The Royal Temple Yacht Club hosted two race fleets on Saturday (June 17), the EAORA – the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association which was competing in the Cannonball Trophy race from Ostend to Ramsgate – and the Yacht Club Boulonnais racing from Boulogne Sur Mer to Ramsgate for the Link Cup.
The EAORA fleet are regulars to the Royal Temple as they compete in several races to Ramsgate and also take part in the Round the Goodwins Race which is the starting race for Ramsgate Week.
EAORA comprises of 23 yacht clubs who came together in 1949 to coordinate and encourage offshore races.
They had a fleet of 24 yachts, although some of them continued back to Harwich after the race. However the majority of them headed up to the Yacht Club for prize giving before heading out into town in search of food.
The Cannonball trophy was presented to the winning crew of OysterCatcher owned by Richard Matthews from West Mersea Yacht Club.
The club welcomed back members of Yacht Club Boulonnais for the first time since before Covid. One particular hurdle has been that post Brexit, crew need a full passport to visit Ramsgate, but thankfully that has now been arranged.
On the Friday some of the RTYC fleet had sailed to France to be entertained by the YCB club and then raced back on the Saturday. It was a mixed fleet of about eight boats with the crew of Stiletto from Ramsgate taking the Link Cup Trophy.
It was busy day for the RTYC as they had also hosted a private memorable birthday party during the afternoon with over 100 guests.
Photos by Chris Cox.