Southwold Sailing Club Spring Regatta
by Jeremy Taylor 2 Jun 2004 09:14 BST
30-31 May 2004
Southwold Sailing Club held their spring regatta over the bank holiday weekend, with 6 races on Sunday and Monday.
The cruisers had headed off to Holland on the Friday night taking with them Tom Seppings fresh from his 12th place at the Contender Nationals. White Gold, Antares and Roanmar made the trip across the North Sea.
The dinghy racing got underway on Sunday morning in a shifty southerly breeze that varied in strength from force 1 to force 3. Race officer Mark Nowell, set the course directly off the harbour with the wing mark within yards of the harbour entrance giving excellent views for spectators. The fleet was boosted by the return of Dave Houghton and John Symonds laser 4000 and it was them that showed the way round in race 1 followed by Hugh Fielden and Richard Symes’ 5o5 and Mike Gowers Contender. Greg and Mary Brown led up the first beat but were soon passed by Houghton/Symonds and Fielden/Gower, but they held on to take 3rd place on the water.
In race 2 it was Mike Gower who took the win as the breeze settled in direction and speed and he finished 3rd on the water behind Houghton/Symonds and Fielden/Symes but was close enough to take the win on corrected time.
By the start of the final race of the day the wind had built to around 15 knots and this meant perfect conditions for Mike Gower who took another bullet in his Contender ahead of Houghton/Symonds and Fielden/Symes.
Straight after sailing there was a party to celebrate the opening of the new garden at the back of the club, and about 40 members and guests enjoyed a BBQ and drinks in the afternoon sunshine.
Monday morning brought a 6-knot southeasterly breeze, but as boats were being rigged the sea breeze was filling in and by the start of the first race was a steady 10 knots. Houghton/Symonds added another race win ahead of Gower. Greg Brown with crew replacement Mike Brown sailed a good race to take 3rd.
The wind was continuing to build and by race 5 was a good 12-15 knots, giving some lively reaches and downwind legs, most of the asymmetrics were having to de-power down the reaches in order to lay the marks, but Houghton/Symonds were flying and took another win ahead of Gower with Fielden/Symes 3rd.
This left it wide open going into the final race, Houghton/Symonds needed to finish ahead of Gower to assure victory, but with the wind now a steady 15 knots gusting up to 20 it was perfect Contender conditions and Gower made certain by winning on the water to take a 3 minute victory on corrected time and win the regatta on count back. Houghton/Symonds were 2nd and Greg & Mike Brown sailed a conservative race and took another 3rd.
Overall Gower tied on 5 points with Houghton/Symonds, as they had both won 3 races and had 2 seconds they were only separated by the fact Gower won the final race! Fielden/Symes won the battle of the 5o5’s to take 3rd ahead of the Browns.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Contender | 552 | Mike Gower | SSC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | L4000 | 4255 | Dave Houghton | John Symonds | GY&GSC | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 3 | 505 | 8495 | Hugh Fielden | Richard Symes | SSC | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 11 |
| 4 | 505 | 8342 | Greg Brown | Mary Brown | SSC | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 14 |
| 5 | Buzz | 577 | Geoff Brown | Johan Ribenfors | SSC | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 19 |
Next weekend the Summer series begins with two races in the morning, first start 11 am, and then the afternoon series, start time will be posted at lunchtime.
For more details see the clubs website www.southwoldsailing.co.uk