HMS St Mathew Cup 2015 at Burnham Sailing Club
by Sally Harbott 8 Sep 2015 07:43 BST
6 September 2015
HMS St Mathew Cup at Burnham © Alan Hanna
This year's inter-club challenge for the HMS St Mathew Cup (details of the heritage of the trophy can be found here) was organised by the Burnham Sailing Club and sailed on Sunday 6th September. All four Burnham Clubs fielded teams, each of two squibs. After briefing by Commodore Digger Harden in the club house, the boats headed off to race three windward-leeward races. PRO for the day was John Torrance and he managed to get the first race underway by just after half past 11. The wind was from the North West, so the course was set diagonally across the river, with the windward mark and spreader just up river of West Quay with the leeward gate near the fairway towards Number 9.
The first race got underway cleanly, and the fleet of eight squibs beat to the windward mark. Many of the helms had been racing squibs for the previous eight days in Burnham Week, but first time squib sailors Richard Highfield and Anita Baynham sailing What's the Story for the Crouch Yacht Club got to the windward mark fourth. Malcolm Hutchings in his own squib Lady Penelope and Dragon helm Ian Gray in 157 led the fleet both sailing for the host club, the Burnham Sailing Club, and finished first and second. Mickey Wright sailing his own Spoof came in third, with Chip Cole sailing Robert Coyle's Humphrey for the Royal Burnham Yacht Club in fourth. The Royal Corinthian took fifth, with Jamie Mears in Guy Fawkes, with Daniel Wastnage in 760 coming sixth. The Crouch Yacht Club came in seventh and eighth, with Ian Scott, helming his own Outlaw, just behind Richard Highfield in What's the Story.
The Burnham Sailing Club had put themselves in the lead straight away, but had to deal with a postponement whilst the pro had the marks relaid as the wind had shifted. When Race 2 started, Malcolm Hutchings in Lady Penelope (BSC) and Guy Fawkes (RCYC) sailed by Jamie Mears were both OCS, and had work to do to get through the fleet when they had returned. Malcolm worked his way through and got to the windward mark first, and retained the lead to take a second bullet. Mickey Wright (RCYC) took second, and Ian Gray (BSC) third. Humphrey (RBYC) was fourth, with Guy Fawkes (RCYC) fifth, Daniel Wastnage was sixth for the RBYC with the CYC seventh and eighth, with Outlaw ahead of What's the Story.
Race three saw Malcolm (BSC) recalled again, and this time he was unable to get through the fleet to take pole position. In Guy Fawkes, the helm and crew fell out of their boat, but managed to get back in having only lost one place. The racing was close, and again shifty winds meant the helms and crews had to work incredibly hard to maintain speed at times. Daniel Wastnage for the RBYC took first, with Guy Fawkes sailed by Jamie Mears in second (RCYC), Ian Gray sailing 157 for the BSC took third, with Lady Penelope (BSC) fourth. Spoof (RCYC) took fifth, with Humphrey (RBYC) helmed by Chip Cole sixth. Ian Scott in Outlaw(CYC) 7th and What's the Story (CYC) eighth.
Prize giving followed in the Burnham Sailing Club with Commodore Digger Harden welcoming everybody warmly and congratulating the fleet on some great sailing. The Burnham Town Mayor, Mr Ron Pratt presented the prestigious trophy to the Burnham Sailing Club team, with Robin Saunders collecting the trophy on their behalf.
Overall Results:
1st Burnham Sailing Club
2nd Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
3rd Royal Burnham Yacht Club
4th Crouch Yacht Club