New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Royal Sovereign.
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Royal Sovereign.

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Sussex Lad View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 08 Jun 18
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 359
Post Options Post Options   Quote Sussex Lad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Royal Sovereign.
    Posted: 14 Aug 19 at 2:27pm
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[TUBE][/TUBE]
Back to Top
Sussex Lad View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 08 Jun 18
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 359
Post Options Post Options   Quote Sussex Lad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 19 at 2:45pm
Found a piccy of the race courtesy of R McAll.


Back to Top
piglet View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 04 Jan 07
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 514
Post Options Post Options   Quote piglet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 19 at 3:33pm
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.
Back to Top
Sussex Lad View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 08 Jun 18
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 359
Post Options Post Options   Quote Sussex Lad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 19 at 6:19pm
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

Edited by Sussex Lad - 14 Aug 19 at 6:20pm
Back to Top
bicrider View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 14 Jan 14
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 40
Post Options Post Options   Quote bicrider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 1:29pm
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"
Back to Top
piglet View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 04 Jan 07
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 514
Post Options Post Options   Quote piglet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 2:19pm
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.
Back to Top
Sussex Lad View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 08 Jun 18
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 359
Post Options Post Options   Quote Sussex Lad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Sep 19 at 6:05pm
Back to Top
Sheetpuller View Drop Down
Posting king
Posting king


Joined: 22 Feb 11
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 114
Post Options Post Options   Quote Sheetpuller Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 23 at 12:07am
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.


Edited by Sheetpuller - 11 Jul 23 at 12:22am
I'm not arguing. I'm explaining why I'm right.

Merlin Rocket 3545 - 'Smooth Operator'

Sprint 15 1342 - 'Still Crazy'

Back to Top
sarg boland View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 16 Dec 19
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 25
Post Options Post Options   Quote sarg boland Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 23 at 3:54pm
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
Back to Top
Sam.Spoons View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 07 Mar 12
Location: Manchester UK
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3395
Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 23 at 8:47am
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
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy