2010 Dartmouth Regatta at the Royal Dart Yacht Club

The 166th Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta sailing events attracted over 274 craft within 18 classes for around 120 separate races over the week which this year took place on three courses in Start Bay. Sponsorship this year was generously donated by Henri Lloyd, Mount Gay Rum, Noss Marina and Baltic Wharf Boatyard.

Events kicked off on Saturday August 21st with the Junior and Senior dinghy sailing events which took place in Dittisham and the mouth of the Dart. The Passage Race on Wednesday marked the start of the bigger boat events and took place in driving rain and gusts of 30 knots (see separate report). However, by Thursday the wind had dropped to 12 to 15 knots though the westerly winds made for an uncomfortable swell of 2 to 3 meters. The sun shone on Friday for the Coastal Race and continued on Saturday and Sunday where the wind speed topped 25 knots and gusting in the low 30s towards the end of the day, ensuring some lively sailing.

On Sunday evening, competitors gathered on the terrace of the Royal Dart Yacht Club (RDYC) in Kingswear for prize giving, savouring shots of Mount Gay Rum.

First up were prizes for the Eastern Course races. Don Campbell, Chairman of the Joint Regatta Sailing Committee, said that Regatta was always a fun event and had been a pleasure to run. He thanked the Race Officers for the Eastern Course, David Homer and Keith Harris and David praised the Regatta organisation and team work.

Kit Noble thanked Jane Perrin, the official Regatta photographer who had won photographer of the year this year with a photo taken in Dartmouth at the Classic Boat Regatta.

Liz Moody, wife of RDYC Commodore, Mike Moody, presented the prizes. The winner of the Small Gaffer Class series was James Badcock from Chichester in his recently purchased Cape Cutter, Caperberry, who, along with his three brothers, was racing the boat for the first time.

Another first time winner was Pluto in the Keelboat Class with RDYC members, Trevor ‘Bones’ Black and Anna Stillman in their Scimitar, Pluto, with sixteen year old Lucy Casseldine sharing the helming.

The winner of the Squib racing was Mike Mackie with Roger Nuttal crewing in Tearaway, closely followed by Clive Bennet’s Baby Hippo and by Simon Unwin and Judith Thomas’s Mimosa. Thirteen squibs took part, twelve from the RDYC. The Race Officer had earlier praised the Squib sailors, describing them as a “delight to watch and competing with the right spirit.”

Next came the prizes for the Middle Course racing which took place off Blackpool Sands. Don Campbell welcomed everyone and introduced Rosemary Shiffner, wife of the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon, to present the prizes.

RDYC members David and Nicky Bomby’s Meyia took first prize in PY1, despite spinnaker problems on Saturday.

Kelvin and Shirley Hull’s Buccaneer from Royal Torbay Yacht Club, which came second in Torbay Regatta last week, took first prize in PY2.

Topsham based Martyn Grant’s boat, Xante, won PY3. Achieving second place three years running, Martyn was delighted to win, modestly claiming that conditions suited the boat.

From Brixham Yacht Club, Steve Linley-Shaw’s, A Piano, won PY4. “We would have liked more wind and more waves, but there you go,” joked Steve. Again, it was their first time winning the series.

IRC3 winner was Brixham boat John Pollards’s Xcellent with a team who’ve sailed together for around twelve years. They competed despite a temporary repair to their boat following an accident at Torbay Regatta.

Another Brixham boat won the IRC4 class series - Ron Campion’s Peanut. It had been a successful week for the team who also won the Passage Race. Unfortunately on Sunday their boat was T-boned at the end of a race, but they managed to get her back to Brixham.

Then the Middle Course Race Officer, Steven Parry, thanked the RDYC for hosting the event and praised the team who make Regatta work.

The Western Course prize giving followed, with thanks to Race Officer, David Lees. The course was set between Torcross and the Skerries and was for the largest boats. Prizes were presented by Rear Admiral Robin Shiffner, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon.

The J105 Sportsboats were holding their National Championship as part of the Regatta and first place was taken by Java Team Gill, owned and skippered by Rob Dorndon-Duff who thanked the race officers and the organisers for running a great event. The team have already won the Warsash Spring Series and the J Cup so far this year. “It’s always close racing in 105’s” Rob told me. “We didn’t have a good first day, the seven crew members hadn’t sailed together before, but we got better!”

The Sportsboat Class series was won by Hamble-based John Cooper’s boat, Oi! It was their first Dartmouth Regatta and crew member Tim Harper said he’d loved the whole event. “The base at RDYC was fantastic and the whole event has a great atmosphere.”

IRC1 was won by Dark and Steamy, owned and helmed by Nick and Annie Haigh with a total of fourteen on board. They won by only four seconds against Maridadi who beat them in Torbay last week. They’d ripped the mainsail on Thursday but one of the crew on Maridadi worked for a sail company and helped them get it fixed for the next day. “There’s tremendous spirit between the competitors,” Mick told me.

Another husband and wife team won IRC2 – David and Jackie Riley’s No Retreat! “We had an excellent team of nine and a great tactician. We didn’t win a single race but turned in consistently good performances and won by two points. We love it here; because it involves the whole town, Dartmouth Regatta is unique.”

There were four Farr 45s competing this year and Ran, owned by Niklas Zennstrom, won five out of eight races in total and went on to win the series.

Don Campbell concluded the prize giving by praising Regatta Secretary, Melinda Smallwood, and presenting her with a bunch of flowers. He thanked the race officers, the support crews and everybody who’d helped to make Regatta a success.

Mike Moody, Commodore of the RDYC, thanked the race officers of each race and praised the army of helpers and said he hoped to see the competitors back on the start line again next year.

For full results visit www.dartmouthweek.com