33rd Bloody Mary at Queen Mary Sailing Club
by Gael Pawson 8 Jan 2006 10:02 GMT
7 January 2006
The 2006 Bloody Mary lived up to it reputation as the country's biggest multi-class pursuit race attracting a massive 212 entries from 86 clubs in 60 classes. The largest fleet entry was from the Merlin Rockets which saw 19 entries. Competitors traveled to Queen Mary Reservoir for the day from as far afield as Aberdeen, Colwyn Bay, Norfolk and Cornwall.
In complete contrast to the 2005 event, the sailors were greeted with a light breeze which barely reached its forecast five knots during the whole of the event. The mirror-like conditions suited the tall rig of Martin Hunter's Thames A Rater 'Spindrift', which slowly but surely picked its way
through the 212-boat fleet to win the 2006 Bloody Mary.
No one class dominated the top 10 with Stuart Bithel and Andy Davis in a Merlin Rocket took second and Jonathan Lewis and JT Nichol from Burghfield SC took third in an RS200. Fourth place also went to Burfield SC sailors Caroline Martin and Andy Douglas in a National 12, Caroline taking the title
of first lady helm, while Nick Craig and James Stewart (Frensham Pond) in their RS400 were fifth.
Phil Kirk and James Askew (Frampton-on-Sea) were the first Enterprise home in sixth place. Top-placed 49er (I Martin and B McGrane, Burghfield SC) took seventh overall, while two Fireflys ‹ Alexander and Rosie Davey and S Greaves and H Farr (Rickmansworth) were eighth and ninth. Nigel Biggs and Gael Pawson (Budworth SC) in an RS200 completed the top 10.
The Sailability Trophy went to Val Millward from Rutland Water, whose 2.4mR led for much of the race but eventually had to settle for 28th on the water.
First juniors were George Savell and Jack Foster from Bough Beech SC who finished 22nd overall in an RS200 and first Grand Masters (17th overall) were Philip Chambers and Ian Peerless in an Enterprise.
Class prizes were also awarded, first International 14 was James Fawcett and Dave Bosnia from Hayling Island (13th overall), first Fireball was Paul Cullen and Richard Wagstaff (Weir Wood, 35th overall) and first Laser was Stephen Eggleston (48th) who was also the first Queen Mary boat.
The 29er class prize went to Matt and Nick Hollis from Rutland (61st), 420 winners were Tom Taylor and Ben Muskett (69th) also from Grafham Water and top Laser Radial was Joseph Wellard (89th) from Crawley Mariners.
Click here for full overall results