25-27 May OGA Deben and Cherub Centenary Rally and Teamac Gaffling Championships
25-27 May OGA Deben and Cherub Centenary Rally and Teamac Gaffling Championships
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STANDARD ENTRIES CLOSED on Saturday 18th May.
You can still enter using the red button on the right but will need to obtain a Late Entry Access code by contacting one of the Events team.
Nick Phillips - 07711 088762
Sarah Adie - 07813 200994
Thanks to the generous support of Woodbridge & Waldringfield Boatyards & Waldringfield Sailing Club we are delighted to be able to run the OGA Deben and Cherub Centenary Rally and the postponed Teamac Gaffling Championships over the late May Bank Holiday weekend, 25th – 27th May. Based at Waldringfield, there will be racing along the length of the river for small boats, Cherubs and pocket-cruisers (up to 24'). And there will be plenty to do for those not racing with social activities and cruises for gaffers large and small as we celebrate one hundred years of the Deben Cherub class, designed designed by A.R.J Curjel and built at the Woodbridge Boatyard (formerly Eversons). On the Saturday there will be an informal 'reception' at lunchtime beside the river in Woodbridge at the Woodbridge Boat Yard.
The Deben is considered by many the most attractive of the East Coast Rivers (discuss!) and offers a variety of great sailing along its nine mile length from Felixstowe Ferry to Woodbridge.
WhatsApp Join the 2024 Deben Rally WhatsApp Group using this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Et1BkPA1evPCimYQ8fY37C
Read about the event under these headings below and then secure your entry:
- Activity Timetable and details
- Boats arriving by sea - mooring
- Boats arriving by road - small boat facilities and camping
- Try a Gaffling - enter the Championships with a loan boat
- Racing arrangements
- Keeping Safe - Please read our Risk Assessment
- Further Information / Queries
ACTIVITY TIMETABLE AND DETAILS
Racing Note - there are five small boat and Gaffling races in the timetable below. The programme may have to be varied on the day due to weather and conditions and this will help ensure that we secure at least three races.
Friday 24th May – HW Woodbridge 1349 (Springs)
Meet up at Waldringfield
Saturday 25th May - HW Woodbridge 1417
1100 Waldringfield to Woodbridge
Small Boat Race 1 * Teamac Gaffling Championship Race 1 * General Cruise
First Start: 1100, finishing at Woodbridge Boatyard Jetty.
The small boats and Gafflings will race (see Notice of Race) whilst larger boats and non-racers will cruise up-river with the tide to join celebrations at Woodbridge Boatyard.
1230 Lunch Woodbridge Boatyard – 100 years of the Deben Cherub.
We will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Deben Cherub design inc. 'Cherub' and 'Sea Nymph' (ex. 'Etonia). The workshop will be open for the festivities and the Boatyard will provide sausages in rolls with salad and hot and cold drinks. Moorings and a launch to run people to and from their boats will be available. It is hoped that there will be special guests associated with the Cherub including members of the Everson family, whose boatyard built many of the boats.
1430 Woodbridge to Waldringfield
Small Boat Race 2 * Teamac Gaffling Championship Race 2 * Cherub Centenary Race 1 * General Cruise
First Start: 1430 (confirmed on the day) finishing back at Waldringfield.
The Cherub Centenary race will run from Woodbridge to Waldringfield and the small boats and Gafflings have their second race. Small cruising boats up to 24' may race as their own class with the Cherubs. This will make a fine spectacle for the non-racing fleet and shore-based visitors can watch from the river-side footpaths or spectate from onboard the Deben Cruiser 'Jahan'. Book here: https://www.debencruises.co.uk/book.
1800 Self-cook Barbecue at Waldringfield Boatyard
Barbecues provided. There is also the Maybush Inn for those who prefer.
Later – Open Mic at Waldringfield Boatyard.
Sunday 26th May - HW Woodbridge 1457
0900 Waldringfield to Ramsholt
Small Boat Race 3 * Teamac Gaffling Championship Race 3 * Cherub Centenary Race 2 * General Cruise
First Start: 0900. The format for the races will be the same as for Saturday afternoon and those not racing are encouraged to cruise with the fleet. Courses will be set based on conditions and may include Felixstowe Ferry for the faster classes.
Lunchtime Drinks/lunch in the Ramsholt Arms
1330 Ramsholt to Waldringfield
Small Boat Race 4 * Teamac Gaffling Championship Race 4 * General Cruise
After lunch the small boats and Gafflings will race back to Waldringfield, with the first race start at 1330, confirmed on the day. Non-racing boats can linger and explore the river on their return.
Evening ‘Do your own thing’
Onboard, Maybush Inn, Camping field. Or alternative ideas?
MONDAY 27th HW Woodbridge 1538
First thing – Cruise to ‘The Rocks’ for everyone
A prompt start to secure our space there. The Cherubs will be there and the 'round the cans' small boat racing should provide a great spectacle for anchored spectators.
