Haven Series Britannia Trophy Race to Lowestoft
by Tim Cross 8 Jul 2009 13:44 BST
4 July 2009
The Haven Series Britannia Trophy Race to Lowestoft starts © Steve Bell
16 yachts came to the start line at Wadgate Ledge off Felixstowe to be greeted by a very light south westerly breeze. The decision by the Committee to run the race under Category 4 safety requirements for the first time had resulted in an increase in competitors over previous editions.
All boats were away cleanly with the two top rated boats, Dehler 39 Fyrklover V and X-37 Fatjax gybing inshore to dodge the tide.
Within an hour of the start a sea breeze began to arrive and the wind came slightly more out of the south as the pressure increased. Several yacht opted to go outside the Whiting Bank, a slightly longer route, but in the hope of catching more of the now favourable tide.
At Orford Ness however, it became apparent that the inshore route had worked best with Fyrklover V now leading the race with J92 Jabberwock and Baltic 37 Cosmic Dancer III in pursuit.
Yachts bore away after going past Aldeburgh Ridge, the slightly deeper wind angle offset by 2+ kts of fair tide going north.
The breeze and brilliant sunshine held up to the finish with Fyrklover V taking line honours ahead of Jabberwock. All boats were finished shortly after 3pm.
The lower rated boats had all done a great job of hanging on to the tails of the bigger vessels and in the final analysis, at the excellent supper at the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club, Dehler 31 Biffo had won overall with Rival 34, Rivalis second and Cosmic Dancer III third.
Overall Results:
1st – Biffo, Dehler 31, M House
2nd – Rivalis, Rival 34, D Hodge
3rd – Cosmic Dancer III, Baltic 37, Russell Walker
4th – Stolen Kiss, She 27
5th – Jabberwock, J92, G Payne, S Beard & J Roth
6th – Upstart, Projection 762, T Cross
IRC division
1st – Cosmic Dancer III, Baltic 37, Russell Walker
2nd – Stolen Kiss, She 27
3rd – Jabberwock, J92, G Payne, S Beard & J Roth
4th – Upstart, Projection 762, T Cross
5th – Fyrklover V, Dehler 39, M Abrahams / P York
6th – Nimrod, Sunfast 35, A Cross