Cruiser Racing at HISC
Hayling Island Sailing club, although best known for its
dinghy racing activities, does promote racing in cruisers. The
unrestricted waters of Hayling bay and the Eastern approaches to
the Solent provide ideal racing waters for yachts. HISC runs
several 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 plenty of crewing
opportunities for those without their own yacht.
Club events cater for all levels of racing, using two
alternative handicapping systems. The club 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. 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 make your boat more
rewarding to sail at any time.
If you live locally, the Thursday evening Sundowner Series - PY
handicap only - makes for a relaxing interlude in the working week
and is an ideal opportunity to take friends and colleagues out for
a short race followed by supper and drink in the clubhouse. Hayling
Regatta is not just for dinghies, so get a crew together for the
cruiser race in Hayling Bay and to add to the spectacle when back
on your mooring dress your yacht overall.
The Nab Cups and Sparkes Trophies weekend at the end of the
season is another opportunity to hone your racing skills. Other
than the Sundowner Series the other events are split into IRC and
PY fleets and any yacht can enter the latter. Published PY nos may
be adjusted and will be given to yachts at HISC discretion with the
aim of achieving fair, close and enjoyable racing for the
competitors. Handicap nos may be changed through out a series.
Swinging moorings are usually available for visiting yachts,
with a launch service to and from the Club pontoon. Alternatively
the adjacent Sparkes Marina is a short walk.
The relevant NoR will be available at least one month prior to
the event
Cruiser Race Programme 2013
- all events are open to non HISC members.
Sundowner Series - Thursday evenings 16 May to 11
July
This season the Sundowner eight race, PY Handicap, series for
cruisers will run on Thursday evenings from 16 May until 11
July, with each race starting from the Club East line at 19:00
hrs
All yachts whatever their size and however racy or not, are
welcome to enter. The Portsmouth Yardstick handicapping system will
be used, and handicaps maybe 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
will need to allow plenty of time. Yachts will be able to come
alongside the pontoon, briefly to pick up any late crew, assuming
that there is sufficient water. The Clubhouse, including the Dining
room, will be open to all be they spectators or competitors.
In order for a Portsmouth number to be determined, an entry form
(available on line) should be completed and the NofR and the SIs
need to be studied carefully.
It is possible that some yachts will be looking for extra crew,
so it could well be worth coming down on Thursday evenings and
hanging around expectantly around 18:00hrs on the off chance.
Hayling Regatta - Sunday 11 August
One race in Hayling bay.
Nab Cup - Saturday October 13
One long race incorporating some of the 'Nab' buoys
Sparkes Trophy - Sunday October 13
Two races round the cans in Hayling Bay