Ford Britain Trust supports the Corinthian Otters
11th December 2008
Ford Britain Trust has again added its support to the work the Corinthian Otters undertake in the development of young sailors in our community. The Ford Britain Trust has contributed £1300 towards the purchase of a replacement engine for one of the Otter Spotter rescue boats.
Liz Chowienczyk is honoured by the RYA
8th December 2008
Corinthian members will know of Liz Chowienczyk as one of the dedicated band of Otter trainers but may not realise that her weekend training activities are similar to a busman's holiday, for she is also a regular volunteer at the AHOY Centre at Deptford where she encourages disabled sailors to sail on the Thames tidal waters.
Squib Class Captain's 2008 Report
28th November 2008
It has been very much a celebratory year for the Squib fleet as we recognised the 40th birthday of the Squib design, which was originally conceived and built in Burnham by Oliver Lee. It is an amazing fact but not entirely a coincidence that this year the RCYC Squib fleet grew to an astonishing 40 boats, a real credit to the appropriateness of a two-man open keel boat for club racing and cruising...
Cruiser Class Captain's 2008 Report
28th November 2008
My first thought looking back at the sailing season of 2008 was to say, what a wash out! This was the first season I have known where I had to abandon my boat where she lay due to high winds and rain, not once but twice, but who argues with force 8/9 on the nose, even in the Crouch...
707 Class Captain's 2008 Report
28th November 2008
If 2007 may not have had the balmy summer weather of recent years, then the summer months of 2008 took it to the proverbial max! Most barbeques didn't even get a dusting off, but boats still sailed and endured lots of windy weather...
RCOD Class Captain's 2008 Report
28th November 2008
The year started off with the very sad loss of Ken Bushell, he was always engaging and one always felt better for having been in his company. He bequeathed his boat Cormorant to the class and the proceeds will go towards the rebuilding of another boat.
The Endeavour Championships 2008
11th & 12th October 2008
Thirty fleets were invited, thirty boats turned up and thirty boats were on the start line for the Endeavour Championship, the most prestigious race in the dinghy sailing world, to find the 'Champion of Champions'. Held at the RCYC, Burnham-on-Crouch, senior Race Officer Kim Allen obviously had both the regatta and the weather under his control from the start, as the fleet set out in sunshine and a steady breeze.
The Burnham Carnival
Saturday 27th September 2008
With the Burnham Carnival celebrating its centenary year, RCYC took a full part by entering a float. The theme was, obviously, going to be nautical and a crafty team of artists took over the terrace area behind the clubhouse a couple of weeks beforehand. The Otters got busy with the paint brushes and a production line of sea creatures started to appear with at least some of the paint on the creatures!
Heritage Open days
Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th September
The Clubhouse opened its doors to visitors for a guided tour as part of the Heritage Open Day scheme.This was the first occasion that RCYC has taken part in the scheme and everyone involved was delighted with the results.
RCYC sweeps the board at the Dragon Gold Cup
29th August - 5th September 2008
With First, Second and Third places taken by three British boats, the event was described on the official website as being "absoluto domínio britânico". However, not only were those places held by British boats, they all hailed from the RCYC! Danish Blue, Jerboa, and Quicksilver III also carried off the Nations Cup.
Andrew (Noddy) Norden sent this report.
'Champagne Sailing' at the Gold Cup
29th August to 5th September 2008
This exciting event with a historical result for the Corinthian has inspired some fascinating journalism. You may have read Noddy's report but you should now read this one from Jonathan Hill, giving a slightly different perspective. "Cascais is noted for 'champagne sailing', sunny with plenty of warm wind - shorts, polo and oilies..."
St Mathew Cup
Sunday 31st August 2008
It was the turn of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club to run this event on the Sunday immediately after Burnham Week.
The 707 fleet kindly offered their boats and the flotilla set off down the river looking for some wind. Race Officer Kim Allen set up four Windward/Leeward races, each lasting at least twenty minutes. Team RCYC was the convincing winner and claimed the cup back from RBYC, last year's winner.
In the 62 years since the race was inaugurated in 1947, RCYC leads with 24 wins to BSC's 22.
