Medway Regatta at Medway Yacht Club

15-18 July 2010
By Colin Weston 22 Jul 2010 10:17

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Photo © Nick Champion / championmarinephotography.co.uk

Action from the 2010 Medway Regatta
Photo © Nick Champion / championmarinephotography.co.uk

Action from the 2010 Medway Regatta
Photo © Nick Champion / championmarinephotography.co.uk

Action from the 2010 Medway Regatta

With 250 crew in 52 boats participating in 21 races and a family Treasure Hunt the 2010 Medway Yacht Club (MYC) open Regatta held from Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th from MYC’s base on the River Medway at Lower Upnor was a great success. Racing was in six fleets with three one design classes (Dragons, Sonatas and Squibs) where and three handicapped classes (IRC, MYA and White Sail).

Even before the start it was clear that the weather would have a big impact on the event with the boat scheduled to be used as the Committee boat storm bound in Ramsgate.

The event kicked off on Thursday evening with a fun warm up race and BBQ organised and hosted by neighbouring club Upnor Sailing Club.

Friday morning dawned clear and sunny but with a steady 6 gusting to force 8 providing challenging and exciting sailing conditions. The race committee set courses taking most of the fleets to the mouth of the river Medway with only the IRC class venturing further out into the estuary. The strong winds took their toll on the boats with wipe outs, breakages including a broken boom and ripped sails and retirements. One boat ran hard aground with her bow well clear of the water on the muddy banks but was soon towed off by the fleet of rescue craft provided and crewed by MYC.

In the Dragon fleet Fit Chick took the first two races followed by Valkyrie taking two seconds. Both boats being sailed exceptionally well in the conditions flying kites on the downwind legs when all that could be seen was the rig and spray as they planned down river.

Friday night saw 100 gather back at the MYC club house for the days prize giving and a sit down dinner.

The winds on Saturday were slightly lighter 4 to 5 and more boats ventured afloat. The conditions allowed for longer races out past Garrison Point and the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery to the outer distance mark three miles out in the estuary.

With 15 boats racing the Sonatas were the biggest single fleet and whilst on results Musical Express appeared to have dominated taking three straight wins she did not have it all her own way on the water being harried all the way by Duet, Harmony and Sarabande.

Saturday night saw 200 competitors and other non racing club members enjoying a fantastic hog roast and dancing at a “Pink” themed party until the small hours. The crew of Rollercoaster visiting from Benfleet Yacht Club were awarded a special prize for best dressed and entertaining crew – they also acquitted themselves on the water with three 2nd’s in the Cruiser Class.

In the IRC class Big Zipper having missed the first days racing cleaned up on the Saturday and Sunday and beat The Works into second place on count back.

The White Sail class where no down wind sails are permitted was introduced to encourage non racers to have a go was well supported with Arial coming out on top.

Sunday was sailed in idyllic conditions with a South Westerly force 4. With just one race for each class shorter courses were set to enable a lunch time finish. The racing was close and exciting with a particularly close finish in the cruiser class when after three hours of racing four boats crossing the finish line off Gillingham Strand at full speed just seconds apart.

In the Squib class Black Mark dominated with every other boat suffering a retirement effectively putting them out of contention as no discards were allowed.

Katherine Gore Regatta Chairman commented “It is always pleasing to see the months of planning and hard work come together and again this year we have been blessed with good, if challenging, racing weather.”

The three days were concluded back at base where Commodore Mike Wallis thanked sponsors and organisers and awarded prizes commenting that “It is fabulous to see so many boats on the water racing competitively and hoped to see even more visitors for next years event which is already being planned.

Overall Results:

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