Portsmouth Sailing Club Annual 'Hot Turkey' Race
by Adrian Saunders 6 Jan 2014 17:03 GMT
25 December 2013
The start of the 2013 Portsmouth Sailing Club Hot Turkey Race © David Saunders & Robin Blair
Normally, boats are not allowed to sail in and out of the harbour entrance without using their engines but as there are no commercial or military vessels using the harbour on Christmas day the Queen's Harbour Master now kindly gives Portsmouth Sailing Club special permission to run a sailing race starting and finishing in Portsmouth harbour entrance.
In 2012 despite gale force winds and lashing rain Portsmouth Sailing Club managed to run their First Annual "Cold Turkey" race in Portsmouth Harbour.
This year was the second race of what has now come an annual event run by the club. It was dreamt up in the club bar on Christmas Day 2011. The club is always open Christmas lunchtime and several of the members remarked on the fact that, unlike a normal day when there is a constant flow of large ships in front of the club at the harbour entrance, there were no boats at all.
The race has been renamed the "Hot Turkey" as it was realised that the competitors will always be back in plenty of time for a traditional Christmas Dinner. It is believed to be the only sailing race to be held on Christmas Day rather than Boxing Day.
Such was the interest this Christmas Day that there was an assortment of 11 sailing boats ranging in length from a 12 foot Firefly through RS400 and Phantom dinghies and a Dart 18 catamaran to several cruising yachts gathered in the harbour entrance for the start. The race followed an out of harbour course around Spitbank Fort in the Solent. Despite the appalling weather on Christmas Eve there was a lucky break in the weather on the day and there were perfect conditions for a race - sunshine and a good breeze.
All entry fees go to the RLNI Lifeboats and they were alerted so as to be ready to help should the need arise. However safety was well looked after by many members of the club on the six RHIBs that also came out on the water and the harbour police launch was also out keeping an eye on proceedings and ready to give assistance if required.
The first boat home in a record time of 17 minutes 51 seconds was the Dart 18 "Here Pussy Pussy" sailed by Portsmouth Sailing Club's David Lloyd, however the winner as judged by the secret Hot Turkey handicapping system was the smallest boat in the fleet "Kem" a classic Firefly helmed by Angus Ross.
All 11 boats finished just before the threatening storm came through - well within an hour making sure that everyone was back in time for their "Hot Turkey".
The race will certainly be run again on Christmas Day 2014 and all boats will be very welcome - details on the club's website, www.portsmouthsc.co.uk.
Portsmouth Sailing Club runs sailing events throughout the year including Spring and Autumn "Parhelion" cruiser/IRC series and the pre-Christmas Frostbite series. In 2014 the club will be running the Portsmouth Regatta celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Victory Class and the 150th anniversary of the Royal Albert Yacht Club.
Portsmouth Sailing Club, based at the harbour entrance in Old Portsmouth, welcomes prospective new family and individual members. Come and find out what the club does and what an enjoyable sport sailing is.