Blakeney Regatta 2025 at Blakeney Sailing Club
by Andrew Bassett 1 Aug 18:18 AEST
26-27 July 2025
Blakeney Regatta starting on the bank © Alan Collett
The annual Blakeney Regatta was held over the weekend 26/27th July on the North Norfolk coast. This is a longstanding event with the first regatta being held in 1862. This unique event takes the form of a pursuit race with a 'Le Mans' style bank start with each class of boat starting according to their Portsmouth Yardstick and historical data for traditional boats.
The course starts and finishes in the Cut (a narrow channel leading out to the estuary) out to a buoy near the Lifeboat House and finishing again in the Cut.
Over 50 different boats participated over the weekend (39 on Saturday and 41 on Sunday) with the majority sailing both days and a good number of visitors. The event attracted all types of boats ranging form traditional clinker built boats to modern single and two man dinghies and catamarans.
The Saturday event was sailed in light winds which proved difficult for the slower boats who struggled to get out of the Cut against the incoming tide which made for some interesting near misses. However, the more skilful sailors in each class were able to get away and a Mirror managed to get the far buoy at the Point first with a good lead, followed by the leading Cockles. The double handed boats were able to fly their spinnaker most of the way back and two Seaflys were the first to finish followed by a Streaker, Phantom and a Kestrel.
The Sunday race was held in stronger wind, and although the slower boats still struggled against the tide at the start most boats got away quickly. A Mirror was again leading at far buoy and held this lead until the top of the Cut where it was overtaken by a Cockle and then a Laser. As there was more wind it was decided to finish the race at the end of the Cut. This made for a great spectacle for spectators as the boats sailed down the narrow channel under full sail on a run, with those brave enough keeping their spinnaker up!
Two Cockles managed to hang on and finish first, closely followed by a Laser and two Seaflys.
Once ashore there were cakes and coffee were shared by all competitors which created a great atmosphere, followed by the prize-giving. There are a large number of trophies presented each day, including slow, medium and fast handicap; single and double handers; Ladies and Youth categories.
Visitors are more than welcome for next year's event, with a small entry fee paid (£10) on the day, part of which goes to local charities as part of the village Regatta Week.
The top five results for each day are given below, with full results at blakeneysailing.co.uk/2025-race-results
Saturday results:
1. Seafly 477 - Alan Robinson/Angela Harcourt - Blakeney SC
2. Seafly 652 - Simon Stewart/Amy Howes - Blakeney SC
3. Streaker 1686 - Amy Robinson - Blakeney SC
4. Phantom 1165 - Roger Beavis - Blakeney SC
5. Kestrel 1624 - Mark Langston/John Blankly - Beccles SC
Sunday results:
1. Cockle 26 - Yvonne Tyndall/Mark Tasker - Stiffkey CC
2. Cockle 121 - Bruce Johnson/Andy Peck - Stiffkey CC
3. Laser 4.7 183108 - Jane Lewis - Blakeney SC
4. Seafly 477 - Alan Robinson/Angela Harcourt - Blakeney SC
5. Seafly 652 - Simon Stewart/Amy Howes - Blakeney SC