Medway Keelboat Regatta 2015

Medway Keelboat Regatta © Nickolas Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Medway Keelboat Regatta © Nickolas Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

29 Cruisers entered this year's Medway Yacht Club Regatta. An interesting selection of boats with everything from one designs such as J-80's to a classic Sparkman and Stevens Swan 38 took part in 3 days of incredibly close racing.

Friday included two races of approximately 15 miles each, completed in perfect 'shorts and T-shirt' weather. The brilliant sunshine, blue water and 12-15 knots of steady breeze ensured this was a day on the water not to be missed! A fine dining evening was waiting ashore in the clubhouse for owners and crew with access to a shirt and clean pair of shorts.

The breeze filled in to a steady SW F4-5 on Saturday after a light start, allowing a distance race of just under 30 miles out into the Thames Estuary. The ferocious tides in Sea Reach caught some of the fleet out, those staying on the Grain shore gained greatly over those deciding to tack over to the Southend shore.

The sun continued to shine and some of the less serious racing classes were spotted sun bathing, drinking 'refreshments' and BBQ-ing as they completed the course.

The evening's entertainment ashore was a slightly more casual affair with a choice of Paella and an acoustic guitarist playing on the terrace overlooking the river. Perfect!

Sunday saw the return of our typical summer weather with an overcast start but in return for the lack of sun, a SW F6 in the forecast. A gusty start with 15- 20 knots of breeze and a forecast for more, had some boats reefing early and others deciding to hang on play their mainsails and travellers instead.

A shorter race of around 15 miles including plenty of spinnaker opportunities for those willing to try their luck in the breeze. Some closely fought tacking battles were seen on the beat to get back to the club, even against the ebb the stiff conditions saw the fleet back by early afternoon.

A BBQ ashore and prize giving rounded off an excellent long weekend of sailing on the Medway.

Many thanks to the organisers, safety boat crews, the committee boat and her crew and of course to the competitors who helped make the 2015 Regatta a success.

www.medwayyachtclub.com

IRC Overall Results:

NHC Class 2 Overall Results:

NHC Class 3 Overall Results:

NHC Class 4 Overall Results:

Squib Overall Results: