With conditions becoming more unpredictable as Winter draws in, one of our members has been in touch with a few helpful tips and suggestions for other members planning to continue racing throughout the Winter season:

• Check the forecast before you leave home, and look outside to check for yourself. Safety should be your first priority, so if you don’t think the conditions are suitable for your level of experience, why not come down, grab a cup of tea and learn from more experienced members.
• Before you hit the water, you should know what all the controls and fittings are and how they work. This will give you the confidence and knowledge to allow you to head out and return safely.
• Before you head out on the water, you have to rig your dinghy, and if you have never done this before, it may seem a little overwhelming. Talk to a few people as you rig, have a few goes yourself, and you’ll work out which way works best for you. It’s always good to rig up a few times so that you’re confident that you know what goes where, and can remember how you tie the knots.
• When you’ve finished sailing, furl up your sail. Furling the sail ensures that dinghies stay in the best possible condition for the longest possible time and no-one gets an unexpected whack in the face, so treat club boats as if they were your own.
• Think about putting your dinghy away before having a shower. We’re all a little wet and a little cold after the race and keen to get home, so making sure you put your boat away quickly and efficiently means everyone can get home and get warm as quickly as possible.

For more hints and tips, check out lasersailingtips.com.

See you on Sunday!