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Racing

Join our regular racing on the Solent, one of the best sailing areas in the World.

Racing at Royal Lymington Yacht Club

On the South Coast of England, between the mainland and the Isle of Wight, the Solent is an excellent and exhilarating sailing and racing destination. Approximately 30 miles long and 5 miles wide, the area provides a fantastic variety of sailing conditions against the backdrop of a picturesque coastline.

Keelboat racing and dinghy racing are at the forefront of everything we do at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. Our location at the gateway of the Lymington River enables easy access in all tides out into the Solent, making racing out of Lymington a true delight. Our excellent waterfront facilities, welcoming clubhouse with popular restaurant, bar and sun terraces and dedicated team ensure that our events run smoothly both on and off the water.

We love to host sailing and race events, from small, regular club regattas to large class opens and national championships. Explore below to find out how to participate in our racing and what's on this season. If you would like information on hosting your sailing event at Royal Lymington Yacht Club, call us on 01590 672677 or contact sail@rlymyc.org.uk
 

WATCH OUR RACING FORUMS

WATCH JOHN DOERR'S 2023 RULES TALK

Special Events 2023

29er / 420 Grand Prix

Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th April 2023

The Club will be welcoming back the 29er & 420 classes on the 29th & 30th April 2023. The weekend will involve two days of racing in the Western Solent with a regatta supper on the Saturday evening.
Click here for more information.
Lymington Folkboat Regatta

Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st May 2023

The Club are pleased to be hosting Leg 1 of the Folkboat Association Regatta Series. Racing will take place on 20th & 21st May.

Click here for more information.
Optimist Open

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th May 2023

A return fixture to our racing calendar is the Optimist Open. This year's regatta takes place on 27th & 28th May.

Click here for more information.
Cape 31 National Championships

Friday 8th June - Sunday 11th June 2023

The Club are pleased to be welcoming the Cape 31 class to Lymington.
The event will take place on Friday 9th - Sunday 11th June.
 
 
XOD Week

Saturday 10th - Wednesday 14th June 2023

The 2023 X One-Design Week will be taking place at Royal Lymington Yacht Club from 10th to 14th June. An open event, XOD Week consists of two scheduled races per day. The overall winner is awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Challenge Cup 1935 (Whittaker Cup).

Click here for more information
RS Tera Open

Saturday 9th July 2023

The Club are pleased to be welcoming the travelling RS Tera fleet for a one day open. Racing will take place on Sunday 9th July in the Western Solent.

Click here for more infomation.
Lymington Dinghy Regatta

Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th August 2023

This event is jointly hosted with the Lymington Town Sailing Club. There are two race tracks enabling better racing for all Dinghies. Racing will take place on 12 / 13 August.

Click here for more information.
Youth Week

Tuesday 29th August - Friday 1st September 2023

This year's Youth Week will be a four day event. Tuesday 29th August - Friday 1st September. There will be 4 fleets racing out in the Solent and surrounding Lakes.
ILCA Open

Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd September 2023

The Lasers are joining us for a weekend open at the beginning of September (2nd / 3rd) This event will be open to all rigs.

Click here for more information

Royal Lymington Yacht Club Race Series 2023

Spring Series
Our Spring Series for cruiser-racers and one-design keelboats runs on Sunday mornings in April. Dates for 2023 are as follows:
  • Sunday 2nd April
  • Sunday 16th April
  • Sunday 23rd April
  • Sunday 30th April
Entries Open: Monday 20th February 2023
Last date for entry to the series: Saturday 22nd April
Last date for entry to the race: 09:00 on Race Day
 
Monday Evening Dinghy Race Series
On Monday evenings from mid-April to late August, we run dinghy racing for all Members of RLymYC and LTSC, including our junior and youth sailors. The season is divided into two series, with the dates for the 2023 season as follows:
  • Briefing: 17th April
  • Early series: 24th April to 19th June 
  • Pursuit Race: 26th June
  • Late series: 13th July to 21st August
Warning signal is 17:55
 
Thursday Evening Keelboat Race Series
Spencers New Forest logo

On Thursday evenings throughout May to September our Mixed Handicap racing takes place for IRC and Lymington Handicap-rated keelboats and also the J80 fleet. The 2023 season series is as follows:
  • Briefing: 20th April
  • Early series: 27th April to 22nd June
  • Late series: 29th June to 24th August
  • Late Late series: 7th – 28th September

Each series consists of open racing events providing great fun on the water with the opportunity to socialise in our bar and restaurant afterwards.

