The Manx Sailing & Cruising Club were the hosts for this event this year held on the Bank Holiday weekend in Ramsey Bay.  There was a very good turn out for the event this year with 16 boats arriving at the start line for the first Race after a postponement of fifteen minutes to allow a squall to pass through the race area.  A windward leeward course was set in the force 5 conditions and the fleet got away to a good beat to the windward mark, off the Mooragh promenade shore.  Unfortunately, one of the junior Tera dinghies suffered a broken mast just after the start and had to return to the shore for a replacement.  The run back offshore saw a few capsizes in the windy conditions but Mick Kneale and the crew

Phil Hardisty and Donald Edwards of their National 18 were just ahead of fellow IOM yacht club member Antony Ellis and crew Michael Wilson and Nigel Collins, also in an N18.

However the RS200’s of Russell and June Collister and Gus Jolly with crew member Conor Christian were hot on their heals, with Mike Pridham following up next in his Laser Radial.  Issy Sharpe was leading the three remaining Tera class juniors.
The fleet managed to complete 4 laps with Mick Kneale managing to beat Russell Collister on corrected time and Gus Jolly taking third.  The Junior division was won by the current Tera World champion James Kelly with Issy Sharpe second.

The second race was started fairly quickly due to the weather conditions and two laps were completed when the Race Officer, Neil Boyes called a halt due to another squall passing through and capsizing nearly half the fleet.  These conditions suited the smaller rigs of the RS200s and Russell Collister just beat Gus Jolly with the two N18s of Kneale and Ellis following with Andrew Dean, crewed by his daughter Katie in another RS200 coming fifth and Hanson’s Laser 2000 sixth.

After the wind had calmed down to a lighter force 5 the fleet got away to another race and the windward leeward course proved a prudent option again.  The two N18s had an excellent race at the front considering the conditions but unfortunately Anthony Ellis suffered a major capsize just before the penultimate mark leaving Mick Kneale to take line honours.  This was not enough though against the RS200s who took the first two places on corrected time even though Jolly had a spectacular capsize whilst on a hairy plane in a viscous gust.

The next morning dawned with the forecasted Force 6 gusting 7 winds coming parallel to the coast from the North.  There were gusts of 38 knots recorded at the end of the iron pier.  Racing was postponed for an hour and a half before being abandoned altogether.

Full results are below and there is a fine selection of photos from MSR photographer Dave Kneale on the gallery here

2010 IOM Dinghy Champ Results

This is a Two day Event with three races to be held “back to back” on each day, with racing starting at 12.30 and 13.00 respectively and expected to be fully completed at 16.00.

Directly after the racing on Sunday there will be a complimentary Regatta Tea for all competitors, race officials, family, friends and social members.

In the event of poor weather and sailing conditions on Saturday the event will be held on Sunday 29 August 2010 only.

Competitors of all ages and capabilities are welcome!

Contact details: Ralph Kee on 817010

Sailing instructions available below

2010 IOM Dinghy Champs SI

Check out the action from previous years in the MSR archives

James has sailed a consistent series with four wins, two seconds a third and a fourth to count, discarding two 6ths.

It sounds like it has been a windy week for the competition, with a steady sea-breeze of 16 – 25 knots developing each day.

The whole performance of the Manx Youth Sailing Squad has been outstanding. Hannah Howitt is first girl, finishing in 5th place overall. Izzy Sharpe is second girl and finished 7th overall and Amie Shute who has recently moved into the Pro rig finished 17th.

The competition in the Sport fleet was tough, with thirty boats on the start line. Greg Kelly has a dissappointing start to the week, but after the first day his results improved significantly later in the week with a fourth, two fifths and a sixth. Overall he finished in 7th place. Ffinlo Wright sailed a consistent series just outside of the top ten and finished 16th overall.

A superb result for the Isle of Man and the Manx Youth Sailing Squad, who in three years have gone from competent local dinghy sailors to World class racers.

Coaches Phil Hardisty, Don Edwards, Rob Cowell, Jenni Quillin and everyone involved with the Manx Youth Sailing Squad, Isle of Man Yacht Club and 7th Wave are absolutely delighted.

The light winds continued for the final races of the 2010 National 18 Class Dinghy Championship sponsored by Isle of Man Assurance.

After the first six races on Tuesday and Wednesday Scottish entry Howlin’ Gael (Stuart Urquhart, Richard Urquhart and Ross Young) led the overall standings, with the Irishmen aboard Das Boot (Tom Dwyer, Peter Hassett and Gregor Davidson) trailing by only one point.  Manx entry Gorrum (Michael Kneale, Donald Edwards and Phil Hardisty) lay in third but all was set to change once seven out of the ten scheduled races was completed, as competitors could then discard their worst result.

