RNSYC
Racing at the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club
Racing remains a key activity at the RN&SYC as it has done ever since our foundation in 1859. The Club has a long tradition of hosting major sailing events including class championships at national and international level. The Club has a wealth of experience to bring to regatta and race championships, as well as a pool of skilled race officers and support teams on which to draw when managing these events.
The Club’s racing season starts in May with races for keelboats on Saturday afternoons and runs until the end of September. In recent years, this has mostly involved the local Squib fleet but other keelboats are very welcome and handicap results can be calculated.
Among the highlights of the year are the June Regatta and Sea Week (usually in August), both of which include class racing for Broads One Designs. In addition, RNSYC hosts open meetings by request from various classes, for example the ILCA dinghy class.
The Challenge Cup, first competed for in 1860, still features on the Racing Calendar. It is open to members with qualifying keelboats and is sailed over a course well beyond our normal racing area. The trophy goes to the first boat that finishes and in 2026 this was Tom Carr’s Etchells Elektra.
Keelboats are launched using the club’s 2-tonne crane. Most are ‘dry sailed’ but it is possible to arrange for a marina berth. Dinghies can make use of the slipway into the marina or launch from the public beach straight into the sea just south of the harbour.
Our usual racing area is to the south of the harbour. Although it has become restricted by sandbanks in recent years, it still offers excellent racing for Squibs, Broads One Designs and other classes of similar speed.
There is also a good racing area in the deeper water to the north of the harbour. This particularly suits faster boats that can cope with the stronger tide there.
Races are started and finished from the club’s committee boat Skylark. We are very fortunate in having a team of volunteers (the STARS group) supporting the racing as race officers on Skylark and providing safety cover and mark laying on the club RIB East Point 1.
