Dear BOD Sailors (young, sprightly, ancient mariners, skippers, crew, family and friends dating back over the last 95 years)
Please join us on Saturday 24th June at the CYC for an evening to remember the past and promote the future of the BOD Fleet and those who have sailed in it.
Please let me know if you have memorabilia, films, photos that could be shown/ displayed on the evening or even if there was a turn you did in the past on BOD Night in Pyefleet Week, that you would like to recreate!
Please put the date in the diary.
Menu currently being worked on. Details to follow.
Please send to the wider BOD Family and friends who might like to join us.
The 2023 BOD Racing Programme is now available to view and download here. With thanks to all who took the time to join us for our informal discussions late last year, sailing programme coordinator Jeremy Newman has created a programme aimed at a slightly reduced programme that focuses more on a set of key events that will lead us up to Pyefleet Week and then to the Final Fling at the start of October.
We will also have a special social event to celebrate the BOD’s 95th Anniversary which is being organised by Oonie at CYC on the evening of Saturday 22 June at CYC. Click here for more info.
With spring now on the horizon and the BOD’s 95th Anniversary to celebrate its great to hear that so many boats are talking about racing this season and we’re looking forward to Pete Kyne joining the fleet with Black Shadow. So get these dates in your diaries and get started on preparing your boats for a lovely season of BOD racing.
Pyefleet Week 2022 is fast approaching and with just two more official BOD events to go before the big week, now is the time to get your boats afloat and get in a bit of practice.
This coming weekend we have the Brightlingsea Regatta Race for both the Jodi Jug and the Hickley Tiller and conditions look perfect for a potential BOD victory. The start is at 2pm on Sunday from the BSC line (don’t forget to sign on at the hut and to pick up a current BSC course card from the bar if you haven’t already got one). Shoreside there will be loads going on all weekend and the famous fireworks are back on Saturday night too.
The second opportunity to train is the Carstairs Cup and Commodore’s Cup race from the CYC line on Sunday 31 July starting at 2.30pm. You can download the CYC course card (2016 edition is still valid) at here.
There’s no Thursday Night race this week due to the very low tide, but after that Thursday Nights continue through until the week before Pyefleet Week.
And Pyefleet Week itself runs from 14 to 19 August with registration and the Carole Cruickshank Pursuit Race warm up on Saturday 13 August. Full information including advance online entry can be found at www.pyefleetweek.com. We’ve already had confirmation from the following of their intention to race Pyefleet Week, please let Fi know on fiona.brown@fionabrown.com if you also plan to be out.
Jean – Ben Clegg, Ed & Sam Gibbons Jumbo Too – Tom Sargeant & Iain Werngren Aina – Stephen Heppell Bidi – Rupert White, Mary Henderson & Richard Herbert Dulcet – Phil Rust, Piers Lambert and Mike Rust Gelasma – Mike Hare & Adrian Gibbons Rebel – David & Sarah Conlon Sarah Louis – David & Celia Charlton Grethe – Nicky Henderson and the girls White Spirit – Mark White Wind Sprite – Tom Ballantine Never Say Never – The Walton Boys Greyling – John Payne, Michael Conlon and Josh Hunt And we very much hope that Storm Petrel will be out too
Sad news reaches us that Robin Gibbon, a past owner of Aina, quietly slipped anchor on the 19th of May, at the age of 93. Robin and his brother Bill owned Aina from the mid 1950s until the late 70s and were keen supporters of the fleet. Robin is survived by his wife Judy, sons James and Adam and daughter Sarah, and our thoughts and condolences are with them.
Robin’s funeral will take place on Friday 10th June at Weeley Crematorium at 1.15 pm.
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Brightlingsea One Design sailor and class supporter Keith Clubb.
Keith bought C16 Dulcet in the late 70”s and learned to sail with his usual dogged determination. It was a time when interest in the fleet was faltering and many boats were getting to the end of their life unless major remedial work was undertaken.
Keith led the way and together with Malcolm rebuilt Dulcet, which became the first BOD to be given the West epoxy treatment, which ultimately saved the fleet and we see the result of that early thinking today with so many boats in superb sailing condition.
He also kept his loyal crew for man-years, being son Stephen and our Angela (Herbert) and sailed with great success. Alas poor health and age made Keith give up his well loved boat but never his close association with the fleet.
We will miss his detailed stories of distant races in fine detail, he seemed to have a photographic memory of every outing, even stories that told of his own failings. A lovely man who will be greatly missed by many. Thanks Keith for your input and your comradeship R I P.
Keith’s funeral will take place on Wednesday 17 November 2021 at Wimpole Road Methodist Church, Wimpole Road, Colchester at 10.30am and will be followed by a cremation service at Colchester Crematorium at 11.45am, followed by a gathering to remember Keith at CYC.
The delightful short video below features video journalist Dylan Winter chatting to Keith about BOD sailing as they watch the BSC Thursday Night racing.
On Saturday 10 July the Brightlingsea One Designs have been invited to take part in a Historic Boats Parade as part of the Brightlingsea Regatta celebrations. Vessels are to assemble off Morgan Marine from 1pm and the Parade, which will pass through the harbour and out to Bateman’s Tower so that everyone can see the boats from the harbour and the Prom, will begin at 1.30pm.
If you plan to participate please can you let Oonie Werngren at CYC (email oonagh.werngren@outlook.com) have details of your boat including when she was built, by whom, a little history of the boat and who is going to crew her. This will allow for a commentary to be provided as vessels sail past.
Apparently there is a very nice bottle of Pusser’s Rum and a historic Pusser’s Decanter up as the prize for the best boat so it worth taking part both to promote the class and hopefully win yourself some fine rum!
After a whole season with no formal BOD racing at long last the end of COVID-19 restrictions is on the horizon, Pyefleet Week 2021 will be going ahead in the traditional format and the BODs will be there in force!
Already a number of boats are on the water and a quick check round has revealed that we will definitely have a fleet in double figures with 12 boats already confirmed, so if you’ve been dithering about getting the boat out now is the time to commit, give the crew a call, dig the boat our from storage and get out there an join us.
So far our entry list already for Pyefleet Week looks as follows:
Dulcet White Spirit Storm Petrel Grethe Never Say Never Gelasma Wind Sprite Sarah Louise Blue Peter March Hare Egret Bidi Jumbo Too
We are also hoping to see several others as well.
Some of these boats are already on the water and as we move into July we hope to see people racing in the club races. Please can anyone who plans to race this weekend’s Robbie Stone Chalice at 11.00 on Sunday 4 July from Batemans/CYC line urgently contact Fi on fiona.brown@fionabrown.com so that she can confirm to CYC that there will be takers.
Coming up after that we have the Regatta Hickley Tiller race which will be run in conjunction with BSC’s Jodi Jug Trophy Race on Sunday 11 July at 14.00 so two trophies up for grabs.
On Sunday 18 July its the Commodore’s Cup at 14.00 from Batemans/CYC and on July 25 we have the ever popular BSC Round The Island’s Race which is typically a great race for the BODs. The start time is to be confirmed but it likely to be circa 13.30 from the BSC line.
On Sunday 1 August, the weekend immediately prior to Pyefleet Week, we are invited to join the BSC two race committee start boat mini series. This is all in handicap racing but we will extract BOD results and with typically two short windward leeward style courses on offer its a great way to make sure your boat handling, boat speed and starting are up to pace before the big event. The first start is at 14.00 from the BSC Committee Boat.
And then we come to Pyefleet Week which runs from 7 to 13 August. On Saturday 7 there’s the Carole Cruickshank Pursuit Race warm up and Pyefleet Week is from 8 to 13 August. We sail Sunday am, Monday pm, Tuesday am, Thursday pm and Friday am starting at 10.30 and 14.30 accordingly. And of course on Wednesday there’s the infamous Big Wednesday Handicap in the afternoon. Shoreside plans are underway for a full Pyefleet Week social programme and all the details including online entry are at www.pyefleetweek.com (you don’t pay until you register on site at the start of the week but please get your entries in early to help with planning and save you time on the day).
If you know someone who wants to join us but doesn’t yet have a BOD don’t forget that we have boats for sale at a range of prices on the class website, from the stunning GRP Eider at just under £20k to both Nan and Endeavour which are great ready to sail older boats at very low prices (all are open to sensible offers too). Click here for the full list of boats for sale.
It is with great sadness that we must share the news of the passing of BOD sailor and builder John Mullins. David Chivers has kindly provided the following message.
Sadly, John passed away on December 18th 2020 at Stronvar Rest Home, after battling Dementia since 2007.
John was born and grew up in Brightlingsea and boats and the sea were in his blood. His apprenticeship at Aldous’s and work with Cyril White cemented his skills as a shipwright. He was a keen racing sailor in classes such as the BOD and Flying Dutchman.
John’s experience in boatbuilding was extensive, and he worked for several companies. He was involved in Jaguar Yachts – designing their 21 – and the Robber ¼ Tonner. He worked on Aluminium yachts at Woodbridge and for many years worked for Petticrows overseeing the development of the Dragon and doing much of the work for the wooden deck versions. John was one of the finest shipwrights and his standards were second to none. His designs and drawings are works of art, and I know many who were envious of his beautiful lettering on drawings. John lived in Burnham on Crouch for many years.
The BOD always held a place in John’s heart. From building C31 Blue Peter in 1962 through to his legacy in providing the moulds for the GRP boat which has seen 7 new boats added to the fleet. Sadly, he was unable to finish the first GRP hull – C50 – which was to have been his boat, but she is of course now sailing under Sue Boukley’s care.
I feel very privileged to have known and worked with John and to have sailed with him. Whether in my BOD for the 65th Anniversary or to racing Burnham weeks with him in “Monarch” his beautiful varnished “Mini Tonner” type he designed and built for himself. I always learnt something from being with him.
It is with great regret that we must announce that the BOD Fitting Out Dinner planned for Saturday 2 May at BSC has been Postponed Indefinitely. All government advice indicates that May is likely to be when the crisis is approaching its height and this move is only prudent for all concerned.
We will of course reschedule the event as soon as we are able to and will keep you posted of news as soon as we have any.
Brightlingsea One Design 
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