Greenwich Yacht Club hosts annual London dinghy race
by Clive Reffell 24 Jul 2016 15:51 BST
2 October 2016
The mixed fleet heads towards the O2 Arena © Clive Reffell
The annual London Regatta for sailing dinghies will be hosted by Greenwich Yacht Club on Sunday 2 October. Dinghy racing will take place on a series of courses marked out in the River Thames between the Thames Barrier and the Emirates Cable Car.
This is the day the Thames Barrier will operate its annual full closure test from 08.25 to 18.25. The River Thames will temporarily be a non-tidal waterway and commercial traffic will be unable to sail up and down it. This makes it a unique and safe day once a year for dinghy sailors without a formal 'tidal water' qualification to sail and race on this stretch of the Thames in a great festival atmosphere.
Over 50 entries are expected from Greenwich Yacht Club's own members and from other clubs and sailing centres stretching from Erith Yacht Club up to the London Corinthian Sailing Club based at Hammersmith. GYC welcomes interest and applications to compete from youth and adult members of these and all other London sailing centres and clubs with any class of boat, please send an e-mail to .
Racing is due to start at 11 o'clock and will finish around 2pm, subject to weather conditions on the day.
Spectators can watch from the Thames Path and will also be welcome at Greenwich Yacht Club, including in the licensed bar which will be open from 12 noon. Food will be available from 2pm.
Directions to GYC can be found at www.greenwichyachtclub.co.uk/about/contact/finding-us. Parking space will be reserved on the day for competitors' cars and boat trailers so please use public transport or the Thames pedestrian and cycle path.