EAST COAST RACE, SPONSORED BY BOYES (For Good Value)

SPONSORED BY BOYES (For Good Value), SYC’s  EAST COAST RACE CHALLENGED YACHTS, CREWS, AND TECHNICAL SAILING SKILLS

To replace the annual North Sea Race which had been frustrated by the Corona Virus pandemic, Yacht Club Sailing committee came up with the vision of a race South along the East Coast, passing the finish at the Wadgate Ledge buoy, then a short hop to Shotley Marina at Harwich Harbour, where the River Stour meets the River Orwell.  The race attracted 7 Yachts.

As with all sailing race plans, this 2-Class race, IRC + SYC, was carefully thought through by the Sailing Committee, contigencies considered at length, safety arrangements made, route plans confirmed, and all was ready for the start at 9pm (IRC) and 9:05PM (SYC).  Weather extremes from flat calms through to strong winds and seas out to Bruceys Garden.

With the winds staying very variable and from the South, vessels often found themselves tacking endlessly day and night, making little actual progress over the ground, and needing to negotiate the ever increasing wind farm installations alongside oil rigs.  As the hours went by, yachts called in to retire, Ruffian finished in IRC with line honours, second to Out of Nowhere 11 minutes later, who finished first on corrected times, SYC Class’s Chansa (over 61 hours), and Troika (over 77 hours), crossing the finish line.

Emma Nutt commented ‘Was a really good race, challenging wind direction and fun navigation. Close racing with Out of Nowhere, although we lost sight of them during Friday night and we didn’t see them again til about 3 hours before the finish. Absolutely loved it’.

A celebratory Club Dinner and Trophy-giving took place several days later, and opinion received about the race was skippers found the unexpected technical challenges quite welcome.  There would be interest in running it again next year.

We shall see…

Chris Clark
Press Officer