Royal Corinthian One Design class celebrates 90 years of racing on the River Crouch
by Martin Makey 15 Jul 17:58 BST
11-13 July 2025
The RCOD class, based at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Burnham on Crouch, Essex, has celebrated 90 years of racing over a long weekend of 11-13 July 2025.
The lines of this 23 foot mahogany carvel planked keel boat were drafted in 1932 by local yacht designer Harry Smith following an initiative by then Commodore "Tiny Mitchell" who wanted the RCYC to have its own one design class. A new modernist and still iconic clubhouse had been opened in 1931 during the depression years and members thought it would help local yacht builders and their shipwrights to be offered work as well as benefit the club.
Work started on the first RCOD, at a cost of £140, in 1934 and the first races were held in 1935. Seventeen RCODs, whose names all begin with Cor, were built for club members and a couple of orders were received from Kenya, but the war curtailed development of the class and its expansion plans.
The class has been prepared to adapt over the years, so today there are ten racing boats and two available for restoration, including the No 5, Coram, that has recently undergone restoration and was racing during the celebratory regatta.
The RCOD is a forgiving boat and can be sailed by crews of mixed experience including youngsters. It is a great introduction to keelboat racing and a number of families have retained links to the class over many years.
The fleet enjoyed champagne sailing on the River Crouch over three glorious July days with a mixture of club racing and windward-leeward courses set by race officer Edwin Buckley on board of the committee boat, Phoebe.
The regatta was tightly fought, not without start line incidents and plenty of calls for room during shoreline short tacking to avoid the ebbing tide.
Easterly winds predominated over the weekend, ideal for the River Crouch and provided a cool respite from the onshore heatwave. Racing was sailed in anything from 5 knots to a nice breezy 20 knots for the windward leeward courses.
RCOD No 12 Cormorant, steered by Justin Waples, was a consistent winner, closely followed by No. 6 Coryphee, with Paul Buckley at the helm and No. 5 Coram, restored and helmed by Daniel Wastnage.
In addition to racing, the fleet managed two sail past salutes in honour of Commodore Mary Makey and, on shore, enjoyed much entertainment and a Ninetieth celebration cake and tea.
The fleet has retained its traditional enthusiasm and continues to follow the words of 1935 RCOD Class Captain E.W. Mildred: "Altogether splendid sport can be looked forward to by the owners of boats of this class."
To help sailing survive as an amateur sport and support the marine industry, the Royal Corinthian One Design class is continuing to do its bit by providing local racing and sailing for everyone.