POETS

If you are free on Fridays and sail a cruiser, then why not try POETS (Push Off Early Tomorrow's Saturday). It's much quieter on a Friday than the weekends at UYC and appeals to many cruiser members who enjoy both the sailing and social events.

There is a relaxed approach to the day: We meet at 12 noon for a packed lunch, set a course and start racing between 1.30 and 1.40 pm. During the season we also have several suppers in the clubhouse, cooked by POETS in the kitchen with members providing the desserts.

The POETS racing format is different from the traditional, there is no massed start, you choose when you want to start within a 10-minute window. Also, you time yourself to sail the course and boat handicaps are adjusted from race to race. The courses are set to have long legs, with a variety in the points of sailing to make the races both interesting and challenging. We sail a series of 13 races around the northern part of the lake and 6 longer races to the Islands near Glenridding. This relaxed format attracts an average of 11boats each week, with 20 boats competing during the sailing season.

The highlight of the year is the POETS Masters Week, a 5-day event in held mid-July, with racing each day which includes an Island race, again using the POETS variable race to race handicaps. Each afternoon we enjoy 'Tiffin' (tea and plenty of cake) provided by members with a prize giving supper in the clubhouse for competitors.

The POETS season runs from late April until September, the exact dates each season are on the UYC web site calendar.

So, if you have a cruiser and are free on a Friday from lunchtime, why not come along and join in the fun. I would be pleased to answer any specific POETS queries you may have by just contacting me at: colinbrown828@sky.com

ABOVE: POETS racing

Last updated 12:09 on 13 February 2026