Dinghy Racing
We offer a full racing calendar every weekend of the year (subject to tides and light in the winter months) and the river offers varied and demanding sailing. For competitive sailors there are four series of points races run throughout the year plus "one-off" cup races.
Championship and Points Series Dinghy Racing
At LCSC the mainstay of competitive dinghy sailing is the Championships and Points Series Racing. There are four series: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. This is competitive racing, and a cup is awarded to the sailor or sailors in each class (Laser, Enterprise or Vision) that wins the most points over the season. Races are set by the Race Officer according to weather and wind conditions, but involve perfecting upwind and downwind tactics as well as good starting and mark rounding techniques. There will always be a safety boat on hand in case of any capsizes or difficulties.
You can show up on the day or find a crew or helm via the Bulletin Board. Check the dinghy racing calendar for more details on race dates and timings.
Racing starts approximately 2 hours before high water and finishes at high water. Fleets of 12 to 15 dinghies typically turn out and some of the best sailing is in the winter when the leaves are off the trees.
Open events
Some members take boats out to open events and race against other clubs on the Tidal Thames
Other Races
Every year there are opportunities to take part in dinghy racing away from the club. Other Clubs near on on the River Thames like Ranelagh, South Bank and Strand on the Green have hosted good events each year. They also visit LCSC annually for the West London Hospital Trophy Race. We also travel to sail with other clubs, upon invitation.
LCSC hosts an Enterprise Open and the Laser Open competitions annually where other sailing clubs are invited. We have also hosted the Rooster sailing event on occasion.
And, once a year, in September, we send a team to compete in the Southport 24 Hour race
These events and trips are announced as they are organised and are advertised on the website, and if you're interested in joining, just sign up. If you don't have your own boat (or trailer) you can arrange to go with someone who does have their own boat. Occasionally, arrangements are made for club boats to go.
Cup Races
Dinghy cup races are held at weekends, mostly on a single day, but occasionally over a weekend or Bank Holiday. A specific number of cup races are for Open Events attracting sailors from other clubs to race on our reach. There are specific cups awarded for novices and women helms and crews, and for points and handicap races, making it possible for everybody to have a chance to win a cup during the year.
Cup races offer a good opportunity for novice crews or helms to go out racing with more experienced sailors in the club to build up confidence, river awareness, and racing skills.
Cup winners and second, third, or even more placed competitors, also receive a glass. The award of glasses is determined by the square root of the numbers of competitors. Presentations are made in the Clubhouse bar after racing.
Below a general list by month (months may vary) of all LCSC Cup Races including Inter Club Races
LCSC Cup Races:
| Month | LCSC Cup Race | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | Hair of the Dog Race/Taurus Trophy (H) | Trophy given to the winner of the New Year's Day race. Race winner is presented with the fash and a bottle of whisky. |
| Jan | New Year's Cup (L) and Bill Simpson Memorial Trophy (E) | Race in January when we are ofter cracking ice off the pontoons. For the brave! |
| Feb | Dark Wind Trophy (H) | Raced on the darkest day in February! |
| C. 14th Feb | Valentines Vendetta (L), Cock of the Thames (E) and GB Bowl (V) | Raced on the closest weekend to Valentine's Day with a cup for Laser, Enterprise and Vision sailors |
| April | John Underwood Memorial Trophy (H) | Handicap - best of two or three races on the day |
| May | Club Championship Horizon Trophy (L) & Kelmscott Cup (E) | Club Championship for Laser and Enterprise sailors respectively |
| May Bank Holiday | Dove Sailing Trophy (H) | Handicap race for the overall aggregate winner of the best of 2 or 3 races sailed over the May Bank Holiday Weekend |
| Summer | Harley Cup (E) | We get those used to big boats out on little boats by pairing a Yacht Helm with a Dinghy Helm and making them alternate helming Enterprise across 2 races. Raced twice a year in June and October, this is usually a well attended and fun event. |
| June | Hilliard Tankard (RNLI Pursuit Race) | Sailors race for a specific lenghy of time, Lasers starting x minutes after the Enterprises - an RNLI pennant is awarded |
| June | President's Trophy (H) & Bolwell Cup (H) | Handicap race - all classes can take part. President's Trophy awarded to the over 50's, Bolwell Cup to the under 50s. |
| August | Barnes Trophy (H), Bob Cup (E) | The Barnes and Bob Cup are for Novice Enterprises sailors, given for winning best Novice Crew and Helm respectively. |
| Summer/Autumn | Commodores Prize (L)/Rear Commodore's Prize (E) | Prizes presented by the Commodore and Vice Commodore for winning Laser & Enterprise |
| October | Doreen Challenge Cup (L) (1st), Doreen Cup Tankard (L) (2nd), Doreen Cup Ashtray (L) 3rd | The first Challenge Cup to be presented to the Club. |
| October | Warry Cup (H) & Wilfred Foster Cup Replica (H) | Handicap race with prizes awarded for first Lady Helm (Warry) and Crew (Wilfred) |
| October | Web Cresta Challenge Cup (E), Web Cresta Cup Replica 2nd, Web Cresta Matchbox Cover 3rd |
|
| November | Lady Bull's Bowl (H), Lady Bull's Bowl Ashtray (H) | An all in handicap trophy with a cup for 1st & 2nd |
| December | Vindaloo Special Race(H): Poppadom Plate 1st & Hefffalump Cup 2nd | Best of three handicap races. Curry served at the presentation. |
| December | Christmas Puch Bown (H) | All in handicap racer. Tradition is to fill it with Champagne for the consumption of the competing crews! |
Inter Club Cup Races
| Month | Inter Club Cup Race | Description |
|---|---|---|
| March | Norwich Frostbite SC Trophy | Raced either at Norwich or LCSC Trophy held by winning club |
| May | King-Morgan Trophy(H) | LCSC v Ranelagh |
| Summer | Bar Cup (H) | Team race against the Bar YC and Law Society |
| Summer | Winfield Trophy (Tideway Race) | 1st LCSC Helm in the Ranelagh Tideway Race |
| Summer | Enterprise Open: John Livingstone Trophy(E) | Presented at the Enterprise Open |
| Summer | Linden House Trophy (H) | A handicap race which celebrates the opening of our clubhouse |
| Summer | Royal Thames YC Trophy | Pursuit race with Royal Thames YC |
| Summer | West London Hospital Trophy (H) | Open for those SCs local to LCSC (Ranelagh, Strand on the Green & Southbank) races over a weekend |
| WL Hospital Trophy Weekend | West London Hospital Cup Replica | 2nd place in the West London Hospital Trophy |
| WL Hospital Trophy Weekend | Edith Woods Trophy(H) | Highest scorer over 2 days of 'Hospital Weekend' |
| WL Hospital Trophy Weekend | LCSC Trophy (H) | Sailed on the W London Hospital Trophy weekend presented with the LCSC Cup replica |
| WL Hospital Trophy Weekend | LCSC Cup Replica(H) | 2nd place in LCSC Trophy Race |
| September | Laser Open: Ian Bruce Trophy(L) | Laser Open Event |
| September | Laser Open: Nina Wood Trophy(L) | Laser Open 1st LCSC winner |
Last updated 10:35 on 18 February 2024