Bridlington

Jim Saltonstall looks at an under-used East Coast venue

Situated off the east coast of Yorkshire, Bridlington is perhaps the best bay for sailboat racing on the whole of the east coast of England. With easy access from the end of the M62, it can be reached from the south coast within five hours travelling time. The Royal Yorkshire YC is situated above the western end of the harbour, renowned for its hospitality and social programs. There has been many an excellent evening on the premises in the past, and I am sure there will be in the future. The organisation for major events, both ashore and afloat, matches the hospitality - talked about for many years afterwards!

The club has a satellite clubhouse for the dinghies and catamarans, three miles to the south, with good facilities recently modernized. The racing is off the beach, which is shallow and shelving. That’s no issue when the wind blows out of the western sector, which it does during the summer months. But when the easterlies set in, usually in the spring, launching off the beach can be tricky.

Keel boats race from the harbour, and area championships have been held for both the Squibs and J24's. The harbour itself dries out at low water, with the boats sitting in the mud. But facilities are being improved all the time, and there is new equipment available, which can launch and recover boats quickly. There is also talk of a marina being built, which would turn Bridlington Bay into one of the best racing venues on the east coast. A holiday town, there is plenty of accommodation, camp and caravan sites, with pubs and restaurants in abundance - and the fish and chips are second to none. Bridlington is a great place to race - a badly under-used venue - find out for yourself!

Race Area

The dinghies and catamarans normally race in the south bay, while the yachts have the option of either north or south. As you can see from the map, the bay has great protection from the north, with the peninsular of Flamborough Head extending four miles out into the North Sea.

North Bay

Wind Direction

330-030 degrees: The shifty sector, with the wind coming off the relatively high land of the Danes Dyke area. As is to be expected, the wind is shiftier near the windward mark. Down near the leeward mark, the shifts are over a narrower arc, and less frequent. If you’re racing in this area, know the numbers on the compass and use the shifts - usual golden rule, do not get to the laylines too early! Watch out for a persistent wind shift in the windward mark area. As the wind leaves the land and comes onto the water it veers, there may well be more lifts on starboard tack, if the mark is within half a mile of the shore.

030-060 degrees: With the wind now coming off the peninsular to the left (looking upwind), there is better breeze on that side on the beat. There is more wind closer to the land because of the convergence zone, plus there is a header as you go in on starboard tack, with lifts on port tack along the shore. But don't get too close in under the land, because you’ll start to get affected by the wind shadow.

060-090 degrees: Now the wind is coming into the north bay parallel with the land, and it pays to go left up the beat for the wind, because of the convergence zone of stronger breeze. But also, if the port lay-line is close enough to the land, there may well be a header as you go in on starboard tack, with the lifts on port tack near the shore.

090-180 degrees: The bay is now open to the wind, with nothing to disturb it in either direction or velocity. This is also the sector for rough seas in the mid-to-upper wind strengths.

180 degrees: When the wind comes from the south, it pays to work the beat left of middle, as there is less breeze close to the shore due to the wind divergence area. But the tide may influence you to go inshore if it is a spring ebb, which we will look at later.

180-230 degrees: Catch 22 scenario, less wind inshore, but lifts on starboard tack near the shore - if in doubt, let the tide decide.

230-330 degrees: An offshore wind and the usual rules apply - use the shifts, so know the numbers on the compass or have references on the shore. You must know when you are down on both tacks, so that you can take advantage of the shifts. And as always, do not get to the lay-lines too early!

South Bay

It is when it comes from the western sector that we have the shifts again, but not as bad as in the northern bay, as the land is not as high.

Wind Direction

000-20 degrees: With the wind in the north it pays to go left up the beat, as there is more wind on the port side of the course in the convergence wind area. As you go towards the shore on starboard tack you may also get headed, with lifts on port tack as you come out.

20-160 degrees: Unlike the north bay, the south bay race course is not affected by Flamborough Head. So with the wind coming from the eastern sector it is quite stable in both direction and strength.

160-180 degrees: There is less wind on your right upwind, near the shore in the divergence zone, so left-of-middle pays for more wind strength.

180-230 degrees: There is less wind near the shore, but there are also lifts on starboard tack in close. So once again you may want to let the tide decide your strategy.

230-310 degrees: The shifty sector - know the numbers on the compass and use the shifts. Remember that there may be more lifts on port tack up near the windward mark, as the wind veers leaving the land to come onto the sea.

310-000 degrees: Go left up the beat for the wind, as there is more on the port side of the course, as well as possible headers on starboard tack and lifts on port.

Sea Breeze

The usual signs for a good sea breeze day are early morning with a clear blue sky, and a light offshore gradient breeze coming from the south-west. As the cumulus clouds develop late morning, the breeze initially comes in from approximately 090 degrees, backs slightly as it increases, then follows the sun as the day gets older. Protect the starboard side of the course from about 1400 onwards. The breeze normally ends the day in the south-west.

Tide

The flood tide follows the curvature of the bay from north to south, slightly stronger offshore. The ebb tide flows from south to north-north-east, again slightly stronger offshore.

Other Information Sources

Admiralty Charts

1882 (detail of Flamborough Head and harbour)
121 (general chart of the coast south of Flamborough Head)

Tidal Information

Yachtsman’s Tidal Atlas: Southern North Sea and Channel East, published by Reeve-Fowkes
Admiralty Tidal Stream Atlas Number 251 (Southern Portion)

Tourist Office Phone:Bridlington 01262 673474

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