Ed Evans
Racing at SSC
The Club has an annual calendar of races running from April to October. Most Club races start in front of the clubhouse around a buoyed course on the upper part of the Stour, and finishing back at the clubhouse.
The centrepiece of the Club year is the Manningtree Regatta, held during the summer over a weekend alongside the famous beach games. On one day there is a pursuit race for all competitors ranging from singlehanded dinghies to large cruisers, and on the other ‘round the buoys’ races split into different classes.
Over the rest of the season racing at Manningtree is centred on the Micro Tonner fleet, made up of Micro Gems and Micro18s. These are small keelboats with lifting keels, crewed by either 2 or 3 people. They are raced on level handicap and make for close and competitive racing. The season starts with the Spring Regatta, and culminates with the Micro ‘Worlds’, the highlight of the racing year with eight races over two days. In between there are races at weekends and on midweek evenings when the tides suit. There are currently 10 Gems and 3 Micro 18s at the club. The fleet are always delighted to welcome newcomers, and there are always opportunities to get on a boat and join a race – no experience is required!
The other key events are the President’s Cup to honour Gerry Brown the Club’s former President which cam be competed for by any boat, and the “21 mile” race, which starts at the Club with a course down to Harwich then out to sea round buoys in Dovercourt Bay and back to Wrabness beach for a barbecue. This race stays in the Orwell and Stour rivers if the weather is rough.
Stour Sailing Club boats also compete in the Haven Combined Clubs series, which features a series of races based around Harwich Harbour for both ‘experienced’ and ‘relaxed’ fleets, as well as a series of passage races including trips to Oostende, Lowestoft and Burnham.
If you would like to join in with any of the Club’s racing activities then do let me know.
Ed Evans
Racing Secretary