Yacht Events at Royal Harwich Yacht Club 2025

As well as Cruising In Company CIC, there are a variety of other events that are organised for yachts on the rivers and they are not just races! Below is a summary of these events including those organised by the RHYC club.

If you have questions about any of these events contact Liz Neville, RHYC Yacht Class Captain on yachts@royalharwichyachtclub.org.uk

RHYC Club Events Here is a summary of the events planned for 2025.  Please see the Club Diary for dates and times.

TUNING FORK TROPHY RACE – May.  OPEN EVENT – Free.

The warmup for the season! Boats are back in the water and this event is a good focus to make sure everything is back in place and in working order.Please find more details here. Prize giving back at the club afterwards.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. May, June, July, August and October.

The Catch Me If You Can event has continued to be hugely popular with often over 20 boats entered. This is a very relaxed event which is aimed at cruisers and racers alike – just for fun and a great way to get to know some fellow yachtsfolk at the club. Yachts start at different times depending on how fast they are and the aim is to chase the boats in front (and avoid being caught by the boats behind) as you sail a course around the Orwell and possibly the Stour cans before the 3 hour time limit is up. At that point boats make a note of their location and this determines the placings. Everyone meets back at the bar afterwards for the presentation to the boat who was at the front at the end. Great fun and BBQs at the club have been arranged to coincide with some of the CMIYC.

 Starting times will be tweaked from one event to the next with the aim of getting as many boats finishing at the club line around the same time!

Club Regatta in August: OPEN EVENT.  This is a great opportunity to come and sail at the club in either or both a Catch Me If You Can or a yacht race – one on either day.

Sunk and Bell races in October: End of season finale. Perhaps the last jaunt before putting your boat to bed for the winter. Weather permitting, these races usually see the fleets heading out into the Dovercourt Bay for a 3-4 hour race. Depending on demand, the Bell Race may be a pursuit style race.

Laying up supper and prizegiving Saturday 25th October: Come and relive the fun of the season in the warm and dry and perhaps collect the odd glass trophy!

Other racing on the river:

Haven Combined Clubs This racing is organised jointly by various clubs on the river including the RHYC and aims to appeal to a wide range of sailors. There are two classes : relaxed and experienced. All are welcomed regardless of experience and if you just fancy giving it a try, your first race is complimentary!

A committee with representatives from each club oversees a points series of eight races as well as an off-shore series of four races. Each club takes responsibility for running a couple of the races.  There is a relaxed fleet and an experienced fleet with separate starts.

The races in the points series typically last about 3-4 hours and are based around the Dovercourt Bay and in the river Orwell and Stour. They are on Saturdays spread over the season.

The offshore races in 2025 will go to Lowestoft, Burnham, Ostend and one round trip race out to Roughs Towers and Cork Sands. Please note that the Ostend race is classed as category 3 race which means all yachts competing will need an AIS transponder and to have had a keel inspection carried out by a surveyor whilst the yacht is in slings.

For detailed information go to the Haven Combined Clubs website or speak to Liz Neville , RHYC Haven CC representative.

EAORA

If you fancy some longer races check out the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association