Southwold Pond Yachts

The "Southwold Model Yacht Regattas" (https://www.southwoldmodelyachtregattas.co.uk/) is a unique summer season of sailing pond yachts. The free sailing boats are divided into classes based on length overall, with no form of control permitted -- the rudder must be locked in position if it is moveable, and most of the boats simply have a keel with no rudder.

I took my 36" to a Wednesday regatta, accompanied by Trevor and Liz. Liz is an accomplished and prize-winning photographer (https://igpoty.com/profiles/elizabeth-fiddy-2/), and the photos here are some of her shots. Liz has a wonderful eye for scenes and her captures of fleeting moments are exemplary. Contact Liz of you'd like to purchase any of these images as a print or canvas.

We did some practice sailing before lunch.

The boats are released in order of LOA at approximately 1 second intervals, sail to the far bank, turned by your sailing partner, and sailed back. The boats coming under starter's orders :-

Action can be energetic if you don't have a fast-running partner and have to do the turn yourself....

Our race organiser, stood next to around one-third of the boats which were raced :-

A competitor contemplating appropriate trim :-

A family approaching the sailing area :-

Spectators :-

Abstract of sails and hulls :-

And on Southwold beach, the lifeguard contemplates some swimmers :-