Sussex Yacht Club Cup 2023 and Festival of the Sea
by Chris Hawkes 28 Jun 2023 16:04 BST
10-11 June 2023
SYC Cup 2023
In the SYC Cup the keelboats were treated to a brilliant two day event in great weather. Other than offshore, every format of racing was provided, with a pursuit, round the cans and long inshore making this a true Corinthian competition - some might say in the style of the Admiral's Cup of old!
The Pursuit race on Saturday morning was really well attended and it was great to see a huge number of the boats staying on for the round the cans.
Particular thanks to Shoreham Sailing Club. For the first time in a long time, the Black Rock Long Inshore was run as both a joint keelboat and dinghy event. The sight of keelboats and dinghies racing East along the shore to Brighton must have made a great site for all those enjoying a day at the beach. In fact at one point the race fleet attracted the attention of a drone! The footage we are still trying to seek out.
Thanks again as always to Warwick Baker for being the on the water photographer, images for sale at www.warwickpics.com/syc-festival-of-the-sea-2023.html
More images from the event are on Facebook here.
Congratulations to the overall winners under IRC of Moose, NHC for Laughing Fish and then Black Rock keelboats Expresso (IRC) and Pingu (NHC).
Particular thanks are made to Martin for once again being an excellent race officer.
Full results at SYC www.sussexyachtclub.org.uk/sail/keelboat/keelboat-race-results
Festival of the Sea
The second year of the Festival of the Sea was back with excellent weather and a great series of events across the weekend. Also for the first time it incorporated a new format SYC Cup, which built on prior years by also adding the Black Rock Long Inshore to the schedule.
The Festival of the Sea once again showed the fantastic diversity of activities at SYC. Paddle boarding, dinghy sailing, outriggers, yachts and of course the return of the crabbing competition put on a fantastic show. A great amount was raised for charity. The Keelboat Section, which takes the responsibility organising the entire event, thanks all the many volunteers that made this a success and the Steward and all staff at restaurant & bar for putting on great food and drinks.
Prizegiving for the SYC Cup attracted a lot of people to the bar but the real draw was another fantastic performance from the Wellington Wailers!
The winners of the most crabs caught with 45 were Jackson and Lottie Lancaster, ages 5 and 7.