Do you have some time to spare?  AM / PM / ALL-DAY?
Even if you are competing, you may be able to help us at a busy point ... please contact Janet on 01784 248881 or email sailingsecretary@queenmary.org.uk 

Are you planning to enter? Are you a windsurfer, or relatively new to sailing?  Do you have a family member competing? Perhaps you're a Select Member, or Social Sailor?  Would you like to join the Team for the 45th Bloody Mary on 12th January 2019?

One of the best things about this event is it's run by Club Members for sailors from around the country.  Our Wet Team run the safety, course laying and help with launching and recovery of competitors' boats.  The Office Team run the Event, from entries to compiling the results and prize-giving.  However, all the other roles, including Race Team and the on-the-day logistics of managing such a large number of competitors, is completely down to our dedicated band of volunteer helpers.

As you know, QMSC has only one access road up to the top, so we need to run a one-way system for competitors to drop off boats, then go and park in the car park.  The logistics of parking that volume of cars needs a small team of people to direct competitors and spectators so that access is available and space used to maximum efficiency.

Just simply managing the up and down flow of cars on the ramp requires a team of people to stop the otherwise inevitable carnage of two vehicles and boats meeting half-way ...

Then, there's unloading and moving boats to the launching area - this is run like a military operation with different zones of the boat park and windsurf rigging area assigned to the various classes.  And, of course, the reverse at the end of the day, when competitors come to leave the event.

And, finally, there's the assistance required to help competitors to launch boats down our banks, retrieve trolleys and recover the boats again after racing has finished.

We've got the plan - it is our 45th time, so we know how to do this ... and we do this well, otherwise we wouldn't get over 300 boats competing each year.  What we really need is ... YOU!  Be part of something really special ...

If it wasn't for our amazing team of volunteers, who greet competitors, direct cars, explain where to uncouple and leave boats, help to move them to the right part of the dinghy park and offer assistance launching and retrieving boats, this would not work.  They really are the unsung heroes of the day.

We are very keen to expand our volunteer base for 2019.  We have experienced Team Leaders in all the shore-based roles, who are keen to have as many helpers as possible to make things run smoothly and share the workload.  If you've never thought of doing something like this, now's your chance - you will meet other members you've not met before; it can be hard work, but also enjoyable and our teams are greatly appreciated by competitors.

Even if you're competing yourself, any help you can offer before / after racing would be greatly appreciated ... please give it some thought!

If you can spare some time, particularly at the beginning or end of Saturday 12th January 2019, please do contact Janet on 01784 248881 or sailingsecretary@queenmary.org.uk and she will find you a job to do on the day!

As a thank you from the Club, we do invite all our volunteers to join us in the Clubhouse for a dinner, which will be held on Wednesday 23rd January 2019.