Well, here we are - the 2024 Blaze Class Association Season is upon us. I hope you're all geared-up, tuned-up and revved-up - we have dispensed a full calendar of events this year, so your racing fix is well cared for.
Lighting the touchpaper on the season are the Fires with their competitive Inland Championships at Burghfield, 23rd March. Burghfield has, for a long time, been a friend to the Blaze Class and has treated us to some magnificent winds and racing over the past few years in particular. We look forward to another epic day, dedicated to the growing Fire family. Blazes welcome too, of course, but racing with a more informal, non-championship vibe.
Next on the Class calendar is the Carsington training and open weekend - 13-14th April. This is a fantastic opportunity to bounce your skills off a top racing coach. As well as presenting a programme of general sailing improvements and racing skills knowledge in the classroom, he'll be close at hand on the water to offer individual sail trimming and skills advice. The coach also comes with an arsenal of sneaky ways to improve your rankings on the scoreboard. Want to know more? Well, that's for you to find out on the day!
This class-subsidised training and open event is set at a deleriously-priced £50 for the whole weekend. You'd be equally mad to not take advantage. The weekend offers you:
- Training day with water and classroom sessions provided by a top professional coach on Saturday 13th April.
- Dinner prepared at the clubhouse for £10 each (main and dessert).
- Open bar
- Camping offered (campervans only) at the club for £10 per pitch (local accommodation also available).
- Breakfast offered at the club (pay on the day).
- Blaze Class own-start open event on Sunday 14th April. Minimum 1st, 2nd, 3rd and special prizes awarded.
We're nearly at capacity for the Saturday training with only 4 places left (maximum 18 places). So get clicking - https://www.blaze-sailing.org/event-details/blaze-training-and-carsington-open.
If you want to enter the Open event on the Sunday only, the price is £25 and anyone with a Blaze, Fire or Halo is welcome. Same link as above.
The Blazes ignite their Championship season at the Blaze Eastern Championships at Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club on 4th and 5th May. With a growing Blaze fleet, great expanse of open water and often a hearty breeze funneling down the estuary, we're delighted to be returning to IOSSC. Expect great racing, many beers and lots of laughs with this work-hard-play-hard, fun-loving crew - a small club with a big heart!
Below is the list of confirmed events for 2024:
23rd March, Fire Inland Championship - Burghfield SC
13th – 14th April, Training and Open event* - Carsington SC
4th – 5th May, Blaze Eastern Championship* - Isle of Sheppey SC
11th – 12th May, Paignton Open for Single Handers* - Paignton SC
1st – 2nd June, Fire National Championship - Warsash SC
21st – 23rd June, Blaze National Championship* - Pembrokeshire YC
6th – 7th July, Blaze Northern Championship* - Yorkshire Dales SC
14th – 15th September, Blaze Southern Championship* - Pevensey Bay SC
12th – 13th October, Blaze Inland Championship* - The Chase SC
2024 sees a bigger emphasis on the Blaze Traveller Series with generous prizes on offer for the intrepid traveller - details to be announced. Qualifying events are denoted with an asterisk* above. Three events minimum to qualify, one of which must be Inlands or Nationals. You must be a BCA member for each event to qualify.
For those of you who forgot to show your support for the Class by placing the order for your super-smart car window sticker, here's the link - https://www.blaze-sailing.org/car-window-stickers. There's a rumour that these are slightly magic, imbued with go-faster properties (Class events only, though, weirdly?!). This hasn't yet been empirically verified, but feel free to do your own research...
If you'd like to come and meet the committee in person, we'll be delighted to chat over a coffee at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show - Farnham, 24th-25th February. We'll be presenting on the Hartley Boats stand - just look up for the prettiest sail in the room - it'll have 'Blaze' written on it. Blaze Class Association expresses our thanks to Hartley Boats for opening their platform to us.
We're really looking forward to another Blazing good year of cruising, racing, fun and laughter. So, get involved, join in with Class racing - whatever your level - and make the most of your membership in 2024.
Blaze Class Association is here to serve you - how can we help?
Fair winds and happy Blazing...
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