Amble Boat Company Royal Northumberland Yacht Club Regatta

A very blustery weekend for the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club Regatta © Kieran Parslow

The RNYC’s flagship event was held this year over the weekend of the 1st/2nd September. A very blustery weekend saw boats arriving from all over the east coast of England to take part in the yacht clubs annual regatta. The weather was brisk and clear but the breeze harsh and some racing need to be postponed. Despite this the race team worked tirelessly to make sure all classes got racing.

Racing started on Saturday at 1pm, with the sportsboat class off first for a 25 knot windward leeward race. Cheeky Girl (Melges 24) got away first and sailed very well all the way round crossing first only to find she was OCS at the start. The racing in this fleet was very close but all sailors were having problems with the brisky down wind legs. Several spectacular broaches ensued, with the Corkanut (cork 1720) and Aufwiedersehen Pet (Melges 24) both spending sometime on their sides. No limit (Beneteau 25) and Filthy Georgeous (Projection 25) seem to revel in the heavier conditions with the Beneteau finishing second overall. But Shearwater (RSK6) sailed an excellent race with minimal errors to take the race on corrected time.

Division one followed, with these boats loving the stronger breeze, Humming bird (IMX 38) rounded first with Brighteyes (Oyster 41) following closely. At the leeward mark Hummingbird had problems dropping their spinnaker and Brighteyes was poised to take the lead but they too couldn’t keep their composure and parked on their side. Shotgun VI (J29) Dream Maiden (MGRS 34) followed but corrected time honours fell to Shotgun VI after holding things together in the building breeze.

Division Two and the white sail class followed. These boats seemed to enjoy the stronger breeze. Chaos (laser 28) took the honours in the first race with Expresso (albin Express) and Sheevra (Swan 36) close behind. With the white sail class Double Act and Rosa negotiated the course the best taking 1st and 2nd respectively.

The breeze was persistently 30 knots + on Sunday so the sportboats and white sail class decided not to race. But the crews were spread about the other boats. Division one was again exciting with Humming bird and Shotgun VI jockeying for position; Humming bird taking the honours in all three races. In division two Addict (Mustang 30) sailed an excellent last day with three bullets to win division two. With no more racing for the other divisions, Shearwater won the sportsboat class and Double Act the white sail class.

A very big thanks go to WD40 company and local Chandlery and Boat builders Amble Boat Company for sponsoring the event and providing pre-race packs and Prizes to help provide a great weekend of racing.

Overall Results:

Division 1
1st Humming Bird (RNYC)
2nd Shotgun VI (RNYC)
3rd Dream Maiden (RNYC)

Sportsboats
1st Shearwater (SYC)
2nd No Limit (RNYC)
3rd Aufwiedersehen Pet (RNYC)

Division 2
1st Addict (RNYC)
2nd Sheevra (RNYC)
3rd Expresso (RNYC)

White Sail
1st Double Act (SYC)
2nd Rosa (RNYC)
3rd Blue Max (SYC)