Shiver Series 2025 at Royal Harwich Yacht Club - Day 1

Royal Harwich Shiver Series day 1 © Amanda Portway

The Winter Shiver Series, an exciting open dinghy racing event, kicked off this weekend at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club (RHYC) on 5th January 2025. With a cold and wet winter's day greeting competitors in the ILCA and Handicap fleets, the event marks the beginning of a seven-week racing series that will run every suitable weekend through to 23rd March 2025.

The weather conditions for the day were typical for January, with 8-12Kt winds from the south west and temperatures hovering around a balmy 11 degrees that was offset by the persistent rain. A shifty breeze from the Woolverstone shore provided competitors with a challenging but fair racing environment, with the tide playing a significant role in both races.

Race Officer Bob Portway managed to get both races off to a clean start, ensuring that sailors were kept moving as much as possible.

The first race saw 21 dinghies on the water, and it was a thrilling contest with keenly contested starts in both fleets, leading to much place changing approaching the windward mark (between Marina and Deerpark).

Race two, saw slightly different conditions with the leeward mark lifted in favour of mark A, which now had water round it. The same 21 boats (26 competitors) started a more tactical race, where shifts on the leeward half of the course provided additional snakes and ladders.

A Warm Welcome After Racing

After the two races, competitors were invited to the warmth of the RHYC clubhouse, where they could enjoy a well-deserved hot drink and a delicious bacon butty. The clubhouse provided a welcoming and cody atmosphere, perfect for warming up after a day on the water and catching up with fellow sailors.

A Series for All Dinghy Racers

The Winter Shiver Series is an open meeting, welcoming all dinghy classes and providing a great opportunity for sailors of all levels to race in a competitive but friendly environment. Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills or enjoy a few months of winter racing, this series is an excellent way to keep your dinghy racing sharp.

The series continues every weekend until 23rd March 2025, and competitors can sign up to take part in individual races or the entire series.

For more information and to register for the next race, visit royalharwichyachtclub.org.uk/events

Handicap Results:

ILCA Results: