2006 Race results
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[ 2006 Regatta ]
Racing reports by TOM SARGEANT
Colne Yacht Club Racing Report 22/10/06
On Saturday 21st October the members of the Club assembled for
their annual laying up super and prize giving. After an excellent
meal the racing prizes were presented by the Clubs Commodore Sue
Last.
In the Brightlingsea One Designs Brian Walker won the E. Dent Cup.
the Commodores and Carstairs Cup. Alan Hicks the Vergemere
Tankard, the D. White Trophy and the R. Stone Chalice. Tom Sargeant
the Hickley Tiller.
In the Cruiser Handicap Class Mike Hempstead won the T?B? Gabrial
Cup, Ivan Cornell the Colne Salver, Bob Sims the Thornhill Cup, Dave
Draper The Bacon Challenge Cup, Stan Fenton the Laser Cup, Bruce
Long the Jan May Cup and Sue Last the Colne Tankard.
Colin Spikesley the Danny Smith Shield, The Maltby Cup and Native
Oyster. Glen Bacon the Commodores Lady Trophy, The RNLI Plate the
Logan Tankard and the Zeewolf Cup. Bob King the Sweet Charity
trophy, The Watts Brothers Cup, The Bostock Cup, The Laser Tankard
and the Hammerton Challenge Cup.
Alan Lee had a very consistent season to win the Walton and
Frinton Cup, the French Marine Cup, and a CYC Tankard and the
Clubs Premium racing Trophy, The Cock Of The River for the best
overall racing performance of the year!
Sunday afternoon five Club Yachts turned out in most unpleasant
conditions of driving rain and a southerly wind gusting to thirty knots.
Bob Sims, Sea Aster had to retire before the start with a broken back
stay. Bruce Long in Pinocchio lead over the line closely chased by
Alan Lees Formidabull and Sue Last Nut Cracker with Dave Drapers
Egret not far behind!
On the long beat out to Inner Bench Head and the difficult fetch to
WMYC No 6 Formidabull eventually got ahead of Pinocchio but it
was not till close to No 6 that Nut Cracker fluffed a tack and Egret
got a clear advantage.
Two sail reaching back to No 8 Formidabull started to stretch out a
lead and on the down wind to Batemans planed to hammer home
their advantage by flying their Spinnaker. However his gybe off the
Mersea shore went wrong when his main sheet fouled on the rail and
he suffered a major knock down!
By the time he had recovered, Pinocchio had got out of the tide on
the St. Osyth side and closed up. Despite a difficult tack round
Batemans, they had just done enough to take first place. Nut Cracker
hung on close to Egret to take third place on handicap.
All this meant that Pinocchio took the last trophy of the season, the
Gath Goblet and Formidabull just lost out for the Autumn points
trophy, the Virtue Fidelis cup needing a first place to beat Bob King.
1st Pinnochio, MG 38, Bruce Long,
2nd Formidabull, Bull 7000, Alan Lee,
3rd Nut Cracker, Hustler 25.5, Sue Last.
olne Yacht Club Racing Report 15th/10/06.
For the last Pursuit race of the year five CYC Yachts came to the line
in warm but misty conditions with a brisk North East to Easterly wind.
Colin Spikesley in Colne Sapphire got away to a storming start and Bob
Sims, single handed in Sea Aster was at a big disadvantage in
the conditions losing out quite quickly to Glen Bacons Deben
Huntress and Sue Lasts Nut Cracker.
Formidabull, Alan Lee was the last to start and at first on an easy
fetch to Colne Point then reaching to Bench Head made slow progress
catching up. However close on the wind back to Inner Bench Head he
started to catch right up. Nut Cracker also gained ground and Sea
Aster dropped right out of contention but Sapphire held onto a good
lead.
Down river to the Pyefleet the faster boats continued to catch up
but at the Pyefleet mark Sapphire still had a reasonable lead but
nearly blew the whole race by running aground on Pyefleet Spit and
was over taken by Nut Cracker and Huntress was right alongside as
they wriggled free!
However Nut Cracker had rounded the mark the wrong way and
although leading at the finish had to be disqualified. Sapphire made
the most of his windward advantage to get back ahead of Huntress
and just held of the Rampaging Formidabull by a yard or two to take
first place.
The unfortunate Sea Aster finished off a bad day by locking mast
heads with a moored Yacht in the Pyefleet and ended up with its
Bowsprit through his Jib! Fortunately a member of the Club was on
hand in a powerful RIB to help untangle him!
1st Colne Sapphire, Contessa 26, Colin Spikesley,
2nd Formidabull, Bull 7000, Alan Lee,
3rd Deben Huntress, Horizon 26, Glen Bacon.
Colne Yacht Club Racing Report 1 / 10 / 06
On a most unpleasant afternoon with heavy showers and a North
Westerly wind gusting to thirty plus knots, eight CYC Yachts contested
the seventh race in the pursuit race series with reefed sails and
definitely no Spinnakers!
The first away, Colne Sapphire, Colin Spikesley, revelled in the
conditions and it was soon apparent that he was doing well! The next
two to start, Sea Aster, Bob Sims and Deben Huntress, Glen Bacon
really struggled and progressively dropped down the running order.
Sue Last's Nut Cracker ran true to form as a heavy weather Yacht and
worked her way up to second chased by the big Namaste of Paul
Hales who hung on despite being only two up and hitting one of the
marks and having to do a penalty turn!
Jeff Shaw's Pineapple LL found the conditions too much and retired
at No 15 on the first lap. The last to start, Alan Lee's Formidabull
charged up the order at times hitting 17 Knots under main and Jib in
the gusts; but at No 15 for the second time, poised to romp through
the rest of the fleet, the wind eased back and he struggled to get past
Dave Drapers Egret just a few minutes before the finish to take fourth
place.
In the end Sapphire continued to hold off Nut Cracker with
Namaste in a well deserved third.
1st Colne Sapphire, Contessa 26, Colin Spikesley,
2nd Nut Cracker, Hustler 25.5, Sue Last,
3rd Namaste, Bavaria 41, Paul Hales.
Colne Yacht Club Racing Report 23 / 9 / 06
After an indifferent week the CYC Regatta dawned bright and warm
with a gentle South Easterly. In the morning pursuit race most of the
fifteen strong fleet started well but the first to start, Colin Spikesley's
Colne Sapphire started particularly well and worked out a substantial
lead on the main pack with very good Spinnaker handling.
In the pack Metaphor. Graham Adams did well to come out to the
front but it was quite a surprise to see just how well Pineapple ll, Jeff
Shaw and Namaste, Paul Hales did, not Spinnakering!
The late starters had a close race among themselves at first.
Pinocchio, Bruce Long soon snapping at the heels of Steve Heppel's
Cracker l but when Bob Kings Make Me Smile caught up Pinocchio
broke off chasing Cracker to fend off Smile. This was a bizarre duel as
Pinocchio was one of the larger Yachts in the race and Smile one of
the smallest, although fast!
However the last Yacht to start, Stan Fenton's Whisper with a crack
crew onboard really showed its class and systematically rolling over
the rest of the fleet, over taking Sapphire close to the last mark to
take the lead. Cracker just squeezed Sapphire into third place with
Pinocchio just taking fourth ahead of Smile! Sue Last took the
'Coveted' 3rd from last prize in Nut Cracker!
In the afternoon the fleet was joined by Colin Willets Redwing and
Ian Hunters Mayhem. Again most of the Yachts made a good start
with Alan Lee in Formidabull appearing to get the best start, right on
the line close into the tower. However off Creek Mouth the Wind
seemed to free which handed the advantage to those who had started
further down the line. Whisper was soon out in front followed by
Cracker and Pinocchio who soon gained the ascendancy. This time
Smile was left to his own devices and on the down wind leg looked
uncatchable under Asymmetrical Spinnaker but was still only slowly
catching Whisper. Further back Formidabull was trying his best and
coming out of the pack but again was not closing the leaders.
At the head of the pack the identical Metaphor and Redwing were
having a close duel with Metaphor only getting a clear advantage
well into the second lap. the near equal rated Egret, Dave Draper was
trying hard to catch up but could not quite make it. The most
significant thing was that Colne Sapphire was hanging on ahead of
several Yachts faster than him and was obviously in contention.
In the end Whisper took line honours with Smile coming in second
and Formidabull third. However when the handicap was worked out
Sapphire had got first place and Smile had forced Whisper back to
third. This meant that although equal on points with Whisper, by
winning the second race Sapphire took the overall Regatta Prize!
The majority of competitors then adjourned to the Club House for
a convivial 'Happy Hour', followed by a prize giving when the OOD
Mike Hempstead and the Sailing Committee were thanked by Colin
Spikesley for their efforts. After that there was a curry super and a
Barn Dance which finished a splendid dat very well!
AM Pursuit race for the Hammerton Cup.
1st Whisper, Dufour 40 Stan Fenton [WSC]
2nd Cracker, Oyster 37, Steve Heppell,
3rd Colne Sapphire Contessa 26 Colin Spikesley.
PM Handicap for the 'Native Oyster'
1st Colne Sapphire Colin Spikesley,
2nd Make Me Smile Laser SB3 Bob King.
3rd Whisper Stan Fenton.
Overall Regatta Winner for the Maltby Cup
1st Colne Sapphire, Colin Spikesley,
2nd Whisper Stan Fenton,
3rd Make Me Smile Bob King.
Colne Yacht Club Racing Report 16th & 17th Sept 2006
On Saturday afternoon three Brightlingsea One Designs joined the
BSC Autumn Handicap race to contest the CYC Saturday points series.
C 11, Greyling, Alan Hicks got away best closely followed by C6,
Jumbo Too, Tom Sargeant with C29 Panic, Mike Hempstead bringing
up the rear. However when trying to hoist Spinnaker Jumbo got in a
muddle so Panic rolled over him and Greyling stretched away.
At Mersea Wreck the wind was uncertain, Jumbo reached up on the
Brightlingsea side and, off the Stone, got past both Greyling and Panic.
However, close to Big Buoy Panic picked up a breeze and reached up
from the Mersea shore ahead of both the others.
Half way down the leg to No8 the sea breeze came in from the
south east and every one now had to beat up to the mark. Panic held
his lead and Jumbo was holding off Greyling till he got involved in an
unfortunate incident with another boat!
By the time he sorted himself out Greyling was up to second place.
Zigzagging their way back down river, Panic held his lead and on the
second round seemed to be safely in the lead. However, on the beat
along second beach out to No8, Greyling shifted up a gear, kept more
out of the tide and by the mark had a good lead which he held easily
right the way home to the finish.
1st C11 Greyling, Alan Hicks,
2nd C29 Panic, Mike Hempstead,
3rd C6 Jumbo Too, Tom Sargeant.
On Sunday afternoon six CYC Yachts took part in the seasons 6th
Pursuit race. The first starter, Colne Sapphire, Colin Spikesley quickly
lost the lead to Bob Sims Sea Aster when he over stood No13 who in
turn quickly lost out to Glen Bacons Deben Huntress and Sue Lasts
Nut Cracker. The later starters, Bob Kings Make Me Smile and Alan
Lees Formidabull made steady progress but were nearly completely
put out of the race by the lack of water at No12. Smile suffered only
a very minor check but Formidabull had to actually lift his dagger
keel to get off and lost out badly to Smile.
Half way down the leg back out to No9 Smile worked his way to the
front of the fleet and ran away from everybody back to No12 but
unfortunately had misunderstood the original course instructions and
rounded the mark the wrong way! This left Formidabull who had
recovered well from his grounding to take first place by default with
Deben Huntress coming a good second against the faster Nut
Cracker in third and Sapphire and Sea Aster fighting out last place
right to the last!
1st Formidabull, Bull 7000, Alan Lee,
2nd Deben Huntress, Horizon 26, Glen Bacon,
3rd Nut Cracker, Hustler 25.5, Sue Last.
Colne Yacht Club Racing Report 10/9/06
On Sunday afternoon in bright and warm conditions with a light
south easterly eight Yachts turned out for the third Autumn Points
race. With the strong flood tide the fleet split evenly between the
slack water on the Mersea / Brightlingsea sides to start.
At first, the Mersea side was favoured and Make Me Smile, Bob King,
Egret, Dave Draper and Redwing Colin Willet were leading the fleet.
However, off the Stone, Smile switched to the Brightlingsea side to slip
in nicely ahead of Pinnochio, Bruce Long and Formidabull, Alan Lee.
Egret and Redwing tacked back round the other side of the Stone and
were followed by Deben Huntress, Glen Bacon and Nut Cracker, Sue
Last. Bob Sims, Sea Aster held onto the Brightlingsea side.
At No 13 it was clear that the Brightlingsea side was now favoured.
Smile was up to windward under the shore but both Pinnochio and
Formidabull had picked up an 'Inside Lift' further off and were
gaining fast. So Much so that by No 8 Pinnochio was out in front and
Smile had grossly over stood and only got to the mark a few lengths
ahead of Formidabull. The rest of the fleet had got badly left behind
but Redwing slowly got the better of Egret and Huntress held onto
Nut Cracker while Sea Aster brought up the rear.
At Colne Point Pinnochio had a nice lead but was slow hoisting
Spinnaker and on what started out as a close reach the Asymmetrical
Yachts Smile and Formidabull had the advantage and once more got
past. However towards the end of the leg the wind came more astern
and Pinnochio got back on terms only to give most of his gains away
dropping her Spinnaker too early.
In the end, Smile took first place but Pinnochio did just enough to
take second place from Formidabull. The rest, hampered by the ebb
trailed in to far astern to threaten the faster boats.
1st Make Me Smile, Laser SB3, Bob King,
2nd Pinnochio, MG RS38, Bruce Long,
3rd Formidabull, Bull 7000, Alan Lee.
Colne Yacht Club Racing 19 / 20th August 2006.
Saturday PM three Brightlingsea One Designs joined the BSC summer
handicap to contest the CYC Saturday points in what proved to be a
brisk westerly wind. Panic, Mike Hempstead lead from the start
followed by Jumbo Too, Tom Sargeant and White Magic, Brian
Walker.
Down the beat to Hills, at first Jumbo tried hard to get on terms
with Panic but when Magic caught him on port he broke off and
concentrated on getting to the mark in second place. Down wind to
Gazlet and then to Stone and into the Creek Panic continued to
stretch his lead by fearlessly going for the gybes and despite some
close calls got away with them.
The other two were far more cautious, wending when
circumstances seemed appropriate but at the turning mark there was
no option but to gybe. Jumbo had difficulty sailing through the gybe
and when it did come the skipper took a glancing blow from the
boom and promptly retired. Magic sailed on a little way then retired
as well leaving Panic to sail on and take all the honours!
On Sunday afternoon, after an initial shower the sky cleared and
there was a brisk westerly wind for a good turn out of the Colne
Yacht Club Cruiser fleet for the Danny Smith Memorial Shield.
Steve
Heppels new IMX 40 Yacht, Cracker ll showed something of its
potential by blowing every one else away down the short first leg to
No 15.
They were round and clear before the rest of the fleet arrived in
a heap. There was a bit of a contretemps when Bob Kings Make Me
Smile came into the mark on starboard in the face of several boats on
port! In the flurry of confusion Alan Lees Formidabull just got round
second.
However on the tight reach out to the Inner Bench Head, Smile was
first to hoist an Asymmetrical Spinnaker, broke past Formidabull
who's sail had gone up twisted and quickly ran down and overtook
Cracker who's crew were struggling with unfamiliar gear. In the rest of
the fleet some tried Spinnakers but there was no clear advantage.
Robin Impey In Das Boot got out to fourth but Colin Willet in Red
Wing with out a Spinnaker held onto him and held off both Dave
Drapers Egret and Glen Bacons Deben Huntress who both flew
Spinnakers and were fighting a private duel. Right at the back Colin
Spikesleys Colne Sapphire at least kept himself in contention by
carrying his as long as possible.
Close to the mark every one had to go back to main and jib,
Formidabull after nearly pitch poling. At this point the powerful
Cracker took back a big chunk of Smiles lead and on the other side of
the mark sailed easily through his lee out into the lead and for the
rest of the lap and the next lap worked out a lead.
It was even more difficult to carry Spinnakers back out to the
Inner Bench and although Cracker continued to edge away in the end
he only saved his time on Trevor Stones Uilali. Colne Sapphire had
sailed a steady race in conditions that suited him to take first place,
followed by Bob Sims in Sea Aster, second, who had been over the
line at the start and Huntress which had hung on closely to the much
faster Egret all round the course.
1st Colne Sapphire Countessa 26, Colin Spikesley,
2nd Sea Aster, Stella 26, Bob Sims,
3rd Deben Huntress, Horizon 26, Glen Bacon.
CYC Racing Report 29th / 30th July 2006.
Four Brightlingsea One Designs turned out on the Batemans line for
the Wivenhoe Town Regatta and CYC Up River Trophy. Despite
grounding just before the start, Greyling C11 Alan Hicks made the
best start and in the tricky light conditions got to No9 first where he
picked up the new breeze and the tide gate effect.
Jumbo Too C6 Tom Sargeant chased after him and had a half chance
off Mersea Stone when he managed to hold his Spinnaker a little
longer. The chance faded away and by the time they had sailed round
No16 and back to No12 C11 had a convincing lead.
At the back of the fleet Sue Last sailing Nan C24 held off Panic C29,
Mike Hempstead for a good while but in the increasing wind she was
out manoeuvred at aano12 and C29 was able to set off after C6 and C11.
C11 continued to build his lead and was a convincing winner. C29
closed up on C6 but never got close enough to be a serious threat.
1st Greyling C11 Alan Hicks,
2nd Jumbo Too C6 Tom Sargeant,
3rd Panic C29 Mike Hempstead.
On Sunday afternoon six CYC Cruisers contested the fifth Pursuit
race in a brisk westerly breeze. none of the Yachts made particularly
good starts and as the race neared its conclusion the boats were still
racing in starting order apart from Formidabull, Alan Lee who had
moved up to fourth.
With just minutes to go the leading Yacht, Colne Sapphire, Colin
Spikesley miss read the course card and turned away from the next
mark, Batemans, back down the leg. He was followed by Sea Aster,
Bob Sims which allowed Deben Huntress, Glen Bacon to sail on down
the course to take first place with Formidabull close behind in
second. Nutcracker, Sue Last and Pineapple ll, Jeff Shaw just failed to
come up with them before the race ended. So Sea Aster took third
and Sapphire fourth.
1st Deben Huntress, Horizon 26, Glen Bacon.
2nd Formidabull, Bull
7000, Alan Lee.
3rd Sea Aster, Stella 26, Bob Sims.
Colne Yacht Club Race Report 21/22/23rd July
On a pleasant Friday evening with a steady light south-easterly five
Yachts came out for the last race of the series. Formidabull, Alan Lee
made an aggressive starboard tack start but only trapped Sea Aster,
Bob Sims who, shorthanded had difficulty in responding!
After this excitement Formidabull made short work of Deben
Huntress, Glen Bacon who had got away best and left Egret, Dave
Draper and Pineapple ll, Jeff Shaw, who had both strayed out into the
tide, behind.
From then, the race was processional with Egret getting to second
at the start of the first run and the others, apart from Pineapple
falling into place. Pineapple made several efforts to catch up but on
the second beat nearly missed No 13 and had to go back. Then
running fast up Pyefleet ran aground, had to motor off and retire!
Formidabull looked a convincing winner but on corrected time his
margin was small.
1st Formidabull, Bull 7000, Alan Lee,
2nd Egret, Parker 27, DaveDraper,
3rd Deben Huntress Horizon 26, Glen Bacon.
On Saturday Morning with nine Yachts on the line but no wind and
drizzle the start was postponed. A fitful south-easterly filled in and
the race got underway.
Egret, Dave Draper got away on the lay line for the first mark.
However the wind did not hold and those who had taken a hitch up,
especially Formidabull, Alan Lee and Make Me Smile, Bob King
gained advantage sailing freer and rolled over Egret. Close to the
mark Nutcracker, Sue Last, Danera, Ivan Cornell and Pineapple ll, Jeff
Shaw closed right up and all four rounded in a heap with Deben
Huntress, Glen Bacon close behind. Redwing, Colin Willet was on the
drag but Sea Aster, Bob Sims was racing to his handicap.
Down to No 12 Formidabull and Smile duelled for the lead,
Formidabull just holding the advantage. With a quick Spinnaker hoist
Egret broke out of the pack but all the boats astern kept coming up
to snap at his heels!
Rounding No 12 the wind freed and the two leading Sports Boats
romped away. Pineapple made a serious attempt to roll over Egret
who escaped by managing to hoist and fly his Spinnaker down to
No 13 and a good way to No 9. Approaching the mark the wind
dropped and headed. The Sports Boats, already round were struggling
in a windless patch but Egret could gain little as he ran into it as well
and once again the Pack caught up.
A good Spinnaker hoist again got Egret clear of the pack but not
for long. The leaders were stuck off Mersea Stone and as Egret came
up he ran out of wind as well. The new breeze came up with the pack
and around the wreck the whole fleet closed up with the Sports boats
holding a narrow lead.
Nutcracker caught Egret on port and forced him off the best line.
Eventually he out manoeuvred her only to find Danera had sailed the
line and was now leading the pack! Egret chased after Danera and
close to the mark got past by holding his Spinnaker longer.
Beating to the finish Formidabull got line honours over Smile but neither was in
with a chance on handicap. Neither was Egret, crossing third. He was
closely hounded by Danera who took third place and Nutcracker who
took second. The winner was Sea Aster who had sailed all round at
the back, kept plugging on and had saved his time.
1st Sea Aster, Stella 26, Bob Sims,
2nd Nutcracker, Hustler 25.5, Sue Last.
3rd Danera, Ben. First. 211, Ivan Cornell.
Sunday morning in bright sunshine with a nice south-easterly three
BODs were on the BSC line in the handicap race for the CYC fourth
Sunday points. C 11 Greyling, Alan Hicks lead, closely followed by
C29 Panic, Mike Hempstead with C6 Jumbo Too, Tom Sargeant adrift.
The beat out to Hills was closely contested. Right at the mark C29
got the advantage and rounded first. C11 chased on under Spinnaker
to Gazlet and Stone where he got back ahead However C29 kept after
him and the critical inside berth on the Outer Stone was closely
contested with C11 holding the advantage.
On the second lap C11 edged away. On the beat to Hills C29 took a
flyer. C6 sailed the lay line and at the mark caught C29 on port to
round ahead! Down wind C11 took every opportunity to fly his
Spinnaker and reaped the reward to come out a good winner. At first
C6 held off C29 but off the Outer Stone C29 briefly got through.
However C6 held the inside round the Stone, edged back ahead and
defended his wind aggressively to the line.
1st C11 Greyling, Alan Hicks.
2nd C6 Jumbo Too, Tom Sargeant,
3rd C29 Panic, Mike Hempstead.
Colne Yacht Club Racing. 8th July 2006.
On a pleasant sunny Saturday morning with a light south westerly
the Club had its best turn out of the season with eventually ten
Yachts starting the race. The two fastest yachts,Bob Kings Make Me
Smile and Alan Lees Formidabull got away best but the effect was
spoilt when Formidabull sailed straight up Mersea Stone!
At No 9 Make Me Smile was out in front but being chased by Robin
Impy's Das Boot, the rest of the fleet was all in a heap and even Ivan
Cornell's Danera had recovered from a late start and was up with the
back of the pack!
On the beat to No 6 Das Boot hung on to Make Me Smile and
ahead of Formidabull. Sue Lasts Nut Cracker had a good leg gaining
ground on Dave Drapers Egret. Bob Sims in Sea Aster also did well.
Running back to No 9 Make Me Smile Spinnakered away from the
fleet and Formidabull got past Das Boot and Nut Cracker continued
to make progress.
Both the Asymmetrical Spinnakered Yachts, Make Me Smile and
Formidabull tried to Spinnaker down to No 12 but quickly had to
give it up and it looked as if the rest of the fleet might have some
chance of catching up but in the end Make Me Smile Just had
enough in hand to beat Das Boot into second place and Nut Cracker
got up into third ahead of Sea Aster.
1st Make Me Smile, Laser SB3, Bob King.
2nd Das Boot, Dahlar 34,Robin Impy.
3rd Nut Cracker, Hustler 25.5 Sue Last.
In the afternoon two Brightlingsea One Designs raced for the CYC
Hickley Tiller in the BSC Handicap race. After a desperately
dangerous / exciting start C29 Panic, Mike Hempstead had a long lead
on C 6 Jumbo Too, Tom Sargeant out to Cocum. However after C29
had a difficult brush with a starboard tack dinghy close to the mark
C 6 caught right up and kept on C29s tail down to Big Buoy. On the
beat to Hills C 29 pulled out a good lead and held it down wind into
the Creek.
Coming out of the Creek C 29 went hard aground and got off with
a disabled centre plate and had to retire leaving C 6 to sail round and
take the trophy.
1st Jumbo Too C 6 Tom Sargeant.
Retired Panic C 29 Mike Hempstead.
Colne Yacht Club Racing 24th/25th June.
In bright, sunny conditions but with no wind five club Yachts arrived
off Batemans Tower hoping to race in the Summer points series. With
no wind and a foul tide it was impractical to start on time but after a
short postponement a slight breeze came down Second Beach and
the race got under way.
Danera, Ivan Cornell got away to a flying start close under the tower
followed closely by Dave Draper in Egret. Both Deben Huntress, Glen
Bacon and Sue Last, Nut Cracker tried to start off the middle of the
line looking for more wind but the tide was to strong and they both
got badly left behind.
Danera worked his way up the Mersea shore in slack water and at
No 8 had a big lead. Egret was next well ahead of Deben Huntress who
had been caught up by Nut Cracker. As all the Yachts were making
very slow progress round the course the race was shortened. Danera
came in a convincing first.
In the afternoon with a slight but steady breeze three Brightlingsea
One Designs raced for the CYC Carstairs Trophy off the BSC line in
their handicap race. Jumbo Too, Tom Sargeant took the lead out of
the Creek but White Magic, Brian Walker soon got past beating up to
Big Buoy. Right at the mark Mike Hempstead in Panic got an inside
overlap and also got through.
All round the first lap the three boats hung on close together but
on the second lap Magic broke clear and Panic got away from Jumbo.
Right at the end all three boats closed up again but the positions did
not change.
In the second deciding race of the series on Sunday morning, again
off the BSC line in a steady North-easterly the same three BODs turned
out. Magic got away at the start and although Jumbo chased Panic
closely up to the first mark he was soon left behind beating up to
Batemans. Off wind to Inner Fishery, Magic held his lead but beating
to Big Buoy Panic shifted up a gear and got past Magic close to the mark.
Down wind to Mersea Wreck, Magic Spinnakered back into the lead.
Beating into the creek to the finish, Panic once again got past Magic
but failed to cover so Magic picked up a lift and headed Panic over
the line.
CYC Cruiser Summer Points,
1st Danera, Beneteau 211, Ivan Cornell.
2nd Egret, Parker 27, Dave Draper,
3rd Deben Huntress, Hunter 26, Glen Bacon.
CYC Brightlingsea One Design Carstairs Trophy,
1st C25 White Magic, Brian Walker,
2nd C29 Panic, Mike Hempstead,
3rd C6 Jumbo Too, Tom Sargeant.
Colne Yacht Club Racing Report 16th & 18th June 2006
Friday evening saw only two Yachts turn out to contest the fourth
race in the series. Both Yachts were well the wrong side of the line at
the start and Dave Draper in Egret won the race back to the right side
of the line from Alan Lee in Formidabull and held him offf for a good
while. Formidabull eventually got ahead but could not work out
enough lead to save his time.
On Sunday as part of the BSC slow handicap race two Brightlingsea
One Designs contested the third race of the CYC Summer points
series. White Magic, Brian Walker got the better of Tom Sargeant in
Jumbo Too at the start and lead him up the early part of the beat up
to Big Buoy. However Jumbo broke Magic's cover and had the best of
the latter part of the beat to just round Big Buoy ahead.
Unfortunately he promptly ran aground, the plate winch jammed
and Magic moved ahead again. To follow this Jumbo was involved
in an incident that resulted in having to take a penalty turn and for
the rest of the race could not get back on terms with Magic.
4th Friday Race.
1st Egret, Parker 27, Dave Draper,
2nd Formidibull, Bull 7000, Alan Lee.l
3rd BOD Sunday Points,
1st C25 White Magic, Brian Walker,
2nd C6 Jumbo Too, Tom Sargeant
Colne Yacht Club Race Report. 10th June 2006
For the 1st race of the summer series seven Yachts came to the line in
bright, hot sunshine but a brisk south easterly breeze. Formidabull,
Alan Lee, Deben Huntress, Glen Bacon and Alize, Jack Jennings got
away well at the windward end of the line.
Colne Sapphire, Colin Spikesley and Nutcracker, Sue Last were late
on the line but in close company. Uilani, Trevor Stone and Sigducer,
Mike Hempstead were even later and out in the tide to boot! Most of
the Back markers over stood No 13 and had to bear off a long way to
get down to No 8. Formidabull lead the way out from No 8 to Colne
Point but Deben Huntress was hanging on well to second place for a
while till over taken by the much bigger Alize.
Astern Sigducer had recovered from his poor start and close on the
wind broke away from the others who were locked in a close duel. By
the time Sigducer got to No 1 they just managed to squeeze round in
second place.
Down wind most of the Yachts flew Spinnakers. Sigducer edged
away from the pack but made little impression on Formidabull's lead.
Nutcracker got past Sapphire but could not catch Alize who was with
out a Spinnaker or Huntress who got back ahead of Alize and
completed the course fast enough to take first place on handicap.
1st Deben Huntress, Hunter 26, Glen Bacon.
2nd Formidabull, Bull 7000 Alan Lee.
3rd Alize, Carabic, Jack Jennings.
Colne Yacht Club Racing Report 21/5/06.
Five Club Yachts braved the unpleasant conditions to take part in
the Clubs third pursuit race. Unfortunately Bob Sims Sea Aster had to
drop out with a broken rudder blade! Glen Bacons Deben Huntress
was first away but it did not take Sue Lasts Nut Cracker long to run
him down.
Cracker, Steve Heppell had no luck at all, first running aground near
No 13 then after a struggle to get off promptly ran aground on the
Mersea shore even harder and had to retire!
Alan Lees Formidabull was last away but found the beat down to No
8 hard going and the run back gave him little compensation.
Although he managed to pass Deben Huntress just before the finish
he was no where near catching Nut Cracker who had a very good win
in very difficult conditions.
1st Nut Cracker Hustler 25.5 Sue Last,
2nd Formidabull Bull 7000 Alan Lee,
3rd Deben Huntress Hunter Horizon 26 Glen Bacon.
Colne Yacht Club Race Report 14/05/06.
This was the first race of the new local inter Club Cirdan Trust Two
Rivers Challenge Series in support of the Maldon based Sail Training
Charity the Cirdan Trust. They lent their handsome Gaff Ketch Duet
with crew as committee boat which was manned for the CYC by OOD
Tony Diver and team, supported by a Mersea Team lead by Peter Fit.
A supporting RIB was provided by the CYC's Nick Reading and
another by Mersea.
After a short postponement the racing got underway in pleasant
conditions but with a rather shifty light south-easterly breeze. The
fast class got away well and at the first mark the conditions were
generally favouring the slower boats. Spirit Of Defiance running third
and clearly keeping up on handicap and Sigducer not far behind in
fourth place also well up on handicap.
However astern the slow class were having a torrid time. Here only
the faster boats were making real progress although Stella Peacock
was holding her own. Things were obviously going badly when one of
the fleet retired being unable to reach the first mark. An attempt was
made to finish the slow section of the race at No 10 but Camel Toe
and Spot Marley just beat the committee boat to the mark so bearing
in mind the progress of the fast class it was decided to shorten the
race for every one on the start line by No 1.
In the fast class the faster boats had started to dominate. Sigducer
got into an unprofitable duel for both of them with Destiny and they
were left behind by Boatox, Pinochio and Bananaman who went on
to chase after the leading trio of Phanton, Fizsz and Spirit Of
Defiance who was still holding on grimly on handicap!
Try as they might the leading pair could not shake off Defiance and
the chasing trio could not even catch up before the shortened race
ended. Defiance had done enough to win creditable on handicap
both the fast class and overall.
The best slow class boat was Camel Toe who came in ninth overall.
Overall Places 1st Spirit Of Defiance Contessa 33, J. Lord & G. Payne >WMYC.
2nd Phantom Dehler 39 R & R Gozzett WMYC
3rd Fizz Cork 1720 E. Allan & P. Rowe.DSC.
Colne Yacht Club 3rd Spring series, extraxted results
1st Pinochio MG RS 38 Bruce Long.
2nd Sigducer Sigma 33 Mike Hempstead.
3rd Make Me Smile Laser SB3 Bob King..
Colne Yacht Club Racing Report 5th/7th /5/06
In light conditions three Yachts contested the start of the 1st Friday
evening race. Jack Jennings Alize stalled right on the line, Colin
Spikesleys Colne Sapphire ran aground just behind the line so Alan
Lees Formidabull got clear away.
However he rounded No 8 the wrong way and in going back
conceded the lead to Alize and had Sapphire right on his stern. Down
wind to Batemans he regained a lead but could not shake off
Sapphire who got past Alize on the approach to No 12 and just saved
his time.
1st Colne Sapphire Contessa 26, Colin Spikesley,
2nd Formidabull Bull 7000, Alan Lee,
3rd Alize Caribic 40, Jack Jennings.
On Sunday fur boats set off for the 2nd pursuit race. 1st away,
Egret, Dave Draper struggled from the start and when he went
aground near No 10 he had trouble getting off and had to retire.
Sigducer, Mike Hempstead got away smoothly and soon shook off
Bob Kings Make Me Smile when he also went aground near No 10. On
the slow beat to No 8 Alan Lees Formidabull could make little
impression.
Down wind to Batemans it was a different story and the two chasing
boats close right up on Sigducer. Make Me Smile got briefly ahead
but was out manoeuvred close to the mark. As they set off closely
bunched up Pyefleet, Sigducer had a lead but quickly Make Me Smile
sprinted ahead and soon afterwards Formidabull moved up to 2nd.
On the wind back out into the river Sigducer picked up some good
shifts and got back on terms but off the Stone took the wrong tack
and the other two eased out a good lead as time ran out.
1st Make Me Smile SB3, Bob King,
2nd Formidabull Bull 7000, Alan Lee,
3rd Sigducer Sigma 33, Mike Hempstead.
Colne Yacht Club Racing Report 30/4/06
In a flukie moderate southeasterly eight Yachts contested the Clubs
2nd Spring series race. Mike Hempsteads Sigducer got in on the
Mersea shore closest to gain an edge on Alan Lee's Formidabull and
Bob Kings Make Me Smile. Having crossed the tide to the St. Osyth
beach Sigducer had the lead.
A long tacking duel ensued up Second Beach, positions changing
dramatically with the shifts. Stan Fentons Big forty footer, Whisper
recovered from an indifferent start and came right up with the
others.
At Inner Bench Formidabull just shaved round ahead of Make Me
Smile who just got round second on the inside of Whisper. Just
behind was Sigducer. All four set Spinnakers and sailed across to No6
in formation.
Further back Dave Drapers Egret had broken clear of the others,
Danny Smiths Jumana, Bob Sims Sea Aster and Sue lasts Nut Cracker
who all held on close together all the way to the mark.
At No6 Formidabull tried to carry his Spinnaker back to No8 but it
would not do. Make Me Smile caught right up and Whisper managed
to sail over both of them despite their best efforts to hold him off.
All the while Sigducer was slowly getting back on terms.
Down wind to Batemans Whisper ran dead down wind along the
Mersea shore but had to fight the tide off the Stone. Both
Formidabull and Make Me Smile reached to the St. Osyth side, trying
to get out of their Asymmetrical Spinnakers. However the angles did
not work out and the leg favoured Sigducer who ran right up on
them on the approach to Batemans.
However it was not quite enough. Make Me Smile saved his time to
win the race from Sigducer, Formidabull and Whisper. Egret came in
on his own and the other three came inclose together. At the mark
Nut Cracker got the better rounding to scrape in ahead but could not
save her time.
1st Make Me Smile, Laser SB6, Bob King,
2nd Sigducer, Sigma 33, Mike Hempstead,
3rd Formidabull, Bull 7000, Alan Lee.
Colne Yacht Club Racing Report. 16/17/4/06
Sunday afternoon saw six club yachts come to the line for the first
race in the spring series. They set off up Pyefleet with a nice 10 knot
westerly breeze but as they ran back out into the river the wind
dropped right away and it was soon clear they would not be able to
complete the course.
The course was drasticically shortened but even so only one Yacht,
lan Lees new Bull 7000, Formidabull was able to fight its way back to
the line against wind and tide to take first place, every one else
retired!
Monday morning saw seven members contesting a short match
race
series off the front of the Club in Clubs fleet of Optimist Junior
Training dinghies. Although the boats are intended for children they
proved demanding for adults to sail well in the blustery conditions
and in the course of five races there were some 'Interesting'
incidents, some unorthodox techniques and manoeuvres as well as
some very close and exciting racing. On the last race four contestants
were still in contention and in the end Alan Lee and Glen Bacon
were equal on points. In the sail off Glen Bacon lead all the way round
but at times was pressed hard to hold his place to take the prize.
All in all a fun event enjoyed by all the contestants and to be
repeated during the year!
Results charts by Alan Lee
