Janice Dykes

I started sailing in the Autumn of 2013, being embarrassed by having lived by the sea for 40 years and never going out on it. I joined the Brighton Marina Yacht Club 'Club Class' scheme for yacht racing. I found that I enjoyed yacht racing very much, and have since been crew on 3 different yachts, the latest being a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 33' which we race every Sunday unless it's blowing a hooley!

I heard about Brighton Belle from a fellow member of BMYC and signed up for a day sail in January 2014.....unfortunately it was blowing a hooley that day so we didn't go out but I met a great bunch of people and had a nice lunch on a beautiful (moored!) yacht. I joined straightaway. I got my day sail a few weeks later, had a lovely day and booked for a week sailing from Crosshaven in Ireland to Plymouth via the Isles of Scilly, Falmouth and Fowey. Brilliant sailing, with very varied conditions, dolphins, and a whale! I also spent a splendid week sailing around the Canaries in February 2017- Tenerife and La Gomera.....  more whales this time and great company, as usual. In August 2017 I had another excellent week, crossing the channel to visit Dunkirk, the French and Dutch coast and along the North Sea Canal to Amsterdam. 

The newest member of my family is Jemima.... I finally succumbed to the temptations of owning a whole boat by myself.... she's only little... a 25' Fisher Freeward but she's adorable!! I got her in June 2017 and although we haven't been able to get out much she is a joy, and makes me smile whenever I see her. 

Looking forward to what 2018 holds for all of us on Brighton Belle. Hope to be sailing with you all again soon.