Sue Pelling Journalist
Yachting | Lifestyle | Racing
Glorious day at the races with mixed bag of results
Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (7 October 2023): Although the basking sunshine and winds reaching 22kts for the opening day of the Endeavour Trophy made for a glorious day of racing for most, it was bittersweet for some who suffer...
Competitors arrive en masse for legendary dinghy champion of champions event
Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (6 October 2023): A quiet, sultry spell of warm, dry windless weather over the last week or so, gave way to promising racing conditions this morning with winds reaching 22kts...
Impressive win for RS800 national champions
Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (9 October 2022): The 2022 Investec-sponsored Endeavour Trophy dinghy champion of champions that took place this weekend at Burnham-on-Crouch (7-9 October) was one of the most interesting on record with the o...
Tom Morris and Guy Fillmore reign supreme in tough, shifty conditions
Overnight leaders Tom Morris and Guy Fillmore (RS800) – photo Sue Pelling
Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (8 October 2022): Tom Morris and Guy Fillmore representing the RS800 class have taken the overnight lead o...
30 national champions fly the flag for Leukaemia UK
Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (8 October 2022): The opening day of the 61st Investec-sponsored Endeavour Trophy dinghy champion of champions event kicked off today.
This annual event hosted by Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-...
Town Cup-regulars Richard Matthews’ and team aboard the Carkeek CF520 52ft Oystercatcher XXXV – photo Alan Hana
Burnham Week 2022, which is now open for entry, is set to attract a bumper entry thanks to early bird discounts and a new flexible entry format that includes a pay by the day system wri...
Pip Hare (48) is the sole British sailor competing in the Vendée Arctique, which started from Les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday 12 June, 2022.
Hare who finished 19th in the 2020/21 Vendée Globe (and 8th woman to ever finish the race) in a 1999-built IMOCA 60, is now sailing Medallia, a third gene...
Luke Patience and Mary Henderson Olympian 470 representatives on their way to an overall win – photo Roger Mant
After a couple of mixed results on the opening day yesterday, including an OCS, silver medallist Luke Patience and Mary Henderson won the Endeavour Champion of Champions title with two f...
Overnight leaders after four races, Ben Palmer and Amy Seabright – photo Sue Pelling
Light winds and extremely strong Spring tides threatened to disrupt the opening day of the 60th anniversary Endeavour Trophy but instead four races took place in challenging, shifty conditions,.
It was a day of...
The countdown to the 60th anniversary Endeavour Trophy is underway with the first race kicking off at 10.00 today (9 October 2021).
As this annual invitational eight-race series (8-10 October) reaches another significant milestone, the battle to become the dinghy champion of champions continues...
Burnham Week 2021
ApeX X332 wins Town Cup
Winners of the Town Cup and the EAORA Houghton Cup – Robert Leggett and team on ApeX, an X332 – photo Sue Pelling
Robert Leggett and team on ApeX, an X332, have won the Town Cup to mark the end of Burnham Week 2021.
Leggett, sailing wit...
The opening weekend of Burnham Week 2021 (28 August-4 September) got off to a cracking start.
A gusty northerly breeze and classic, strong east coast tides made the Bank Holiday Weekend Series challenging but the 115-strong entry generally enjoyed highly competitive racing throughout the weekend....
A slight change of pace for Sir Ben Ainslie in a Scow on the Beaulieu River yesterday – photo Julio Graham
Sir Ben Ainslie made a guest appearance yesterday at the Buckler’s Hard 50th anniversary and redevelopment celebration regatta.
Ainslie, who was keen to embrace the spirit of the event, e...
Dragon racing on the River Crouch – photo Roger Mant
Burnham Week Ltd (BWL) is delighted to announce Burnham Week 2021 is now open for entry writes Sue Pelling.
This premier east coast regatta (28 August-4 September) at Burnham-on-Crouch traditionally takes place to include the August Bank Holid...
Ben Saxton and Toby Lewis fought back in today’s breezy conditions to secure the overall win of the Investec-sponsored Endeavour Trophy, for the sixth time and a record fifth time in a row, writes Sue Pelling.