Race 7 brought yet another intense fight at the front of the fleet as a stable twelve-knot breeze greeted the competitors on Thursday morning.  Irish, Scottish and Manx boats all took the lead at some point but current champions Aquaholics (Colin Chapman, Martin Almond and Hugo Berney) found their form and secured the win.  Local boat Crossfire (Antony Ellis, Mike Wilson and Nigel Collins) had to settle for second after leading the fleet around the first turning mark, with Das Boot finishing third.

Crossfire achieved their third win of the week after more tight duelling in Race 8, with only three seconds separating Howlin’ Gael, Aquaholics and Das Boot crossing the finish line for second, third and fourth positions.

With a discard now available the overall standings to win the Cork Harbour Trophy couldn’t have been closer going into the final races: Manx boat Crossfire had regained the lead by a single point, with Howlin’ Gael and Das Boot tied for second and third.

An overnight change in wind direction brought rougher seas during the final day of racing, causing several retirements through boat damage.  Chief among the casualties was Howlin’ Gael, forced to retire from Race 9 and effectively ending their championship campaign.  Tommy Dwyer’s Das Boot also struggled in the testing conditions, finishing sixth and eighth to place them second overall.  Neither could challenge Crossfire: well practised in Manx wind and waves and reaping the benefits of a new carbon rig, Antony Ellis’ men emphatically won Race 9 and snatched third in Race 10, giving them the overall championship win and the Cork Harbour Trophy to become the first Manx Winner of the Trophy since 1979, back when Mick Kneale had his winning streak in Woodstock and Maid Mary.

Full results are available  below with a collection of photos from the weeks racing in the msr gallery

18 Championships Results

Fourteen boats from Ireland, Scotland, England and the Isle of Man are contesting the 2010 National 18 Class Dinghy Championship, sponsored by Isle of Man Assurance.
Hosted by the Isle of Man Yacht Club every four years as the Championship venue rotates between the competing nations, recent Manx championships have been typified by strong winds and large seas.  This year’s event has offered a different challenge with light winds dominating the first two day’s action but the competition throughout the fleet is typically fierce.

Three races opened the Championship on Tuesday.  Race 1 saw an intense fight for first as Manx boat Crossfire (Antony Ellis, Mike Wilson and Nigel Collins) was able to maintain a fragile lead despite constant pressure from the Scotsmen aboard Howlin’ Gael ( CONTACT _Con-3E437A6C1FA Stuart Urquhart, Richard Urquhart and Ross Young).  Local boat Gorrum, helmed by Michael Kneale, took third.

All bets were off during Race 2 as fickle winds took their toll: at the first rounding mark Howlin’ Gael and Gorrum found themselves fighting for the wooden spoon at the back of the fleet, only to claw their way back through the pack to finish second and third respectively.  Irish entry Das Boot (Tom Dwyer, Peter Hassett and Gregor Davidson), took the win.
Steady breeze returned for Race 3, which once again saw Crossfire (IOMYC) and Howlin’ Gael (RFYC) duelling at the front of the fleet.  The Scottish boat prevailed to take first, with Ellis’ crew second and Tommy Dwyer’s Das Boot claiming third.

Wednesday dawned to a little more wind and ominously dark skies.  Irish boat Ball’n’Chain (Dave O’Connell, Kevin Horan and John O’Connell) led throughout to win Race 4 in a very tight finish: less than three minutes separated the entire fleet after an hour of racing.

A disastrously-timed capsize forced Crossfire, lying second overall after four races, to miss Race 5 as a brief rain squall brought strong winds before leaving a calm spell in its wake.  Tommy Dwyer’s men on Das Boot were quickest to adapt to the changing conditions and won the race, with ever-consistent Scots of Howlin’ Gael claiming second and Mick Kneale’s Gorrum taking third.  Crossfire’s luck was to change as they comfortably won Race 6, with Irish boats Ball’n’Chain and Das Boot taking second and third.

After six races, the consistency of Howlin’ Gael puts them top of the overall standings, with Das Boot only a point behind them and Michael Kneale’s Gorrum in third place.

Racing continues until Saturday; as the final races are held the competitors can discard their worst results, leaving the overall championship wide open and the coveted Cork Harbour Trophy still up for grabs.

For a selection of photos from races 1 to 6 take a look at the MSR Gallery

Saturday started with very strong south-westerly winds, several competitors returned to the beach in the near suicidal conditions of 25+ knots, however 5 dinghies finished the first race with Simon Pressley in a full rig Laser coming out on top.  He was followed by the smaller radial rig Lasers of Mike Pridham and Peter Whipp with Dave Batchelor and his daughter Emily (RS 200) some 15 seconds ahead of Andrew Dean and Katy Kneale, also in an RS 200.

With the wind increasing for Race 2 it was the smaller radial rigged Lasers that led the field home with Andrew Dean holding on for 3rd spot.

