RS Elites at Burnham Week at the Combined Burnham Clubs

Racing on the final Saturday of Burnham Week © Graeme Sweeney / Yachts & Yachting

Saturday 25th saw the start of Burnham Week and a 12 strong RS Elite fleet started the event with the three day Bank Holiday Regatta. Elixir, sailed by visitor Sean Maclean from Scotland, led the way on day one, determined as he was to take the three day trophy back to Scotland for the third year running. Sunday and Monday however saw local boat Aeolus, helmed by 18 year old Jonathan Brown and crewed by his parents David and Lyn, put in two firsts to take the weekend honours.

And so Burnham Week kicked off in style and the RS Elite fleet have enjoyed a fantastic eight days of racing. Conditions ranged over the week from light and variable with lots of short tacking along the banks against a flooding tide, one brief half hour of drifting backwards and on to strong and blustery winds mid week, with yet more sunshine and steady winds being the order of the day on the last Saturday. Almost a full range of conditions then to be had and the Elite fleet made the most of them with a strong showing every day.

The entire RS Elite fleet at Burnham-on-Crouch were out sailing and there was some tight and competitive racing to be had with many of the races involving constantly changing places both at the front and the back of the fleet. A few course errors saw some ‘lucky’ breaks for some but overall the week was dominated by Aeolus sailed by Jonathan, David & Lyn Brown who, back from their travels to the Hayling Island Nationals and Skandia Cowes Week, found that their summer afloat had paid off with some excellent results throughout the week. Oink Squeal sailed by Dave Wood, Simon Wakefield and Fran Wood were hot on their heels all week with some fine performances on the water. As was Tuppence, another Nationals and Cowes Week competitor who, raced by Nick Gardner, Alan Gardner and John Hooper, put in some brilliant races over the week.

Guy Chenevix-Trench and No Riff Raff, runner up at this years National Championships, finished the week in third place overall. A fine start and lead on the last Saturday for the one day trophy was not enough to stop Oink Squeal coming through. They then led ahead of Aeolus and a fierce race ensued with an exciting tacking and covering duel which saw Dave Wood hold the lead until the very last mark, when an untimely header allowed Brown to come through and take the gun.

Aeolus and the Brown family finished taking the week, mid week and last Saturday trophy and they then celebrated with the Elite fleet at the Royal Burnham Yacht Club at the Saturday night prize giving supper. Much drinking of champagne and camaraderie ensued and that is another element of this up and coming fleet that bodes so well for its growth over the next few years.

The firework display was, as always, spectacular and coupled with the amazing break in the weather that was enjoyed by the Burnham Week sailors and the extensive social events put on throughout the town made this years Burnham Week very special.

A big ‘Thank You’ to the sponsors of Burnham Week from the RS Elite Fleet: Thomas Gunn, Quest Motors of Maldon, Rice and Cole, Premium Life Raft, Lonton and Gray, Skeetex, Burnham Yacht Harbour, Fambridge Yacht Haven & Lucid Web Design.

Overall Results: (Debenhams Cup)