East Anglian Offshore Racing Association Alive & Kicking
by Tim Cross 23 Apr 2007 12:52 BST
The East Coast’s leading Offshore racing association kicks off its 2007 season in great shape. With almost 1000 racing miles to compete, this 58 year old historic association will see boats from up and down the East Coast from the Crouch, the Medway, the Blackwater, the Orwell, the Colne, Ramsgate, Thorpe Bay and across the North sea competing for many prestigious trophies which have great historic connections. New trophies this year include a very special one donated by the late family of Charlie Mills who died in 2006. The Charlie Mills Memorial Trophy will be presented for the first time this year for the best performing EAORA boat in the RORC, 200 mile, North Sea Race to Scheveningen, which was Charlie’ personal favourite. As a previous Chairman of EAORA, Charlie had made a huge contribution to the Association helping to shape it into its modern format it has today.
With 12 races to complete and 7 discards, owners and crews have the choice of qualifying for the season as well as being able to participate in their own National Championships, club racing and other series raced on the East Coast. Closely linked with EAORA, the Royal Ocean Racing Club has two East Coast Races in the calendar and this year’s Night Race to Ostend celebrates the Crouch Yacht Club’s Centenary year with the start out of Burnham-on-Crouch on Friday 6th July 2007. The Royal Thames Yacht Club continues its long association with East Anglian with 5 offshore races which have to include both North Sea crossings, the prizegiving of which takes place at the Royal Thames YC in Knightsbridge.
EAORA recognises the modern requirements of people racing offshore having undertaken a comprehensive questionnaire to competitors last year. Improved communications in the form of an updated web site which includes, for 2007, Online Entry and an up to the minute results programme. A new two-handed series has also been introduced.
Class I this year will see a big injection of new boats. Paul & Michael Wood & Ian McGee Kerr 11.3 “Skipjack”, Stan Fenton’s J 122 , Jason and Judy Payne-James Dufour 44 “Heartbeat 3” and Richard Mathews, a long time supporter of EAORA will be campaigning his new Oystercatcher 26 - a 42’ cruiser/racer designed by Tom Humphreys following in his father Rob’s footsteps.
Chairman Paul Wood says in his message to competitors this year "…at East Anglian I think we get it right. I believe we achieve the perfect balance of great racing and socialising. I look forward to a brilliant 2007 season…"