Seafarers Pennant 2025 at Overy Staithe Sailing Club

Seafarers Pennant race at Overy Staithe © Ellie Clark

The Seafarers Pennant is one of four races held at Overy Staithe sailing Club that is decided using a combination of the standard Portsmouth Yardstick handicaps for the boat being sailed and the helms performance in the previous year as per the thoughts of Andy Turner our Sailing Secretary. The club donates a small amount of money each year to the charity.

An East North East force 1 greeted the nine single handed competitors with the start from the sea wall and a course winding its way along the main channel to mark E and back to the village.

Fred Deakin and Rodney Tidd made good starts from the bank side of the line and used the shelter of the newly heightened groynes to escape the worst of the current. Spike Turner and Rob Archer concentrated on speed to combat the current rather than tactics. Tidd reached the gap between the Bank Hole groynes first and decided to swap sides of the creak and headed to the marsh side. He led at mark B with Spike close on his heels and Rob a little further back.

Unfortunately for those behind, the course failed to offer many chances to overtake, and course decisions were dictated by the need to avoid the current. The two OKs continued to battle each other and started to eke out a lead from the rest of the fleet that consisted of Lasers, Laser Radials and Lightnings.

With the tide beginning to turn the race officers, Jerry Clark and Rachel Campbell Gray decided that attempting a second lap would cause a few issues so they shortened the course.

Thanks are due to Paul Sacker and Paul Goakes who crewed the rescue boat.

Overall Results: