Around Lundy race

HOW IT ALL BEGAN…

In 2005, a series of events were organized right across the United Kingdom as part of the Sea Britain theme to mark the bicentenary of Nelson's famous and decisive naval battle at Trafalgar on 21 st October, 1805.

There was the spectacle of the biggest Fleet Review in modern times in the Solent, inspected by Her Majesty The Queen. Included in the 167 naval ships from over 30 countries were no fewer than 6 aircraft carriers!

News of the magnificent victory at Trafalgar, and of Nelson's death, was relayed to Falmouth by Lt. Lapenotiere in HMS Pickle, thence by post chaise to the Admiralty in London. Recent research by historians has revealed that Lt. Lapenotiere originally hailed from Ilfracombe, having spent his formative years in the town!

Ilfracombe Yacht Club wanted to play its part in the Sea Britain festivities, and following a conversation with Ilfracombe Harbour Master Lt Com. Rob Lawson, it was decided to establish an annual Round Lundy Race with the Trafalgar Cup presented for the overall winner. The support, advice and encouragement received from Sir Robin Knox Johnson confirmed that this would be an exciting and challenging course for yachtsmen to complete. Given the distance involved, the prevailing winds and the strong tidal flows around the island, the Round Lundy Race immediately caught the attention of the Bristol Channel sailing community, with entrants coming from many ports up and down the Channel.

Now in its seventh year, the 2011 Race will be held on Saturday 18th June, and a vigorous and exhilarating day's sailing is anticipated. The registration of the yachts will be start in January. Its popularity means that places are limited….will you be joining us on the starting line?…..

Lundy 2011 Brochure and Sponsors

Designed and produced by Colin Wood of Picture Box Ilfracombe

The Lundy Race

If any one has photos to share please send on disc to iyc or email iyc@btinternet.com

The Lundy Race

2012 will be on the 23rd June

Thanks to the sponsors Guy Cotton, Pai-san Hong Kong Polo Shirts, St Austell Brewery, Gulf Oil Marine, Clovelly Estates, CQC, Mullacott Marine and all the other local business's without who's help the event would not take place.

Congratutions to the 2011 winners

Mason trophy first ilfracombe boat Haze

class 3

3rd coquette 2nd bright flter 1st hidden secret

class 2

3rd shadow 2nd haze 1st moontide

The overall winner is hidden secret

13 finishers from 27 starters

2011 Results

Ilfracombe Yacht Club, The Quay, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 9EQ

Tel 01271 863969

Slide Show Lundy 2010 by Rob Puig

Slide Show Lundy 2010 by Colin Wood

Slide Show Lundy 2010 by Dave Keightley

Link to CJ Nautical Imaging Lundy 2010 Photos

Congratulations to the 2010 Winners

Class 1 won by Greg Burgess with Blue Jay a J109 8-35-55

Class 2 won by Steve White skippering Dave Welch's Yacht Zephyrus a Westerly Tempest 8-40-22

Class 3 won by Dan Welch with Coquette an Atlanta Fastnet Catch 22 8-15-30

Winner of the Mason Trophy ( 1st Ilfracombe Yacht ) Dan Welch.

Overall Winner of the Trafalgar Trophy Dan Welch with Coquette.

Lundy SlideShow 2009

Please be Patient the show takes about 1 minute to load

Thank you to the Photographers who have shared their memories with us

please submit any more you would like to add to

The Ilfracombe Yacht Club would like to thank Steve White for starting the 2009 Lundy Race on Saturday 8 th August, especially as he is competing in the fastnet race on his own yacht Toe in the Water on Sunday 9 th August.

Thanks to the sponsors Guy Cotton, Pai-san Hong Kong Polo Shirts, St Austell Brewery, Gulf Oil Marine, Clovelly Estates, CQC, Mullacott Marine and all the other local business's without who's help the event would not take place.

Special thanks to Lee and the water Taxi crew for ferrying the competitors safely.

The Race started with a reasonable breeze but by mid day when most boats were trying to circumnavigate Lundy the breeze died away to a mere flutter.

The larger faster boats in class 1 completed the course. Only three Yachts from class 2 steered the right course and crossed the finish line before 8pm. The overall winner local Yacht Merlin Class 2, keeping up with the theme 2 nd place was Class 1 Yacht Kind of Magic and in third was Class 1 Yacht Aztec2. Out of 49 starters only 11 Yachts completed the course in the allocated time scale. Seabirds and Dolphins kept the rest of the fleet amused as they battled to the finish. A Grand barbeque and a few beers welcomed the skippers and crew on return to Ilfracombe Yacht Club.

Trophies and Prizes were presented to the winners by the Race Sponsors.

For 2009 Lundy Photos Visit http://www.robpuigphotography.co.uk/ events and http://www.picturebox.me.uk/index.htm events.

Many thanks to our official photographers Colin Wood and Rob Puig for there excellent photographs of the 2009 Round Lundy Race. Photographs can be purchased as very reasonable prices from their Web Sites as above.