[caption id="attachment_1444" align="alignleft" width="596"] Ben Saxton and Toby Lewis c...
Olympian Luke Patience, and Mary Henderson (470) stole the show on the opening day of the Investec-sponsored Endeavour Trophy, with three wins in the bag writes Sue Pelling.
Light winds and a strong tidal stream resulted in challenging conditions for the 30-strong fleet of champion sailors but...
3So popular is this weekend’s Investec-sponsored Endeavour Trophy (11-13 October), there is now a waiting list to take part writes Sue Pelling.
Despite the doom and gloom of the weather forecast threatening to put a damper on the 59th Endeavour Trophy at Burnham-on-Crouch, there are still a f...
Photo Sue Pelling
With just one month to go until the Investec-sponsored Endeavour Trophy (11-13 October), entry has almost reached its 30-place limit writes Sue Pelling.
For the first time in many years response to the annual Endeavour Trophy invitation dinghy champion of champions’ event has...
Photo – Paul Wyeth Photo – Paul Wyeth
No records broken this year but complex, light conditions proved ideal for local hot shot Jo Richards and team, who stole the show by winning the Gold Roman Bowl on the smallest boat in the fleet writes Sue Pelling.
Beating 1,210 other boats in extreme lig...
Although probably one of the most challenging on record in terms of weather, Cowes Week 2019 turned out to be one of most successful in the history of the event with 100s of teams enjoying super-fast, exciting racing all week.
Thankfully for the inaugural charity King’s Cup event on the Thursday b...
The full beauty of the US Virgin Islands – photo Sue Pelling
Guaranteed spectacular sailing conditions and fine local hospitality continues to make St Thomas International Regatta an all-time Caribbean favourite writes Sue Pelling.
Those fortunate enough to be based in the US Virgin Islands in...
Photo – Roger Mant
With the wind projected to gust more than 40 kts on Sunday, the race committee at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham-on-Crouch, has made the sensible decision to postpone the Keelboat Endeavour Trophy writes Sue Pelling.
This inaugural event to determine the UK keelboa...
For the second year running Digger Harden, sailing his well-tuned, 11-year-old J/80 Glorious Fools with local team mates, has won the Town Cup at Burnham Week writes Sue Pelling.
In the big race finale yesterday (1 September), Harden, Doug Duce, Flynn Davies (21), Holly Dabson (20) and Tom A...
Emotions ran high with barely a ‘dry eye in the house’ at the start of the Golden Globe Race in Les Sables d’Olonne, France on 1 July, writes Sue Pelling.
Fond farewells on race day – photo Julio Graham
After three year...
photo Roger Mant
The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham-on-Crouch (RCYC), and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) announce the launch of the Keelboat Endeavour Trophy writes Sue Pelling.
The aim of this new event, scheduled to take place on 22-23 September 2018, is to establish the UK keelbo...
St Croix, St Thomas and St John open for business as Caribbean regatta season gets underway
The beautiful white beaches and turquoise water off Buck Island, St Croix – photo Sue Pelling
Just six months after the devastation caused by Irma and Maria, two category 5 hurricanes that swept throu...
Gala prizegiving marks end of successful regatta
Bridgetown, Barbados (23 January, 2018): Barbados Sailing Week incorporating the Coastal Racing Series and the Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race concluded last night at a sumptuous rum-themed prizegiving dinner and party at the glitzy Beach House l...
Thrilling conditions for Caribbean classic
Bridgetown, Barbados (21 January, 2018): Squally winds reaching 30kts from the north-east made for magical sleigh-ride, record-breaking conditions in the 82nd Mount Gay Round Barbados Race.
While the lively conditions in big seas proved too much for...
J/24s complete series and countdown to Mount Gay Round Barbados Race underway
Bridgetown, Barbados (20 January, 2018): While final preparations are underway for the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race tomorrow, the J/24 fleet crowned its winner in the closely contested final showdown in the J/24 Coasta...
J/24 fleet springs into action as Coastal Series concludes
Bridgetown, Barbados (19 January, 2018): The hugely competitive local J/24 fleet enjoyed the first of its brand-new two-day race series. Today was also the final day of the Coastal Series.
