SAILING
BEMBRIDGE SC
THE club, along with Brading Haven, took part in the Royal Lymington Scow Challenge last weekend.
On a perfect day with a force 2 to 3 easterly, Royal Lymington set a rectangular course perfect for Scow racing, with three races each of three laps scheduled. However, with tide on the turn and just too little wind each race was reduced to two.
After the second race, the Bembridge team of Francesca Morgan, Colin Samuelson and Oliver Morgan was well placed but in the final race Francesca posted a win, with Colin a very close second, to seal a great overall second place, ahead of Brading Haven but three points behind the hosts.
Meanwhile, the club hosted the three-day MOCRA (Multi-hull Offshore Cruiser Racing Association) National Championships last weekend.
In all, 17 boats entered the championships but due to strong winds only five of the races scheduled went ahead.
Nevertheless, the event was hailed a success, and was won by Simon Baker in Drama Queen, with Peter Newman in Twister in second and Philip Cotton in Buzz third. The sole IW entry, John Beech in Humdinger, came fifth overall.
GURNARD SC
The penultimate evening session of the season attracted an excellent turnout of 36 boats on Wednesday.
Mike Martin continued his recent good run of form, leading home the Shadows ahead of Carl Blenkinsop. Similarly, Paul Bowen and Sean Kellett continue to dominate the RS400s, while Keith Hayden led the fast group by a convincing margin.
Ella Symons’s RS500 took line honours in the medium group but victory on corrected time went to Mark Harrison’s RS100 by 16 seconds, while Robin and Thomas Leather sailed to line and handicap honours in the slow group.
Sunday’s racing was abandoned due to gale force winds.
YARMOUTH SC
Saturday’s races were sailed in a light easterly breeze with Dan Lee’s Oppie joining the Picos in the handicap class. Alex Gallimore took first place, Tim Lee was second and Dan, who did well to complete the long course, was third.
In the Scowes, Melinda Measor led Mike Sheaf and Paula Sheaf in the first round, and by the second, the top two retained their places, with David Hedley snatching third.
The strong winds and heavy rain on Sunday resulted in the cancellation of the final race in the all-comers series. Melinda Measor was the overall series winner.