Sandhoppers
TBYC Sandhoppers - Introduction
Welcome to the Thorpe Bay Yacht Club Sandhopper section. At Thorpe Bay, we are lucky enough to enjoy keelboat sailing straight off the mooring. For weekend racing, the club provides a trot boat service from the slipway. For the independent sailor, club rowing dinghies are available to row out to moorings at other times and enjoy up to six hours of tide, or even sail out on the ebb and back on the flood tide on a fine day. The bilge keel design suits TBYC drying moorings which are an easy walk at low tide for boat checks, maintenance and hull cleaning.
Winter storage is offered to Sandhoppers in the boat park; the fleet is seasonally lifted out and lifted in by our contractor with a fork-lift vehicle. During the winter, boats can be anti-fouled and prepped in the dinghy park for the next spring season.
Camaraderie and support are available all year round from fellow Sandhopper sailors, past and present, on our lively WhatsApp group, or at our monthly Club Night at the bar (8pm every first Thursday).
Sandhopper Racing
TBYC offer a full racing calendar for Sandhoppers; the fleet has its own start time for Spring, Summer and Autumn Series points racing. Sandhoppers also participate in the clubs general handicap trophy races.
Sandhopper Sunday Cup: awarded every Sunday in the bar straight after racing to the winner of racing that day.
Sandhopper Final Fling: traditionally the last race of the TBYC season, a prestigious trophy presented by Tony & Hannah Padbury, previous owners of S/H18 Phoenix.
Beyond TBYC, Sandhopper racing opportunities include: -
Sandhopper Nationals: a weekend of racing, hosted by either TBYC or Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club
MBSC Sandhopper Open: held by Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club on the River Blackwater
Nore Race: general handicap distance race hosted by Benfleet Yacht Club on the Thames Estuary and won by Sandhoppers in the past
Burnham Week: held on August Bank Holiday on the River Crouch. Sandhoppers have their own start and are currently the third largest keel boat fleet competing.
Estimate of Costs
A rough guide to annual costs, good at time of writing:
| Winter storage and summer sailing | £180 |
| Insurance | £200 |
| Mooring fee | £144 |
| Lift-in / lift-out (@ £50 each way) | £100 |
| Antifouling (@ £100 per 2.5L can) | £50 |
| Sandhopper Class Association Membership fee | £15 |
| Total | £689 |
Insurance
Insuring boats east of Southend Pier is notoriously difficult. Our sailors use either GJW or Noble Marine. Noble currently do not specify a laying up period, which is helpful if lift-in dates fall early.
Antifouling
Everyone has their favourites, but a couple of recommendations are Seajet 033 and International Micron 350. These are examples of soft antifouling but be mindful whether the hull currently has soft or hard antifouling and stick to the same (or remove it all and start again!). At approximately £100 for 2.5L, it is possible to get at least two years worth of cover out of one pot.
Check out prices at Marine Superstore or Flag Paints (Burnham).
Mooring Information
To keep boats swinging uniformly, the length of the mooring from root (sea bed) to the bow roller must be 13m in total.
As a guide, most Sandhopper moorings are 8mm (3/8) chain.
Mooring roots are the responsibility of the mooring holder but may only be replaced under the supervision of the Moorings Officer. If connecting to existing root, make sure you have uncovered all riser chain and check riser & root for condition & length. Members must check and maintain their moorings as necessary throughout the season.
Sandhopper Contact
If you have any questions or queries please email or contact the class captain:
Name: Clara Hunter
Email: TBYCsandhoppers@icloud.com
Last updated 9:30am on 16 December 2025
