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National Events This page will be used to post reports that are not area specific |
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Round the Island race - 12th July 2008Small, yet beautifully formed may best describe the fleet that started the Association’s
thirty-fourth Round the Isle of Wight Race. Half the fleet were unable to get to
the start line off Yarmouth, given the poor weather experienced in the Solent right
up until Friday night. In the event, the first class comprised of three Parker 21’s, with Nigel Walbank’s “Breeze” promptly leading Geoff Turner in “Dawn”, who was sailing single-handed and Paul Burton in “Papillon” away from the line and into the blustery F 4-5 (occas. F6) westerly wind over tide conditions, on the opening leg towards the Needles. These three were hotly pursued some 45 minutes later by class two, consisting of Parker 27 “Jans Express” sailed by David Cooper, the 325 “Kerenza” of Jeremy Parsons and Martin Hopton’s 335 “Shemar”.
For the Parkers, the question as always was, could the smaller, slower yachts keep ahead of the larger and quicker, let alone save their time on handicap? “Shemar” thought the answer was no, when she caught and passed “Dawn” and “Papillon”, only yards apart after 6 hours of racing, at Bembridge Ledge Buoy.
She had, however,
yet to catch the nimble “Breeze”, who living up to name, sped back up the Solent
cheating the foul tide along Ryde Sands, to stay ahead and take both line honours
at Gales HSB Buoy and record a first on corrected time. “Shemar” finished next but
was unable to save her time on the singled-handed “Dawn” who was third across the
finish. Thanks go to the committee boat, Helen & Roger’s “Cân y Môr” which performed
a sterling service, given the lumpy conditions and to the warm hospitality of the
Duke of York in Cowes on the Saturday evening. |
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Results
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Summer Beach Cruise to France and the Channel Islands July 28th to August 12th 2007
This brief report covers a most enjoyable cruise in company which took place mostly in bright sunshine with little wind and much motor sailing. The quiet weather enabled visits to the lesser known rocks and beaches. Route: UK, Cherbourg, Dielette, Carteret, Portbail*, Les Ecrehou*, Iles Chausey, Jersey (St Catherines, Gorey, St Brelades*, St Helier), St Peter Port, Herm*, Alderney (Braye, Longis Bay) and Home. *= swims! The 6+ participants are listed below and for the first time for some years included a smaller yacht, Seal 22 Skylark. She lost her rudder mid channel to Cherbourg but carried on unperturbed! A new one was ordered at Cherbourg but meantime she sailed on to Dielette and Carteret before the replacement arrived. On one of the few good sailing days she was first to Alderney from St Peter Port with only a half hour start. Abacus also had a character building event picking up a fibre bag round the propeller off Point Flamanville and being towed 5 miles to a beach by the 335s Lady J and Shemar. The benefit of cruising in company. The bag was successfully cut off, but getting away from the beach, the waves built up giving Sally and I some anxious moments! (See picture on the website). Plenty of shoreside activities including sand yachts at Portbail, walks, train ride etc kept us active. The organised socials were at Dielette at the quay side café (10 present), Portbail at La Repere by the harbour (14 present), the St Helier Yacht Club for lunch (10 present) and the Guernsey Yacht Club (16 present). All are to be recommended if you sail that way. Portbail (kindly researched in winter by Martin Hopton and John Coyle) is a delight. As always, old friendships renewed and new ones made with interesting destinations making a most enjoyable fortnight for sailors and non sailors! Clifford Miller Participants: Seal 22/58 Skylark, Richard Tanner+at different times-Anne, Patrick, Oliver Parker 27/139 Kotick, Rick Thompson + Chris Parker 27/146 Stroller, Peter & Barbara Forster Parker 275/58 Abacus, Clifford Miller + at different Sally, Sue, Alan & Tod Parker 335/44 Lady J. Robby Juchau + Brian & Les Parker 335/46 Shemar, Martin & Sheila Hopton + Steve Also joined at St Peter Port by Seal 26/105 Tara, Steve & Di Drew plus briefly David and Barbara of P275 Lady Penelope by ferry.
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Having rounded Bridge Buoy west of the Needles
and with spinnakers much in evidence the entrants, were accompanied on their way
to St Catherine’s Point by the many competitors in the Two Handed Round the Island
race.