Our thanks to Spencers New Forest for sponsoring our 2023 Thursday Evening Keelboat Series.
 
Seeking crew or looking for crewing opportunities? Join our Crew Register!

Book a table at our bar and restaurant by calling 01590 671751.
Friday Evening Junior and Youth Race Series
 
Our junior and youth sailors race in dinghies after school between May and September, with the season normally divided into 2 series. Races start opposite the Clubhouse at 6pm and are a fun way for our younger sailors to compete informally with each other, often trying out other single-handers and double-handers for the series. 
  • Briefing: 21st April
  • Early series: 28th April to 23rd June
  • Late series: 30th June to 25th August
 
Hire a boat

Book a table at our bar and restaurant by calling 01590 671751.
 
XOD Points Series
From April until early September our One-Design Keelboat Points Series provides racing on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons.

In 2023 the series will run from 22nd April until 28th October Warning signal at 14:00.
 
Nordic Folkboat Points Series
From April until early September our Nordic Folkboat Points series provides racing for on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons.
 
The 2023 series will run from 22nd April until 30th September. Warning signal at 13:45.
 
Duo Series

The club runs a Duo (double-handed) Series on various Saturdays from May to September. The ever-popular Duo Series is considered to be the most interesting and challenging race series based in the Western Solent. The series involves varied and highly competitive races, including to the Eastern Solent, Christchurch Bay and around the Island. Boats can be raced single or double-handed.

Click here for more information

Royal Lymington Yacht Club Race Events 2023

LR Scow Trophy Races
A number of Trophy Races take place during the season for our Lymington River Scows. 

Hinxman Trophy: date TBC
Alexina Trophy: Tuesday 13th June 2023
Captain’s Trophy: date TBC
Figure of Eight Race: date TBC
 
Pottership Race

Saturday 7th October 2023

The Pottership Trophy was presented by Major Cyril Potter in 1937 and is awarded annually to the winner of a handicap race for all classes of keelboats owned and sailed by members.  
 
Club Champion of Champions Event

Saturday 14th October 2023

This race sees our Club winners for the season come together to battle it out for the Champion of Champions trophy. This year's race will take place on Saturday 14th October
Needles Relief Race

Saturday 9th December 2023

Originally organised to provide Christmas relief to the crew manning the Needles lighthouse. Since the lighthouse was automated, the Needles Relief Race has been run as a charity event to support the RNLI.

Weather and tide permitting, the course for Class One yachts sail out to the Needles and back to a finish near Yarmouth. At this time of year some race crews embrace the Christmas spirit with fancy dress. 
 
Peter Andreae Trophy

Wednesday 27th December 2023

Our annual Peter Andreae Race is for under 21s double-handed in Scows. Cash prizes will be awarded. The event is run using a round robin league system with a final comprising 1, 2, or 3 final races depending on the time available.
 
Penguin Trophy

Thursday 28th December 2023


The Penguin Trophy is one of the club’s most coveted prizes, often attracting Olympic-level sailors. It is raced for annually in loaned Scows, in the Lymington River close to the club.
 
Team Racing
A continuing club initiative is to run monthly informal and instructive team racing sessions. The aim is to introduce interested dinghy sailors to team racing, bring on new talent and for the more experienced team racers to share their knowledge and re-fresh their skills. Everyone will participate together in mixed ability teams in a squad format.