Sunday dawned with an improving weather forecast, the promise of the wind dropping off around lunchtime meant the start was delayed by one hour and a larger fleet of 11 boats went to the start-line.

With the fairly strong conditions continuing Peter Whipp led the National 18 of Mick Kneale home in Race 3.

For Race 4 the wind eased a little giving the advantage to the dinghies with larger rigs, Mick Kneale finishing first closely followed by Russell Collister.  Andrew Dean retired during this race after bending his spinnaker pole in some sort of jousting match with Mike Pridham!

The wind continued to decrease during Race 5 and a ‘P’ course was set which gave the advantage to the Asymmetric rigged RS 200’s of Angus Jolly and Russell, Angus getting the win.

Top junior was Luke Collins sailing a Blaze.

Many thanks to Wi-Manx for kindly sponsoring the event, Ed Whipp for officiating as Officer of the Day on both Saturday and Sunday, rescue boat crews and ladies of the club for providing a very welcome Regatta Tea at the presentation.

Results

Peter Whipp (Radial Laser)  14 points
Mike Pridham (Radial Laser)  19 points
Mick Kneale (National 18) 30 points
Russell Collister (RS 200)  32 points
Angus Jolly (RS 200) 35 points (count-back)
Dave Batchelor (RS200)  35 points
Andrew Dean (RS 200) 39 points
Ralph Kee (Radial Laser) 41 points (count-back)
Simon Pressley (Laser)  41 points
Luke Collins (Blaze)  48 points
Jerry Colman (505)  52 points

Next racing will be in Ramsey Bay on Sunday 18 July starting at 10.30am.

This is a two day event with three races held ‘back to back’ on each day with racing commencing at 11.00am on both days.

Sponsors Wi-Manx will hold the prize-giving directly after racing finishes on the Sunday, followed by a complimentary Regatta Tea for all competitors, race officials, family, friends and social members.

As part of the H R Gelling Travellers Cup it is hoped that the event will be fully supported, especially by the juniors who made such a good showing at the IOMYC Regatta.

On Saturday would competitors please park their cars to the north of the club house as it is Ramsey Lifeboat Day and there is also Sand-Racing on Ramsey beach.  We hope to be clear of the beach by 2.30pm to allow Sand-Racing to start at 3.00pm

Competitors of all ages and capabilities are welcome!

Contact details: Ralph Kee on 817010

Nine cruisers enjoyed a 2-hour pursuit race each day run by race officer Phil Scott.

Handicaps are applied at the staggered start and the idea is to catch up with the slower boats ahead and, at the finish time, whichever is leading is the winner. It worked particularly well in Saturday’s strong NW wind allowing the cruising yachts to almost hold their own against the racier versions. Sunday the patchy SW breeze gave the lighter yachts a better chance. Cruiser captain Mike Stanton’s Sigma 33, Sorcery, improved from next-to-last to first over the two races!

Top three overall were: 1st Cheetah Cub (Reflex 38) Robin Wootton, 2nd Rapscallion (Ruffian 23) Pete Ashurst, 3rd Quackers (Quarter ton) James Walker.

The strong and blustery NW wind on Saturday led to cancellation of the three scheduled dinghy races. So, to make up, five half-hour races were smartly run back-to-back on Sunday morning by race officers Pete Hinds and Russell Armstrong.

Eighteen dinghies took part in the improving weather and, after a gloomy start, the weather cheered up nicely for some pleasant sailing and for the monster BBQ afterwards. It is very pleasing to see the improvement in the youngsters who form the Manx Youth Sailing Squad, sailing their six new RS Tera dinghies.
Greg Kelly managed to finish second overall, winning one and Izzy Sharpe another of the five races.

Top eight overall: 1st Mick Kneale & crew (Nat.18) 8 pts, 2nd Greg Kelly (RS Tera Sport) 21 pts, 3rd Simon Pressly (Laser) 22 pts, 4th Dave Batchelor (RS200) 23 pts, 5th Andrew Dean (RS200) 30 pts, 6th Hannah Howitt (RS Tera Pro) 34 pts, 7th Izzy Sharpe (RS Tera Pro) 39 pts, 8th Ffinlo Wright (RS Tera Sport) 45 pts.

Many thanks go to the safety-boat drivers, race officers, catering volunteers and BBQ stokers for their good will and hard work. The club is celebrating its centenary and trying to get as many people sailing as possible, especially through the junior training section. With the Tera kids now doing so well, things are looking good for the next hundred years.

The next major sailing events at Port St Mary include the Youth Championship over the weekend of 3-4 July followed by the National 18′ Class championship, kindly sponsored yet again by IOMA and Nigel Wood. This takes place the last week of July - Monday 26th to Saturday 31st. The IOMYC hosts this event every four years and the entry for 2010 is already at the level it was in 2006.
This is always a fantastic week with boats and their crews coming from Ireland Scotland and England.