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HUGE CROWDS GREET CENTENARY MERMAIDS

By Martin Neville - Wednesday, August 8, 2007
BLUE Skies, the Dragon campaigned by Matthew Ratsey from the famous sail-making family, was looking for a better result on Monday’s Turning Cowes Blue’ day after a disappointing start to the week.
But it was Rumours, Len Jones’ two times class winner at previous Skandia Cowes Weeks who made the best start to the 17nm course.
Ken Mizen and Don Laing’s 25 year-old Contessa 32, Blue Shark, posted a sixth place to add to their two fourths achieved so far.
For the moment, Eldred Himsworth’s Cowes-based Drumbeat has the momentum after completing a stonking nine-minute victory over 2006 champions Blanco, campaigned by Ray Rouse.
The colourful Seaview Mermaid class, that this year is celebrating its centenary, was one of the last classes to start on the Royal Yacht Squadron line with the tide running at over two knots.
Bluebell, owned by the Randall family, made a respectable start but beyond the ‘blue’ horizon, it was the Dobbs’ Sheen that has dominated racing.
In the third race, they posted a second, more than three minutes behind Adastra to guarantee a nail biter in the fight for the Mermaid crown.
The fleet attracted one of the largest crowds of the morning.
Glenn Bourke in Musto was OCS (On course side) at the Laser SB3s start and was forced to cross the line again.
However, the three times Laser world champion sailed a blinder to surge through the fleet to second place.
Colin Simonds showed he is in contention for the winner’s podium with another excellent performance in Doolalli.
Young Island star Richard Talbot won the RS K6 Class, beating another local boat Artigiano (Glyn and Alex Locke) which was second.
Meanwhile, Rupert and John Mander, from Seaview, were back at the top in the Flying 15s after their third place on Sunday.