London race/rally this weekend?

[dockyard]

Sorry if I'm intruding in the wrong forum.

This weekend I've watched a lot of yachts from my flat, which is beside the Thames in London.
Yesterday morning (Saturday 5th) I watched a large flotilla go downriver. I take it they were at
the start of a race, as all were under sail, which is unusual in the Thames as most vessels motor here.
They were shepherded by a Police launch.
It was a great sight, yachts of all sorts from large modern types, smaller maybe family boats and
older wooden boats.

This morning they're all coming back upriver.

Can a kind soul tell me what the event is?
I assume they boats will moor in either the upper pool or St. Katherines Dock area,
so it might be worth having a trip up to see them.

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[GuyMcB]

Hi,

I wouldn't say that you've intruded at all, thanks for the interest.

What you saw was an annual 'Frostbite' race - organised by Erith Sailing Club and the Cruising association www.crusing.org.uk . The start was at 13:30 on Sunday a mile or so downstream from Tower Bridge with the finish of Erith Sailing Club. We raced back Sunday morning.

Saturday's race was plagued by light fluky winds from generally abaft the beam, but varying wildly. I was helming Scaramouch - an old IOR 2 tonner, we did around a dozen kite hoists during the 3 hours or so of the race. Scaramouch has seen significantly better days (mainly in the US), but the old girl still got us line honours on Sunday.

You're right, there was a good mix of all sorts in the race from old gaffers through family cruisers to the odd 'racing machine'. I'm glad all the boats added some colour to an early Spring day on the Thames.

Incidentally, there should be some race results published on the Cruising Assoc's website in the next day or twoif your interested.

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[dockyard]

Guy,
thankyou for the reply.

I did note that on the Saturday many boats had sails flapping about and not filling.

A few times a year on the Thames in London you do get to see interesting things.
The annual canal barge rally comes to mind, and the Doggets Coat and Badge.
Oh, and a rather large yacht recently moored off Deptford Creek.

Best one I saw last year was when I was on the riverbus. Another yacht race - this
time a shall we say "coming together" when someone got in the way of a very big boat
and got a bowsprit through his rigging. No permament harm done though.

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