The Great Clyde Cruise for the RNLI
Clyde Cruising Club and other Clyde based Yacht and Boating Clubs are combining to bring you a spectacular flotilla as an opening muster and fundraiser for the 2020 season, such as has never been seen before.
- The biggest massed flotilla ever held on the Clyde
Open to all boats
The Tunnocks Flotilla
A race from Rhu to Largs for the racers
A Combined Clubs Opening Muster
A collaborative event by the Clubs and marinas of the Clyde
Aiming to Raise £100,000 for the RNLI
1,000 boats wanted.
Friday 1st May 2020
Berthing available at Rhu Marina for the northern starters ready for the event. Plenty of local anchoring opportunities too.
Various parties and marina run events.
Saturday 2nd May
Massed progressive muster on the Clyde. All boats invited – any clubs or any individual boats.
Big boats, small boats – sail any part of the route to your vessel capability.
Joining points along the route, so that boats can join or leave where they like (but we’d love you to sail the whole route!)
Fundraising for the RNLI.
A Yacht Race from Rhu to Largs
Flotilla cruise in company Rhu to Largs along the fundraising route.
Activities arranged individually by participating clubs.
Sunday 3rd May
Return to home ports
The Race (for sailing keelboats)
A race from Rhu to Largs, following the route of the fundraising flotilla for the RNLI.
Organised by CCC and RNCYC in collaboration. For keelboats.
Variable start times in a 30 minute window at Rhu narrows. Starts from 0930.
Several CYCA handicap classes, same course.
Course is Rhu to Greenock then along the Greenock – Gourock – Cloch – Largs route (see detailed course)
Finish : off Largs Marina
See separate Notice of Race section below
Sailing Instructions will be published later.
You choose to enter the race when registering – no extra fee.
RNLI Fundraising Flotilla
A massive fundraising event supported by Tunnocks to raise funds for the RNLI.
This will involve...
Internet based ticketed entry to the flotilla via RNLI, each boat making a suggested minimum donation of £76 as joining fee (£20 for dinghies and boats under 7m LOA.)
All funds raised go the RNLI
A casual cruise in company from Rhu to Largs along the seafronts of Helensburgh, Greenock, Gourock and Largs.
Boats joining in from various marinas along the route and from elsewhere.
RNLI boats on show from Rhu, Troon, Lamlash, Largs and Tighnabruich
Events with RNLI at Rhu on Friday evening and Saturday morning
Saturday breakfast at Rhu
Tunnocks Goody Boxes for entrants collected at the Marina of choice. (from Rhu, JWD, Kip, Largs, Ardrossan, or Troon). You choose which marina when registering.
Some boats might decide to sail in reverse direction starting from the south, Troon, Ardrossan to meet the main flotilla – to be organised by local clubs at those points)
Fundraisers will be ashore at Rhu, Helensburgh, Greenock, Gourock, Kip and Largs.
Dinghy involvement welcome - to be organised and described by local sailing clubs.
Courses:
Flotilla Course (approx time at each station)
Start at Rhu Marina any time after 10:30, and after the race has passed. 1030
Helensburgh Pier keeping north of the main channel 1040
The Sugar Boat wreck 1100
Greenock Port No 1 Buoy (JWD boats may join here) 1125
Whiteforeland Point (Battery Park) 1140
Gourock Bay (Cardwell Bay YC boats might join here) 1145
Kempock Point (Gourock Town) (Cove Yacht Club boats join here) 1150
Royal Gourock Yacht Club (RGYC boats join here) 1200
Cloch Point (Holy Loch boats join here) 1225
Inverkip Bay (Kip Marina boats join here) 1300
Largs Bay 1445
Largs Marina 1500
Race Course (NOTE: these details are provisional)
Start any time between 09:30 and 10:00, in 5 minute groupings. See NOR for details.
Start Line will be between Rhu NE (Green conical north side of the narrows) and Rhu NW (red can at narrows). A committee boat will take sail numbers as boats cross the start line in 5 minute groups during the 30 minute start window. The purpose of this style of start is to reduce congestion in a confined channel.
