Well it all started with somebody saying are you doing the Nore Race.  Kevin Turner said no as he was doing the East Coast Piers Race with Lloyd. “Well tell us more Kevin”, what is the race about, he informed us all that it starts from Osea Island Pier past Clacton and then turn for home at Walton on the Naze Pier. So, how long is the race, we asked, 50 miles approx, in the next second Brian Keenyside in his famous words, I will have some of that to Adrian, who had not yet, asked his wife if he was allowed out to play. Next in line was Cuffy (Ian Cuffbertson) shouting to Johnny Linton you’re your joints oiled, we are in as well”, Johnny replied with, “in for what!”

With all the banter going on between the helms and crews we decided to brave it by sailing the MM hurricane 3 sail mode, which meant we were going to fly our spinnaker for the first time in an event, last words from the Crew were “god help us”.  Kevin was trying his new main in SX mode, Cuffy was in 3 sail on the Dart Hawk and Brian Keenyside 2 sail mode. Once all arrangement were finalised we would pack up the boats and head off to Marconi Sailing Club, a news flash came in that a 5th member would be joining the event, AJ and John Bell, on their Hurricane, they hadn’t sailed much this year and in order to combat this, they sailed every evening before the East Coast Event.

The 16th of July arrived, and we all set off to Marconi in order to get a camping spot and rig up for the race, held on the Sunday. With plenty of time on our hands, we rigged the boats, ensuring our safety equipment was in working order, we now have to sign on for the race, “Right, anybody got a pen”. “No” I guess I need to go to race control and get one. Cuffey now ready to fill in his entry form, was heard saying, “Anybody know our sail number”? “Nope”, Adrian Linton who had now taken over from Johnny because he had run out of oil for his joints was soon on the phone to his brother asking what the sail number was. I would not say Adrian is lazy, but the sail was only 10 yards away in the box, but he felt it was easier to ring his brother in Geneva!!

Once all the signing on was completed we went and watched some racing at the Club and of course enjoy the fine weather. With the racing completed for the day, we had a lazy walk back to camp in order to crack open the usual cool liquid and bring out the BBQ.  With the food on the BBQ, the smell of wholesome cooking, and knowledge that the Canvey crowd were in force, our numbers soon swelled in size.  We talked and joked until the late hour of Saturday night (do not worry committee we were the quiet ones so we never showed up the Club) but then again, if you can show you are a fun club, more people will join us instead of the library.

Clacton was fast approaching; hang on Woody where was the nudist beach?  I think we have past it, dam we will have a look on the way back. We were now passing Clacton Pier and resisted the temptation to sail in and get some rocks and candy floss for the next part of the journey to Walton on the Naze.  With the wind slightly changing we were soon discussing if we should put the spinney up, Helm says yes, crew says no. Well the crew has to put it up, so I guess it’s staying down then, also he is bigger than I am.  Suddenly in the distance, I notice that we were catching the fleet, but our hopes were soon dash when the crew notices that the fleet was coming back, another dam. With the fleet returning we kept a look out for the Island boats, we saw Kev flying past, nearer to the shore, just behind his look alike, Neil Connelly, but in the top ten. Next were Cuffey and Adrian still in the top twenty and going well. Upon passing each other, Cuffey’s last words were, come on lads put your kite up, “I told you”, “I told you” like a little kid, so up went the kite in a flash. With the kite up, we were soon catching the end of the fleet; we knew this, as we could smell the BBQ from John and AJ Hurricane. “Hang on, where are Brian and Adrian, Did we miss them; I guess we did unless they are in the pub at Clacton.”

With Colne Buoy past us, we whack up our kite in order to get to Bradwell Buoy and catch some more boats.   However, as we past the Bradwell buoy, our tack line broke, on a strong gust, which intern, made the kite balloon out, pulling the boat nearly over and out of control into the path of some cruisers. We manage to get the kite down before reaching them, as we proceeded to sail between the fleet, their faces were a picture, as we were still laughing from the adventure we just had. Once we had past Bradwell and closing on Stone, we manage to see a Spitfire about 100 hundreds yards in front of us, OK, he is now our next target. We dropped nearer the shore in order to take the shorter distance, the Spitfire stayed in the channel but in only 2 sail mode, which we could not understand, why, as we would have been using out kite if we had not snapped our tack line. With the finish approaching we put a quick gybe in bringing us only about 50 yards behind the Spitfire. With the next gybe, we had a straight run to the line, but at this time we notice the Spitfire putting his Spinnaker up, he must be worried, but on saying this, the Spitfire picked-up a big gust, which he had to bare away on. This allowed us the opportunity to creep up inside and pip him on the line.

A good race, but it goes to show never give up or stop for a pee on a cat, as you always have a chance, we certainly learned that lesson. The remaining Island boats, where Kevin and Lloyd with their Hurricane SX rig, they beat many a faster and newer boat, coming 4^th overall.   Cuffey and Adrian with ruined Tobacco, were in the twenties, Brian and Adrian, also, finished in the twenties, as for us, we finished near the end of the fleet with John and AJ, but for their first big event that is some achievement given the enormity of the event.

“Would we all do it again, yes?”  Plans are in place for next year, as we missed the nudist beach on the way back.

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