SailEAST 2011 season wrap-up
by Martin Wiggins 27 Oct 2011 10:00 BST
Another season is over – and what a great one it was!
As we are rapidly approaching the end of another season of racing the SailEAST 2011 series has proved to be another successful if somewhat challenging year. The competition has been strong, the partying strong but the numbers have been down a little, but given the current economic climate that isn't a surprise.
That said, we have still managed to provide the most successful series of regatta's on the East Coast – and leading the way for competitive sailing on the water and great partying off!
Class 1 was hotly contested with the result coming down to the final race at the Dabchicks, with Richard Matthew's Oystercatcher XXVIII taking the prize from Booty! and Kiss.
Class 2 was a season long battle between Amazon and Red Macaw, with Tony and Chuffy Merewether sealing first place with a series of three 1st's at Dabchicks. Who's to No was in third place.
The battle for Class 3 was really a one-horse race in the end with Harlequin and Team ‘Quin winning by some distance from Moodust and BillyWhizz.
Class 4 was won by Julian Lord and Scallywag, with Harvest Moon in second, just ahead of Serenity.
Overall, the 2011 year was dominated by the big boats in Class 1, with Oystercatcher XXVIII taking the victory in the final race of the year held at the Dabchicks. Robbie and Pippa Stewart's Booty! came home in second for the year, just ahead of David Pinner's Kiss.
The Club Championship was won again by the Crouch Yacht Club, with Haven Ports Yacht Club in second and the West Mersea Yacht Club in third.
So, congratulations to Richard and the crew of Oystercatcher – Overall Winners of SailEAST 2011. But let's not forget all of the other crew's who competed so well across the regattas throughout the year – from the Crouch in May, to Felixstowe and Ramsgate in July to Dabchicks in September, making this year another great success for sailing on the East Coast. And finally, a huge thanks to our sponsors – Hutton Construction, as principle sponsor and HCC Insurance – their support is much appreciated and valued by all.
The end of season prizegiving will take place at the end of January 2012. More details will appear on the SailEAST website soon.