Beccles Amateur Sailing Club Centenary Regatta
by Richard Deller 14 Aug 2007 15:29 BST
5-9 August 2007
The start of Commodore's Cup during the Beccles Amateur Sailing Club Centenary Regatta © Richard Deller
Beccles Amateur Sailing Club celebrated its Centenary Regatta with a five day regatta. Past members as far a field as Cornwall and Nottingham returned to the club to take part and meet old friends at the club at this Centenary Event held on the Suffolk bank of the River Waveney between Norfolk and Suffolk.
A fleet of Waveney ODs. sailed up river, the day before from Oulton Board, something they have been done for many many years. There was also a large fleet of Norfolk ODs. from the host club, Norwich Frostbites and Norfolk Broad Yacht Club at Wroxham, this was probably the largest fleet of Norfolk’s together seen outside their championships for a sometime. Not to be out done there were good fleets of Lasers, Enterprises, Toppers and Optimists, this was the best turnout seen for twenty or more years on the River Waveney.
Together with the Regatta Trophies and prizes there were 5 additional trophies to be sailed for. Commodore Trevor Briggs with other sponsors presented splendid trophies for the main classes. The winner of each class, also received a 100 guineas, which they gave to a charity of their choice.
All 40 odd races were keenly fought for, with starts being very crowded. The Tillett Challenge Cup had to be divided in two starts due to the number of entries, something that has not happened in living memory.
The 100 guineas race for Keelboats sailed on Sunday consisted of Waveneys, Yare and Bures and Brown Boats, which was won by Trevor Balls and Jake Balls in their Waveney from Waveney and Oulton Broad YC. They where presented with their trophy by Daniel Cripps the main sponsor of the Regatta.
Monday’s 100 guineas race for dinghies was won by father and son team of Richard and Matthew Deller in their Enterprise from the Beccles club. Quite a feat, after they were over the start line and had to return, and start again. Commodore, Trevor Briggs presented the trophy to them.
Tuesday’s race was for Norfolk ODs despite being keenly fought for, Geoff Coulthard and crew Pat Woodcock from Norwich Frostbites sailing “Wild Duck” won easily leaving the rest to sort out the finishing order.
The race for helms under 17 was abandon after 2 minutes when the wind died and the boats started drifting backwards, it was re sailed on Thursday lunch time. Harry Shipley of the home club won from Ruben Salder who had travelled from Cornwall to Beccles with his dad and granddad, they had sailed at the club in the 1970/80s. Richard Harrod presented the trophy to Harry.
The final 100 guineas race was for Monosails and was also the last race of the regatta. After a closely fought race Chris Abbott sailing a Laser won from Jonathan Blankley and Liam Gentry. This was the icing on the cake for Chris, he came away with a total of 4 trophies he had won during the week.
The Prize giving was attended by over 150 competitors and members in the marquee. John Gibbons President of the Beccles Club presented the trophies to the winners. Jeckells of Oulton Broad supplied prizes for the Juniors.
The Centenary Regatta had been one of the best regattas everheld on the Waveney and was brought to a conclusion on Saturday evening with a Centenary Ball for over a 160 people at the Waveney House Hotel Beccles. The Club were extremely grateful to Daniel Cripps of Cripps Properties for sponsorship of the regatta. Daniel started his sailing career at Beccles in a Mirror, before crewing Ian Pinnell to a number of World Championships in Fireballs and 505s.