1000 Around the Cans Race at 'The Rocks'
Small Boat Race 5 * Teamac Gaffling Championship Race 5
The race start will from the Committee boat at 1000 and finish in plenty of time to re-group at 'The Rocks' for the Rally Pride-Giving.
Lunchtime Picnic at The Rocks and Prize giving
The Prize-Giving will be held at about mid-day before lunch giving time for those who want to get away promptly.
TRY A GAFFLING
Gafflings 'Essling' and 'Suffling' are being made available for two Young Gaffer crews to compete for the Teamac Gaffling Championship trophies. The boats are available free of charge.
If you would like to have a go please indicate this on your Entry Form. We will allocate crews based on the requests we receive.
BOATS ARRIVING AT WALDRINGFIELD BY SEA - MOORING DETAILS
There are many private moorings at Waldringfield for boats up to 36'. For a mooring call the Harbour Master, Tony Lyons, on 07925 081062 or VHF channel 37A when afloat. The Harbour Master will allocate visitor moorings where possible, for a charge of £10 per night. Full details can be seen on the Waldringfield Sailing Club site here: https://waldringfieldsc.com/waldringfield-moorings/.
Or boats may anchor at 'The Rocks' downriver or upriver (out of the channel) between buoys No.8 and No10.
BOATS ARRIVING AT WALDRINGFIELD BY ROAD - SMALL BOAT FACILITIES AND CAMPING
Access to launching facilities will not be available until after 1600 on Friday 25th. Commercial boat trips operate from Waldringfield Boat and the last coach should have left by that time. The road to the quay is narrow and space in the boat yard very limited so please stay away until this time.
Launch and Recovery:
- Boats will launch at any state of tide from the beach accessed via the concrete slipway next to Waldringfield Boat Yard.
- Please be aware:
- The concrete slip to the beach is owner by Waldringfield Sailing Club (WSC) and we are able to launch here with their kind permission.
- WSC are running Laser events over the weekend including an Open Meeting on the Sunday - the ramp will probably be busy
- Do not block the ramp but push your trailer onto the beach to rig.
Dinghy Storage:
- We ask that most small boats lie afloat rafted on fore-and-aft moorings off the boatyard for the weekend.
- Don’t forget your fenders!
- There will be a launch running to get ashore.
- Boats that cannot stay afloat and need to be launched each day will be stored at the boatyard or the camping field.
Parking and Trailer storage:
- There is limited trailer storage in the boat yard and trailers will need to be stacked.
- Alternatively trailers can be stored along with cars in the ‘Top Field’ and again may need to be stacked.
Camping:
- Mark and Emma Barton, previous owners of Waldringfield Boatyard, are generously providing space for tents and campervans in their field.
- This is not part of the Boatyard.
- There is space for up to ten campervans and tents.
- Water is available in the field and toilet and wash facilities at the boatyard.
- There will be ‘Gaffer Marshals’ on hand to point you to their field.
- The cost is £15 for the weekend.
- Space is limited so please book early using the Entry form.
- Please avoid upsetting the locals as many of them are related to the Skipper of Clytie who is also part of the Race Office Team for the weekend!
There is also a campsite less than one mile from the boatyard. Low Farm campsite (Ipswich Road, Waldringfield, IP12 4QU) has toilets, showers and washing up areas. Please book with them directly - see https://lowfarmproperties.co.uk for booking form and further info.
At the time of writing, for the Whitsun Bank Holiday, they have one or two spaces for campervans needing electric hook up, and plenty of space for campervans which don’t. They also have pitches for tents. Their prices for vans (based on two people) are £30 per night with hook-up andd £22 per night without.
RACING ARRANGEMENTS
If you are thinking of taking part in the racing please refer to the Notice of Race.
Please provide details of the Skipper and confirm that they have read and agree to the Skippers Declaration as part of your Entry.
Sailing Instructions will be provided during Registration at the event.
The small boat racing will count towards East Coast OGA Small Points Series.
KEEPING SAFE - PLEASE READ OUR RISK ASSESSMENT
The safety of everyone is paramount to OGA events. You will be asked to confirm that you have read the Deben Rally Risk Assessment on the Entry form.
FURTHER INFORMATION / QUESTIONS
Please use the WhatsApp group if you can. https://chat.whatsapp.com/Et1BkPA1evPCimYQ8fY37C
Or you can contact Paul Masters at ecpresident@oga.org.uk
Image: Deben Cherubs ‘Lindy Lou’, ‘Lynette’, ‘Cherub’, ‘Jubilee’ and ‘Ariel’ passing the Woodbridge Boatyard and Deben Yacht Club to start racing Photo: Charmian Berry
Location
Waldringfield, River Deben, IP12 4QL