The
Lake.
Find out where we sail and what it's like
WESTBERE
Westbere is a small lake located in Sturry, just outside of Canterbury, it is on the site of a working quarry.
WESTBERE PROS
1.
Training at Westbere in what makes team Kent unique. Everyone becomes very humbled very quickly as we have to make the most of what we’ve got.
2.
The lake is only a 10 minute drive away (as long as you finesse the midday traffic and take the shortcut through Hales Place).
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3.
We share the lake with the rowers, and I have never seen or heard of a boat hitting a rower.
4.
Its very close to McDonalds meaning that we get to dine together after training sessions (and start predrinking sooner for a Vensday).
5.
If you haven’t used the portaloo at Westbere, can you even consider yourself a member of the race team?
WESTBERE CONS
1.
The changing rooms are a storage shed in which a deflated power boat is kept, thus taking up most of the space. It is full of cobwebs, abandoned kit, and the floor is carpet.
2.
The track that leads you down to the lake is so full of potholes it points out the suspension issues of everyone's cars.
3.
The rowers love stealing our lake, thus reducing the size of our sailing area to where the shiftiest wind patches are.
4.
It is always 5mph less windy than the forecast says. Its very sheltered. The wind is very shifty.
5.
It’s very shallow... have you even sailed at Westbere if you haven’t heard the horrible sound of your centreboard scraping along the bottom of the lake?