke Vinten and Sharon Hubbard for devising the quiz. And to all who came up to Little Japan in their boats. The biggest thanks go to Emma and Oliver Close-Brooks who organised Swallow to be lent by Sail Ransome, who ferried half of Aldeburgh to Little Japan in Valas and were generally enthusiastic and full of good ideas.
Next year anyone?
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
SATURDAY
1000 Registration
1055 Start time for Junior Lapwing Race
1300 BYO picnic lunch
1430 Start time for Adult and Child race
1700 BBQ for all competitors
SUNDAY
1030 Registration
1100 Seamanship Challenge - fun nautical activities on and off the water including rowing and crabbing
1200 Lunch
1330 Cruise in company to Little Japan. Tea and cakes for tea at Little Japan
1700 Prize giving.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS
Cost for the entire weekend: £15 per child. This includes an Aldeburgh Junior Lapwing T shirt and entry to all events and races.
Please Note
All children must have a nominated adult at the AYC at all times.
All children attending the barbecue (which is generously being held in a member's private house) must be accompanied by an adult.
All children must wear a life jacket or buoyancy aid on the slipway, pontoon and while on the water.
There will be safety boat cover at all times, except for the picnic cruise to Little Japan.
The picnic cruise to Little Japan will be accompanied by a selection of motor boats.
On Saturday morning there was a race for children. There was so little wind at the beginning of this that several of the boats spent the first 20 minutes drifting. A breeze soon picked up and although one boat retired, the others all finished the course and the winning boat was Quail. If the morning race was a little too gentle for some, the afternoon was much more challenging as the wind became much stronger for the adult and child race. The course was Halfway - Chapman's, twice round. One boat had to retire due to equipment failure, and one had a rather spectacular capsize, but the rest made it round with Tufted winning.
While all this was taking place, have-a-go sails were very popular, both in Phoenix and also in Swallow, not a Lapwing but the boat used in the 1974 movie 'Swallows and Amazons', kindly lent for the weekend by Sail Ransome. There were games in the marquee and beautifully painted Lapwing pottery made by Hannah Berridge.
The Junior Lapwing barbecue was held in Mrs Young's beautiful garden, where the adults drank Pimms and watched their children play cricket and other garden games. John Bartholomew cooked burgers and sausages for all.
Sunday started with a Seamanship challenge. This included rowing, rigging, a crabbing competition, a quiz (involving semaphore), and worthy winners were the crew from Whaup. After a quick lunch, eleven boats were rigged to sail up to Little Japan, accompanied by a flotilla of motor boats carrying parents, grandparents and other well-wishers, headed by the magnificent 1940s lifeboat, Valas. On the last of the tide, they sailed up river, some choosing to take the scenic route through the creeks, others going via Brick Dock and all making it to Little Japan without mishap. Here the children swam and built sand castles and ate rather a lot of cake, while the adults also ate a lot of cake washed down by tea and reminisced about their own Junior Lapwing sailing days.
Finally, a sail back to the club house, de-rigging, and prize giving.
Many many thanks are due to many people to make this happen. To all of those who lent boats, including the Liddell family, Philip Wake, Deb Mawson, Jill Fowles, and especially to Lizzi and Katherine Thistlethwayte who took so many children sailing in Phoenix. To the Junior Instructors, Roo Clark and Laragh O'Malley for running the racing on Saturday morning. To the barbecue team, John Batholomew and Paul Lewington, and most especially to Mrs Young who lent her beautiful garden. To Luke Vinten and Sharon Hubbard for devising the quiz. And to all who came up to Little Japan in their boats. The biggest thanks go to Emma and Oliver Close-Brooks who organised Swallow to be lent by Sail Ransome, who ferried half of Aldeburgh to Little Japan in Valas and were generally enthusiastic and full of good ideas.
Next year anyone?
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
SATURDAY
1000 Registration
1055 Start time for Junior Lapwing Race
1300 BYO picnic lunch
1430 Start time for Adult and Child race
1700 BBQ for all competitors
SUNDAY
1030 Registration
1100 Seamanship Challenge - fun nautical activities on and off the water including rowing and crabbing
1200 Lunch
1330 Cruise in company to Little Japan. Tea and cakes for tea at Little Japan
1700 Prize giving.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS
- Have-a-go sessions in a Lapwing with an experienced class member
- Trips on the classic dinghy 'Swallow" from the Swallows and Amazons film
- Fund raising activities including a tombola, treasure hunt and lucky dip
- Merchandise stand including personalised mugs and hoodies
- Aldeburgh Bookshop stand with copies of Arthur Ransome's 'Swallows and Amazons' for sale
Cost for the entire weekend: £15 per child. This includes an Aldeburgh Junior Lapwing T shirt and entry to all events and races.
Please Note
All children must have a nominated adult at the AYC at all times.
All children attending the barbecue (which is generously being held in a member's private house) must be accompanied by an adult.
All children must wear a life jacket or buoyancy aid on the slipway, pontoon and while on the water.
There will be safety boat cover at all times, except for the picnic cruise to Little Japan.
The picnic cruise to Little Japan will be accompanied by a selection of motor boats.