Thursday Evening Keelboat Series

Early, Late & Scow Late Series

handicap
systems

The club Race Team can use the following handicap systems:  IRC, YTC and LAH which are explained and compared below.
IRC
YTC
LAH
Stands for:
International Rating Certificate
Yacht Time Correction
Lymington Adjusted Handicap
How does it arrive at a rating:
By detailed information about and measurement of the yacht key data
By less detailed information about and measurement of the yacht basic data
By analysing each boats performance each time it is raced
In other words:
The “Gold Standard” rating ideal for performance yachts
The “IRC Lite” version for cruising yachts that are also raced
A variable system that allows slower and faster boats a more equal chance to do well
Does the rating vary:
Each boat has a rating assuming it will race with a spinnaker and a second “White Sail” rating – see below
The same as IRC
The same as IRC
How transparent is the rating:
Very – all the declared boat data can be found HERE
Very – all the declared boat data can be found HERE
Less so – the rating is performance adjusted by Sailwave software an explanation can be found HERE
Notes:
YTC and LAH are not the same thing
LAH use a start rating for any boat that has not raced – this is the YTC rating but only at the start
Time Correction Factor (TCF or TCC):
The bigger the rating the “faster” the boat.


Corrected Time = Elapsed Time * IRC

An Elapsed Time of 60 minutes gives:
The bigger the rating the “slower” the boat.

Corrected Time = Elapsed Time * 1000 / YTC


An Elapsed Time of 60 minutes gives:
The bigger the rating the “faster” the boat.

Corrected Time = Elapsed Time * LAH


An Elapsed Time of 60 minutes gives:
1.100
01:06:00
1100
00:54:33
1.100
01:06:00
0.900
00:54:00
0900
01:06:40
0.900
00:54:00

Early, Late and Late Late Series

The heart of cruiser racing in Lymington is the Thursday Evening Racing Series which runs from the end of April to the end of September, when we race under both IRC and the Lymington Handicap system. Boats range in length from under 6 metres to above 12 metres with every variety in between, including a strong fleet of classic boats. Typically, there are some 90 – 100 boats out racing on Thursday evenings split into 6 classes.


Prizegiving in our bar and restaurant after each evening’s racing is well attended and great fun! The Royal Lymington Yacht Club extends a warm welcome to owners and crews of competing yachts and invites them to become temporary members for each Thursday Night race event.

  • Briefing: 18th April
  • Early series: 25th April to 20th June
  • Late series: 27th June to 22nd August
  • Late Late series: 5th to 26th September

Series Photos 2023

notice of race and online entry

Entries open
Thursday 1st February
Last date for entry to the series with reduced entry fee
Friday 8th March
Last date for entry to the series
Monday 15th April
Last date for entry to a race
09:00 on Race Day

Important Documents

Welcome to the hub for all crucial documents and updates related to the upcoming regatta. Here, you'll find everything you need to know and prepare for the event. Whether you're a competitor, volunteer, or spectator, these resources are essential for staying informed and engaged throughout the regatta.

Accessing and understanding these resources is vital for a successful and enjoyable regatta experience.

Show Gallery Event
Participants shall be guided by the RYA document Sailing & Racing in Mixed Households and by the control measures outlined in the Royal Lymington Yacht Club risk assessments for Dinghy Sailing and SUP, Pontoon and On The Water Activities and Clubhouse Operations.

HANDICAPS

For 2024 all yachts that are not racing in IRC or one-design classes i.e. those cruiser racers competing in the adjusted handicap classes will need to have a YTC handicap.

Commencing with the Spring Series on Sunday 2nd April and applying equally to the TEK series,  there will continue to be a “Lymington Adjusted” handicap, last year called NHC.  However, for 2024 YTC ratings will be the standard base rating for each boat from the start.  Anyone sailing in this class must please obtain a YTC rating for their boat, before racing.  The YTC application is simply achieved by online application and all the measured data required should be easily available without the need for measurement.  Please obtain your YTC rating as soon as possible.  To help you, there are two tools to guide you through the application process. Please download them below:

YTC APPLICATION HOW TO        YTC SAIL AREA CALCULATION

Spinnaker / White Sail ratings in IRC & YTC

IRC and YTC ratings have a “spinnaker” rating and “white sail” rating.  Competitors can elect which of these they would like to be applied per series by prior notification.  Change from one to another cannot be made during a series.

The default used by the Race Management team is “spinnaker” handicap and “white sail” will only be applied following a formal request.  Competitors requiring a change must let Race Management know no later than 7 days before the first race of the series.

Competitors can elect to use a different rating in the TEK Early or Late Series and separately the Spring Series.  However, it should be noted that choosing the “white sail” rating could result in your boat dropping from IRC1 to IRC2 or YTC1 to YTC3.

Join our shipmates,kids sail free

We encourage families to join our club. Our family subscription includes free membership for children under 18 when both parents join.

Event Messaging System

In addition to the Official Notice Board, the Organising Authority may send messages to
competitors and support persons via the Event Messaging System, Telegram.
Telegram is similar to WhatsApp but has better privacy (phone numbers are not public), does not limit groups to 150 people and allows new arrivals to see existing messages.

Please download Telegram for your Smart Phone and/or Laptop prior to the event from the links on https://telegram.org
Then join the groups for the Thursday Evening Keelboats Series below by following the links:

Broadcast: Messages from the Organising Authority and Race Committee:

Join Here

Queries: Questions to the Organising Authority or Race Committee:

Join Here

Race Team: Sailing Event Team Chat
Join Here

The speed of answers may vary and may be sent via the broadcast group. Please use this facility as sparingly as possible and certainly not for chat or it will lose its effectiveness.

35+

Years of Excellence

100

Sailing Events
a Year

500+

new members annually

10

cruising awards won

HANDICAPS

For 2024 all yachts that are not racing in IRC or one-design classes i.e. those cruiser racers competing in the adjusted handicap classes will need to have a YTC handicap.

Commencing with the Spring Series on Sunday 2nd April and applying equally to the TEK series,  there will continue to be a “Lymington Adjusted” handicap, last year called NHC.  However, for 2024 YTC ratings will be the standard base rating for each boat from the start.  Anyone sailing in this class must please obtain a YTC rating for their boat, before racing.  The YTC application is simply achieved by online application and all the measured data required should be easily available without the need for measurement.  Please obtain your YTC rating as soon as possible.  To help you, there are two tools to guide you through the application process. Please download them below:

YTC APPLICATION HOW TO        YTC SAIL AREA CALCULATION

Spinnaker / White Sail ratings in IRC & YTC

IRC and YTC ratings have a “spinnaker” rating and “white sail” rating.  Competitors can elect which of these they would like to be applied per series by prior notification.  Change from one to another cannot be made during a series.

The default used by the Race Management team is “spinnaker” handicap and “white sail” will only be applied following a formal request.  Competitors requiring a change must let Race Management know no later than 7 days before the first race of the series.

Competitors can elect to use a different rating in the TEK Early or Late Series and separately the Spring Series.  However, it should be noted that choosing the “white sail” rating could result in your boat dropping from IRC1 to IRC2 or YTC1 to YTC3.

Event Messaging System

In addition to the Official Notice Board, the Organising Authority may send messages to
competitors and support persons via the Event Messaging System, Telegram.
Telegram is similar to WhatsApp but has better privacy (phone numbers are not public), does not limit groups to 150 people and allows new arrivals to see existing messages.

Please download Telegram for your Smart Phone and/or Laptop prior to the event from the links on https://telegram.org
Then join the groups for the Thursday Evening Keelboats Series below by following the links:

Broadcast: Messages from the Organising Authority and Race Committee:

Join Here

Queries: Questions to the Organising Authority or Race Committee:

Join Here

Race Team: Sailing Event Team Chat
Join Here

The speed of answers may vary and may be sent via the broadcast group. Please use this facility as sparingly as possible and certainly not for chat or it will lose its effectiveness.

Dine with Us

Open to visiting sailors, members and their guests, our family friendly restaurant, bar and sun terraces enjoy world class views of Lymington River and the Solent.  Locally sourced ingredients, discounted members prices and a relaxed atmosphere await your visit.

Explore More JUNIOR & YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Explore detailed information about each fleet by clicking the links below. Each link will direct you to a dedicated page where you can learn more about the specific fleet, its history, specifications, and more.

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scow activities

The Royal Lymington Yacht Club has a full fixture list with racing for all every week. Boats from Yarmouth regularly join us to swell the number of boats coming to the start line.

heard what our members says

Great night last night in particular the junior supper was a huge hit. Lots of great feedback on the lasagna, a good-sized portion, tasted delicious and well presented. Please can you pass on to the chef and his team!

On 3rd August we held our Red Fox Annual General Meeting and Annual Dinner at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. The whole event was a great success. Within days of appointing a new chef you produced an excellent menu for the dinner and arranged facilities for our AGM. You and your staff were always very efficient and friendly, and it all made for a very enjoyable evening. We showed our appreciation by doubling the normal gratuity.

We had an excellent Sunday lunch. Please warmly congratulate Darren, your new chef!

On behalf of myself and my family, we just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone involved in my father’s wake on Friday. It was utterly perfect, and I truly think he would have loved it. Please pass on our thanks to the lovely staff and yourself who made it run so smoothly. The weather was simply stunning, and the drinks went down a little too nicely!

The Burns Night was brilliant!  Many thanks to yourself and the team for doing a huge amount of work to make it a great success!  Everything was perfect!

I thought I would drop you a line to say 4 of us had very delicious sandwiches at the Club on Friday lunchtime. They were perfect for what we required – having popped into the Club for a glass of wine and a quick bite to eat.

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