Round Canvey Island Race Sat 26th

[Keith 66]

Organised by Benfleet Yacht Club the 4th Round Canvey Island race will be held this coming Saturday, it is open to Rowing boats of any seaworthy type & there is a class for Sail & Oar boats as well.
Its 14 miles round the island & varied conditions from open estuary to narrow creeks. Starting on a pursuit basis from BYC early on the tide.
Bar open all day & barbecue, free camping.
Anyone interested send me a pm or ring me on 07895 036766

 

[DavidofMersea]

Organised by Benfleet Yacht Club the 4th Round Canvey Island race will be held this coming Saturday, it is open to Rowing boats of any seaworthy type & there is a class for Sail & Oar boats as well.
Its 14 miles round the island & varied conditions from open estuary to narrow creeks. Starting on a pursuit basis from BYC early on the tide.
Bar open all day & barbecue, free camping.
Anyone interested send me a pm or ring me on 07895 036766

In West Mersea we have a Round the Island sailing race every year and it is very popular, usually with 150- 200 dinghies. A pursuit race type start does not seem very fair because you may be given a time which conflicts with good tides. What we do, and which works very well, is for competitors to chose their own starting time, and which way round they go. Entries, with start time, must be in 7 days before the start, so that wind strength and direction on the day are not known.

 

[Keith 66]

To clarify, East haven creek at the western end of Canvey is very shallow & there is a tidal window that has to be met or you will get stuck!
Due to this the race is started early on the tide, its not strictly a pursuit race but as the creek at that state of the tide is very narrow we have to set boats off at staggered intervals, we use a 2 minute interval & we start the slowest boats first, fastest last. All get an individual time round the island.
We cant go either way because there is not enough water early on the tide. Normally the fastest boats arrive at the finish around HW slowest a while later!
2 road bridges to shoot & two tidal barriers also makes it interesting for the sailing entries!
Seems to work out well & a a great craic!

 

[Keith 66]

Round Canvey race took place yesterday. A very varied field of competitors ranging from Surf Skis, Canadian canoe, rowing shells, rowing skiffs, rowing Gigs, Dories, Drascombe Gig & Wayfarer. 24 boats in all. For the sailing & rowing class it was frustrating as the wind was fluky & light. For the rowers & paddlers it was hard work as the sun beat down. Fastest boat round the 14 mile course was Richard in a V12 Surfski 1hr51m 35s, First sliding seat boat home was Gravesend RC Dover fund, First Fixed seat Gig Southend CRC Rozinante. First BYC boat Adrian mathers in Flo an alden shell
First Sail & Oar was my boat Zev 2 from BYC.
It was a great day with a superb atmosphere, without exception all reckoned the unusual mix of boats makes the event really special. And then we drank some beer!

 

[DavidofMersea]

To clarify, East haven creek at the western end of Canvey is very shallow & there is a tidal window that has to be met or you will get stuck!
Due to this the race is started early on the tide, We cant go either way because there is not enough water early on the tide.

I don't understand the problem, we sail either way round in our Mersea round the Island race. The creek on the northern side of the island dries out, so you chose your start time so that you are in the drying bit when there is water. I hope you will come to Mersea on the 13th August and see how ours works. We have 150 - 200 boats

 

[Keith 66]

We run it this way because it works for where we are, the support boats can keep a handle on it & we dont have fast multiple oared rowing boats going in opposite directions to sailing boats coming under bridges with their gear down. The finish is pretty much together & it works for us, plus the competitors like it!