Brass Monkey Race at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club

Light winds for the Brass Monkey Race at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club © Graeme Sweeney

2006 Dauntless Boatyard Brass Monkey Trophy Race

The 40th anniversary for the Brass Monkey, with only a couple of the 18 classes present in existence on the first event.

With a bleak week of fog and calm preceding the event, the fleet arrived to grey skies, clear views across the estuary to the Kent coast and little water or wind. However, as if on queue, the force 2 - 3 wind arrived from the north with the tide and the seas were flat with strong east - west tide.

The fleet ranged from an 18 foot skiff down to a Tideway. The course was set with 3 reaching legs, one being only a dogleg and beat back towards the shore leaving all marks to port. The mass start got underway after a short postponement. Reaching to the west led by Musto Skiff GBR 170 (Dan Hendeson) and B14 GBR 768 Readycrest (Mark Barnes/Pete Nicholson). Approaching the first mark, B14 Readycrest had worked to leaward of Musto Skiff 170 who rounded second. Behind these 2 the fleet compacted and several boats struggled to find space to round as others came in on starboard close to the mark but all rounded the turn mark in an orderly manner. Throughout the race B14 Readycrest pulled away followed by Musto Skiff 170 who in turn had the ISO Fleet and RS 400 849 (Lloyd Walker/Graham Sexton – defending champions) on his tail. The first two struggled to hold their kites on the second reach of each round which played into the hands of the slower boats. In marginal trapezing conditions, the beat offered the best opportunity for place changes with worthwhile shifts and wind lanes plus a tidal gradient.

RS 400 849 worked their way through the fleet to close on the ISOs. The battle amongst the ISOs fell in favour of ISO 926 (Jonny Wells and Bugsy) who pulled through on the last beat to take third overall. Winner of this years race was B14 Readycrest Despite the large contrast in types of boats, the event ran smoothly and with the sponsorship of free beer and food on arrival ashore provided by Dauntless Boatyard, the fleet retired to the bar. Thanks must go to the sponsors for the prizes and beer vouchers and club for running a slick event.

Overall Results: