This year our sailing has been greeted with considerable enthusiasm from ORs, and with your support we hope we can go from strength to strength in 2020!
 
Arrow Trophy 11-13th October 2019
I am pleased to announce we have a confirmed entry for the 2019 Arrow Regatta, a sailing competition between Independent Schools. It is sailed over a weekend in October in identical Sunsail F40 yachts, crewed by former pupils, and racing runs from Cowes on the Isle of Wight. This will be the 5^th time we have entered a Roedean team into the event. In previous years we have been the only girls' school to enter the competition, and our main objectives are to have a fun weekend, with no injuries and not to come last place!

Training
For the first time we will have a training day on Friday 11^th October. We have been gifted the day by an anonymous OR Governor, who was “horrified” at our lack of practice, and wished to champion the “Roedean spirit” we have shown through being the only girls school to enter. I’m sure all the current and future crew will join me in thanking her, as we could sorely do with more time on the water.
Sponsorship
We also have continued fabulous support from the ORA, who have kindly agreed to sponsor us to the sum of £500, which helps enormously with the entry fees. Pam Mainwaring (Watson, No.4, 1956 – 63) was also swept up in the Arrow enthusiasm and has pledged a Roedean “battle flag” for us to fly on our forestay in port- we will be unmissable! And the School will also furnish us with team hats again.
Join us
All this support sets us up for a wonderful Arrow Regatta, and we are looking for crew! So please drop me an email ASAP if you’d like to be part of the crew. [email protected]
We expect costs to be around £200 including training, boat, race fees and dinners, and I hope to finalise the team in early June.
For more information about the event, please see www.arrowtrophy.org.uk
 
Other sailing events in 2019 
 
1st-2nd June Women’s Open Keelboat Championships
This year we are not able to field a complete team, but we hope we will be able to next year. In the interim several of the Roedean Arrow crew will be attending, and for those interested the organisers can help match crew. http://www.womensopenkeelboatchampionships.co.uk
 
Old Pangbourne Yacht Club Dinghy Sailing Challenge
Over recent years Pangbourne have kindly invited us to join them for Saturday drinks at the Arrow Regatta. This year we enjoyed an invitation to the Royal Yacht Squadron. This September they have invited Roedean to a dinghy racing/sailing day and BBQ at Burfield nr Reading. This will be a wonderful opportunity for both teams to reconnect and do some light training before the Arrow regatta. Dates are looking like- 8^th or 22^nd of September
           
OR Roedean Sailing News
The Arrow regatta has served as a wonderful platform for many of our ORs to enter Yacht racing. Here is a snapshot of the events that our past and present team members are entering this summer to give you a feel of what we get up to.

•          Fastnet
•          Taittinger Regatta
•          Cowes Week
•          Round the Island
•          Classic Channel Regatta
•          Woman's J70 Open Championship
•          Womens Open Keelboat Championships
•          Extensive club racing

 
Future plans for 2020
We would like to continue building our Roedean Alumni crew & network going forward. As our support grows so do our ambitions…please help us make this happen.
We hope to extend our commitments to include-
-Womens Open Keelboat Championships (June 2020)
- Cowes Week Ladies day (August 2020)
-J70s Womens Open Championships (Sept 2020)
 
Building our network
We have built our Roedean Arrow crew via Facebook and word of mouth. To continue strengthening our team we need to continue to find sailors and supporters.
 
Keep up to date via our new Roedean Alumni Sailing What’s app grouphttps://chat.whatsapp.com/FyD3zVFaaA6Dt7JhYK5bHw
Regatta reports are also on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1346111265494366/?ref=share
Article by Caroline Bowen.