Tuesday Evening Sundowner Series

This year's Tuesday evening race series for yachts runs from the 3 June to the 22 July, each race starting from the Club East line at 19:00hrs.

All yachts, including multi-hulls, whatever their size and however racy or not, are welcome to enter. This year the RS Elite keelboats will be joining in, as and when they are delivered, and the event is also open to non members. Self-steering devices may be used on yachts sailed short-handed.

After the start, the course will take the fleet out into Hayling Bay with a finish back on the Club line. Races may be shortened at the West Pole Beacon if, for instance, an ebb tide and dying wind makes completion within the time limit unlikely. The Portsmouth Yardstick handicapping system will be used, and handicaps may be adjusted through the series to allow all boats a fair chance of success.

The ferry will be available before and after the race, but crews need to allow plenty of time. Yachts will be able to come alongside the pontoon briefly to pick up late crew members, assuming, of course, that there is sufficient water. The bar and dining room will be open after the race. It is intended that results will be available the same evening, with a bottle of wine awarded to the most deserving yacht.

In order for a Portsmouth number to be determined, an entry form (available from the Club office) should be completed and the Sailing Instructions need to be studied carefully.

It is likely that some yachts will be looking for additional crew members, so it could well be worth any member coming down on Tuesday evenings and hanging around expectantly on the landing stage at around 6 pm on the off-chance. The Clubhouse will, of course, be open to all members who may wish to spectate or dine.

Cruiser Racing at HISC

Hayling Island Sailing Club, although best known perhaps for its dinghy racing activities, actively promotes racing in cruisers. The unrestricted waters of Hayling Bay and the Eastern Approaches to the Solent provide an ideal racing ground for yachts. HISC runs a number of open cruiser handicap events through the year, and all members and visitors are invited to join in for some competitive racing and friendly socialising. There are usually plenty of crewing opportunities for those without their own yacht.

Club events cater for all levels of racing, using two alternative handicapping systems. The race committee will provide a Club Number for any yacht racing under the Portsmouth Yardstick system, no matter how "racy" or not the boat is. If your racing experience is limited, try to recruit a couple of good dinghy sailors as crew to help you with tactics and sail-setting - they will probably enjoy the experience as much as you. It is not necessary to strip the boat bare in order to race, as handicaps will assume a reasonable amount of cruising paraphernalia. Inevitably, however, having a clear-out of the unnecessary heavy clutter that accumulates over the years and keeping the bottom free of weed can only help to make your boat more rewarding to sail at any time.

If you live locally, the Tuesday evening "Sundowner" series makes for a relaxing interlude in the working week, and is an ideal opportunity to take friends and colleagues out for a short sail followed by a meal and drink in the club-house. Hayling Regatta is not just for the dinghies, so why not get a crew together for the cruiser race in Hayling Bay, and - to add to the spectacle - dress your yacht overall once back on your mooring? By the time of the Nab and Sparkes weekend, you should be ready for some more serious racing, and may even be so hooked that you'll want to continue through to Christmas with the winter series.

Most events are split into IRC and Portsmouth Yardstick handicap fleets, and any yacht can enter the latter. Published Portsmouth Numbers may be adjusted and Club Numbers will be given to other yachts, all at the race committee's discretion, with the aim of achieving fair, close and enjoyable racing for the majority of competitors. Numbers may be changed during the course of a series. Competitors wishing to race more seriously are recommended to obtain an IRC rating from the RORC for their yacht.

Swinging moorings will generally be available for visiting yachts, with a launch service to and from the Club landing stage. Alternatively, Sparkes Marina is adjacent to the Club, a short walk away by land.

Dates and descriptions of this year's races are given in the Cruising Race Programme page and in the Racing Fixtures. Full details will be published in the relevant "Notice of Race", available on the website or from the Club office at least a month before the start of each event.