The “Santa Charity Race” (an Open event) was held on Sunday 23 December at 11:30. A total of 13 boats took part.
Hosted by South Woodham Ferrers Yacht Club. A £5 entry fee for charity raised £65 for the RNLI
Peter Hurlock Dinghy Captain SWFYC reported the following results from the race:
Pictures of the 2018 event
For more pictures, check out this album on the URYC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.2012944985451765&type=3
Below is the report for last years race. As you will see it was well attended and sunny (warm too provided you were well wrapped up!)
Up River Yacht Club, South Woodham Ferrers Yacht Club with invitees from Eyott Sailing Club, joined together to attend SWFYC annual Christmas themed fun race. Eleven boats took to the water. We enjoyed a rare day of winter sun. A light NW breeze ensured some friendly competition with the added bonus that there were zero ‘customers’ for the two club safety boats.
With red Santa outfits, white beards blowing in the breeze and a good deal of Christmas decoration adorning the boats, any one would think the racing was not being taken seriously. Although the commodore of SWFYC playing Christmas carols from his wonderful boat reinforced the sense of seasonal good cheer across the joint racing fleet, the ‘sleigh drivers’ were as competitive as ever.
The best way to get an idea of how well the day went is to have a quick look through these images kindly taken by URYC’s ‘official photographer’ Julie Stevens.
Pre race at URYC
Getting started
Fun Race begins
Christmas carols accompanied the fleet
Racing
Santa’s Mirror at URYC
Race winner
Here is a link to 90 more images taken on the day; Facebook Album
Results
SWFYC had kindly offered to host post race hot mince pies and tea. Unfortunately, by the time the race was over, our ‘sleigh drivers’ wanted to get changed and get warm! The safety boat crew were also looking a tad frozen so it was decided that Up River would have to forego SWFYC hospitality this time.
Everyone would like to express their thanks to SWFYC for their kind offer. But a drive home with car heaters on full blast beckoned!