Tower Lifeboat Race

Greenwich Yacht Club warmly invites its members, and those of neighbouring clubs, to take part in a unique race on the River Thames. 2024 is the RNLI’s 200th Anniversary, and to celebrate it we have organised a race on Saturday June 29 from Greenwich to Erith and back.

What makes it different is that after the Race Briefing at 10.15, each boat can start when it likes – there is no fixed Start Time. And whilst we've listed a finish time of 3pm, that again is up to each skipper. Take account of your boat’s characteristics and the weather and tide conditions, and plan your race around reaching Erith at the optimum time to turn back upriver. The Byron Sailing Race Handicap system will be used to score this race. Race Guidelines are below.

Race Entry

We’re asking all skippers to confirm they are entering by paying a non-refundable £10 fee, which will be paid to the RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station (minus Eventbrite’s fee). Greenwich Yacht Club is not making any money from this event.

The race is limited to a maximum of 25 entries. Up to 15 overnight moorings will be available on the Friday and Saturday nights, and visiting boats can choose to stay one or both nights.

We will therefore need to know if any boat wants a mooring on the Friday and/or Saturday night, and the length of your boat. Would non-GYC members who require overnight moorings please send an email to [email protected] using the Subject line: Tower Lifeboat Race.

After the race

There will be hot meals available, a raffle draw, and an award ceremony in the clubhouse bar. Members of the RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station at Waterloo will be attending (subject to attending a callout).

Raffle tickets to win great prizes will be sold only on Race Day.

Nearer the event there will be an opportunity for all competitors to order a post-match meal.

There are also polo and t-shirts embroidered with a unique event logo (shown at the bottom of this page) that can be ordered online only, at bit.ly/TowerLifeboatRaceShirts. They can be personalised (for an extra cost) with the addition of a boat’s name. The cost of these unique polo and t-shirts includes a donation to the RNLI. Embroidered items cannot be returned so be sure to order the correct sizes.

Fair winds!

RACE GUIDELINES
"Start when you like" Saturday, 29 June 2024
Briefing: 10.15; Start when you like, no later than 13.15
Trot boat after the briefing
Tides at North Woolwich: LW 13.53, HW 19.59

Course details
The start and finish line is at Greenwich Yacht Club, sailing downriver, passing the following marks:
- Most northerly small mooring buoy at Margaret Ness (to port). No need to round to port if occupied
- Two ship mooring buoys in Barking Reach (to port)
- Jenningtree buoy red channel mark (to port)
- The last ship mooring buoy on Erith reach (to port)
For further details on these marks, see this guide.
Handicap information
The Byron Sailing Race Handicap system will be used to score this race. The scoring system is as per Appendix A of the RRS using the Low Point System as per Appendix A, A4.
Further information

👉All skippers are to attend the briefing.
👉Skippers are responsible for their passage plans.
👉West of Margaret Ness to a line drawn due north from Blackwall Point, all boats must remain on the starboard side of the river. The start and finish lines only extend to the middle of the fairway.
👉Skippers are to monitor VHF Ch 14 and VHF Ch 37 (Race Control)and keep a proper lookout at all times.
👉Competitors' third-party boat insurance must include an adequate racing cover with boats in good order / equipped to sail in the event.
👉Competitors must be fit to participate.
👉Skippers are expected to be familiar with the following:

• Sailing Instructions for Cruiser Races 2024
• Racing Rules of Sailing 2021 - 2024
• COLREGS
• Notices to Mariners for the area
• PLA Navigational Directions and Thames Byelaws

Would non-GYC members who require overnight moorings please send an email to [email protected] using the Subject line: Tower Lifeboat Race. Thank you.

Host or Publisher Greenwich Yacht Club