Weir Quay Sailing Club certainly ended the sailing season with a bang, not a whimper, as events were well attended by many enthusiastic members.

The cadets, who have proved keen and able throughout the year, saw their season end as it began with seven dinghies enjoying near perfect conditions on the last evening sail.

Club members, marshalled by Steve Kirby, turned up to crew safety boats and assist shoreside. The cadets will remember 2009 for their 24 hour sponsored sail. The end of the season for the cruisers is marked by a cruise to Newton Ferrers - this year it felt more of an ocean cruise as winds up to 28 knots and two metre swells were experienced on the way. Nonetheless nine boats safely made the passage, carrying minimal amounts of sail.

The club catamaran speedster, Pete and Helen Silcock's Pas De Deux, used the conditions to log over 14 knots outside the Breakwater.

There were some similarly brisk conditions in September for the club's rally to Fowey. Five boats gathered at the Western Entrance to Plymouth Sound, and had to battle their way to Fowey, tacking into a south-westerly wind. All the boats were well dispersed, but all they could do on a southerly tack was aiming for Roscoff, it was evident that staying inshore was favoured.

Allan Seward, in Love Knot, ably crewed by son Brandon and James Hill, were first into Fowey, taking just more than six hours — 50 minutes ahead of the next boat. Love Knot also triumphed in the club regatta, although the calm conditions caused the pursuit rally to be called off.

Back up river at the club, the calm conditions put paid to dinghy racing, however the model boats event as always proved great fun. Materials provided on site allowed some models to be made on the day, including the winner, made by Rhianna Ferneyhough, which was the first and only boat to sail across the Tamar to Cornwall. S

he was duly issued with a Certificate of Trans County Crossing at the barbeque and prize-giving, which was magnificently hosted in the garden of Sally Mulford and Jan Newell-Price. Club members Paul Rose, Ian Heard and the Commodore Mick Johnson provided musical entertainment.

Although most cruisers are now safely ashore, the Weir Quay Sailing Club continues to run a frostbite dinghy racing series for the more hardy soles.