Thorpe Bay Yacht Club

Introduction

Welcome to Thorpe Bay Yacht Club Cruising Section. The Cruising Section was formed in 1965 and continues to look after the particular interests of those members of TBYC who sail in cruising yachts. The section organises an active social scene, in addition to events organised by the club, and has a programme of cruising rallies and racing.

Moorings and Winter Storage

Although not all of the Cruising Section members keep their yachts at Thorpe Bay the majority do. The club administers around 50 half-tide moorings off of the club. On most tides this will gives you around six hours sailing on midday tides. On early tides there is the opportunity to leave in the morning and return on the evening tide. We have a launch (Polly) running from the club slipway operated by the members and running between 0700 and 1900 on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

The section organises lift-out at the end of the season with storage in the club boat park and lift-in in the spring. This is a communal effort and all members with boats are expected to lend a hand.

Social Scene

In addition to the Club social calendar the Cruiser Section holds its own social events throughout the year. We meet every Tuesday night in the club from around 20.30 for either a noggin and natter or in the winter presentations on things of interest, usually with a nautical flavour. The year starts with a Burn’s Night supper at the end of January followed by a lift in dinner, St George’s Day bangers and mash evening and lift-out dinner in the autumn. We hold a wine and cheese party at the beginning of the winter season and end the year with carols just before Christmas.

Cruising from Thorpe Bay

Thorpe Bay is a great base to sail from with many places that can be visited over a weekend. Going west takes you to Gravesend, Greenwich and St Katherine’s. If you have more time you can take the mast down and go to Windsor and Oxford. Going south takes you to the Medway with Queenborough, Gillingham, Chatham, or Hoo. You can sail behind the Isle of Sheppey, going under the Kingsferry Bridge and then to Harty Ferry, Faversham or Whitstable. Going east takes you past Margate to Ramsgate. To the north lies Havengore Bridge and through the creeks to Burnham. Alternatively to the north the Thames Estuary leads to Bradwell, West Mersea, Harwich, Woodbridge and Aldeburgh. For those with more experience and time Thorpe Bay is in easy reach of the continent. Across the Channel is Calais, Gravelines, and then up the Belgium coasts to Holland. In the other direction from Calais you can cruise to Boulogne, Cherbourg and the Channel Islands and on to Brittany

Racing with the TBYC Cruising Section

Four times a year we race round the buoys off of Thorpe Bay and twice we have long distance races. For the more devoted, you can also race with the other clubs on the foreshore and enter the six interclub races, the biggest one being the Nore Race.

Why not come and join us?

Colin Keeling
Cruiser Captain