Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

Corinthian Otters Explore Lion Creek, River Crouch

by Craig Beech 15 May 06:35 PDT 10 May 2025
Corinthian Otters Explore Lion Creek, River Crouch © Steve Hall / Steve Kimber

'Lion Creek, Lion Creek, are we going, are we?'

The excitement is instant, the novice adventurers wide-eyed to the tales from the old salts who have been before. It's a firm favourite among the young sailors and parents lucky enough the claim a crew spot on the support boats.

Sailing on a dead run with the flooding tide the combined Corinthian Otter fleets of River 2 (Tarka) and Race 1 - 15 Oppies, one Topper and a Feva - cruise the 2km upriver from the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club to seek the entrance to the fabled destination. After a few beam reach legs to gather up any stragglers the first of the brave navigators head into the creek, hoping to avoid the shallows and claim the prize of first to the old shed and furthest into the creek.

Once secured, or stuck in the mud, boats are abandoned in a rush to begin the more serious activities of creek bathing, a swim race across the creek and picking out a place to try out a new belly flop dive idea. Although it's early in May, the water is warm enough and the sunshine blazing.

Reluctantly a call to leave is made and the fleets head off for home. For some the orientation of the creek, at right angles to the main river, and the wind direction is confusing; for others the urge to raise the dagger board completely to avoid getting stuck in the shallows is impeding the ability to make headway.

Once back onto the Crouch the wind has picked up. It's a long beat back to the pontoon, short tacking along the shore until the tide turns when longer beats across the river can be made. But they are finding their way and some of the junior River 2's can sense some glory to be had by mixing it up with the more senior Race 1's and using, with enthusiasm, the newly learnt meaning of 'Starboard!'. Race 1 indulge them.

The trips to Lion Creek are always rewarding. It's learning to sail without knowing it, great fun with your mates and an excellent opportunity for coaches and parents to see the joy of sailing adventures emerge.

Related Articles

NTG Global Graduate Program
Shape your career and propel yourself into the world of innovation North Technology Group, a global leader in advanced composite technology, is offering an exciting and dynamic graduate program that will shape your career and propel you into the world of innovation. Posted today at 3:00 pm
Introducing Ocean Legend
Vaikobi's range of lifestyle clothing Introducing Ocean Legend; Vaikobi's range of lifestyle clothing inspired by the stoke and the stories of those who live and breathe ocean sports. Posted today at 4:37 am
WASZP brings the heat at Foiling Week 2025
Four epic days of classic Ora conditions Malcesine turned it on once again for Foiling Week, with four epic days of classic Ora conditions and a record 131 WASZPs hitting the start line - the biggest WASZP fleet ever at the event! Posted today at 4:11 am
31st Block Island Race Week Day 3
Soaring temperatures on Risk Strategies Race Day Risk Strategies Race Day at Block Island Race Week featured another day of champagne conditions and soaring temperatures. To give sailors a brief reprieve, the Race Committee called for an "early" end to racing (only 2 long races instead of 3). Posted on 25 Jun
Can a maxi achieve the Rolex Fastnet Race triple?
The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize is lining up to be a tough one The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize in the centenary edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Rolex Fastnet Race is lining up to be a tough one between the world's fastest 100ft maxi yachts. Posted on 25 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 6
Double gold for France in Olympic classes Perfect sailing conditions marked the final of Kieler Woche in the Olympic skiff, dinghy, and surf classes: On Wednesday, June 25, the waters off Schilksee offered fresh to strong, challenging winds with flat waves. Posted on 25 Jun
iQFOiL International Games at Kiel Overall
Kieler Woche delivers spectacular medal series showdown ahead of Aarhus Worlds The 3rd iQFOiL International Games at Kieler Woche came to a thrilling close today, with a full day of Medal Series racing under spectacular conditions. Posted on 25 Jun
44Cup Marstrand 2025 day 1
Peninsula Racing and Team Nika share the limelight After a gale forced the cancellation of yesterday's practice racing, for day one of the 44Cup Marstrand, taking place off the familiar Swedish paradise island, there was a west to northwesterly that built as the afternoon progressed, to 17 knots. Posted on 25 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma Practice Race
Boats and breeze at the home of Mediterranean superyacht sailing The waiting is over and the moment has arrived — The Superyacht Cup Palma 2025 is up and running once again for the 29th time in the home of Mediterranean superyacht sailing. Posted on 25 Jun
Ferrari Hypersail unveiled
The Prancing Horse enters the world of sailing Ferrari today unveils its new Ferrari Hypersail project, an unprecedented sporting challenge in the world of sailing that blends racing tradition with technological innovation. Posted on 25 Jun
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERArmstrong 728x90 - Wing FG Board Range - BOTTOM