Feedback 2009

After a 5 hour drive from Les Sables to Cherbourg and 2 and a half hour ferry crossing to Poole, Steve came to pick me up at the ferry terminal. It was good to see him again. About half an hour later we got at his home where Kim and the boys gave me a warm welcome. After a quick cuppa tea, yes, I'm definitely in the UK, we hit the road towards Ilfracombe, Devon, in the Bristol Chanel. It took us 2 and a half hours to get there because of the very dense traffic. Once there, we met Sebastian who covers the UK and Ireland for Guy Cotton, Steves sailing gear provider. Guy Cotton sponsors the prizes for The IYC Round Lundy Race. Steve was invited to come over for the local event. He gave a lecture at the IYC Club House about the Vendee Globe, how he got into it and how it all went. You could hear a fly buzz around during the lecture. The locals were all ears for the man who had circumnavigated the globe. No need to say that he was cheered loudly at the end. The next morning Steve, Seb and I went to the IYC way too early in the morning, according to my standards that is. Steve had the honour to trigger the gun for 1st start of the 5th edition of The IYC Round Lundy Race. After that we got onboard a small motorboat to assist at the next 2 starts. With a very light breeze and a blue sunny sky, it was quite something to be out there.  
I'd like to thank Andy, Marc, Sharon, the Ilfracombe Yacht Club and all the ones that have welcomed us in Ilfracombe. It was a short stopover, but well worth it. Hopefully some day I'll have the opportunity to go back there, but for a few days this time so that I can visit this little gem on the Bristol Channel properly. Thanks again!!!

We're on our way to Gosport now to get the final preparations done onboard Toe in the Water for the Fastnet Race.

Duff

http://yachtpals.com/node/6147

A ROUND LUNDY R ACE

Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved in the organisation of the Around Lundy Race this year. The day proved once again to be a great success thanks to the dedicated members who put such much thought, time, planning and hard work into producing such a spectacular and enjoyable event.

I would very much like to congratulate and to thank everyone involved in the organisation of this year's race, without whom it would not have been possible for such an exhilarating day to have taken place. So much thought, time, planning, hard work and effort goes into putting on a spectacular and enjoyable event of this magnitude. From the planning and projection committee (which has already started on next years race), through getting sponsors, checking the legal side, insurance and rules, involving official bodies, getting trophies, certificates, a marquee and all the food prepared, timing the entrants, working out tides and handicaps, taking the entries, updating the web site, liaising with authority, advertising, getting relevant permissions, decorating the harbour, etc the list could go on and on and all this before a boat has even left the harbour. Everyone involved deserves a big thank you for giving (not just us sailors), but also the town in general a spectacular day to remember!

The day proved once again to be a great success (despite the foreboding weather forecasts), attracting entries from 62 boats from all over the Bristol Channel. Sizes ranged from the impressive Challenge 72 right down to the more modest 20 footers.

The web site shows it all, the smoking starting cannon; the jostling to be the first to get away; the heavy gusting winds that bared weighted keels right up out of the water; big boats; little boats; grey skies; mist; blinding squalls; tidal races; a flotilla of intensely bright coloured spinnakers contrasting dramatically against the severity of the “dark side” of Lundy; elegant goose wings; the home run across open sea with Bull Point firmly fixed in the distance and seemingly never getting any nearer; boats of all shapes and sizes skidding on their sides through the finish gate; the empty harbour with all the boats away; and the triumphant return of the happy but tired crews; food; drink;relaxation and merriment after the long intense day; prizes; pride and relief; camaraderie; an immense feeling of being part of something special; something that you just have to do, that just has to be done, and once done, has to be done again.....and again.....and again. A fantastic day.

My only complaint?......that I have to wait until 8th August 2009 before I can do it all again!

Thank you all

Jane Gear

The Around Lundy race was held on Saturday 21st. This race has become what must be the most challenging and fun race in the whole Bristol Channel.

It is designed for enjoyment and can be taken as seriously or light heartedly as any crew wishes to make it. Although as with any race the aim is to win, with 45 miles, two tidal races, multiple back eddies, the far side of Lundy half way and if you don't make it in time, and the wind drops, there is no way you are going to get back against the tide in a cut off time of 11 hours. The real challenge for any team is can they finish the course on time and can they keep far enough away from the rocks with the wind and tide against them without turning the engine on!

This was the fourth race and every race has thrown up something different each year, from total becalming, to tacking on the out or home straight, to torrential rain, blazing sun, and much else.

However despite the terrible weather forecast, with the whole country surrounded in red on the inshore map, and a Force 5 to 7, poor visibility and fog and rain all day predicted with rough seas apparently building, this year's race has to be way the best so far. Weather conditions could not have been bettered. The sight of boats battling their way up the West side of Lundy, all goose winging, or with colourful spinnakers or cruising chutes out was magic. A strong wind challenging every bit of strength you had not to broach, averaging force five to sixes with hardly anyone reefing, keels out of the water, seas no greater than moderate, and no rain till after the race, there was not one boat who did not have a fantastic days sailing. And wherever one was placed, even last, for a sail like that against boats coming from Cornwall, Wales, Bristol and all over the Bristol Channel it was so sad that no other boat from NDYC entered.

The work that goes into the organisation deserves supporting and for the fun and exhilaration it gives every boat and crew member, I would really urge more boats from the NDYC to go in for it. I have done every race to date and we have never had a bad one.

Niki Tait (North Devon Yacht Club)