J/24 sailing at its best
The launch of the J...
Coastal Series winners emerge with one race to go
Bridgetown, Barbados (18 January, 2018): With winds up to 17kts competitors enjoyed more thrilling sailing and tactical racing for the second day of Barbados Sailing Week .
The second and penultimate day of the Coastal Series, traditionally kno...
Tip top conditions for Coastal Series opener
Bridgetown, Barbados (17 January, 2018): Glorious conditions with up to 18kts of breeze and accompanying swell made for an exciting day on the water for the opening day of the three-day Coastal Series at Barbados Sailing Week.
With the wind and swell...
Caribbean race season officially open
Bridgetown, Barbados (17 January, 2018): Barbados Sailing Week incorporating the headline event – the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race – is officially underway.
16 1A skippers’ briefing at the Radisson Aquatica Resort, followed by the fi...
Ben Saxton and Toby Lewis win Champion of Champions’ event with a race to spare
Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (15 October, 2017): Ben Saxton and Toby Lewis today added another three wins to their already impressive haul of first places from yesterday to win the 2017 Endeavour Troph...
Endeavour Trophy Opener
Red hot racing on opening day leaves reigning champs just one point ahead
Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (14 October, 2017): With three wins in the bag after today’s Endeavour Trophy opening five races, Ben Saxton and Toby Lewis (reigning Endeavour champio...
A total of 30 national champions ready for battle at Burnham-on-Crouch
Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (13 October, 2017): A total of 30 entries have signed up to the dinghy champion of champions’ event, the Endeavour Trophy, this weekend (13-15 October).
Not only is this one of t...
14-year-old Ben Hutton-Penman set to face top competition on home turf
Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (14 September, 2017): Ben Hutton-Penman from the Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch, sailing with Lucy Hewitson, has won the RS Feva national championship and with it a ticket to his home club's ann...
Caribbean 2017 season opener attracts record breakers for island rum dash
The beautiful Alfred Mylne 65 The Blue Peter never ceases to create a stir off Bridgetown – photo Peter Marshall
With just 10 days to go before the start of the 2017 Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series (16-24 January), th...
Tough sailing as Ben Saxton and Toby Lewis win 2016 Endeavour Trophy
Overall winners Ben Saxton (left) and Toby Lewis with the solid silver Endeavour Trophy – © Roger Mant
Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (9 October, 2016): Ben Saxton and Toby Lewis (Nacra 17) once again won the Endeavour Championship...
Champion of Champions gets underway at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Burnham-on-Crouch
Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (7 October, 2016): The Endeavour Trophy started today with competitors attending the on-shore training briefing followed by multiple short training races throughout the afternoon....
Always a good competitive fleet – photo Josh Cooper
The singlehanded Supernova dinghy is currently enjoying a flourish of interest as the Class celebrates its 20th anniversary year. With entry to the 2016 National championship in Llandudno (1-3 July) already at its 120-boat safety limit, and with...
Time to relax after racing – photo Nigel Wallace.
Following the success of the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Series, which concluded last weekend, plans are already in place for the 2017 event with the dates confirmed for 16-23 January.
This popular regatta, organised Barbados Cruisi...
MS Barbados Concise’s Ned Collier Wakefield at 87.7Kg bagged an impressive nine cases to share among his team – photo NIgel Wallace.
The 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Series, which incorporates three days of coastal racing and headline event – the Round Barbados Race – concluded last...
Just 12 seconds between the two MOD70s after 60nm – photo Peter Marshall.
Big winds, big speeds and the fastest ever times ever recorded made the 80thanniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Race, one of the most spectacular in history with a total of five records broken, and each team winning their...
TP52 Conviction – photo Peter Marshall.
The 60-mile sprint clock-wise round Barbados has sparked a lot of interest with many of the world’s top speed sailors here on the island including Paul Larsen, Wouter Verbraak, Rob Greenhalgh, Brian Thompson, Lloyd Thornburg, Helena Darvelid, Ned Collier Wak...
