Burton week 2024
Felixstowe Ferry SC, Sunday 18th to Wednesday 21st August
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Felixstowe Ferry SC, Sunday 18th to Wednesday 21st August
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Welcome to Burton Week which this year is returning to Felixstowe Ferry SC on the River Deben in Suffolk. The Class visited for the first time in 2022 and the Club have welcomed us back again, note the new dates and days!
The FFSC Clubhouse is situated at Felixstowe Ferry alongside a few cafes, a pub and a boatyard at the mouth of the River Deben with views across to Bawdsey and out to sea. The dinghy park is alongside and there is parking across the road. The Club has a large lounge with bar, a separate dining area and an outside patio overlooking the river. The Club caterers will be serving food and drink during the event and also the Burton Week Annual dinner on Monday evening.
The Millennium Green over the road is owned by a charity and reserved for community use, however they kindly allow Club visitors to pitch tents there during events, although using the nearby facilities and the club catering.
From the dinghy parking on the flood bank the boats are launched into the River Deben and then sail along it to the open sea for each day’s racing.
All the links you need to enter and book dinner tickets or camping are below. Be sure to check the dates when early entry discounts end or late entry fees kick in. Two tickets for the BBQ on Tuesday are included in your entry, extra tickets will be available to purchase at £15 each from the galley.
You can enter online, or scan and email the entry form to: NTOA Hon. Secretary (see contact details on the Entry Form). Payment is by bank transfer or cheque, please make sure your payment reaches us within 3 days of submitting your entry form.
The first day of racing will be Sunday the 18th, but the Class Measurers will be available from Saturday afternoon to offer a check weighing of your boat. This will be between 16.00hrs and probably 18.00hrs. Also on Sunday morning from 09.00hrs until 11.15hrs.
Weighing is not compulsory, but it’s a chance to check the current weight of your boat and avoid this hassle if you are picked to be measured, either by winning a race or being chosen at random! When you arrive, and before taking your boat up to the dinghy park spaces, add your name to the measurers list they will give you a shout when they are ready for you. The weighing is likely to be in the adjacent boatyard so we want to avoid a queue of boats.
There is no plan to offer sail measuring, please try to get this done before arriving. If you are unable to do so then contact the measurers before the event to see what can be arranged, see the ‘Contacts’ below.
On Sunday morning there will be a briefing on the club patio at 11.30, this could be very useful, particularly if you have not sailed at Felixstowe Ferry before. The first race will start at 13.00 hrs, but check how long it may take to sail to the race area. The scheduled race start times for each day’s racing are shown below.
Official notices will be posted in the lobby area of the Club.
| Date | Race | Warning Signal | Tide Times (BST) |
| Sunday 18th August | 1st Points Race 2nd Points Race |
12.55 asap after Race 1 |
LW 04.45 0.95m HW 11.12 3.68m LW 17.16 0.68m |
| Monday 19th August | Sir William Burton Cup (3rd Points Race) |
10.55 | LW 05.31 0.83m HW 12.03 3.87m LW 18.05 0.48m |
| Tuesday 20th August | 4th Points Race 5th Points Race |
10.55 asap after Race 4 |
LW 06.14 0.72m HW 12.50 4.04m LW 18.50 0.30m |
| Wednesday 21st August | 6th Points Race 7th Points Race |
10.55 asap after Race 6 |
LW 06.55 0.64m HW 13.35 4.18m |
More detailed UKHO tide information for 7 days is available at Easytide Woodbridge Haven.
Burton Week is again sponsored by Allen Brothers of Essex who are major suppliers of sailing fittings. You can expect to see extra prizes and vouchers awarded. Make sure you have boom stickers on your boat, spares will available at registration.
HD Sails are also sponsoring the event. Sailors who have entered for 2 or more days will have the chance of winning an HD Sails jib
This event is also part of the N12 Dinghy Shack National Series and there will be separate prizes for this series. Bow stickers will be available at registration
There will be a new format this year. As is usual in the Twelve Class everyone helps with launching and recovery on the dinghy park. This is also a chance to look at other boats, talk to the owners and maybe pick up some tips. This year watch out for a Q & A session after sailing, with different experts on hand each day.
We have an array of trophies to be won and you will automatically qualify for most of them. Some however require you to meet specific criteria so you need to make a choice on the entry form. We will acknowledge your entry and show your trophy choices. A list of subsidiary trophy entries will be on display in the Race Office. Please check if there are any changes and let the Race Office know before any race results start to appear!
If you won trophies last year, don’t forget to get them engraved and cleaned please before returning them to the Race Office when you register.
There will be a helm and crew wristband tally system in use for safety and as your race declaration. Those of you who have used this system before know that forgetting to tally means losing your position in races or paying £10 to the RNLI! If you have not used tallies before please ask about it at the Race Office.
Getting There Felixstowe Ferry in Suffolk is approximately 2 miles north east of Felixstowe at the mouth of the River Deben. Follow the coast road from Felixstowe, turn right by the Golf Club and drive past the golf course. You will pass the Ferry Boat Inn on your left and the dinghy park and the Sailing Club are on your right.
