Swallow National Championships at Royal Yacht Squadron

The Swallows started their annual migration to Cowes early this year with the Swallow National Championships at the Royal Yacht Squadron on 19th and 20th July. The traditions of the class as a competitive racing fleet take us to some of the best sailing venues on the South Coast and this year we started with a classic event.

After five well contested races the winners made the decisive move on the last long beat in the final Sunday race. Congratulations to the National Swallow Championship winners for 2014, Marengo - Carolyn Brigg, David Sloper and Hugo Sloper.

The weekend began at Itchenor with the Vernon Trophy Passage Race to Cowes won by Archon (Malcolm Green, Caroline Marriage & Ginny Kidd).

Championships race day dawned with an overcast sky and a briefing from our Race Officer Colonel Tony Singer OBE. A North Easterly breeze was building and the first race started on a windward/ leeward course. Defending champions Mike Wigmore, Mark Struckett and Charles Hyatt on Gwahir were into their stride early winning the first two races. John Houghton, racing with a strong team on Avocet with Richard Thompson and Nick Royce were second in Race 1 and won Race 3 with Archon in second place.

Each race saw close competition throughout the fleet with places changing upwind and down as the wind dropped and the tide increased. Marengo had a consistent first day with a 5,2,3 but Gwahir was the overnight leader.

The Championship dinner at the RYS Platform was very well attended with more than seventy guests including wives and girlfriends, friends of the Swallow class and our race committee team.

Into action early on Sunday morning with the sky overcast and the breeze from the West. With the windward mark towards Southampton Water and closer to the shore the tacticians were scratching heads working out wind, tide and which side to go. Marengo had lightning speed in the lighter wind and took Race 4 with Gwahir in second and Archon 3rd. The stage was set for a final race shoot out for the Championships with Gwahir on 9 points and Marengo 11.

Gwahir sailed Marengo out of the start in Race 5 with the wind going lighter and the tide building. It looked all over as Solitude led the fleet around the first lap followed by Archon. Marengo saw some breeze and less tide inshore on the second beat while most of the fleet went middle or left. She was rewarded with a right shift and sailed through from outside the top ten into the lead of the final race. Marengo took the gun, won both races on Sunday and the Championships.

The Royal Yacht Squadron were excellent hosts. In challenging conditions the race team led by Tony Singer supported by Jonathan Peel made the right decisions and all of the sailors enjoyed the event. Five good races, all on time! Onshore the events were a great success with the Squadron Castle as our venue we enjoyed good food and wine and good company.

Results:

1. Marengo – Carolyn Brigg, David Sloper, Hugo Sloper
2. Gwahir – Mike Wigmore, Mark Struckett, Charles Hyatt
3. Archon – Malcolm Green, Caroline Marriage, George Miller
4. Solitude – Andrew Reid, Chris David, Nick Tingley
5. Avocet – John Houghton, Richard Thompson, Nick Royce

The Swallows continue to Cowes Classic Week followed by Cowes Week and the return to Itchenor for Points Week. Top class keelboat racing for all!