Regatta Press Report 2007

6 visiting boats travelled to Bridlington last week to compete in excellent sailing conditions for the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club’s 150th Annual Regatta. These joined with 25 RYYC boats to bring the total number of entrants to 36, carrying over 110 sailors, with ages ranging from under 15 to over 70.

The week kicked off with a windy Saturday, meaning Fleet review was held in the harbour for the first time in a number of years, followed by the Ladies Race at 9.30am. This was won by Linda Dyson in Ghost, with Helen Podmore in Joca, 2nd and Penny Cawley, sailing YoYo, 3rd. The day was rounded off with a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon for the cadet group at the club’s training section. Sailors from 8 – 18yrs old learnt some of the terminology of sailing, details about how to sail a boat and then had chance to practise using these on the water.

Full class racing started the following day, with up to 10 races over the next 6 days. As the two classes of larger boats, the Cruiser (Mixed Handicap) class and Contessa 26 class, set off on a race to Filey and back, conditions looked perfect for a full day of sailing. Meanwhile, back in the bay The Yorkshire One Design and Squib classes each took part in three races during the day; enjoying the same conditions as were found earlier. In the Squib class Ghost won all three races, with Perkers taking three 2nd places. In the Yorkshire One Design class Blackie won races 1 and 3, with Iolanthe winning race 2. When the Cruisers and Contessas returned, No Compromise and Contessina emerged triumphant from their respective races.

On Monday there were excellent racing conditions again, with a good Southwesterly breeze blowing through the bay. Ghost again won the two Squib races with Perkers 2nd in both. Blackie won both the YOD races with Mona 2nd in both. In the Cruiser class Starchick won their race with Sin Bin in 2nd.The Contessa class saw Tessador take their first win and Tessa 2nd.

Tuesday’s racing saw a slightly different wind direction but slight great conditions for racing. The YOD race was won by Blackie, followed by Mona in 2nd. Starchick took a 1st in the first race of the day for the Cruiser class with Bee Sharp in 2nd. In the second race Dilemma claimed her first race victory for a number of years, with Humdinger in 2nd. Contessa Juliet led Contessina over the line for the first race of the day. In the second race Halcyon Days, owned only for two weeks, won with Tessador coming in 2nd. Ghost won the Squib’s only race of the day, with Perkers in 2nd.

Racing on Wednesday saw Blackie and Patience take the top two places respectively whilst Tito II won the class’ second race of the day from Yilt in 2nd. Ghost and Perkers again took 1st and 2nd in race 7. In race 8 however Perkers took their first race win of the week with Seahorse in 2nd place. In the Cruiser class Bee Sharp won both the day’s races, with Sin Bin and Starchick each taking a 2nd in the two races.

A northwesterly wind on Thursday meant interesting wind shifts off the shoreline and it was again Ghost and Bee Sharp who won the Squib and Cruiser classes respectively with Perkers and Starchick collecting the 2nd place prizes for their classes. Mona took their first win of the week in the YOD class with Blackie in 2nd place. Contessa Juliet won the Contessa class with Contessina 2nd across the line.

The final day of racing towards the class prizes saw the wind finally swing round to the east, bringing a steady breeze in both strength and direction. In the Squib class Ghost again won their race making it 9 wins from 10 to win the week overall. Perkers took another 2nd to take 2nd place overall for the week. In the Cruiser class Starchick took their third win of the week. This was enough to seal victory in the class for the week overall. Sin Bin took 2nd in the race but this did not quite earn them 2nd overall, instead this went Bee Sharp. Blackie won the final race of the YOD series to make it 7 wins from a possible 10, which earned them 1st overall for the week whilst Mona took their sixth 2nd place of the week to take the trophy for 2nd overall in the week. In the Contessa class Contessa Juliet won their final race of the week which was not enough to take top spot but still took 2nd overall. Contessina took 2nd in the race but ended up 3rd overall. However, Tessador had worked hard enough in earlier races to win the week overall.

Throughout the week all boats were also competing for a number of other trophies. Sean Clarkson, aged 18, won the Simon Nettleton Trophy for the best performance by an RYYC cadet for his hard work and skill on Squib 558, Jetstream, and commitment to the club. Contessa Juliet won the ‘Crew of the Week’ award after winning the last two races of their series despite being without the owner and helm of the boat after he badly injured his ankle on Wednesday night. The Commodore’s Rose Bowl was awarded to the best performing boat for the whole week, which was Squib 800, Ghost, owned and helmed by Gerard Dyson and crewed by Adam Saltonstall

The week ended with a race in which all entrants raced together to compete for the Guy Shackles Memorial Trophy. This was won by Squib 800, Ghost, with YOD 1, Blackie, in 2nd and Squib 772, Threadbare, in 3rd.

Full results and detailed daily reports are available from the club website www.ryyc.org.uk to view and download. The date for the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club’s 151st regatta has been set to start on Saturday 9th August 2008, finishing on Saturday 16th August 2008.

Report by Adam Saltonstall