The area in the dinghy park allocated to the Twelves is on top of the flood bank. A team effort is useful up the slope and you may wish to leave you trailer below. Trailers not under boats, particularly double ones, will be allocated an area on or away from the dinghy park.
Car Parking - Currently the local council are intending to create a public Pay & Display parking area. If this happens the club hope to arrange free car parking nearby. The latest information will be published on the National Twelve Burton Week website shortly before the event begins. No parking is allowed on the road itself or on the small gravel area directly in front of the clubhouse.
Accommodation Tents -The owners of the Millennium Green are allowing tents to be pitched on their land during the event. Please also note that the green is a community area and has no camping facilities, but the club facilities are a short walk away or at night the public toilets alongside the club remain open at all times.
Camping charges for tents on Millennium Green are: £10 per tent, per night or £7.50 per tent, per night for a small bivouac two person tent. The fee is payable at registration, NTOA will collect this on behalf of MG Trustees. Please note that this must be a cash payment as there are no card facilities available for this charge.
Camper Vans - These can be parked at the far end of the dinghy park, space is limited so please don’t spread out too much. Camper Vans charges on the dinghy park are: £10 per van, per night or £7.50 for a small 2 person van per night. This fee is payable at registration to Felixstowe Ferry SC. Card payments can be made at the FFSC bar.
Tent or camper van space should be booked in advance on the booking form and sent by email to: ntoa@national12.org . Please state whether you require a tent or camper van space, whether either is large or small and which nights are required. All fees should be paid at registration on arrival. Note the respective payment methods. Your camping requirements will be forwarded to the FFSC camping coordinator.
The Club caterers will open early to provide breakfasts or breakfast items and a booking system will probably be in place to make sure plenty of food is available.
PLEASE NOTE that NO barbecues, portable stoves or any other manner of cooking facilities are allowed on the Green or dinghy park. Self-contained cooking facilities within camper vans will be allowed.
There are hotels and B&B’s in Felixstowe as well as some self-catering including Airbnb. The journey from there to the Club takes about 15-20 minutes.
IMPORTANT – Please don’t be tempted by accommodation near Bawdsey, have a look at a map, this is the other side of the River Deben and there is only a foot ferry which operates limited hours during the day! The trip to Bawdsey by car is a very long drive!
The Race Office in the Club lounge will be open from 2pm on Saturday afternoon until a reasonable time that evening! It will be open again at 09.00 hrs on Sunday morning.
Please check in as early as possible but definitely before racing begins. Sunday’s first race will start at 13.00 hrs and you need to allow time to launch and reach the start area.
We will require the boat’s measurement certificate, with the annual buoyancy valid until the end of August 21st or later. The certificate will be retained until the final day of the event. If you plan to sail a borrowed boat please make sure you have obtained the valid certificate from the owner which you can hand in at registration.
Your Entry Pack containing Sailing Instructions, trolley tally and BBQ tickets will be available at the Race Office. Spare sponsor stickers will also be available if required.
If either of the boat’s crew are under 18 a signed Parental Consent form will be needed, which you may need to organise in advance. Similarly if a voluntary Medical Declaration is thought necessary then please consider this also. These can be emailed to ntoa@national12.org in advance.
The Official Notice Board will be located in the Club lobby. The results will also be posted there during the event.
There will be a briefing on the patio outside the Clubhouse on Sunday at 11.30am with all the necessary local information available.
Please get in touch if you want to know more about the event or arrangements, need a crew or need technical / measurement advise.
Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club
The Ferry
Felixstowe
Suffolk
IP11 9RZ
Jo Barnard commodore@ffsc.co.uk 07818 451672
Socials
Sponsored by
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and
We are pleased to announce that Allen are again sponsoring the National Twelve Championships. This event is also part of the N12 Dinghy Shack National Series and has additional sponsorship from HD Sails
Saturday – The Club will be open for early arrivals to get boats weighed and rigged, tents up and then retire to the club for evening food and a get together.
Sunday – After the first day of racing there will be a ‘welcome’ evening in the Club with food and the bar open.
Monday – Everyone is welcome at the Burton Week Dinner which will be served in the Club dining room at 08.00 pm. This is a three course meal, sit down meal and the dress code is smart casual. Please book your dinner tickets with your entry as we need to know guest numbers ASAP and don’t forget to add any special dietary requests for you and your guests.
At the end of the evening, and providing the Burton Race has taken place, the Sir William Burton Cup and any related prizes will be presented.
Tuesday – The National Twelve AGM will be held at 17.30 followed by a BBQ and games evening. Two BBQ tickets will be allocated to each entry, additional tickets will be available to purchase at £15 each from the Galley.
Wednesday – After the racing is done and while the results are worked out there will be food etc. followed by the Burton Week Prize-giving.
The ‘Galley’ will be providing food throughout the event from breakfast to evening meals. Opening times will be advertised and you will be able to book breakfasts and probably also evening meals.