Xerox Easter Regatta 2008
Report thanks to Andrew Dean
Ramsey Bay is an excellent spot for the highly physical and complex sport of Dinghy Racing, and at last the Club’s twice-postponed Easter Regatta went ahead on Saturday. There are two requirements to hold races in sailing boats, the first is wind, which was lacking once, and a reasonable prospect of survival, which explained the second postponement.
Saturday produced weather which was challenging, being an on-shore light breeze forecast to strengthen, and in the event adding many wind-direction shifts to add to the challenges faced by the 14 competitors and especially Ian the Race Officer. The first of three races was started with a nice long line well-set for the all-important first beat to the first mark. The course set was windward-leeward which would be expected to favour the Olympic-class single-handers, but the wind had shifted direction to allow the assymetrical spinnaker-ed boats to save their time. Accordingly the RS200’s of Russell and June Collister and Andrew and Katie Dean prevailed to take first and second on corrected time from Mick Kneale in the enormous National 18, though by just one second. 4th went to David Batchelor in the National 12.
Meanwhile an interesting battle was underway in the Lasers, and the Finn of Yogi Quayle. Yogi prevailed followed by Simon Presley, Peter Whipp, young Ali Hinds and Ben Swindlehust. The usually solid Mike Pridham, practising in a Radial for the Laser Masters in Corsica, struggled to 10th followed by the Fireball of Danny Roberts and Christian Cowin.
The second race was an interesting P-course, but a nightmare with the wind shifting all over the place. As Russell was to remark at the prize-giving, he was able to set the spinnaker on all legs. Result: Collisters, Kneale, Batchelor, Deans, Yogi, Simon, Mike, Whippy, Ali, Ben and the usual culprits.
By race 3 (another “P”) the wind became sensible and we all decided that maybe it was worthwhile after all. The N18 of Mick Kneale again failed to save his time by four seconds from the Deans, but the Collisters, reigning Island champions, took first. However, for two moments the Deans had managed to get in front to provide some hope. Batch was 4th, with the single-handers finishing : Whipp, Hinds, Prid, Ben, Simon and Yogi.
A great day’s racing, many thanks to the officers but also the rescue-boat crew and the ladies for the usual excellent Regatta Tea.
A full range of MSR photographer Dave Kneale’s picture are available here in the MSR gallery
Overall results
1st Russell & June
2nd Andrew & Katie
3rd Mick Kneale, Phil Hardisty and Donald Edwards
4th Dave Batchelor and Gordon Platt
5th Yogi Quayle
6th Peter Whipp
7th Simon Pressley
8th and Junior Champion Ali Hinds
9th Mike Pridham
10th Ben Swindlehurst
11th Daniel Roberts and Christian Cowin
12th Jim Whitelegg
13th Rob & Jon Cowell
14th R Cave.