Robbie Yearwood and team on Island Water World Die Hard, winners of the J/24 fleet – photo peter Marshall.
The final day of the Coastal Series at the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Regatta, organised by Barbados Cruising Club in association with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, and Mou...
Team Concise 12 on the Diam 24 trimaran won the multihull battle today – photo Peter Marshall.
Day 2 of the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, organised by Barbados Cruising Club in association with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, and Mount Gay, served up the sort of conditio...
The Alfred Milne-designed The Blue Peter – photo Peter Marshall.
The opening day of the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, Organised by Barbados Cruising Club in association with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, and Mount Gay, got off to a spectacular start today with an unusu...
Briefing 1With less than 24 hours before the start, a last minute rush has seen a significant boost in entries for the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series. A packed room for the skippers’ briefing headed by Howard Palmer (Chairman of the Race Committee) this evening also endorse...
Anne-Marie Rindom – new world champion from Denmark – photo Mark Lloyd.
The Laser Radial Women’s World Championship, organised by Oman Sail, concluded today with Anne-Marie Rindom from Denmark securing the overall world championship title.
The 24-year-old Scandinavian representing Horsens Se...
23006746060 D9c36026a5 CThe Oman Sail-organised Laser Radial Women’s World Championship is dishing up some spectacularly close racing with just four points separating the top three boats. The conditions, with winds reaching 15knots and big waves are adding to the excitement and making this worl...
22909250209 E24e40c699 CThe opening races of the Final Series produced the windiest conditions seen so far at the Oman Sail-organised Laser Radial Women’s World Championship. After a tough opening three days on the water, and a day of relaxation enjoying cultural activities on Reserve Day yeste...
On the concluding day of the Qualifying Series at the Laser Radial Women’s World Championship in Oman, the top sailors have emerged and gold and silver fleets are now established for the Final Series.
Manami Doi (JPN) finished the day first in Blue Group – photo Mark Lloyd.
Twenty-two-year-old...
Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) retains the overall lead in the Qualifying Series – photo Mark Lloyd.
After another glorious day of racing on the Gulf of Oman, Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) retains the overall lead in the Qualifying Series at the Laser Radial Women’s World Championship. Marit Bouwmeester (NED...
First victory for Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) – photo Mark Lloyd.
After a thrilling opening day at the Laser Radial Women’s World Championship in Oman, Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) leads the field overnight, wih Marit Bouwmeester (NED) in second.
In winds that reached nine knots the 100 competitors enj...
Pierre Le Coq (FRA) and Peina Chen (CHN) are the new RS:X world champions – photo Jesus Renedo
The RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Mussanah, Oman, concluded in spectacular style today with the Medal Races producing nail-biting competition and two extremely worthy world champions.
Peina C...
Close racing in the Women's fleet – photo Jesus Renedo
The Final Series at the RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Mussanah, Oman, concluded today with the top 10 from each Gold fleet – Men and Women – now confirmed for the Medal Race tomorrow.
Although she still needs to contest the Medal R...
Photo – Jesus Renedo
The RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Mussanah, Oman, delivered another cracking day of competition for the opening races of the Final Series.
Thirteen knots of wind, mid-afternoon, was enough to create thrilling speeds for the men’s fleets both upwind and down and i...
Dorian van van Rijsselberge (27) – photo Jesus Renedo
Peina Chen (CHN) and Pierre Le Coq (FRA) continue to lead their respective fleets at the RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Mussanah, Oman, but light tactical conditions made for some challenging racing on day two.
The wind, when it did...
Peina Chen wins the first race – photo Jesus Renedo
The RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Mussanah, Oman, got off to a spectacular start today with all six scheduled races completed in 10-11 knots of breeze.
Racing for the 145 athletes is split into two fleets – men and women – and each...
22729817317 3de8ee72ac CAt this evening’s grand Omani ceremony to mark the official opening of the Laser Radial Women’s World Championship, competitors from around the globe were welcomed in spectacular style to the Millennium Resort, Mussanah, Oman. The event also marked the occasion of yesterday’...
16The Sultanate of Oman officially welcomed the 2015 RS:X World Windsurfing Championships to its shores with a ceremony at the Millennium Resort Mussanah, part of the purpose-built Olympic-standard sports village that 140 athletes (82 men and 58 women) from 42 different countries will call home for...
15Ben Saxton and Toby Lewis representing the Merlin Rocket class are the winners of the 2015 Endeavour Championship after winning all eight races.
This is the first time in the history of the 55-year event that anyone has managed to achieve such an outstanding result.
The super-fast duo annihil...
14Ben Saxton and Toby Lewis representing the Merlin Rocket class (pictured right) are the overnight leaders of Endeavour Championship following a clean sweep of wins in today’s first four races.
Ben Saxton, racing with 2014 Endeavour Championship crew Toby Lewis, revelled in the fresh easterly br...
32The three-day Endeavour Championship to establish the UK’s dinghy champion of champions kicked off earlier today with the Calltracks-sponsored training session at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham-on-Crouch.
The RS200, making its debut as the new Endeavour class appears to be favourable...
Photo – Peter Marshall.
Preparations are well underway for the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series (16-24 January 2016), which celebrates it 80th anniversary in 2016. Next year also marks 50 years of independence for Barbados, so big celebratory plans are already in place for that too.
Thanks...
RP 150828 DRAGGC 1404 Day 6 of the Dragon Gold Cup 2015 Day 6 of the Dragon Gold Cup 2015 Day 6 of the Dragon Gold Cup 2015Petticrows Ltd – builder of world class one-design racing yachts – added another Dragon Gold Cup win to its already impressive haul of 13 previous wins, and also took the...
Glorious sailing conditions for the start of Burnham Week 2015 – photo Graeme Sweeney/JCC
A total of 130 teams basked in glorious summer conditions on Saturday for the opening weekend of racing at Burnham Week 2015.
Although the winds were generally light throughout the Bank Holiday Weekend seri...
Breaking with tradition and opening up the entry to allow more classes to take part in Burnham Week’s signature event – The Town Cup on the final Saturday – has sparked interest, which indicates more entries are lining up to take part in 2015 writes Sue Pelling.
With the entry now opened up, mor...
A wide crew-weight range makes the RS200 a good choice. Photo – LPB Aerial Imagery
The RS200 has replaced the Topper Argo as the Endeavour Championship boat for the 2015 event to be held 9-11 October at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, writes Sue Pelling.
The generous support of Topper Sailboa...
Leigh McMillan and Team The Wave, Muscat celebrate their win in Cardiff
After another day of adrenaline-fueled Extreme 40 racing in winds that topped well over 25kts in the gusts, defending champion Leigh McMillan and his team on The Wave, Muscat put in another solid performance to claim overall...
Unnamed11The Omani sailing teams reveled in the glorious breezy conditions on Cardiff Bay on day three of the Extreme Sailing Series. Having started the day with a first race win and then a second place, Stevie Morrison and team on Oman Air were put out of contention when a winch pulled out of th...
The Wave, Muscat
Stevie Morrison’s Oman Air had a stunning opening day in Cardiff nipping at the heels of stable mate The Wave, Muscat right from the start. They showed consistent performance throughout the day and secured one outright win and four seconds.
Leigh McMillan’s The Wave, Muscat...
Squib fleet enjoys close racing during light air day on the River Crouch – photo Julio Graham
Exciting changes that include opening up the entry of the Town Cup to all IRC/SER yachts rated 0.890 and above helps to re-establish Burnham Week as one of the prime sailing events on the east coast....
EFG Bank (Monaco) – overall winners.
Zain Sailing Team (Kuwait) headed by seasoned Tour competitor Cédric Pouligny with Gérald Véniard on navigation won the final leg of the Oman Sail-organised EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2015.
Even more commendable is the fact that the crew consists of enthus...
Inport DohaA thrilling day on the water in Doha for the final four inport races of the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour, resulted in three more race wins for Sidney Gavignet and team on EFG Bank (Monaco).
The EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour is a demonstration of Oman Sail’s passion for the sport and i...
Leg 5 was the toughest so far.
EFG Bank (Monaco)’s winning streak continues as Sidney Gavignet and his mixed Omani and European team notch up another leg win from Abu Dhabi to Doha to edge closer to defending their EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour title.
Oman Sail’s vision to develop the region’s s...
EFG Leg 5The fast 60nm sprint from Dubai to Abu Dhabi gave Sidney Gavignet and his EFG Bank Oman team a chance to demonstrate their professional tactical skills once again to secure their third leg win of the of the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour.
Gavignet and his super-tuned crew that includes Sp...
EFG Bank takes her second Leg win.
Sidney Gavignet and team on EFG Bank (Monaco) have won Leg 3 of the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour from Ras Al Khaimah Dubai. The Tour reigning champions now add another first place to their Leg 1 and first inport race victory, which strengthen their overall posit...
Sidney Gavignet and members of the EFG Bank team show the youngsters round the boat.
Members of Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, guests, and EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour teams welcomed a group of young children from Rashid Center for Disabled yesterday.
The youngsters, aged between 9 -13 years ol...
Team Delft Challenge win Leg 2.
Wouter Sonnema (20) and his young student team from Delft University of Technology, sailing Delft Challenge have won Leg 2, one of the longest and most demanding legs of the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2015.
At 172 nautical miles, from Sohar to Ras Al Khaimah vi...
Sidney Gavignet and team win Leg 1
Sidney Gavignet and his team on EFG Bank (Monaco) have won the highly challenging opening 101nm leg of the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour. The winning team sailed across the line at 11.52 yesterday and received a warm welcome from the team at IMCO (International M...
Sidney Gavignet and EFG Bank team at opening ceremony.
Crowds gathered at The Wave, Muscat today to join Oman Sail and the 11 teams competing in this year’s edition in celebration of the launch of EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour. Now in its fifth year, this 760nm, six-leg race, which runs from 15-28...
Mount Gay Rum in full flow at the Barbados Cruising Club.
Following the success of the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series that concluded last week, the dates of next year’s event have been confirmed for 16-24 January 2016.
With overseas competitors from 11 nations representing a large part of...
Jason Tindale (right) with his young J/24 team collect 20 cases of Mount Gay Rum for breaking the Round the Island class record – photo Nigel Wallace
The Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, incorporating three days of coastal racing and the Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race concluded last night...
Elena of London – photo Peter Marshall.
Despite generally light airs with winds reaching no more that 15kts, three teams have won their skipper’s weight in rum for breaking records in the 79th Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race.
The Double Handed Monohull record for the 60-nautical mile course...
After three days of intense Coastal racing in the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, many sailing teams were keen to make the most of today’s lay day activities.
Mount Gay Rum tasting – photo – Peter Marshall
A visit to the Mount Gay Rum Distillery in the morning, and an afternoon soaking up...
Team Hawkeye, overall winners of the J/24 fleet – photo Peter Marshall
The concluding races the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Coastal Series took place today. Although the conditions were unusually light and fluky, the racing was intense in all classes with most fighting it out for overall honours...
Andy Budgen on his foiling International Moth comes to grief after luffing up at the start – photo Peter Marshall.
After two days of racing in the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Coastal Series, leading contenders for the overall honours are beginning to emerge.
Racing for most classes began with...
Close racing in the J/24 fleet – photo Peter Marshall.
Competitors were treated stunning conditions on the opening day of the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series 2015 with winds up to 20kts generally from the east-north east, and big rolling waves.
This regatta, which runs until 24 January is o...
Well supported skippers' briefing on the eve of the first race – photo Peter Marshall.
With teams continuing to arrive all day in time for the start of Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series tomorrow, the Bajan party scene kicked off early this evening with a steel band and Mount Gay rum in full flo...
Team Ambersail – photo Peter Marshall
With just over a week until the start of 2015 Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series (16-24 January), the party atmosphere on the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados is beginning to heat up.
Organised by Barbados Cruising Club in association with Barbados T...
Black Cat takes overall Governor's Cup 2015 win.
