New Thackray Williams sails boost junior sailing success at Chipstead Lakes near Sevenoaks

The new sails have been custom-made for Oppies, a heavier and more durable version of the Optimist dinghy, in which most children in Chipstead Sailing Club’s ‘Chipmates’ junior class learn to sail.

“The new sails have replaced four of the old ones that have been in use since Chipmates started 20 years ago. Over time, sails become baggy and lose their shape. This makes the boat less responsive and harder to handle,” explains 16-year-old dinghy instructor Mim Asker. “For beginners and younger sailors this is extra frustrating and, as well as slowing their progress, threatens their enjoyment.”

“At Chipmates, Juniors have the opportunity to use club boats for as long as they need to. The new sails boost the confidence of the sailors who use them and mean they are in a much better position to compete against those who are fortunate enough to have their own boat,” comments Nick Sinclair, Junior Class Captain.

Not every sailing club offers the use of club boats, which can make it hard for the children of non-sailing families to get started. “The four junior instructors on duty at our launch event were all from families that don’t sail and all started out in club boats; having them available is what made sailing accessible to them,” explains Nick.

“As a Kent and London law firm with a strong history of finding and nurturing local talent, we are delighted to support Chipstead Sailing Club to make sure the club boats available to junior members are maintained in good condition to enable them to pursue their hobby and compete against those who are fortunate enough to have their own boats,” comments Thackray Williams’ Co-Managing Partner, Vikki Herbert.

“We’re also delighted to support a club whose commitment to sustainability matches our own,” she adds, “with the ‘retired’ sails being given a new lease of life through effective upcycling and recycling.”

“It's rare anything gets thrown away by the Junior fleet, so even though the four old sails will no longer be used on boats, they'll be repurposed,” says Nick. “For example, they will be given to local schools for use in outdoor activities or donated to an organisation that turns them into bags.”

The Thackray Williams sails will be seen throughout the sailing season as the Oppies are used during every Chipmates session (April to November), weekly races, the annual junior regatta, summer camp, school sessions, RYA courses and the upcoming Young Guns end-of-season event.