Colne Yacht Club Regatta 2006
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.
