Spring has hardly sprung and it doesn’t seem any warmer since my first post, so I thought we should have some top tips on keeping warm from those in action on the water. Here are Team 15 Wave Rider Scarlett´s top tips for keeping warm: always wear a hat even if it means the hat gets wet, wear your thickest wetsuit and gloves, warm up well and keep moving to get your circulation going.

There has been some action locally over the last few weeks despite the cold Easterly winds. Nine pupils from Truro school completed a tough ten mile paddle from St Mawes to Boscowen Park, Truro on Saturday the 23rd of March. The pupils were fundraising for a much hotter trip to Uganda where they are heading for a three week trip working with local community project this summer. The pupils were joined by the head teachers of both the prep school and senior school and the school chaplain Aubin de Gruchy, a keen paddler and organiser of the trip. The pupils completed the trip in three hours with just one short break at Turnaware for a hot drink; a really good effort on such a cold windy day.

Easter is traditionally time for fitting out and the boats are starting to appear in the Percuil River and the boatyards are getting busy. Whilst some people take pride in their cars, yachtsmen often spend hours preparing their boats for the coming season. Most of the yachts on the river these days are GRP rather than wood requiring less maintenance but there are still some trade secrets to keep your pride and joy in top condition. Iain from Percuil boatyard offers this advice: for under the water use a good quality and value antifouling like Tiger extra,on the topsides you can use a cutting compound like Mirka Polarshine to bring the colour back then a good quality wax to protect them. Don’t neglect your spars, they can also get a coating of bees wax to help repel the salt and moisture and reduce corrosion.

The cold weather hasn’t had any effect on Gig activity with the whole of the Fal estuary busy with crews training for the Scillies. The Roseland club are still looking good with five crews entered and two veterans’ crews all busy training, often appearing back ashore in the dark. They will be glad of the clocks going forward this weekend. Keep an eye on their website they have some big news coming up soon.

Up and Coming Events
13-14th April Feva training and open meeting St Mawes sailing club and Roseland paddle and sail
14th April Restronguet SC club racing season starts, Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings
21st April St Mawes SC pursuit races start