The 53rd Unicorn National Championship 2022 - Hayling Ferry Sailing Club
Dates
Thursday 23rd June – Saturday 25th June 2022.
About the Venue
Hayling Ferry Sailing Club is situated on the south west corner of Hayling Island in Hampshire at the entrance to Langstone Harbour.
The club is home to both monohull and multihull fleets and provides racing throughout the season.
The area is protected by a natural barrier of sand dunes with a slipway leading down to a firm shingle beach with plenty of room to rig.
There is free parking at the top of the beach just in front of the club providing easy access to both the compound and boats.
Launching
Launching is easy - straight into the calm waters of the harbour rather than into open sea.
Tides
Langstone Harbour is known to have a fairly strong current through the main run during Spring Tides. Good news! The tides throughout this event will be the lowest Neaps possible thus providing a minimal tide movement for easier sailing.
High tides throughout the event will be around early morning, then low early afternoon, high again early evening. There is always plenty of water at all states of the tide.
Race Areas
Fine weather racing will take place in the open Solent immediately off Eastney and Southsea beaches. This area is just a short hop across the mouth of the harbour. Being naturally protected by the Isle of Wight the conditions are very similar to sailing at Stokes Bay where the waves rarely build above one metre even in a breeze.
There will be a committee boat provided by neighbouring Locks Sailing Club to provide start, finish and race management.
There is an option to race inside the harbour if the breeze is on the heavy side. Those who have sailed at Stone Sailing Club in the past will find the race course very similar in length and breadth. The advantage of being low tide is that the sand banks inside the harbour will be visible most of the time therefore little chance of running aground when racing in the main channel at the north eastern end of the harbour.
Depending on conditions at the time, there will also be the option for a shoreline start / finish at Hayling Ferry Sailing Club.
Race Times
The racing will not start before 1200 on Thursday 23rd June and the aim is to finish the series by 1400 on Saturday 25th June to make way for the optional Solent Forts Practice Race on Saturday afternoon.
Unicorn Nationals Provisional Race Schedule
Thursday PM – 3 Races
Friday AM – PM 3 Races
Saturday AM – PM 2 Races
Breaks to be confirmed
For those staying on to compete in the Solent Forts Race
Saturday PM – Solent Forts Practice Race (optional)
Sunday AM – Solent Forts Race
These races will not form part of the Unicorn National series.
Entrance Fees
Unicorn National Series:
£70.00 with £15.00 discount for those staying on for the Solent Forts Race. (Daily rate for late arrivals competing at the Nationals to be at the discretion of the organisers -TBC).
Solent Forts Races:
£60.00 which includes - Saturday practice race, tickets to the barbecue and live music on Saturday night, then the main Forts race on the Sunday.
So, £115 in total for both events.
Accommodation
Lots of B&Bs, Hotels etc. on the island.
Camper vans are usually permitted to stay on the beach in front of the club house.
Socials
There are plenty of pubs and restaurants in the area so for Thursday and Friday nights – a chance to catch up, chill out, have a pub meal or a curry.
The nearest pub is The Ferry Boat Inn, a couple of hundred metres from the sailing club just along the shoreline.
Saturday night – Barbecue and Outdoor Live Music at the club.
Attendance
The Nationals combined with the Solent Forts Race promises to be a great event, but this can only happen with the support of the sailors. The Unicorn Class Committee are urging all active Unicorn sailors to make a big effort to attend this event to make it a success. Please be mindful that the race committee and rescue boat drivers are taking time off to run the racing and we need to reciprocate their efforts.
Please can you make an early indication to the contact below if you are likely to be attending. It is important that we get an idea of numbers to help with the organisation and expectations.
Contact
Dan Jarman – Unicorn Class Secretary – 07917 387767 / 02392 340936 dan.jarman@ntlworld.com or private message on Facebook messenger.
Unless you are enquiring about the Solent Forts Race, please do not contact Hayling Ferry Sailing Club directly. They are loaning us the club and facilities, but not running the Unicorn National event.
Venue Address: Hayling Ferry Sailing Club, Ferry Road, Hayling Island, PO11 0DG. www.hfsc.org.uk
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