Racing

The SYSAC racing section welcomes crews and boats of all experience levels to join us on the water and in the clubhouse afterwards. Racing regularly takes place in Swansea Bay using existing navigation marks, and we also hold some longer distance passage races along the Gower coast and across the Bristol Channel. Racing is a great way to make the most of your boat and improve your boat handling skills both as a skipper or crew, and there's plenty of friendly guidance available in the club. We are a small racing fleet, so races are run informally, with the course often agreed on while the fleet passes through the locks and one of the participants fulfilling the role of committee boat.

As well as welcoming entries from Swansea-based boats to our race series, our existing fleet often have spaces for crew. Whether you’re an experienced hand or someone entirely new to this who wants to give it a go, if you get in touch we'll be sure to share your details with our skippers.

Our annual racing season runs from April through to the following March, comprising a Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winiter series of primarily round-the-cans weekend races, as well as an Evening series held on Wednesdays during the summer and a couple of stand-alone passage races. Our longer (passage) races are "destination races" i.e. crews have the opportunity to go ashore and spend some time enjoying the destination.

2025-2026 race calendar

Some race dates and times may vary by consultation with the fleet due to weather conditions etc. but the planned schedule is below.

Ratings

All SYSAC racing is handicapped under the YTC system. Certificates are free to apply for and inexpensive to amend. If you need advice, or help taking measurements, please come and talk to us.

Taking part

If you have a yacht in Swansea which you’d like to enter for one or more of the SYSAC series or races, please use the links above to enter online, or submit a paper form at the clubhouse. If you would like to crew on one of the boats racing regularly, please get in touch. Equally, if you have a boat, but need crew please speak to us, and if you're new to the idea of racing and would like an experienced crew member to come out with you for a couple of times, we can usually help with this, too.

Any of the core racing fleet will be happy to talk to you and point you in the right direction, but if in doubt Ian Burgess (Sorrento) or Adrian Lester (Strike 3) are the main points of contact. Alternatively, contact the SYSAC club office to be put in touch.

Information & resources

The following external content may be of interest to participants.

• Racing rules of sailing online or to buy including GB national prescriptions
• "Play the Rules" – an educational online game to consolidate knowledge of the rules
• Offshore special regulations (OSR)
• YTC rating system
• Bristol Channel Yachting Association events list