English Raid 2015, anyone based near Plymouth?

Julian Swindell · 24 Oct 2014, 11:57

Is anyone based in the Plymouth area who might be interested in acting as the local knowledge for a RAID around Plymouth/Tamar next year. Geoff Probert asked me if I know anyone in that area. I'm hoping to organise a RAID in Poole in 2016, but I have family weddings getting in the way next year.

steve jones · 27 Oct 2014, 11:43

Hello Julian,

I am very familiar with sailing in the Plymouth area, but would be unwilling to organise anything.
I sail (solo) every year in both Plymouth and Falmouth, and would be willing to give a few pointers, and suggestions.
Although I'm from Plymouth I live in S. Wales with all that implies in terms of contacts and organising.
Certainly a great sailing area, (if not the best) which can be fun for all levels of expertise and experience.

Steve Jones

Nona Me BR17

Julian Swindell · 27 Oct 2014, 13:55

Hi Steve
You have the same problem with Plymouth that I have with Poole. I sail in Poole Harbour all summer, but I actually live in the Cotswolds! Makes local organising difficult. I'll let you know if anyone else comes along who is based in the area.

Graham W · 08 Mar 2015, 07:37

I've had an email to say that Raid England will be held in Plymouth from 7th to 11th September. Further details will be posted on their website shortly.

David Hudson · 08 Mar 2015, 19:16

Raid England being the "Open" event?

Found it! http://www.raidengland.org/

Graham W · 11 Sep 2015, 20:50

I've just got back from a few days at Raid England in Plymouth with Matthew. As usual, it was very well organised (thank you Peter, Murray and Geoff) and great fun. There were 23 boats, 11 of which were Swallows. Each day we set out from our base at Mount Batten for a race to a new destination. The BayRaiders (a 17 and several 20's) excelled as usual, with first, second and/or third places on all three racing days. There was no need for any rowing.

The race to and especially from the River Yealm (out of the harbour and turn left) was particularly exciting. I recorded 28 knots of apparent wind from the East at one stage and we were all heavily reefed and (eventually) ballasted. My GPS data for the downhill return shows one data point with a speed over ground of 14 knots, albeit preceded by something a lot slower, presumably because the boat was waggling around so much amongst the big waves. The chart of the speed data averages these things out and shows (below) a maximum of 10.3 knots. We all got wet - see photo 2 of Curlew's laundry. But we also managed a bit of relaxation between races - photo 3. There aren't many boats of this size that can perform so well and yet allow you to get so comfortable.

The organisers are thinking of next year's event already, which will probably be somewhere different again. I'll be signing up.

Anthony Huggett · 11 Sep 2015, 22:14

A few photos from my father-in-law who came to watch the second start.

Anthony Huggett · 12 Sep 2015, 22:05

... and the other four

Graham W · 16 Oct 2015, 21:51

A couple of links to Raid England photos have been posted on their website http://www.raidengland.org/?page_id=705. More will undoubtedly follow.

My favourite photo, courtesy of Paul Waterman, is attached below. It shows Turaco belting along at about eight knots in a brisk wind across the beam. We are closely followed by Ula as we round a buoy. There are two Kites ahead but they were knocked back on handicap. Note the bend in the sprit boom!