Dave Immelman and his team on Black Cat (Dudley Dix 38) have won the Governor’s Cup 2015 after their nearest rival – Avanti – who finished ahead in the early hours this morning – declared they had switched on their engine for 95 miles and moved...
Banjo crosses finish line in St Helena.
Kevin Webb, Sarel van der Merwe, and Brad Stemmett sailing Banjo, a Farrier F9AX trimaran, have broken the 1,750-mile Governor’s Cup Race record from Simon’s Town to St Helena with a time of 9 days 13 hours and 36 seconds.
Webb, van der Merwe and Stemm...
Cool Runnings.
Having enjoyed nearly a week of good, consistent winds, crews in the Governor’s Cup fleet are currently suffering from lack of speed as their yachts wallow in light airs 100 or so miles off the African coast.
The conditions look set to remain for the next few hours, which means th...
Banjo crosses halfway mark on course to St Helena.
After a hectic start from Simon’s Town on Saturday (27 January) when winds gusted over 30kts the 17-strong Governor’s Cup fleet has settled into a downwind sleigh ride on its 1,700 nautical mile course towards St Helena.
The roller coaster ride...
Do Do StartLively conditions with winds reaching over 30kts made for an exciting start for the 2014/15 Governor’s Cup. This 1700-nautical mile race from False Bay Yacht Club, Simon’s Town, South Africa, to the remote Atlantic island of St Helena, got underway at 1400 local time today.
The strong...
Big boats prepare for round Barbados blast – photo Peter Marshall.
The arrival of the first overseas yachts into Bridgetown, including British VO70 Monster Project marks the start of the countdown of the 2015 Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, which is taking place from 16-24 January.
This ev...
Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (Sunday 2 November, 2014): Piping their nearest rivals to the post in the final race of the series was just enough for Matt Burge and Toby Lewis representing the Osprey class to secure the 2014 Topper Sailboats-supported Endeavour Championship.
Matt Burge (right) and Toby...
Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (Saturday 1 November, 2014): Matt Burge and Toby Lewis representing the Osprey class are the overnight leaders of the Topper Sailboats-supported Endeavour Championship after six races.
Sailing the new Rob White-designed Topper Argo, the 20-strong fleet was treated to supe...
Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (Friday 31 October, 2014): A total of 20 dinghy champion teams arrived at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club this morning for the opening of the 2014 three-day Topper Sailboats-supported Endeavour Championship (31 October – 2 November).
Competitors prepare for the start of t...
Race teams planning next season’s calendar could do worse than sign up for the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series 2015 which runs from 16-24 January.
Ralph Johnson’s Beneteau 53 Rapajam – overall winner of Racing Class 2014 – photo Peter Marshall/MGRBR
This event, which kick starts the Caribbe...
Contracts for crews
High salaries coupled with low living costs have made the superyacht sector an attractive proposition for those seeking to ......
Read more here: Financial Times Article
BW1 30 8 14 1Tony and Chuffy Merewether and their crew aboard their Jeanneau Sunfast 3200 Amazon won the 2014 Town Cup, one of Burnham Week’s most celebrated awards.
Following a week of intense racing in generally challenging conditions, Burnham Week 2014 ended on a good note, in beautiful suns...
Burnham-on-Crouch, UK (25 August, 2014): A total of 125 teams in 14 classes ranging from IRC Class 1 boats, to multihulls, keelboats and dinghies, enjoyed sparkling conditions for the opening weekend of Burnham Week 2014.
Although the winds were particularly light on Sunday with challenging condi...
Emma Baker and Sam Prime sailed Rhapsody on Blue, a boat that cost £1,500, into third place on day one of Cowes Week – photo Rick Tomlinson/CWL.
An overall win of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week for the second year in a row has further endorsed the Squib’s reputation as one of the most succes...
Entry is now open for Burnham Week (23-30 August) – one of the east coast’s premier regattas – which incorporates the prestigious Town Cup for big boats on the final Saturday.
This popular family regatta, that offers challenging racing and a festival shoreside spirit, is not only one of major rega...
Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series round-up
Prizegiving party concludes highly successful 2014 event
Bridgetown, Barbados (23 January, 2014): The new format Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, incorporating a series of coastal races as well as the iconic Mount Gay Round Barbados Race, a...
Bridgetown, Barbados (22 January, 2014): The Mount Gay team aboard the British VO70 Monster Project set a new absolute record in yesterday’s Mount Gay Barbados Race with a time of 4 hours 42 minutes 28 seconds, knocking 21 minutes off the previous record established in 2012 by Idea – Reichel Pu...
Crews enjoy layday Mount Gay Rum distillery visit and polo match
Bridgetown, Barbados (20 January, 2014): While some crews spent the day preparing their yachts for the grand Mount Gay Round Barbados Race tomorrow, the majority of teams took full advantage of their well-deserved lay day.
Crews r...
Winners confirmed in Coastal Series
Bridgetown, Barbados (19 January, 2014): Sailing conditions on the third and final day of Coastal racing at the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series was spot on once again with a good breeze, sparkling sunshine and courses set on the vibrant, turquoise waters o...
Gusts topping 30kts test skills to the limit
Bridgetown, Barbados (18 January, 2014): Day two of the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series produced big winds and big waves, which made for spectacular sailing. The biggest excitement of the day was in the first race for J/24s when gusts up to 30kts...
Bridgetown, Barbados (17 January, 2014): Competitors at the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series (15-23 January) couldn’t have hoped for better conditions for the opening day of the regatta. A warm east-north-east breeze reaching 28kts at times made for an exciting day for all with the potential of...
Quality entry prepares for start
Bridgetown, Barbados (16 January, 2014): With nearly 50 boats entered for the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, 100s of sailors are tonight enjoying the fine Barbadian hospitality on the eve of the first race, which takes place tomorrow.
With 10 boats signed...
Early years
The first recorded race round Barbados was in 1936 when five trading schooners (Sea Fox, Mona Marie, Marion B Wolfe, Lucille Smith and Rhode Island) took up the challenge. Sea Fox (Captain Lou Kennedy) was the overall winner with a time of 10 hours 20 minutes.
The original race was...
Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (2 October, 2013): The Endeavour Championship for the Topper Sailboats-supported-Endeavour Trophy is taking place at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham-on-Crouch next week (11-13 October).
The fleet of 25 invited champions and their crews from all around the country...
Craig on method of preparation for a national or world championship?
Most championships are won before the event because preparation is everything. Quality time on the water is the best preparation. Racing against the best people possible, having a few learning objectives each time you sail, and...
Endeavour Trophy update
Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex (25 September, 2013): Following a year of exceptionally intense competition on the dinghy racing circuit, a fine selection of champions has materialised and will be in Burnham-on-Crouch next month to contest the ultimate dinghy champion of champion...
Royal Cape One-Design beats Stadt 34 on corrected time
Friday January 4, 2013 – Thinus Groenewald’s Royal Cape One-Design – Reaction – has won the 2012 Governor’s Cup – the 1,750-mile bi-annual race from Simon’s Town, South Africa, to the Atlantic island of St Helena, which started on 22 De...
The RYA announced in a press release that the British sailing line-up for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been completed (Wednesday 9 May) with the announcement of sailor selections in the Laser Radial, 49er and 2.4mR events.
Aliso...
Burnam
Tucked away up the River Crouch off the wild, flat Dengie Peninsular lies the quaint little town of Burnham-on-Crouch with its eclectic mix of whitewashed, weatherboard and brick cottages that are so typical of an old market town.
Known as the Cowes of the east coast and immortalised in the...
PaulLarsen
It was 27 November 2007, Walvis Bay, Namibia. We had overstayed one sponsorship and still hadn’t shown the potential of Sailrocket, in which we were trying to break the 40-knot barrier.
It had never occurred to me that the project might fail, but with...
StokeyWoodall
Having left the army in 1979, I set up Compass Yacht Delivery and was on my first delivery job with Alan Toone on 25 February 1980. I was 27 and the trip was aboard a 41-footer from Mombasa to Malta.
We basically knew nothing. We were soon to learn we were going the wrong way, at...
