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Cruiser News

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Published 20:41 on 20 Feb 2022

Cruiser racing has restarted at TSC with the 2022 Frostbite series. The 2020 series was severely curtailed when Covid closed the country down in early March, and we only managed one race in 2021, although it gave us a chance to try using a pursuit race format. Temujin and Swn y Mor were the only starters, and it went well enough to continue the experiment this year.

So, it was very pleasing to see seven cruisers take part in the first race on 9th January. Two more had to cry off at the last minute due to Covid, but it was still a very respectable fleet in good conditions. Mercenary finished first so was rewarded with a five minute extra handicap to carry into race two. First Time decided to sail off to Bennetts rather than West, which was canny as her fourth place meant no alteration to her personal handicap, and she went on to win race two in very light conditions. The lack of wind on the start line created problems for the slower boats starting early, but eight boats turned out, so hopefully there will be even more for the third race on 6th February.

Rocker will hopefully return to the water by Easter, as Jane and I have bought her from Gary and Jon, and we hope to cruise her a bit as well as race her whenever possible. Mercenary won the 2021 Holms Race, as is reported elsewhere, so there should soon be two Impalas racing at the club again, although I will have to decide which one to sail.

We plan to run a couple of cruiser races down channel this year. On Sunday, 17th April (Easter Sunday) we hope to run a Steepholm Race. This will be weather dependent, but assuming there are good conditions, it will start at the clubhouse around high water, take in Steepholm, and finish at Portishead. Competitors can then either continue back to Oldbury, or go into Portishead Marina for the night and return home on the Monday. That weekend is also the PCC Cruise in Company to Gloucester Docks, which gives a different route if the weather is not appealing down channel.

On Saturday, 21st May there will be an Out and Back race to Cardiff Bay. Again the race will start at TSC, and the first leg will finish between Penarth Pier and the Outer Wrach buoy, The night will be spent in Cardiff Bay, and we will then race back to Portishead on the Sunday. Both these races are more like cruises in company, but we have cups for both, so there will be a competitive element.

There is also the Shanghai Cup series run by Cardiff Bay Yacht Club in conjunction with Portishead Cruising club. This consists of a series of races from Portishead on the weekend of 7th/8th May, and another series from Cardiff a fortnight later. This second series will clash with our Out and Back weekend, and the Mercenary crew are thinking of having a go at the Shanghai Cup, which hasn't been won by a TSC boat since Bill Beere's J80.

The Lundy Race run by Ilfracombe Yacht Club has been another good one for TSC boats, and takes place this year on 16th July, which is also the Bristol Harbour Festival weekend. The BCYA are running three rallies this year. The first is in Milford Haven on the 3rd/5th June, the second in Cardiff Bay on 9th/10th July, and the third in Watchet on 20/21 August.

There is plenty going on in 2022 for cruisers!

Bristol Channel Yachting Association diary dates for 2022 are:-

BCYA Platinum Anniversary Seafair Rally Milford Haven 3rd 5th June

BCYA Welsh Coast Rally Mermaid Quay Cardiff 9th 10th July

BCYA English Coast Rally Watchet Marina 13th to 15th Augustcontact BCYC for details.

And Thornbury Dinghy CruisingHey Wayfarers, and similar cruising aspirants

If there is sufficient interest (meaning if I can get somebody to come with me), I'm looking to organise a classic upriver introduction to dinghy cruising, all done on one tide and completed in five hours, either on Saturday 18 or Sunday 19 June, tailing the Lydney Litre fleet. I have chosen this jaunt because it demonstrates our wonderful river at its very best.

At the top of the scary scale, two Moonlight dinghy sails, maybe a trip upriver then stay overnight, either wild camping or on the dried-out boats. Much to discuss here but the dates are:

Monday 16 May. Avonmouth Tide 1930 13.2m. Sunrise 0417, Sunset 1953. Moonrise 2053, FULL moon. Tide next day is 0751 Avonmouth and its 13.38m, so bigger than the night before.

Tue 14 June: Avonmouth Tide 1909, 12.88m. Sunrise 0353, sunset 2029. Moonrise 2113, FULL moon. High tide next day is 0734, 12.93, so bigger than the night before.

Jeremy Warren, TSC Wayfarer Class Captain. Hon_treasurer@thornburysc.org.uk]

Rob Hudson
Cruiser Fleet Captain

Last updated 22:47 on 6 December 2024

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