SAILINGBRADING HAVEN YC
AN OLYMPIC course was set for sailors who chose to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee last Sunday by racing for the Governor’s Trophy.
This all-comers event was first sailed 41 years ago in celebration of the club’s 21st anniversary, for a trophy presented to the club by Lord Mountbatten.
Although the club could not quite match the 1.000 boats lining the Thames six different class of boats took to the line.
Although the westerly winds suited the Laser of Simon Cooper down to the ground he was dogged all the way by Giles Easter in his Europe while behind these two, Gareth Jones vied for position against Roger Herbert, with Jones getting the better of Herbert on the reach and losing out on the run. Further down the fleet, the slower handicap boats struggled with the conditions, finding the course a little long.
The final handicap result was however a bit of a rabbit and tortoise moment providing the race officer with all the evidence he needed to show what an excellent handicap course he had set.
Although Cooper won both the race and the handicap with the fastest boat in the fleet, Commodore Chris Wilkinson took silver in his Scow, the slowest class in the fleet, bronze went to Easter and with fourth spot having to be shared by a Solo and a Scow sailed by Jones and Quinn respectively.
GURNARD SC
All the dinghy racing in Gurnard Bay over the Bank Holiday was organised as part of the Queen’s Jubilee Regatta, under the aegis of Cowes Combined Clubs and the aim of which was to enjoy time on the water while raising funds for local charities.
The first dinghy event was the Fastnet Race on Saturday, and a solid F5 brought out latent discretion in several sailors including the whole cat fleet. There were a few breakages and retirements, but Steve Cole and Pete Green piloted their RS800 around the Western Solent without incident to be first over the line and just failed to hold off Graham Deegan on handicap.
The four races which made up the Queen’s Jubilee Regatta were held over Sunday and Monday with only the last race being a relaxed affair as the stiff breeze eased away.
The medium group races included a dead heat between Martin Bean and Ben Symons who finished the regatta in that order followed by Chris Gillies.
RS400s dominated the fast group with Graham Deegan completing a successful weekend in first place with Chris Symons and Chris Greenen next in the order.
Paul Tanner’s preference for heavy weather won him first place in the cats, and Cordelia and Lily Ellis’ Feva held off the Picos of Alex Paterson and Mike Peddar in the slow group.
The Firefly of Ben Green and Fi Edwards took the prize in the classic boat section.
The whole event was great fun, with additional contributions coming from cream teas, raffles and competitions throughout, and concluding with the prize giving on Sunday afternoon.
YARMOUTH SC
Jubilee celebrations curtailed entries for the fourth race in the Bank Holiday series on Saturday, with Sophie Whitehead the sole finisher in the Oppies.
The Picos of Alex Gallimore and Tim Lee were the only competitors in the handicap class, Tim beating Alex on the line, but losing to Alex on corrected time.
In the Scows, Martin and Laura Palmer, Chris Jones and Nick Measor emerged as the leading boats but Roger P-E won it from Nick in second and Martin and Laura third.
On Monday, there was again only one Oppie finisher as Anthony Stanley, won and took the overall series. In the handicap, Helen Sceales dominated the Picos finish over seven minutes ahead of the next boat and also took first place on corrected time with Alex second and Tim third.
In the Scows, Graeme led from start to finish, with Mike Sheaf second, and Paula Sheaf in third.
There were ten entrants in the Oppie-only series, with Sophie Whitehead winning from Peter Kingston and Anthony Stanley.
The elements conspired against the sailors on Tuesday as they contended with a strong ebb tide, heavy rain, drifts of weed and an off-station B buoy resulting in a much shorter course than planned.
The Picos were joined by Sophie Lister sailing a Club Tera in the handicap class but there was no stopping Helen, crewed by Caroline Campbell, who took the win from Joy Mowle in second and Sophie third.
The overall winner of the Bank Holiday series was Alex.
Graeme won the final Scows race, and the overall series, with a commanding performance, with Martin and Catherine Palmer second and Nick in third.