Thirteenth River Exe Regatta at Exe Sailing Club
by Mike Rice 17 Jun 2013 14:20 BST
15-16 June 2013
The 2013 River Exe Regatta took place over last weekend, run by Exe Sailing Club and sponsored by Exeter College and Fulfords Estate Agents. A total of 105 boats entered the regatta.
Before the weekend, looking at the forecast of strong winds, the race committee took an early decision to run all Saturday's dinghy racing in the river. This turned out to be a good call, as Saturday dawned with a F4-5 SW wind and a building sea state. Up in the estuary the water was much smoother, but the breeze was averaging over 20 knots, with gusts over 30 knots to challenge the competitors and flatten some of them. By late morning, with the breeze still increasing, the committee took the sensible decision to abandon racing for the day. One race had been sailed on each course.
Out at sea the cruisers started their race on a start line from the safe water mark to the committee boat "Trinitas", kindly loaned by owner Richard Jacobs. First home in the fast fleet was the J80 "Jammin", helmed by Chris Rhodes. The slow race was won by Michael Griffin's "Seraph".
The fast dinghy and multihull course set in the river between Starcross and Lympstone was the scene of some exciting action. The average wind was challenging enough but the gusts added another dimension, with numerous capsizes and one dismasting. The conditions seemed to suit solo sailor Iain Horlock, who expertly helmed his Contender dinghy to victory in the one race completed before racing was abandoned. The Ronstan Sails/Kingfisher Ropes B14 of Tony Blackmore and Charlotte Jones took second place. David Lee and Juliet Pealing took third place in a Merlin Rocket. The Hurricane 5.9 SX of John Donovan and Nigel Hingston was the only multihull to brave the weather.
Further down river, the dinghy slow fleet, Lasers and Devon Yawls were doing battle. John Allen, former commodore of Starcross YC was on the committee boat: "I was impressed by the standard of sailing of everyone who ventured out in such challenging conditions. 14 year old Rory Gladstone in his Topper deserves special praise. Sailing four rounds of the course in such conditions was very impressive and says much of his sailing ability". The race was won by Ian Coppenhall and Jess Blick in their RS200, the first of a clean sweep of victories over the weekend. Dave Bartlett helmed his Streaker to second place and third place was taken by Mike Way and Tamsin Middleton in another RS200.
The Laser race was won by Paul Bartlett of Starcross YC, followed by Paul Kelley, also of SYC. First Devon Yawl home was "Sunset Strip", helmed by Jake Anderson of Topsham SC.
On the Saturday evening Exe SC hosted the regatta party, with some energetic dancing to the club's own party band "Jinx".
The Sunday weather forecast turned out to be very accurate. The day started with light winds and light rain. The rain did not dampen the competitors' spirits and a much larger fleet than the day before took to the water and enjoyed the full programme of races.
In the cruiser fleets, Saturday's winners consolidated their positions to take overall regatta victory: J80 "Jammin" in the fast fleet, and cruiser "Seraph" in the slow.
There was a change at the top of the fast dinghy fleet. In the lighter conditions, Iain Horlock struggled to match his success on day one, but finished a creditable third overall, behind Olly Turner's Merlin Rocket. Blackmore and Jones, in the Ronstan/Kingfisher Ropes B14 had no problem in building on their Saturday performance. Wins in two out of the three races were enough to give them overall victory.
The more benign conditions attracted a much bigger multihull fleet. All three races were won by the Hurricane 5.9 SX of Doug Smith and Jamie King, to give them the overall win. Second place was taken by the Saturday winners, John Donovan and Nigel Hingston.
The most intense competition of the day was seen in the slow dinghy fleet. The race officer set a short triangular course, which kept the boats in close contact throughout all three races. Ian Coppenhall and Jess Blick in their RS200 won all three races to take the overall win. Robin and June Barker of Starcross YC were second in a Wayfarer, followed by the RS200 of Mike Way and Tamsin Middleton. During the final race, the wind backed and increased, making the first reach challenging for the spinnaker boats.
The lead of the Laser fleet was contended by Starcross sailors Bartlett and Kelley, with Bartlett coming out the winner by two points. Ed Williams-Hawkes of Topsham SC won the Yawl fleet by just one point from Richard Watsham, also of TSC.
The Junior fleet raced for the first time on Sunday, as Saturday's strong winds had kept them on shore. George Melbourne of Exe SC made good use of his brand-new Laser radial sail to take the win, followed by the Laser 4.7 of Charlie King (Exe SC). Greg Bartlett of Starcross YC in a Laser Radial was third. The only two-handed boat in the junior fleet, the RS Feva XL of Victoria Upton and Anna Broad, was fourth.
Sailors assembled at Exe SC later in the afternoon for the traditional tea and prizegiving. The table was groaning with food, organised by Gillie Newcombe and her team of volunteers. Exe SC Commodore Rex Frost welcomed everyone to the club, and expressed his thanks to the Regatta's organisers and all the helpers from Exe SC and the other clubs on the river. Regatta Chairman Bill Gott added his thanks, and invited the representatives of the event's sponsors, Ben Hedden from Haven Banks/Exeter College and Steve Cole of Fulfords Estate Agents, to present the prizes. After the prizegiving, Exmouth Mayor, Councillor John Humphries, drew the names for the prize draw.
Full results and photographs can be seen on the regatta website at www.river-exe-regatta.org.uk
Management of the event for 2014 now passes to Topsham Sailing Club.