Marks: Start; Rhu SE to S; Cairndhu to S; Laid mark off Helensburgh to S; A8 buoy to S; No1 to S; Whiteforeland to S; Kempock Point to P; RGYC race mark to S; RGYC Cloch buoy to S; Warden Bank to P; Hun1 to P; Hun 3 to S; to finish off Largs Marina. About 20M.
Finish line: Between a committee boat moored on Kelburn Bank and a buoy off the entrance to Largs Yacht Haven.
Mark positions:
Rhu NE Green conical 56° 01.028N 004° 47.579W Rhu narrows
Rhu NW Red can buoy 56° 00.927N 004° 47.787W Rhu narrows
Rhu SE Green conical 56° 00.646N 004°47.161W South of Rhu narrows
Cairndhu Green conical 56° 00.349N 004°45.994W Between Cairndhu and Castle points
A8 Ship buoy 55°57.906N 004°45.101W Ship mooring
No1 Green conical 55°57.597N 004°45.948 channel marker
Whiteforeland yellow mark 55°58.114N 004°47.277 channel marker
Kempock Point 55° 57.786N 004° 49.067W Gourock town
RGYC race mark race mark 55° 57.401N 004° 50.344W race mark
RGYC Cloch race mark 55° 56.725N 004° 52.402W race mark
Warden Bank green conical 55° 55.771N 004° 54.561W Warden Bank
Hun 1 yellow can 55° 48.117N 004° 54.185W north end Cumbrae
Hun 3 Red Can 55° 47.618N 004° 53.486W N end Hunterston Channel
Expected finish time for racing is about 1400, with a time limit of 1600. See Sailing Instructions when issued.
Notice of race
1. The Tunnocks Flotilla Race will take place on Saturday 2 May 2020.
2. The Organising Authority is Clyde Cruising Club (CCC).
3. The race will start at Rhu Narrows with the first warning signal at 09.25.
4. The race will be sailed under the Racing Rules of Sailing 2017-20.
5. Boats shall also comply with World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) Appendix B. All crew members when on deck shall wear an inflatable life jacket as defined in OSR 5.01. All boats shall carry a VHF transceiver complying with OSR 3.29.05. [NOTE by IM - would it be an idea to provide a link to these two sections or just quote them in full at the end of the NOR?]
6. The race is open to any boat having a CYCA handicap. Boats not having a CYCA handicap can apply for one at http://www.cyca-online.org.uk. The owner or skipper of each boat must be a member of a yacht club affiliated to the RYA or other national authority.
7. Those wishing to enter the race shall complete the appropriate part of the Flotilla registration form and pay at least the suggested minimum donation for the Flotilla. There is no additional entry fee for the race. The closing date for race entries is Saturday 25 April 2020.
8. Classes will be provided for boats racing with spinnakers and for boats racing without. The choice of class should be made on the entry form and can be changed up to Saturday 25 April 2020. Classes may be subdivided depending on the number of entries.
9. Sailing instructions will be available online on or before 2 April 2020 on the CCC website http://www.clyde.org and on the Flotilla website.
10. Prizes will be awarded to the first three boats in each class on corrected time provided at least six boats start in that class. Other special prizes may be awarded.
RNLI Collections
In addition to the participating boats entering, and paying their donation, shore based collection points will be manned by RNLI people to solicit donations from pedestrian public spectators. The suggested points for collection are:
Rhu Marina
Helensburgh Pier
Greenock Esplanade
Battery Park
Gourock Rail/bus/ferry centre
Gourock Town / swimming pool
Royal Gourock Yacht Club
McInroys Point (Ferry waiting queues)
Cloch Point
Lunderston Bay park
Kip Marina
Largs
Largs Marina
Tighnabruaich
Registration
Early in 2020 a web-based registration will be available where you can register your entry, nominate where your Tunnock’s Goody Box will be collected, tick your acceptance of the safety reminders issued, and make your payment which is a donation to RNLI. Don’t forget Gift Aid which can make your donation up to near £100.
