New Year’s Race at Scarborough Yacht Club
by Chris Clark 12 Jan 21:46 AEDT 1 January 2022
Yacht, sea, and sky © Scarborough Yacht Club 
Just after rounding the Scalby Buoy © Scarborough Yacht Club
Bee Sharp, New Year’s Race Winner © Scarborough Yacht ClubIt is not often that Scarborough Yacht Club’s New Year’s Race actually takes place on 1st January, and sometimes it is not possible to run one. On this occasion, 14 yachts sailed out, crossing the line as a single start run under Scarborough Yacht Club rules.
One or two crews dressed in period pageantry in support of the colourful shoreline figures filmed by the BBC and going nationwide that evening.
The January weather was remarkable, strong warm (for Jan 1st) winds, pitching seas, and an amazing cloud and sunlight light-show. The good turnout was possibly a reaction to Christmas and New Year closeting with relatives. With the course featuring a tight circuit in the South Bay, and a longer run to Scalby with a North/South turn, a heightened lookout needed to be maintained to avoid collisions. And it was also possible it caused all to race yachts to their limits and beyond in a high variable wind, as spinnakers came out in pursuit of a few extra knots.
Bee Sharp was Yacht of the Day, for in addition to being an early spinnaker challenger, the North Sea pitching caused two crewmembers and previous owners of Bee Sharp, father Mike Turner, and son Henry, to be pressed against the guard rail, which snapped, tipping both overboard into the 8 deg C water. New owner Jimmy Cliff said one managed to hang on to a trailing sail and was pulled back on board, but for the other Bee Sharp had to stop sailing, and turned round to retrieve. And Bee Sharp won the race by 40 seconds. A champion performance.
Racing in low winter light creates sea and horizon colours not often seen so there’s images of sun and sea scenes to appreciate with one or two of the yachts appear strikingly lit.
A great afternoon out on the water, and well done again team Bee Sharp!
Overall Results: (top three)
1st Bee Sharp, owned by Jimmy Cliff, previously Mike and Henry Turner
2nd A Grand Day Out, owned by Steve Bramham, Richard Littlewood, Rudi Barman, and Heath Samples
3rd Vado, owned by Steve and Win Russell
