Royal Sovereign.
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy Yarns...
Forum Discription: Tell us your sailing stories
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13381
Printed Date: 24 Jun 25 at 10:58am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Royal Sovereign.
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Subject: Royal Sovereign.
Date Posted: 14 Aug 19 at 2:27pm
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The Royal Sovereign light platform has come to the end of it's designed 50yr life span. Early next year it's being demolished so we thought we'd take a trip out there to wish it farewell. It's predecessor was the Light Ship. When a kid in Hastings I remember listening to the fog horn in bed on still foggy nights. I do believe there used to be a long distance handicap race using the ship as one of the marks. The race was before my time in boats, also before the days of 'elf and safety which I believe was what put the kibosh on it. Some of you may remember it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z9Aw2x920Y&feature=youtu.be" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z9Aw2x920Y&feature=youtu.be[TUBE][/TUBE] |
Replies:
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 14 Aug 19 at 2:45pm
Found a piccy of the race courtesy of R McAll. |
Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 14 Aug 19 at 3:33pm
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Popped out there in the 300 yesterday, quite lively over the shoal.
76 minute round trip. Almost shed a year for the old thing, though I have to say the architecture looks very 60's. |
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 14 Aug 19 at 6:19pm
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Bit quicker than me @ 1 hr 44mins......11.8 nautical miles there and back according to my track log. Water a bit confused for me over the shoal with a few big waves. Reasonable though. I suspect you had more tide. Rather you than me in a 300 |
Posted By: bicrider
Date Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 1:29pm
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I believe they used to race out there from Pevensey bay SC I have a feeling it was still happening in the mid 80's but I am probably wrong.
Any ideas what will replace it? ------------- Dart 18 5054 "Willy Flipit" Finn K333 Yellow (faded) Pico "Willy Tipit" |
Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 2:19pm
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The Sovereign race was run by Eastbourne Sovereign SC, it was last run about 2000 ish. I did it 95&96 in I14 1188. Last finisher both times. The Sovereign shoal bouy which is about 1 mile north of the tower has been upgraded.
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Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 09 Sep 19 at 6:05pm
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Link here to Trinity house article: https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/news/royal-sovereign-lighthouse-to-be-decommissioned" rel="nofollow - https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/news/royal-sovereign-lighthouse-to-be-decommissioned
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Posted By: Sheetpuller
Date Posted: 11 Jul 23 at 12:07am
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Yes, Eastbourne Sailing Club used to run an annual long distance race called 'The Royal Sovereign Race'- I sailed a couple of times, once in an 18ft Jollyboat and a few years later out on the wire of a Flying Dutchman. The clubhouse itself was located at the eastern end of Eastbourne's Promenade and the start line was on a transit from the flagpole on the clubhouse roof. The course was triangular and went west along the coast using Beachy Head lighthouse as a turnng mark and then out to the Royal Sovereign lightship - this was before the tower was built - some seven miles offshore. Once you rounded the lightship you went to a mark laid in Pevensey Bay then back along the coast to the start/finish line off the clubhouse. If the wind was the usual prevailing south-westerly then it was a beat along to Beachy Head and two gloriously long reaches out to the lightship and back with the second a cracking three-sailer. Eastbourne Sailing Club ceased to exist sometime after I knew it. About half a mile further east from its position at the end of The Promenade there was a second sailing club for the hoi-polloi, Artisans Sailing Club (yes it was that 1960's class thing). At some point it changed its name to Sovereign Sailing Club, and when Eastbourne Sailing Club folded the remnants merged into Sovereign SC to become the Eastbourne Sovereign SC that is there today. But so far as I know they've never reinstated the Royal Sovereign Race. ------------- I'm not arguing. I'm explaining why I'm right. Merlin Rocket 3545 - 'Smooth Operator' Sprint 15 1342 - 'Still Crazy' |
Posted By: sarg boland
Date Posted: 11 Jul 23 at 3:54pm
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One of my favourite races - loved surfing down the waves into Penvesey Bay though never quite sure where the buoy was as the course was so huge. Only second time that I managed to get a podium finish on handicap in the Laser II in such a large fleet. I suppose today you need to try the Lord Birkett Trophy at Ullswater for similar experience though I doubt the waves are similar. ------------- Fair winds |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 12 Jul 23 at 8:47am
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Or you could try the Anglesey Offshore Dinghy Race which is about 15NM for monohulls and IIRC 25+ for cats and definitely encompasses the same spirit. http://www.redwharfbaysc.co.uk/anglesey-offshore-dinghy-catamaran-race" rel="nofollow - http://www.redwharfbaysc.co.uk/anglesey-offshore-dinghy-catamaran-race ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |