2025 Overnight Race a Success
Published 13:59 on 22 Jun 2025
Are we mad? Maybe a little. Did we have fun? By the bucket full.
Last night, 21st-22nd June, on the summer solstice, was the Ely Sailing Club 12 hour overnight race. Starting at 6pm, teams started arriving and rigging the 3 club Wayfarers for their overnight exploring. The weather looked problematic at first with the happy sailors attempting to set a course in very little wind, deciding eventually on a short cross around the centre of the lake with the goal, quite simply, to be to complete the most laps as possible in 12 hours.
But the weather was on our side this year and just as the race bell was rung, the wind filled the lake as Ian & Darryl, Kieran & Edward and Luis & Toby took the first stint for each time. As the starting horn blasted, we were treated to a spectacular flyover by the Red Arrows couldn't have been better timed had we tried!
The vibe at the club was fantastic with lots of chatter, a few deck chairs and plentiful amounts of sweet treats to keep everyone going. The club BBQ was getting it's use with plenty of yummies being grilled and around 9pm, we were treated to a delivery of The Hot Sausage Company hotdogs to keep us going yummy!
All 3 boats fought a close race for the first couple of hours but Spirit of Youth struggled to catch the other two Wayfarers, maintaining their distance but not quite managing to make up any ground ah, we've spotted the issue, Spirit of Youth was rigged with a cruising main (a smaller sail and lacking battens). A quick pit stop to change sails around 9 and all boats were equally rigged but Spirit of Youth had ground to make up.
The weather continued to be warm with a good breeze throughout the evening although we did have 2 short but committed downpours quick, everyone move inside! And in the wee hours, there was a spectacular lightning storm over Littleport to keep everyone entertained and on their toes. In a remarkable difference to the last few years, the wind held all night and whilst there was a little less hanging out on the toestraps once darkness fell, there was certainly a breeze enough to move all night long the quickest lap was completed in a little over 3 minutes early in the night whilst some later laps took a little over 10 minutes.
All 3 boats fought it out all night with varying tactics as to crew swaps from hourly changes to sending crews out for couple of hours stints to allow the relief crews some shut-eye. Spirit of Youth used the night to switch crews around to give everyone some experience of each other's sleep-deprived company whilst the other teams, with the exception of one stealthy (or not) temporary team-switch by Catherine to support a leg of Santiago's race, kept their experienced pairings. But all strategies seemed to have their merits and drawbacks and much of the race was to be determined by some funky little wind shifts as well, of course, by the skill of the helms.
With a crossover on the course, we all had to be aware of our rules of sailing and there were a few turns by all teams for some windward boat infringements all part of the fun. It must be said that perhaps none of us were as 'on it' at 2 in the morning as we might be in usual racing.
The sun finally set around midnight and that was the long haul. As some helms and crews took a well-deserved nap in their tents, cars and camp beds, others braved the dark lake, lit by a few glowing bouys and one fairy lighted Wayfarer, to keep the race going. The warmth held through the night which was a positive since we all forgot to bring firewood (oops) some helms made the most of the warmth for a sleep under the stars special mention to Glenn who came prepared with a deck chair. Come around 3am, the colours of dawn started to show through the sky and the race continued in the idyllic light of a warm summer sunrise. It truly was the lake at it's prettiest and sailing through the sunrise is the most fantastic experience.
With the sunrise, the wind picked up again and there were some sleepy sailors hanging over the gunwhals to try and get those last few overtakes and laps in.
The race finished in the bright June sun with a good breeze still blowing and mostly happy faces. Ultimately, Santiago and her crews won the racing with 112 laps completed; Unnamed blue Wayfarer who should get extra points for a team name of 'Raptor' came a close second with 110 laps and putting in some excellent sailing but never quite catching their early losses, at least a little due to their sail situation, with 106 laps, with Spirit of Youth.
Some very sleepy sailors then did their best to put all the boats away helped by Paul and Emma who couldn't stay away from coming down to help and tidy the club before all heading home for some summer dozing.
A fantastic night and well done to everyone 12 hours? Completed it.
First Place (Santiago), 112 Laps: Kieran Vanhoutte, Edward Human, Steve Board, Kitty Board, James Hatton & Michael Hatton
Second Place (Unamed Wayfarer), 110 Laps: Toby Bush, Luis Bush, Alayne Seymour, Pauline Vanhoutte, Rob Thatcher & Glenn Wilkinson
Third Place (Spirit of Youth 2), 106 Laps: Phil Hardy, Ian Wakeling, Darryl Preston, Toby Preston, Catherine Garters
There are some extra pictures of our lake at it's prettiest on the website gallery.
Last updated 13:59 on 22 June 2025