29th Starcross Steamer to take place on 16th March

28th Exe Sails Starcross Steamer © Heather Davies

28th Exe Sails Starcross Steamer © Heather Davies

28th Exe Sails Starcross Steamer © Heather Davies

The 29th annual Starcross Steamer Pursuit Race, sponsored by Exe Sails, for monohull dinghies will be held on Saturday March 16th. The first start will be at 12:30, with a 150 minute race, high water is at 13:44, height 2.8m.

The Exe estuary is sheltered and only extreme weather conditions prevent us from sailing. You can be sure of a warm welcome at the club, food and drink will be available all day, so why not bring the family.

The Exe Sails Steamer is now part of the 10 race Sailing Southwest Winter Series held between October and April throughout the Southwest Region. For those who prefer a smaller series with less travelling the Steamer is the second event of the original three race South West Series, the others being the Roadford Rocket which was held on Sunday February 10th and the last the Exmoor Beastie on Sunday March 24th. All three races count to finding the best sailor in the west, so prove just how good you are and sail in all three.

The entries to the Steamer can only be made via the website, and this will open next Sunday on 17th February (www.starcrossyc.org.uk) from the Home Page, go to Opens at the top, then from the drop down menu click 'Opens Events', and then click on the Exe Sails Starcross Steamer Pursuit Race to enter, or use this link.

Due to the popularity of the event we are limiting the number of entries to 100; the website will automatically advise you if you are placed on the waiting list. Should you enter and subsequently find that you are unable to attend we would appreciate you letting us know so that your entry can be given to the next person on the waiting list. The entry fee is £20.00 for double handers, £15 for single and £5 for juniors, payable at the Club on the day.

The Sailing Instructions, Notice of Race, Handicap Numbers and Consent Forms are also available on the club website; you will also be able to check who else has entered. Your start time will be calculated on the day when we know the handicap of the slowest boat, from experience this will probably be a Mirror. The website will not accept entries after midnight on Wednesday 13th March, so please get your entry in as soon as possible.

As the club is in a remote location, the entrance gate is kept locked, however should you wish to drop your boat off at the club on the day before the event or even camp over night (bearing in mind the main London Plymouth railway line runs past the club), Paul Kelly who lives only a few miles from the club will be available to let you in. His phone numbers are, mobile 07837 129087 or home 01626 890496. Also please note the entrance to the club is through a low bridge, so vehicles over about 1.55m such as 4x4s and people carriers will have to be parked outside in the lay-by (there is plenty of room).

Over many years we have conducted our own internal PY analysis, reviewing thousands of races and have found that our results are a close fit to the Great Lakes handicap numbers. As we don't sail all the classes that attend the Steamer we will again be using these rather than the RYA numbers this year.

Should you be unable to make it in March, the next Steamer will be held on Sunday January 19th 2020 first start midday and in 2021 on Sunday February 21st.

We do hope you can come along in March; we look forward to seeing you.