Port of Felixstowe Regatta

With eight X-332's competing for their East Coast Championship and a herd of eleven Impalas vying for their special event, within IRC Classes Two and Three racing at Port of Felixstowe was always going to be keen.

In addition three of the five events were designated as the first event of the SailEast season, bringing a substantial influx of boats from all quarters of the East Coast.

In all over 60 boats were in action, enjoying three days of sunshine and almost perfect sailing conditions, which made a nonsense of the weather forecast which had predicted nothing good of the Bank Holiday weekend.

For the first time in seven years of this increasingly popular and always well organized event the home team from Haven Ports Yacht Club won the team trophy, with an unbeatable combination of three class winners.

In the overall Regatta Points, the top spot overall went to Nigel Theadom with the X-332 'Crikey V!' who just ousted David Pinner last year's winner in the Kerr 11.3 'Cracker' but now sailing the X-332 'Kiss'.

Pinner took the overall X-332 championship, by virtue of a better discard than ŒCrikey V1¹ and the third contributor to the Haven¹s overwhelming team points total was Robert Leggett in the Impala 'Monkey Business'

Team Leggett repeated their previous year's success in taking the Impala trophy with three straight wins in the first three races.

Notwithstanding this they had to work hard for their success, every place being hotly contested by Malcolm Hutchings the 2003 EAORA champion and 'Reaction' and Mike Harrison's 'Jiminy Cricket' both from the Crouch in hot pursuit, together with Chris Goldsmith's 'Rocker'.

It was good to see that two X-332's 'X-Factor' (Paul Woodward and John Barrett) and 'Exotic' (Mike Brand and David Elderfield) had made the journey up from the Royal Temple.

With 'Blue Beeste' (M.Jenkins and C.Penfold) from Walton & Frinton and 'Elixir' (Rick & Fran Waterhouse) from the Crouch to join the Haven boats they made a highly competitive group within a large class of some 18 boats.

The second race proved decisive in restoring order on the over-exuberant start line when after general recalls in two classes, chief race officer Chris Brooke imposed the 'I' rule and finally the black flag rule on Class Two, disqualifying one boat.

Surprisingly and despite some extremely close calls, but possibly due to the proximity on the water of the American international judge Herb Larramee there were no protests to decide. Sunshine all the way has a very ameliorating effect upon competitors.

Twenty entries in Class Three were shown the way round by Tony and Chuffy Merewether from the Crouch in the Sunfast 32 'Amazon' who clocked up two first and two second places, to put them comfortably ahead of the Contessa 33 'Quickstep' (Geoff Sinton) with 'Tigo 1V' (B. Fawkes, BSC ) in third place. Fourth came Julian Lord and Geoff Payne with 'Spirit of Defiance' from the Dabchicks SC.

After the start-line shenanigans in other classes, the nine entrants in Class One seemed positively sedate, patiently waiting their turn and giving no trouble.

David Kemp and Ian Langston of the Crouch, now sailing 'The Geek' had a very close battle, ending level on net points with Paul Wood and the IMX40 'Gironde' previously known as 'Sensor', but with two first places to claim ŒThe Geek¹ took the title.

The runner-up was Peter Mackinnon from West Mersea in 'CAV-OK' (another earlier ŒSensor¹) and fourth place went to Robbie and Pippa Stewart with 'Ding Dong'

In view of the revival of interest in the pre-1986 classic half-tonners it was good to see no fewer than three in action: George Thake takes the palm for age with 'Popincoota' but 'Harlequin' (Brooke family) and 'Smiffy' (Josh Major) were both sailed by university crews.

'Smiffy', a Super Nova 31 dating from the Seventies and with a long EAORA record has recently been given a new keel, and despite the young crew having no more than a few hours to get familiar with the boat, she performed remarkably well, picking up a first place, with two fifths and a sixth to finish sixth in class.

Mike Spear who has done more than anyone to support the Felixstowe event had the pleasure of giving a new trophy he has presented for classic half-tonners in memory of George Farmer to his grandson, Josh Major, and expressed the hope that the international regatta for these boats being planned for next year might be based on the East Coast.

Another very popular recipient of honours was John Day, shoreside manager for the Port of Felixstowe event, who was presented with the Hutchinson Ports Trophy. John, who has worked tirelessly as a backroom boy on the shoreside arrangements for the past seven years is now stepping down, but it was good to see his work properly appreciated.

As also that of the huge team of some thirty volunteers who man the regatta office, provide food and drink, or crew on support boats etc without which three days of impeccably organized racing could not happen.

One should also recognize the help and support of Suffolk Yacht Harbour who somehow squeeze every boat that needs space into the harbour, Clarke & Carter who provide office facilities and of Rig Magic, Quantum Sails and other businesses who sponsor the enormously popular evening entertainment.

Most of all the Royal Harwich, Haven Ports and Walton & Frinton Yacht Clubs appreciate the help given by the Port of Felixstowe, whose General Manager, Port Development may now be moving on to other projects, but has confirmed that the regatta will continue to be sponsored next year.