Squibs in Burnham Week
Saturday 23rd - Saturday 30th August 2008
The largest fleet at Burnham Week was once again the Squibs with 23 boats and 56 various crew combinations. The quality of the fleet produced
seven different winners across the nine races with the weeks' points winner still open entering the final race. The number of entrants ensured everyone had their own boat to boat battles and a lively social calendar gave lots of opportunity for incidents to be discussed and enjoyed.
707s in Burnham Week
Saturday 23rd - Saturday 30th August 2008
There were eleven 707s out at the weekends and five throughout the week. Notable is that in the week there were only four adults between the five boats with the rest of the crews being Otters or ex-Otters home from university. The class is showing that it is a natural development for our Otters.
RCODs in Burnham Week
Saturday 23rd - Saturday 30th August 2008
All six boats launched this season competed for the entire week in consistently strong winds until the final two days. Bob Melville in Corinna took the Week's points, but John Heathfield in Corpo Santo valiantly battled to snatch the Mid Week points and runner up for the week although every boat won glassware on at least one day.
Racing in Star Swan
15th -17th August 2008
Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta, Yarmouth
This wet and windy summer was not good for cruising so when Anne and Arthur Heasley on Star Swan discovered there would be a class for Classic Swans ( those designed by Sparkman and Stephens) at the Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta in August, it seemed an event designed for them, especially as it was sponsored by Taittinger Champagne.
707 Phantom Trophy 2008
26th & 27th July 2008
The Hunter 707 Fleet had geared themselves up for the prestigious Phantom Trophy this year to be sailed over the last three weekends in July. The intention of racing to Stone was unfortunately cancelled at short notice due to poor weather; however we persevered with a rejigged format of a long distance race on the second Saturday.
Katrina Hughes is the 470 golden girl
2nd August 2008
2012 Olympic hopefuls Hannah Mills (20) and (former Otter) Katrina Hughes (18) took the world by storm steaming in to win the Ladies' Junior 470 World Championships in Gydnia, Poland today (29th July). Mills and Hughes are now off to Zadar in Croatia to try and retain their Junior European Ladies 470 crown. The event runs from the 7th - 15th August.
GMTV Weather reporting....
Thursday 24th July 2008
Members who check the early weather forecasts on GMTV were surprised to discover the Outside Broadcast unit relaying the weather news from the end of the RCYC pontoon. The GMTV weather girl, Andrea McLean, perched on Papa Romeo, forecast that the 24th July was likely to be the hottest day of the summer so far.
Roger and Mingming return to Plymouth
15th July 2008
Mingming and I arrived back at Plymouth on Thursday 10th July after a 16 day passage from Praia da Vitoria. Winds were F6+ for about 11 out of the 16 days, but were favourable, hence the relatively fast time.
Playing with Submarines
July 2008
Last year Anne and Arthur Heasley on Star Swan were boarded by armed customs men as they arrived in Falmouth from the Azores. This year they approached along the coast from the east but still met armed defences.
New Boats for Old!
Friday 13th June 2008
The organisers of the Squib 40th Regatta in June excelled themselves in their efforts to offer a brand new race-ready squib as a raffle prize... Long standing RCYC member Nic Tolhurst flew back from skippering a yacht in the Carribean to take part in the event, and ended up going home with more than he bargained for!
Mingming arrives!
Sunday 22nd June 2008
Roger Taylor and Mingming arrrived 1064BST 21st June in harbour at Praia da Vitoria. Roger is reported to be in splendid form and Mingming is immaculate...
Squib 40th Anniversary Regatta
7th-13th June 2008
It is forty years since Oliver Lee, a boat designer based in Burnham-on-Crouch, launched his new Squib onto the river. It was destined to become one of the most successful one-design racing keelboats, with fleets based in over thirty locations. RCYC was proud to host a regatta to celebrate those 40 years...
Voyages of a Simple Sailor
Jun-08
RCYC is proud to announce that Roger Taylor has turned his adventures at sea in Endeavour II, Roc and Mingming into a book called, "Voyages of a Simple Sailor".
