Excelsior Centenary Smack Race

The Association of British Ports Excelsior Centenary Smack Race
Lowestoft  Saturday 30th July 2022

This weekend Lowestoft is host to the Vessels Festival and the main hi-light of the festival will be The Association of British Ports Excelsior Centenary Smack Race 

Here is some information on the participants of the race and where you'll be able to get a good view of them.

The larger smacks will arrive in Lowestoft several days ahead of the race on the 30th and will be based at Haven Marina.

The other participants will arrive independently over the next few days and will be based at the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club.

Participants:-

Large Smacks & Drifters

There are several vessels registered with National Historic Ships as is Lowestoft’s Excelsior

From Lowestoft:- Excelsior LT472            1921 Lowestoft Smack
https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/447/excelsior

From Arendal, Norway:-  Boy Leslie LO392               1911 Brixham Trawler
https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2314/boy-leslie

From Lerwick, The Shetlands:- The Swan LK243S       1900 Shetland Herring Boat 
https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/672/swan

From Penryn, Cornwall:-  GLEANER LT 64          1874  Lowestoft Lugger
https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2750/gleaner

From Brightlingsea, Essex:-  PIONEER   CK 18        1864 Colchester Smack
https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/1903/pioneer

Great Yarmouth’s steam drifter Lydia Eva will also be attending to support the event https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/43/lydia-eva

Small Smacks and Drifters          https://www.oga.org.uk/

TRANSCUR CK365 Pin Mill, Suffolk           1889 Colchester Smack
https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2556/transcur

DAISY BELL CK451                 Wrabness, Essex  1895 Colchester Smack
https://www.colnesmack.co.uk/daisy-bell/

BONA LO178                Southwold, Suffolk               1903 Thames Bawley
https://www.colnesmack.co.uk/bona/

GLADYS   LO 195 Pin Mill, Suffolk                     1904 Leigh Bawley
https://kingsboatyard.co.uk/

PRISCILLA MN76   Brightlingsea, Essex              1893 Maldon Smack
https://www.colnesmack.co.uk/priscilla/

SYBIL OF WIVENHOE CK349 Saint-Vaast-La-Hougue, France 1901 Colchester Smack
https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/3596/sybil-wivenhoe

RELY   LK?    Walton on the Naze, Essex            1911 Dandy-rigged Zulu                     

BEACH BOATS

THREE SISTERS IH81      The Deben, Suffolk               1896 Suffolk Beach Boat

OLD GAFFER GUESTS          

CLYTIE  Woodbridge, Suffolk                    1922 Gaff Cutter                          
CYGNET Kent                                         c.1904 Gaff Yawl         
HUSSAR  Harwich, Essex                         1949 Vertue                                         
KELPIE 2 Mistley, Essex                  1902 Canoe Yacht        
TITCH        Woodbridge, Suffolk                      1978 Memory 19              

Public Guide to Viewing: here is a link to a map for viewing opportunities:- https://tinyurl.com/3f3b535p

Please note that the sea opposite the South Beach is very shallow and unsuitable for larger sailing vessels. So the Smack Racing will take place to the North of the Port in the Lowestoft North Roads. The racing area starts from just north of The Sparrows Nest Lighthouse up towards Great Yarmouth to just north of Hopton and back again.

Please see the recommended places for viewing the boats at sea below. For those with mobility challenges the most accessible place to view the vessels coming and going is from the Bandstand Quay just north of the Lifeboat Shop on The South Pier.

Timetable:

07.45   Large smacks travelling through Bridge                               
Viewing area just west of the Bridge on the south side, then from the South Pier.

From 08.10     Large smacks making sail                                                      
Sea wall anywhere between Lowestoft Ness and Tramps Alley (at the end of Gunton Cliff)

09.20               Smaller smacks travelling through Bridge
Viewing area just west of the Bridge on the south side, then from the South Pier

From 09.00      Other smacks and old gaffers start to leave the Yacht Basin          
South Pier.

From 09.15      Small smacks and Old Gaffers start making sail                  
Sea wall anywhere between Lowestoft Ness and Tramps Alley (at the end of Gunton Cliff)

09.30  Large Smacks Race Start                                                                 
Gunton Cliff or Corton Road (above Gunton Warren).  Best with binoculars.

10.15  Small Smacks Race start                                                                  
Gunton Cliff or Corton Road (above Gunton Warren).  Best with binoculars.

09.00 – 1700  Vessels festival with Stalls, Displays, Food, Drink, Music South Pier

13.45   Target finishing time for leading vessels                              
Gunton Cliff or Corton Road (above Gunton Warren).  Best with binoculars.

14.00   Vessels start taking in sail for return                                   
Sea wall anywhere between Lowestoft Ness and Tramps Alley (at the end of Gunton Cliff)

14.30               First Bridge Opening for inward bound smacks                    
South Pier and viewing area just west of the Bascule Bridge on the south side.

15.00               Second Bridge Opening for inward bound smacks                
South Pier and viewing area just west of the Bascule Bridge

16.00               Third Bridge Opening for inward bound smacks                   
South Pier and viewing area just west of the Bascule Bridge         

(Timings are for guidance only as operational considerations can result in variations.)

Places are available on a rib for trips amongst the race participants
John Kitching of Jet Adventures https://www.jetadventures.co.uk is happy to provide places on board Shearwater at £25 per head