Christmas Pudding Race 2025 at Durleigh Sailing Centre

Durleigh Sailing Centre Christmas Pudding Race 2025 © Durleigh Sailing Centre

Durleigh Sailing Centre's (Bridgwater, Somerset) Christmas Pudding Race brought the curtain down on the 2025 season in fittingly festive fashion, with 26 sailors across 12 classes enjoying a full day of racing on Sunday 14 December.

The event comprised a 60-minute pursuit race in the morning, followed by a well-earned break for mince pies, mulled wine and Christmas tunes in the clubhouse, before a 45-minute handicap race in the afternoon. While the weather remained dry and, for December, relatively mild, the breeze was gusty, shifty and unforgiving, providing plenty to keep both sailors, race/safety team on their toes.

Durleigh Sailing Centre Christmas Pudding Race 2025 - photo © Durleigh Sailing Centre

The pursuit race saw Optimist sailor Sammy Addinall take on the role of starting boat in his aptly named Optimist Lightning. Sammy made the most of his early start, building an impressive lead and setting the pace for the fleet while also claiming the unofficial prize for the most elaborately festively decorated boat on the water.

As the race unfolded, the fleet compressed behind him. Phoenix Hitchins (Topper 46447), fresh from a standout season competing nationally with the Sea Cadets and the ITCA South West team, was the first to work his way through the fleet and reel in the leading Optimist, establishing control at the front. Richard White (Solo 3556) followed, overtaking Sammy as he made steady progress through the fleet and settling into second place. Over the latter stages of the race, Richard gradually reduced the gap to the leader, but Phoenix sailed a calm and consistent race to maintain his advantage and take the win.

Behind the leading pair, the battle for the remaining podium positions remained tightly contested right to the final minutes. Sammy held on impressively to third place for much of the race before being overhauled by two Comet Trios, a GP14 and a Laser 3000, all fighting for position in close quarters. A scrappy mark rounding followed by a fortunate lift helped Tamsin Hoult and James Wright (GP14 Major Clanger) stay ahead of Oli Wilmott and Adam Tye (Laser 3000 Bubblegum Blue), securing third and fourth respectively as the fleet closed in on the finish.

Durleigh Sailing Centre Christmas Pudding Race 2025 - photo © Durleigh Sailing Centre

After racing, sailors were welcomed ashore for festive refreshments before heading back out for the afternoon handicap race.

Unfortunately, the challenging conditions began to take their toll during the second race. A particularly chaotic and gusty second mark rounding forced Richard White to retire after sustaining significant but repairable boat damage, bringing a premature end to his otherwise impressive day on the water.

Durleigh Sailing Centre Christmas Pudding Race 2025 - photo © Durleigh Sailing Centre

Despite the conditions, it was encouraging to see some of Durleigh's newest youth racers getting stuck in. Alfie Caddy and Aaron Mattravers, both part of the Durleigh Ducklings youth race training group, took to the water and completed the pursuit race before sensibly calling it a day at the break.

There was also plenty of entertainment ashore. Harry Wilmott provided an early talking point by capsizing at precisely the moment the Optimist set off at the start of the pursuit race. After persevering through several swims, his mast eventually found the reservoir mud well and truly, requiring assistance from the safety boat. Undeterred, Harry later joined the Race Officer team in the race hut, where he quickly picked up the lap-scoring system and assisted with corrected times from lap two of the handicap race onwards.

The afternoon handicap race once again belonged to Phoenix Hitchins, who completed a clean sweep by taking his second win of the day in testing conditions. The overall results reflected just how close the racing was, with only four points separating second through to sixth place across the two races.

Durleigh Sailing Centre Christmas Pudding Race 2025 - photo © Durleigh Sailing Centre

Festive spirit was in no short supply, both on and off the water. Beckie Smith, crewing for Andy Wright in a Comet Trio, showed exceptional commitment to the festive dress brief - though her beard/moustache-based accessories may have been questionable. Beckie, who completed her RYA Level 2 at the centre earlier this year, has been a regular on the water throughout the season and rounded off the event with a solid eighth overall.

Thanks go to the race team Sue Woods and Tom Abbott, assisted by Harry Wilmot, along with safety boat crews Nick Tasker, Nick Mattravers, Dave Bennett and Mike Addinall. An additional thank you goes to Dave Wilmott, who kept hungry sailors well supplied with hot drinks and mince pies throughout the day.

Durleigh Sailing Centre Christmas Pudding Race 2025 - photo © Durleigh Sailing Centre

The Christmas Pudding Race once again proved to be a highlight of the Durleigh calendar, bringing members and visiting sailors together for one final sail before the Christmas break — and rounding off the year in true Durleigh style.

Overall Results: