The Nore Race (Sat 23 June 2018) is a is a combined 'open' cruiser and dinghy race held each year covering a 20 mile circuit in the mouth of the Thames Estuary . The race has been held annually since the 1920s, there is a seperate Albacore Trophy.
The start is off the end of Southend Pier and the course takes us out along the northern shore of the Thames estuary past Foulness Island & the Maplin Sands. Then across the shipping lane to the Kent shore. Head back past the isle of Sheppey & the infamous Second World War wreck the Richard Montgomery around the Nore sands and then back to the pier head. It’s a great day out on the sea in the middle of the summer
There are a 5 yacht clubs along Southend foreshore who welcome visiting yachtsmen. Probably the best place to launch is Thorpe Bay Yacht Club where there is tons of space and options of launch from the slipway or the beach. It’s about a 2 mile sail to the start at the pier head – After the finish Thorpe bay sees the first of the tide – normally we sail in until we touch the bottom take the sails down and wade in the last ¼ mile as the tide rises. Anyone interested see program
www.benfleetyachtclub.org/files/Paper_Boat/Nore_Race_2018.pdf. Entry is just £20 which gets you a race pennant and free entry to the prize giving evening.
For those travelling a distance I live five miles from Thorpe bay and my Lounge floor has plenty of space for anyone wanting somewhere to crash out there - give me a call 07774 227653
Maidenhead is only 85 miles from Southend so for a full sailing week end, it would be easy to do the Nore Race on the Saturday and the re arranged Maidenhead open on the Sunday. The contrast would be interesting from open sea sailing of the Nore to confined inland waters of Maidenhead!
Richard Smith
Aeolian
6959
