AC: People - Burghfield Sailing Club

Admiral's Club Committee

Here are the folks in the Admiral's Club Committee. If you see any of us at the water or in the club on Saturdays or Wednesday evenings, do come and have a chat.

Helen Shirley-Quirk (Chair)

Helen wanted to learn to sail ever since her father read Swallows and Amazons stories to her as a 7 year old. However it took several decades more before she was finally able to fulfil her ambition on a family Sunsail holiday in Greece, three years ago. She came back and completed her RYA Level 2 at BTSC – and hasn’t looked back since!

Although her husband, Peter, also learnt to sail at the same time, they decided that marital and marine harmony would be best preserved by sailing in two single-handed dinghies and so Helen sails a Topper whilst Peter sails a Laser. Both are to be found on or in the water most Saturdays in summer.

Helen has been involved with the Admiral's Club since it started and has found it a great way to get to know people at the club and to improve her sailing. Sailing around on her own tended to be a bit aimless (it’s all too easy to avoid the trickier manoeuvres!) so the Admiral's Club programme has given more of a focus – and a lot of fun!

Jay Dear

This is Jay Dear, representing Recreational Sailing on the Sailing Committee. The club has a representative on the sailing committee for all of those people at the club who sail at Burghfield, but don't race. Call it family sailing, recreational sailing or leisure sailing, whatever the name, it describes many club members and their sort of sailing.

Jay can be found sailing his Laser 2000 dinghy, pottering about at the weekend and competing in the Wednesday evening summer pursuit races. You'll also find Jay out on yachts in the Solent, both racing and cruising, and sailing almost anything from windsurfers to yachts when on holiday in the Med.

Nik Bratton

Nik first learnt to sail around 20 years ago in Sussex's Adur Valley. His first nautical experiences were sailing Mirror dinghies and crewing 420's.

Having stopped sailing for a number of years Nik discovered BSC whilst
taking his RYA Level 2 certificate at BSTC. His first boat at BSC (in 2004) was an RS Feva in which he and his wife, Hilary, got back to grips with sailing. Nik (and Hilary) will now be found sailing a Laser 2000 at the club on most Saturdays in the summer and the odd Wednesday.

Nik's involvement with the Admiral's Club started early on when, as a
'Saturday sailor', he realised how important it was to improve the social aspect of non-racing sailing. Over the past 3 years Nik has enjoyed making many new friends as the Admiral's Club has grown.

Alison Buchanan

Alison first sailed around 25 years ago on wooden yachts in the Norfolk Broads. Occasional trips on dinghies throughout the next few years interspersed with a number of long weekends on yachts in the Solent and flotillas in Greece reinforced her view that she was a yacht sailor at heart.

It was only during her RYA Day Skipper practical course in 2001, when the skipper suggested some dinghy sailing might improve her wind awareness (and stop her running over the ‘man’ she was trying to rescue in MOB drill) that she considered the idea of exploring dinghy sailing again (Editors note: she did pass the course!)

Alison bought her Topaz (aka “The Flying Pig”) at the next London Boat Show and has been a member at Burghfield ever since, completing her RYA Level 2 that summer and pottering round at weekends. After a couple of summers a friend suggested the Wednesday evening series would be a good way to improve her sailing skills, and she has been pleased with the way that her results have slowly started getting better – she has even had an occasional top 20 result since upgrading to a racing rig and gennacker in 2008.

Alison is enjoying being part of the Admiral's Club organising committee and especially the way it enhances the social side of being a member at BSC. Do stop her for a chat if you want to know more about the benefits of getting involved.

Chris Webb

Chris started sailing when he was 8 in the warm waters of Cyprus where his father was stationed, but didn’t take it up again until he was in his thirties when he took his RYA levels 1 & 2 at BSC.

After a few false starts he eventually bought an old Enterprise and encouraged his family to join him. This wasn’t an ideal boat for them so he bought an RS Feva which he and his son Harry sailed for several years, improving their sailing and confidence with the help of the Admiral's club which they joined at its inception.

They had found it difficult to meet like-minded people when they first started sailing at Burghfield but since joining the Admiral’s Club they have made some good friends, had great fun and sailed many more boats on the various “try a boat” days and through the generosity of others.

Chris and Harry now sail an RS 200 which they have just about mastered although still find themselves in the water far too often. Chris is generally to be found at the club most Saturdays during the Admiral's Club season along with Harry, who’s views on behalf of the younger members are regularly expressed!

Trevor Stallwood

Trevor started sailing about 10 years ago when he and his son learnt together at the RYA training centre. He trained to RYA Level 3 standard to gain confidence in his personal skill and ability.

His main sailing interest is leisure, with some racing. To date Trevor has owned & sailed a Topper, Laser, Laser 13, and now a Topaz RaceX and Laser 2000.

His son now lives away from the area and so he is often on the look out for a crew.

Belinda Hopkins

Belinda has been a member of the sailing club for over 10 years. She has never plucked up the courage to race and only recently dared to take one of her two very ancient Toppers out when it was at all windy.

The Admiral's Club has transformed her experience of the club now she knows she is not alone in finding racing terrifying and accidentally getting stuck in the middle of a race the worst nightmare possible.

Who knows - this year could even see her racing ....... But don't hold your breath.

Hilary Bratton

Hilary started sailing 4 years ago when she married Nicholas and he bought a boat.

She likes to sail at a leisurly pace and watch the world go by, which is not easy when sailing a Laser 2000 with Nicholas!

This is Hilary's third year of involvement with the Admiral's Club and she has met many new friends through the activities arranged.

Hilary is always up for a chat so please feel free to stop her and ask about the Club.