River Exe Regatta 2007 at Starcross Yacht Club
by Mike Rice 10 Jul 2007 10:23 BST
7-8 July 2007
Starcross Yacht Club hosted the 2007 River Exe Regatta over the weekend of 7 and 8 July, the seventh time the event had been run. After a long period of grey, wet weather the sun made a welcome return and blessed the event with two days of excellent sailing.
The weekend had something for everyone and there was some very tight racing in each of the fleets. Saturday brought a stiff North Westerly which gave planing conditions for most dinghies. Race officers Andy Woolner and John Evans set some demanding courses which tested all-round boat handling and after a day of physical racing, Starcross Yacht Club hosted a fantastic evening supper with a guest appearance from Alex Cross, local singer songwriter, and then a seemingly endless portfolio of musical entertainment from local band, Ex-Tens.
With some fuzzy heads, the fleet set sail on Sunday with rapidly changing wind strength and direction. The challenge faced by our race officers was difficult. The first race, an inverted P course for the main dinghy fleets, certainly made the best of the conditions and places at the front of the fleets changed frequently. During the later stages of the race a large thunderstorm threatened and for a while the second race of the day was in doubt. In the end the storm skirted by and moved away over Woodbury Common.
The last race was such a typical Starcross occurrence. A light but steady North Westerly moved around to the West and only after all had started, the course quickly became an extended fetch on more or less every leg, favouring the asymmetric dinghies.
Over the two days, the winners of the dinghy 1 class were Dave Lee and Olly Turner, of Starcross YC, in a Merlin Rocket. The Dinghy 2 class was won by Andrew and Caroline McAusland of Exe SC, the first of a strong turnout of Comet Trios from Exe. Iain Horlock, also of Exe SC, took the dinghy 3 prize in his Laser 4.7, while the “grown up” Laser class was won by Stuart Woodger, of Saltash SC. Multihull winner was the Hurricane 5.9 of Mike Arstall and Eamon Tyrell, of Starcross.
Of particular note is the tendency amongst the clubs to move towards fleet racing. At Starcross, the Hurricane 5.9, Merlin Rocket, Hornet and RS 400 are the most numerous classes, whilst Exe SC has the biggest Comet Trio fleet in the UK and a fast growing RS 200 fleet. The Laser remains common to all clubs. It seems we are reflecting what we believe is a national trend and possibly a reaction to the dilution of erstwhile strong class racing, which recent years and prolific ‘new models’ have brought about.
The windsurfers raced at Exmouth on the “duck pond” and enjoyed good breeze and flat water, the best of conditions for them. Meanwhile the cruisers from each of the different clubs had come together for a weekend of racing around the cans at sea off Exmouth.
The other piece of traditional non-sailing entertainment at the River Exe Regatta is the Sunday tea, prizegiving and prize draw. The tea broke records for the size and quality of the spread presented by Starcross’s galley ladies and the speed at which it was all consumed by the hungry sailors. The draw, for around £1,000 worth of Gill sailing clothing kindly donated by Tony Blackmore of Sailsport, was compered by Pete Mansfield who took his usual delight in informing those who were not there that they had not won a £90 sailing jacket or other expensive prize.
Liam McGrath of Starcross YC, outgoing event chairman, said “It was a good weekend and with just short of 100 entries, it demonstrated that sailing in the Exe Estuary is still very much a major leisure commitment, with healthy membership in all the Exe clubs and most importantly some excellent performances from young sailors emerging from the strong junior training fleets. We are securing the future of our sport.
Thanks must go to the organising committee, race officers and safety boat crews, galley, social event organisers and everyone else who put their personal time and effort into bringing the regatta together. Tradition has it the lead club for next years’ regatta moves on to Lympstone Sailing Club, as outgoing chair I wish them well and can assure them of willing and able support from the other clubs, especially Starcross who have learnt much from this years experience!”
Overall Results:
Dinghy 1
1st Merlin Rocket 3546, Dave Lee & Olly Turner (SYC)
2nd Hornet 2154, Richard Garry & Matt McGrath (SYC)
3rd RS400 411, Figgs Cain & Owen Taylor (SYC)
4th RS200 609, Rosie Sands & Andy Williams (ESC)
5th Hornet 2099, Paul Kelly & Brett Gregson (SYC)
Dinghy 2
1st Comet Trio 472, Andrew McAusland & Caroline McAusland (ESC)
2nd Wayfarer 7658, Liam McGrath & Sue McGrath (SYC)
3rd Comet Trio 428, Guy Farrant & Marilynn Booker (ESC)
4th Seafly 642, Simon Greenslade & William Greenslade (SYC)
5th GP14 13617, Richard Harding & Joanne Harding (Frensham Pond)
Dinghy 3
1st Laser 4.7 142409, Iain Horlock (ESC)
2nd Bosun 1234, David Preston & Stephen Preston (ESC)
3rd Mirror 58749, Josh Read & Sarah Read (ESC)
Laser
1st Laser 178682, Stuart Woodger (Saltash SC)
2nd Laser 178297, David Shannon (SYC)
3rd Laser 176301, Robin Jones & Robin Jones (SYC)
4th Laser Radial 174362, Daniel Craft (TCYC)
5th Laser Radial 186020, Anna Hickman (SYC)
Multihull
1st Hurricane 5.9 152, Mike Arstall & Eamon Tyrell (SYC)
2nd Hurricane 5.9 156, John Donovan
3rd Hurricane 5.9 276, Jeremy Lees & William Edgar (SYC)
4th Hurricane 5.9 403, Nick Gough & Sophie Gough (SYC)
5th Hurricane 5.9 416, Doug Smith & Bill King (SYC)