Successful Annual RYYC Regatta 2008

32 boats competed across 4 separate fleets in the 151st Regatta held at in Bridlington Bay by the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club, including 6 visitors from Scarborough, Grimsby and Humber Yawl’s yacht clubs. With a variety of weather forecast everyone knew hoped for a great week, and they were not disappointed.

The week got off to the customary start with the club’s flag officers taking a salute from the fleet, with the Norman Cooke Cup for the best dressed ship being awarded to Blackie. This was followed by the Ladies’ race, an annual event with a simple rule that each boat must be helmed by a female. Millie Eggleston won the prize for the youngest helm but Linda Dyson on Ghost, Squib 840, took home the House of Fraser Rose Bowl for winning the race overall.

The Cruiser Class contained both local and visiting yachts who competed on a handicap system which meant that results were not only decided on the water, but also against the clock.

Local knowledge paid off this year with Bridlington boats winning 6 of the 8 races in the week with Starchick and Dilemma each winning 3 races. Nemo and 2nd Fiddle, both visitors from Scarborough, also won a race each on the days when the winds went light. Over the week though it was John Peacock, Bob Wallis, Mike Kaye and Fred Ingham on Starchick who posted the best set of results and taking home the Voluta Cup for 1st Overall. Dilemma claimed 2nd overall with Nemo in 3rd.

The Squib Class saw 6 boats battling it out to claim not only the RYYC’s regatta title, but also for the North of England Championship which was held over the first 3 days.

Racing was tight throughout the week with all 10 races seeing close starts and hard racing. However Ghost took 7 of the 10 wins, with Perkers claiming the remaining 3. Seahorse, Alchemy and Jetstream claimed a number of 2nd and 3rd places leaving overall positions close until the end of the week. Eventually Gerard Dyson and Adam Saltonstall on Ghost (Sq840) took the top honours, 8 points clear of Perkers (Sq12) and Alchemy (Sq800) a further 6 points back. Ghost also claimed the top spot for the North of England Championships.

With the oldest Yorkshire One Design aged 110 years old, the RYYC’s oldest class saw 8 boats compete for the Royal Prince’s Parade Cup. Last years winner Blackie made a slow start to the week, with Mona winning races 1, 2 and 9 with Tito II winning race 3. However, Blackie turned things around later in the week, winning 6 of the final 7 races. This left Tim Rix and Mark Egglestone in Blackie (Y1) to claim the coveted prize for first overall in the week. Mona (Y2) finished 2nd with Yilt (Y5) in 3rd.

The Contessa 26 class is relatively old, although this was only their 2nd regatta week as an individual class, with all 9 entrants from the RYYC. This class also saw the widest spread of age ranges, with competitors ranging from 17 to 70.

Last season’s winner Tessador could not match their performance from a year ago, recording a number of 2nds as their best results. The race wins were shared between Tessa (4 race wins), Contessa Juliet (2), Halcyon Days and Contessina (1 each), which meant that the final standings at the end of the week were very close. Contessina’s win came in the last race of the week, a coastal to Filey Brigg and back, which meant that Tessa needed a 2nd place and hope Contessa Juliet finished 4th at best. However Jeff Preece, Sarah Richardson, Richard Dowgill and Tina Frankish brought Contessa Juliet home in 3rd place to claim 1st overall for the week.

The cadet section was represented by more under-21s than last year. The Cruiser class’ cadet trophy was presented to Henry Turner from Nemo, Sean Clarkson was awarded the HT Wood Trophy for the Squib’s cadet of the week, whilst Harry Rix and Sam Ashby took the YOD and Contessa classes’ awards. Sam Ashby was also awarded the Simon Nettleton Trophy for the best performance by an RYYC cadet over the whole week.

The Commodore’s Rose Bowl for the best performance by any yacht over the whole week was presented to Gerard Dyson and Adam Saltonstall on Ghost.

A great week was had by all with a high number of entrants showing a great deal of interest in next year’s 152nd Annual Regatta Week, which will be held from the 15th to the 22nd August 2009. Contact the RYYC office on 672041 for further information.