53rd Isle Of Sheppey Round the Island Race in a Topper Xenon
helm/crew:  Colin Gibson / Mark Thomas

Notes on the Event.
* The race is an annual event run by the Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club.
* The Isle of Sheppey Sailing Clubs website has loads of information about the event.
* Billed as the longest dinghy race in Europe it is about a 40 mile course around the Isle of Sheppey, which includes the Thames estuary, river Swale and river Medway.
* There are 4 No. Starts briefly described as slow dinghies/sailboards, medium dinghies, fast dinghies and catamaran. Xenons (PY1070) are in the 2nd (Medium dinghies) start. See a video clip of the start in which the distinctive black gennakers of the two Xenon dinghies can be seen.
* One of the key parts of the course is the low bridge across the Swale approximately 2/3rds round the course. All boats have to be heeled onto the side and walked under the bridge.

Notes For the Day.