Here's a round-up of selected cruiser racing series that are taking part in Essex waters through 2012. Looking at the list, there's plenty of opportunity to go racing both for the hardened racer types as well as the cruising types who'd like to test their speed sailing skills against others on their river.
If you'd like to get involved in cruiser racing, but don't have your own boat then checkout the Essex Sailing opportunities on this website their aim is to help newcomers to start cruiser racing.
Colne
Cock of the River series
Handicap:
Local handicap based on PY and previous results
Type:
River races round the cans. Expect races up to 2 hours long
Suitable
for newcomers to racing: Yes. They even have special handicap rating
for beginners. And there's another series only for newcomers to
racing, but check dates.
Series:
Points series 7 races, 1 discard.
Contact:
Colne Yacht Club. Waterside, Brightlingsea, Essex, CO7
0AX
tel:
01206 302594
Dates: 21/4, 5/5, 2/6, 16/6, 1/9, 15/9, 13/10
Haven Series
Handicap:
IRC and local handicap
Type:
Coastal round the cans IRC points racing and Offshore Passage Racing.
Expect a full days racing
Suitable
for newcomers to racing: Yes if your crew has extensive cruising
experience
Series:
Points series 10 races, 3 discards.
Cost:
Varies, Approx £100 for series and £45 per passage race, see
website for details
Contact:
Fiona Meikle, 17 Beach Lane, Alderton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 3BU
Tel: 07778 010580
Dates:
IRC
Points Series 12-13/5, 9-10/6, 8-9/9, 22-23/9
Passage
Race Series 26/5, 1/6, 27/7, 18/8
BJRC
Series (Blackwater Joint Racing Committee)
Handicap:
Local based on PY
Type:
Passage Racing expect 6hrs minimum
Suitable
for newcomers to racing: Yes
Series:
9 points scoring races, 4 discards
Cost:
£12 Yes that's right twelve pounds for the whole series! See website
Contact:
Peter Copsey Old Copse Longacre Road Tye Green Braintree CM77 8HG
tel: 01376 322737 or 07837 636669
Dates:
29/5, 13/5, 10/6, 30/6, 1/7, 14/7, 29/7, 11/8, 12/8, 9/9, 23/
West Mersea Autumn Series
Open
to all Sailing Club member boats
Handicap:
IRC and local PY
Type:
Round the cans racing expect approximately 2hrs 30mins races
Suitable
for newcomers to racing: Yes. There's also a white sails class for
family boat racing (check dates on websites)
Series:
For IRC, PY and White sails
Contact:
The office, West Mersea Yacht Club, 116 Coast Road,
West Mersea, Colchester, Essex, CO5 8PB tel: 01206 382947
Dates: 2/9, 9/9, 23/9, 30/9, 7/10, 14/10, 20/10
EAORA
(East Anglian Offshore Racing Association)
If
your Sailing Club is a member of EAORA, then you can race. (chances
are, your club is)
Handicap:
IRC
Type:
Coastal and Offshore Passage Racing expect a full day racing
Suitable
for newcomers to racing: Yes if your crew has extensive cruising
experience
Series:
Coastal series 7 races, 2 discards. Offshore series 11 races, 4
discards.
Cost:
Varies, see website for details
Contact:
Tony Merewether 07703 345501
Dates: 5-6/5, 18/5, 2-3/6, 16/6, 29/6, 1-2/7, 18/8, 7/9, 13/10
Sail
East Series
A
series where points are awarded for places achieved in East Coast
Regatta racing in IRC fleets.
Races
are open to yachts as determined by each regatta.
Handicap:
IRC
Type:
Round the cans racing. Expect at least 3 races over each weekend
regatta.
Suitable
for newcomers to racing: Not really. If you have raced local club racing though, then Sail East is the next
step up.
Cost:
Varies, Check individual regatta websites for details
Contact:
SailEAST,
35 Mill Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, CO14 8PF
Dates: 26-27/5, 13-15/7, 30/7-4/8, 25-26/8
Felixstowe Regatta
Handicap:
IRC and locally based on PY
Type:
Round the cans racing. Expect at least 3 races over the weekend
regatta.
Suitable
for newcomers to racing: Yes. There are 'no spinnaker' classes
for family boats
Contact:
Peter Cockayne, Chairman, Felixstowe Regatta Organising Team on 01473
780088
Dates:
14th
- 15th
July
Mersea
Week
Handicap:
IRC and locally based on PY
Type:
Round the cans racing.
Suitable
for newcomers to racing: Yes. There are classes for family boats
Cost:
Varies, Check mersea week websites for details and the Town Regatta
website.
Contact:
West Mersea Yacht Club, 116 Coast Road, West
Mersea, Colchester, Essex, CO5 8PB
Dates: 20– 25/8
Dabckicks
Sail East Regatta
Handicap:
IRC
Type:
Round the cans racing.
Suitable
for newcomers to racing: No. But if you're crew has local club
racing experience then this is the next step up.
Contact:
Dabchicks
Sailing Club, Coast
Road, West Mersea, Colchester, ESSEX, CO5 8NX
Dates: 26-27/5
Maldon
Town Regatta
Handicap:
Local based on PY
Type:
Morning round the cans racing from West Mersea followed by afternoon
race up river to the town quay..
Suitable
for newcomers to racing: Yes. This is a fun day of racing for old
gaffers, smacks and modern boats and makes quite a spectacle.
Quayside events all day for the family.
Contact:
Through the website
Dates:
22/9
Burnham
Week
Handicap:
IRC and Locally based on PY
Type:
Round the cans racing. Series points for either whole week, bank
holiday weekend, or midweek fleets
Suitable
for newcomers to racing: Yes. There's a classes for all types of
boats including 'no spinnaker' classes.
Contact:
Through the website
Dates:
25/8-1/9