EAORA Offshore Regatta sponsored by Haven Knox-Johnston
by Tony Merewether 27 Jun 2016 12:02 BST
16-19 June 2016
Ickle Jura during the Haven Knox-Johnston EAORA Offshore Regatta © Tony Merewether
The EAORA Offshore Regatta sponsored by Haven Knox-Johnston took place over four days from 16th to 19th June with three races from Harwich to Ostend to Ramsgate and back to Harwich, over 200 miles.
Thursday's early start for the Graham Wallis Trophy from Harwich to Ostend over a 75 mile course with 18 starters from the Harwich breakwater began in a reasonable 12 knot southerly breeze with a good beat out of the harbour and across the bay to Medusa where code zeros and asymmetrics were set for the North East Gunfleet and then on to Longsand Head. It was on this leg that the wind started to back into the south east and lightened to 4 or 5 knots for the start of a testing 65 mile beat to Ostend. At Longsand Head the fleet split with 'Zero Gravitas' and 'Eclipse' leading the group to the east of the Galloper windfarm and '40 Love' and 'Booty' leading the group to the west of the windfarm. The leaders eventually arrived in Ostend at about 01.30 the following morning with the bulk of the fleet arriving at around 10.00 and the last yacht, 'Rainbow' still racing after 30 hours and finishing at 13.30. Not surprisingly there were a number of retirements but Pete Smith and his crew of the First 40 '40 Love' took line honours and the overall win for the Graham Wallis Trophy, with Duncan Ross and Kate Loveys, two-handed on 'Booty' not far behind.
Graham Wallis Trophy
Overall
1st 40 Love – First 40 – Pete Smith, East Anglian Sea School
2nd Booty – Stewart 60 – Kate Loveys and Duncan Ross
3rd Apex – X-332 – Robert Leggett
Class 1
1st 40 Love – First 40 – Pete Smith, East Anglian Sea School
2nd Booty – Stewart 60 – Kate Loveys and Duncan Ross
Class 2
1st Spirit – Sigma 38 – Paul Scott
2nd Charlie Don't Surf – Everitt 31 – Dave and Adrian Gibbons
Class 3
1st Apex – X-332 – Robert Leggett
2nd Ickle Jura – J97 – Kevin Moll
3rd Bule Guila – Elan 333 – M Fuller A and T Thorogood
Friday was a lay-day in Ostend to catch up after the late finish, with the prizegiving held in the Royal North Sea Yacht Club in the early evening and a few drinks in the Cosy Corner afterwards to round off the evening. The Cannonball race from Ostend to Ramsgate over 65 miles was the second race in the Offshore Regatta and another beat nearly all the way, but this time in about 12 to 18 knots, with a reasonably flat sea. Again it was a long race with about 78 miles actually covered as the tide was foul after crossing the shipping lanes and beating to the north of the Goodwins, before reaching in to Ramsgate. Richard and Cathy Brown in their Arcona 41 'Brave' took line honours, with Robert Leggett in his X-332 'Ape-X' winning the Cannonball trophy. There was just time for a late prizegiving held in the Royal Temple Yacht Club at 22.30.
Cannon Ball Race
Overall
1st Apex – X-332 – Robert Leggett
2nd Bule Guila – Elan 333 – M Fuller A and T Thorogood
3rd Amazon – Sun Fast 3200 – Tony & Chuffy Merewether
Class 1
1st Brave – Arcona 410 – Richard & Cathy Brown
2nd Booty – Stewart 60 – Kate Loveys and Duncan Ross
Class 2
1st Amazon – Sun Fast 3200 – Tony & Chuffy Merewether
2nd Spirit – Sigma 38 – Paul Scott
3rd Charlie Don't Surf – Everitt 31 – Dave and Adrian Gibbons
Class 3
1st Apex – X-332 – Robert Leggett
2nd Bule Guila – Elan 333 – M Fuller A and T Thorogood
3rd Ickle Jura – J97 – Kevin Moll
It was a very tired fleet which started the last leg for the 55 mile Walker Challenge Cup on the Sunday from Ramsgate to Harwich and with a good breeze at the start it looked like a fast trip home. Steve Stokes kindly started the fleet from the RTYC race hut and after a short shy reach to the end of the entrance channel, running spinnakers were set for the leg to Fisherman's Gat. With about 5 miles to go the wind died to virtually nothing and with a change in the tide there were some tricky moments for some to make sure they went the right side of Outer Fisherman's buoy. With the tide now under the fleet and the wind building again it was a short sprint to Harwich harbour with the smaller boats always in contention. The winner of the Walker Challenge Cup were Ian and Laura Ivermee in their Sigma 33 'Woozle Hunter' who are currently leading the seasonoverall.
Walker Challenge Cup
Overall
1st Woozle Hunter – Sigma 33 – Ian and Laura Ivermee
2nd Eclipse – Contessa 33 = Des Cowan
3rd Charlie Don't Surf – Everitt 31 – Dave and Adrian Gibbons
Class 1
1st Booty – Stewart 60 – Kate Loveys and Duncan Ross
2nd Brave – Arcona 410 – Richard & Cathy Brown
Class 2
1st Charlie Don't Surf – Everitt 31 – Dave and Adrian Gibbons
2nd Amazon – Sun Fast 3200 – Tony & Chuffy Merewether
3rd Spirit – Sigma 38 – Paul Scott
Class 3
1st Woozle Hunter – Sigma 33 – Ian and Laura Ivermee
2nd Eclipse – Contessa 33 = Des Cowan
3rd Ickle Jura – J97 – Kevin Moll
After the race the overall regatta prizegiving was held in the Haven Ports Yacht Club, where Brian Bolton, the Race Officer and Tony Merewether, the EAORA Chairman presented the prizes to the overall winner of the three race regatta Robert Leggett and his crew on 'Ape-X' with two more class three boats 'Ickle Jura' 2nd and 'Bule Guila' 3rd
Haven Knox-Johnston EAORA Offshore Regatta
Overall
1st Apex – X-332 – Robert Leggett
2nd Ickle Jura – J97 – Kevin Moll
3rd Bule Guila – Elan 333 – M Fuller A and T Thorogood
Class 1
1st Booty – Stewart 60 – Kate Loveys and Duncan Ross
2nd Brave – Arcona 410 – Richard & Cathy Brown
Class 2
1st Spirit – Sigma 38 – Paul Scott
2nd Charlie Don't Surf – Everitt 31 – Dave and Adrian Gibbons
3rd Amazon – Sun Fast 3200 – Tony & Chuffy Merewether
Class 3
1st Apex – X-332 – Robert Leggett
2nd Ickle Jura – J97 – Kevin Moll
3rd Bule Guila – Elan 333 – M Fuller A and T Thorogood
Once again a big thank you to our race officer Brian Bolton, Michael Wallis for the use of his yacht 'Another Diamond' as committee boat and for the results, Nick Moulton and his team on 'Thames Shipwright' for the early start at Harwich, Steve Stokes for starting us at the RTYC in Ramsgate and of course our sponsors Haven Knox-Johnston.
Full results can be found on our website, www.eaora.org.uk