York Sailing Club Regatta 2025

York Sailing Club Regatta © Darren Rigg

It may not seem a particularly big fleet, but 14 boats is quite enough in the confines of the River Ouse just to the south of York, with overhanging trees, moored boats and passing motor boats added in for good measure. The annual regatta of York SC and Yorkshire Ouse SC was held this year on 7 September, and it was YSC's turn to host the event.

We had a very mixed fleet, with no fewer than eight different classes represented, and 22 sailors, aged from seven to seventy-plus (quite a large plus). One of the four GP14s had a crew of three, and the Laser/ILCA had two (with the crew sitting on the foredeck most of the way round).

York Sailing Club Regatta - photo © Darren Rigg

The forecast suggested gusts in the range of 25-30 mph, but these never materialised, and in the event we recorded more like 6-8 mph. Much more suitable for the fleet (especially, dare I suggest, the Laser crew). A wind from the ESE makes for tricky course setting at YSC, so all races were held downstream of Joe's Gap, with the windward mark off the Marina cafe and the leeward mark on Ranganui Corner. (If these names mean nothing to you, you'll just have to come and visit us!).

The format was three pursuit races, all 35 minutes long. The first was based on class handicaps, while the next two were run on personal handicap, based on previous performance on the day (with the race officer's knowledge of the sailors used for fine adjustments).

York Sailing Club Regatta - photo © Darren Rigg

In addition to the sailors, there were more than 10 people in rescue boats or ashore, so the lunchtime barbecue and the post-race cakes (YSC is famed for its cakes, especially the Commodore's Victoria sponge) had to cater for well over 30.

As usual, Peter Craggs and Phil Nelson did an excellent job of running the races and keeping everything ship-shape. We had three different race winners and one OCS (by a minute and a half - which is quite an achievement). Other notes provided by Peter and Phil include comments (here edited for publication) on one of the GP14s going on an unscheduled mid-race visit into the Marina and losing a few places as a result; the eventual winner sailing well but shedding places towards the end of the final race and making it closer than it needed to be; and, in general, slow boats doing well to keep the fast boats at bay, although when the wind dropped in race three this made it hard for the late starters to make their way through the fleet.

York Sailing Club Regatta - photo © Darren Rigg

Many congratulations to Ben Thomas on his win, and many thanks to Yorkshire Ouse SC for turning up in such numbers. All in all, it was a very successful event. The main downside was perhaps a shortage of jetty space - but that's the price you pay when your regatta attracts its best attendance for at least 10 years.

Overall Results: