Severnside Enterprises at the Penarth Yacht Club Regatta
by Richard Leach 30 Jun 2008 15:53 BST
28-29 June 2008
This has been a windy year so far and this weekend was no exception. Sixteen boats lined up in 25 knots for the first of two races sailed on Saturday.
It's difficult writing an accurate report when one was fighting for survival oneself but having got to first gybe mark in 5th. Jonathan Woodward and Alex Haliwell (Redditch S.C.) planed past on there way back from a poor start heading for a second place. Approaching the gybe mark for a second time foolishly hoping for a capsize ahead when we, (Richard Leach and Jane Pickford (PYC), found our selves swimming, the boat behind also joined us in the Bristol Channel. We were up and away quickly and only lost one place to Phil Kirk and Sarah Gregson (Frampton upon Severn). Mean while Jonathan was passing Ian Wakeling and Nicki Linfield (Bristol Corinthian Y.C.) 3rd, who were revelling in the windy conditions but not getting to Jeff Dyer and Tom Atkin (PYC) who finished first.
Traditionally the second race on Saturday is the Penyot Pin the prize a barrel of beer. Conditions were such that only eight boats were tempted by this. Jeff has drunk a lot of beer on Regatta Saturdays over the years but this was not going to be one of them, even with Toms help they could only manage fourth behind Johnathan and Alex 1st , Phil and Sarah 2nd and Ian and Nicki 3rd .
The forecast for Sunday was lighter winds, they were wrong, a race started in 30 knots. The race officer Martin Bromley was in a quandary, but most were in control of there boats a late swing in the wind skewed the course but we started. The race was shortened to 1 lap and racing was abandoned with 35 knots being recorded on the committee boat and up turned boats on most corners of the course. A creditable thirteen boats finished, led home by Jonathan and Alex followed by Ian and Nikki with Steve Berry and Dave Webster (PYC) in third, Tom Atkin and Jeff Dyer (PYC) 4th Steve Lucey and Claudia Haynes (PYC) finished a consistent weekend with a 5th to go with a 4th and 5th on Saturday.
We all sailed for home, some with damage, to find the Mirror and Topper fleets still racing.
Overall Results:
1st Jonathan Woodward and Alex Haliwell (Redditch S.C.)
2nd Jeff Dyer and Tom Atkin (P.Y.C.)
3rd Ian Wakeling and Nicki Linfield (Bristol Corinthian Y.C.)
4th Tom Atkin and Clare Houghton (PYC)
5th Phil Kirk and Sarah Gregson (Frampton upon Severn)
6th Steve Lucey and Claudia Haynes (PYC)