Royal Sovereign.

   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]

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Sussex Lad Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 Jun 18 Online Status: Offline Posts: 359	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sussex Lad Report Post Quote Reply 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]

Sussex Lad Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 Jun 18 Online Status: Offline Posts: 359	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sussex Lad Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Aug 19 at 2:45pm
	Found a piccy of the race courtesy of R McAll.

piglet Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 04 Jan 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 514	Post Options Post Reply Quote piglet Report Post Quote Reply 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.

Sussex Lad Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 Jun 18 Online Status: Offline Posts: 359	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sussex Lad Report Post Quote Reply 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

bicrider Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 14 Jan 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 40	Post Options Post Reply Quote bicrider Report Post Quote Reply 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?
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piglet Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 04 Jan 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 514	Post Options Post Reply Quote piglet Report Post Quote Reply 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.

Sussex Lad Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 Jun 18 Online Status: Offline Posts: 359	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sussex Lad Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Sep 19 at 6:05pm
	Link here to Trinity house article: https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/news/royal-sovereign-lighthouse-to-be-decommissioned

Sheetpuller Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 22 Feb 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 114	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sheetpuller Report Post Quote Reply 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'

sarg boland Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 16 Dec 19 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Post Options Post Reply Quote sarg boland Report Post Quote Reply 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

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3395	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply 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
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