Aldeburgh Yacht Club Sailing Regatta
by Jamie Bruce Lockhart 22 Aug 2005 11:08 BST
14-19 August 2005
Aldeburgh’s regatta - for 220 boats in eighteen classes, with a notable influx of visiting crews - got off to a blustery start in a full Force 5 westerly; two days of sparkling sunshine and fair sea breezes followed. On Orford Day, crews persevered in a dying wind on the long races to Havergate Island, but fresh breezes returned for the final day’s racing.
Throughout the week a fleet of 25 RS 400s provided splendid entertainment in competitive racing with some very close results. A race out at sea in light winds on Carnival Day was won by newly-weds Gavin and Anna Marshall, who went on to take first place overall, ahead of the consistent Sydenhams. A good half dozen Dragons boasted a very high standard of sailing with several current and past national cup winners participating; and Ricky Gillingham, for the first time, won the event, seeing off strong challenges from Patrick Gifford and Rory Bowman.
The large Wayfarer class was dominated by Mike Pert (Waldringfield) who won every race, and other high positions were shared between James Grogono, Thomasin and Luke Andrews and Neil Collingridge (Waldringfield), with the final results remaining open until the very last race. Battle for prizes in the class of 30 classic Loch Longs also went to the wire, but Simon Fulford held off challenges from Murray Caldwell (Cove Sailing Club), with Jimmy Robinson in hot pursuit and Huw Semken and Jonathan Evans on equal points in third place.
A large team of skilful visiting sailors occupied the first four places in the 20-strong class of Squibs, where Peter White (ex-505 world champion) won every race except one, which went to his sister. In Aldeburgh’s own large class of Lapwings, Bruce Robson took first place honours with Mike Steele snapping at his heels. Fast Cruisers formed a group of quite fast boats, with no rogue handicaps, which enjoyed good racing under full sail. And numerous other, smaller but equally lively, fleets engaged in their own private battles in a week of well-organised racing which provided keen sailing and a lot of fun for all participants.
Overall Results:
Morning Series:
Dragon:
1 R. Gillingham
2 P. Gifford
3 R. Bowman
Swallow:
1 D. Mossman
2, R. Keane
3 B. Russack
RS400:
1 G. Marshall
2 S. Sydenham
3 J. Fulford
Laser:
1 M. Liddell
2 S. Kerr
3 D. Glover
Squib:
1 P. White
2 J. Evans
3 A. Davis
Wayfarer:
1 M. Pert
2 J. Grogono
3 N. Collingridge
Loch Long:
1 S. Fulford
2 M. Caldwell
3 J. Evans
Junior Handicap:
1 E. Sinclair
2 A. Leach
3 J. Pringle
Afternoon Series:
Cruising yachts AF> .745:
1 W. Scott
2 H. G-Jones
3 P. Wilson
Keelboats AF > .82:
1 P. Gifford
2 J. Hunt
3 D. Andren
RS400 and Assymetrics:
1 E. Sinclair
2 E. Stevens
3 M. Arnold
Cruisers AF < .745:
1 A. Bryson
2 S. Sydenham
3 J. Thomson
Shrimpers and Gypsies:
1 R. Gibbon
2 R. Vernon
3 P. Milton
Centreboard H’cap A:
1 R. Bagnall
2 M. Byrne
3 P. Bainbridge
Keelboats AF < .821:
1 P. Austin
2 J. Evans
3 C. Semken
Lapwing:
1 B. Robson
2 M. Steele
3 R. Thistlethwayte
Centreboard H’cap B:
1 D. Wilson
2 A. Farquharson
3 K. Zhang
Toppers:
1 J. Redshaw
2 E. Salmon
3 T. Monson