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The Online Magazine For Amateur Boat Builders


A Thames A-rater

I thought your readers might like to see what a Thames A-rater looks like tacking up a narrow Broadland river. That mast is huge - perhaps wider than the river!


(click for movie clip)

Quicktime movie player is required to view this clip. Download it HERE

This boat is taking part in the annual Three Rivers Race.

Here is a bit about the boat from:
https://www.tradboat2.co.uk/editorial/dinghy.htm

The Rater Association (Thames 'A' Raters)

The Thames 'A' Rater is an historic class of river racing yachts, dating from Victorian times. At 27' LOA (8.30 M approx) with a 46 ft (14.15m approx) mast and 350 sq ft sail area the Raters make a spectacular sight sailing from their base at Thames Sailing Club on the Surbiton reach of the Thames. Although the hulls are traditional, the rigs continue to be developed, and the rater is unbeatable in river sailing. Sail numbers now total 22, and the fleet is a mixture of original wooden boats, and modern grp hulls taken from a mould of 'Ulva' (1898). The wooden hulled boats, which are highly competitive, date from 1898 to 1922

Contact: Mark Laity
Thames Sailing Club, Portsmouth Road,
Surbiton, Surrey KT6 4HH
E-mail: info@thamessailingclub.org.uk
The Association shares a website with Thames SC at: www.thamessailingclub.org.uk