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Sea Sure 2025

EAORA Round the Goodwins Race - Royal Temple Yacht Club Ramsgate Week 2025 Opener

by Peter Jackson 20 Jul 14:23 PDT 20 July 2025
EAORA Round the Goodwins Race © Andy Ketteringham

With a gusty southerly wind forecast a slightly controversial clockwise course was set, starting north to Goodwin Knoll after a short initial beat, so most boats had a foul tide for most of the race. Of five classes IRC 1/2 was largest with 12 entries including Sportsboats.

First round Goodwin Knoll on to the long beat to the East Goodwin light ship after a tight kite reach was Mike and Jo Brands class 4 X-40 Fox out of the Box. Leading class 1 round was Peter & son Alex Jackson's Pronavia 42 Assassin, closely followed by Simon Farren's A-40 'Warrior', the ex 'British Soldier', prepping for the Fastnet. Assassin had hauled in the X-40 by the lightship, but John Barrett and Paul Woodwards X-336 Stilletto and the Peter Pearson et al HOD 35 Buccaneer, leading class 2, were holding their time on handicap in IRC overall.

After the lightship the beat south became a fetch and the tide turned to run south just as the lead boats reached the SW Goodwin buoy near Dover. The tide turn helped the smaller boats, and in the lower classes the X-40's lead was munched up by Nick Moulton's Sunfast 3200 Dabtoe from Norfolk & Suffolk Y.C., Gary Waters locally based J97 Jura and Bruce James Long's Colne Y.C. based MG38 Pinocchio.

From the S.W Goodwin buoy it was a boisterous run back past Walmer and Deal then via the South Brake buoy to the finish off Ramsgate. The wind veered to force a gybe as the foul tide built up. Here the sportsboats, which the tide turn had kept in the game on the beat, came into their own picking up their skirts and flying up on the leaders at over 16 knots, led by Matt Green et al's Far East 31 Sidewinder and Simon Northrop and Paul Thomas's Melges 24 Lock Stock. Assassin crossed first and asked for the wind to die but a 33 knot squall then came through causing carnage for most but well controlled by Simon Northrop on the Melges. The Cork 1720 Flying Pig failed to take advantage when her kite ripped in half.

Warrior had held her time on Assassin, as had Stiletto until the boat got out from under the rig in 34 knots. Buccaneer slid past the x362, who dropped to exactly 5th equal with Assassin, behind Sidewinder, who largely kept upright, closely beating Warrior over the line. In the EAORA results Pelham Etherington's Sigma 33 Magic Moments from Haven Port's Y.C. corrected second to Warrior.

Overall Results:

PosSail No - Boat NameOwner(s)
Class 4Grosvenor Casino
12697 ‑ JuraGary Walters
23782 ‑ DabtoesNick Moulton
3400 Fox Out The BoxMike & Jo Brand
Class 2Beadles Cup
1224 Lock StockSimon Northrop & Paul Thomas
27716 ‑ Buccaneer 2Peter Pearson, Mike Lilwall, Chris Gouldstone, Dennis
38994 ‑ StilettoJohn Barrett & Paul Woodward
Class 1Public School Trophy
11429 WarriorSimon Farren
28497 ‑ SidewinderM Green, G Forwood & N Forwood
3906 ‑ AssassinPeter & Alex Jackson
Cruiser OverallJentex Trophy
12697 ‑ JuraGary Walters
23782 ‑ DabtoesNick Moulton
3400 Fox Out The BoxMike & Jo Brand
EAORA OverallBrave Bowl
11429 WarriorSimon Farren
21661 ‑ Magic MomentsPelham Etherington
3  
IRC OverallNoot Cup
1224 Lock StockSimon Northrop & Paul Thomas
21429 WarriorSimon Farren
37716 ‑ Buccaneer 2Peter Pearson, Mike Lilwall, Chris Gouldstone, Dennis

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