Although the official publication date is not until June, copies are already available. There are order slips in the Corinthian office but it's probably easier to order online via Roger's website www.the simplesailor.com The books are usually dispatched the same day.
STOP PRESS Colin Jarman in 'Sailing Today' has given Roger's book an outstanding review: "This one volume contains three of the best written accounts of voyages and seagoing under sail that I have read in many a year."
The RNLI visit RCYC
Saturday 17th May 2008
The local lifeboat Atlantic 75 'Brandy Hole' and crew visited RCYC and stayed alongside the pontoon for a courtesy visit, offering Club members and visitors a 'Sea Safety Day' experience.
The Squib Gold Cup
3rd- 5th May 2008
The Squib Gold Cup, the most prestigious annual regatta for the fleet, saw the return of the trophy to Burnham after a four year absence. The eight windward / leeward race series over the 3 day event drew a strong contingent of 18 entrants which included visitors from the east coast and new boats from the local fleet.
707 Eastern Area Championships 2008
3rd - 5th May 2008
Eleven 707s contested the East Coast Championships hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club on the early May bank holiday weekend. Racing was professionally managed by Edwin Buckley and his team in the River Crouch in perfect sunny conditions for the three days which made a great weekend of sailing.
Peter's Second Letter to the Corinthians.
Saturday 3rd May 2008
You know how it happens....your own boat is in dry dock for repairs and it's a shame to miss a good sailing day so when your friend says, "Come and sail with us," you go and then the fun begins. Here beginneth Peter's second letter to the Corinthians...
Mirror Eastern Area Championships
19th & 20th April 2008
Thirty-five boats entered the Mirror Eastern Area Championships at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. The outcome of the event was not certain until the last race which always makes for exciting competition. The winner was David Conlon, crewed by Mitchell Bond, both from Brighlingsea YC; the conditions were just right for David and he was quick to spot the possibility of a port hand start in the final race which made all the difference...
Danish Blue's success in Majorca
March 2008
Following on from his recent victory in the first Antiguan Dragon National Championship, Poul Hoj Jensen teamed up with Tim Tavinor and Noddy to successfully defend their 2007 Mediterranean Cup win in Calanova, Majorca from the 6th -9th March. Nineteen crews entered; however, Danish Blue had victory secured with a race to spare.
Dragon Easter Trophy 2008
21st - 24th March 2008
While away on holiday a month ago, soaking up the sun, I commented to a South African that we hardly ever see snow in the SE of England and, so far this year, have not even seen a flake. I should have kept quiet; what a sting in the tail winter had for us!
The Endeavour Trophy is the Star Attraction
1st & 2nd March 2008
The RCYC's stand at the RYA Dinghy Show over the weekend of the 1st & 2nd of March was a golden opportunity to publicise the Club and the Endeavour Championship, backed by a spectacular display to close the event. The Endeavour Trophy was the centre piece of both the Corinthian Stand and the closing event of the show.
Mingming sails North
Sunday 17th February 2008
Ninety members and friends met to hear the third of Roger Taylor's talks about his latest voyage in Mingming his 21ft junk-rigged Corribee, when he sailed her northwards, hoping to reach the Arctic Circle. His story is already told on this website and we shared his disappointment that, having chosen a summer of successive storms and contrary winds, he ran out of the time necessary to achieve his goal. However, it isn't just the story, it's the manner of the telling and, anyway, Roger had a secret weapon.....
Ken Bushell
12th February 2008
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ken Bushell, on the 16th January. He was the Commodore of this Club from 1986 to 1988 and will be truly missed by his many friends and sailing companions. Click on 'Read more' for an obituary.
Dick Durham talks to the Cruiser Fleet
Sunday 20th January 2008
The Cruiser Fleet Sunday Lunches and talks just keep on getting better and better: Sunday the 20th of January saw Dick Durham amuse, entertain and educate over 50 members and guests with his well illustrated talk.
RCYC make their mark on the Carmella Cup
12th & 13th January 2008
With little team racing experience, the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club began the Carmella Cup by beating the Team Racing World Champion and his team from West Kirby. With modest gusto, the eight-strong team went on to win the silver league after an intense weekend of racing.
