Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club Round the Island Race
by Amber Brown (under 16 winner) 4 Sep 2007 08:40 BST
1 September 2007
James Bell (IOSSC Commodore) presents Amber Brown with the under 16 prize in the Isle Of Sheppey SC Round the Island race © Christopher Brown
Following on from competing in the 2007 Royal Torbay Regatta, local girl from Steventon, Amber Brown participated in the annual Isle Of Sheppey SC "Round the Island" race. This well established, long distance event tests sailing skills and endurance over a 40-mile course. The course includes tidal sea, river & estuary sailing as well as somehow getting your boat underneath a very low railway bridge (necessitating a capsize) !
The event is apparently the longest dinghy and board race held in Europe and is truly full of character.
On Saturday 1st Sept 1030am, the team of Amber on helm (14) and her father Chris Brown (more usually seen helming the TP52 Fidessa fastwave) as crew started out in their RS Feva, dodging rocks while gybing along the island shore. From there, entering the Swale, the wind quickly increased and combined with a strong flood tide meant rough seas, flooding all our food rations for the day!
Approaching the infamous railway bridge after a very lively 12 mile beat we encountered a major crisis as the rudder hinge pin suddenly failed, necessitating some "emergency steering" improvisation until a repair was effected ashore prior to capsizing the boat to get under the bridge, crazy stuff!
From there, the river runs through moorings and eventually into Sheerness docks where we encountered some large shipping (it all looks a lot bigger from a Feva!) and more breeze before finally turning the NW corner for a pleasant spinnaker run to the finish line. Crossing the finish line at 1700pm we were elated and will certainly be back next year. The IOS SC do a great job of running this event and really make you feel welcome.
Amber won the "Under 16 Helm" trophy and without the rudder loss we would also have claimed the "Ladies Helm Overall" trophy.
Amber will next be competing in the RS Feva National Championships in October at Rutland Water.
Click here for a map of the course.