Nore Race 2024

Rounding the Last Buoy

The Nore Race for dinghies and cruisers is an historic race in the Thames Estuary, having taken place each summer since the early 1920s (with a break during World War II). Since the 1930s, the race has been run by Benfleet Yacht Club.

We had hoped to enter Endeavour for the 2023 event, but there were questions about insurance that made it too uncertain to risk participating, and she only attended as a supporter. This year, however, with everything in place, she was entered as part of Group 3—mono-hulled cruising yachts.
At 1100 on Saturday 29th June, history was made when a Leigh bawley crossed the start line of the Nore Race for, we believe, the very first time. Endeavour is at her sailing best in a force 4-5, when she manages a decent lick, so the light breezes that we had on race day were far from ideal, and the crew of Chris Burls, Andy Lewis, Justin Hitchcock and Andrew Millham could only watch as other competitors were able to pull ahead in the light airs.

Due to the conditions and forecast, Benfleet opted for a shorter eight nautical mile course, half the usual race distance.

Endeavour reached the South Shoebury bouy, the first mark, with very little wind in her sails almost entirely thanks to having been pulled there by the ebb tide, but fickle breezes gradually started to develop and strengthen. Amazingly, the next four legs were all achieved with barely a tack and she crossed the finish line on a broad reach in a good force 3-4. The time was a less than record-breaking 4 hours, 2 minutes and 50 seconds—rather a long way behind the Group 3 winner Countdown in 02:20:30!

Now, we have to level with our members here and say that we were the last home, but, in our defence, this was not unexpected as heavy work boats like Endeavour were never designed for speed! Everyone on board had a thoroughly enjoyable day, and the flag was shown, which was the main purpose of the exercise.

There is a cup for the last cruiser home on handicap, so we all attended the prize-giving on the following Friday with high hopes, but would you believe it, Endeavour was not the last home on handicap, so we did beat one other cruiser, an old gaffer named Barbarossa—always watch out for pirates, as they say!!