Racing at SSC
Most Club races go from a start/finish line in front of the clubhouse around a buoyed course on the upper part of the Stour Estuary. Because of the tidal situation the races are limited to about 1 and a half to 2 hours.
The racing highpoint of the season is the regatta, held during the summer over a weekend of good, early afternoon tides. On one day there is a pursuit race, and on the other ‘round the buoys’ races for Micros, cruisers and dinghies, alongside lots of other water and beach based activities.
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. There are currently 10 Gems and 2 Micro 18s at the club, and we are always keen for more to join.
From April to October there are two series of races – a weekend series with monthly races normally on a Sunday, and an evening series whenever tides allow. The season starts with the Spring Regatta, and culminates with the Micro‘Worlds’, the highlight of the racing year.
Other key events are the President’s Cup, to honour Gerry Brown the Club’s former President, 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.
The full calendar of sailing events is found below.
If you would like to join in with any of the Club’s racing activities then do let me know.
Ed Evans
Racing Secretary