Savills Regatta at Mylor Yacht Club
by Helen Stevens 16 Jun 2011 14:27 BST
13 June 2011
The Savills Regatta certainly does seem to be gaining a reputation for great weather against all odds. No pressure then, but the Truro-based firm of Estate Agents and Surveyors fifth annual regatta hosted by Mylor Yacht Club, took place on Monday 13th June in perfect sailing conditions, despite the fact that the day before was plagued with wet and windy conditions.
Thirty corporate and private teams raced around two courses in the Carrick Roads. For the second year running Steve Hutt’s Firebird ‘Cornish Meadow’ led the fleet around in the Multihull division, taking the class prize. Mike Webb’s evergreen ‘Crackerjack’ deserves a mention but was late for the start.
The Portsmouth Yardstick entries were split into two classes with the faster E class won by Keith Newton’s last-minute entry in his Elan 333 ‘Aisling Geal’. Past winners of the regatta Toby Claridge and Mark Chanter of Foot Anstey Solicitors came in second on ‘Excelle’, with Mike & Sue Swingler’s H-Boat ‘Hecate’ in third. ‘Adagio’ couldn’t quite make it onto the podium on the water but their combined County Homesearch Company, Friendsandrelations.com, and Stephens & Scown crew did win the Best Dressed Crew prize very easily for the fourth time in five years! Class U was won convincingly by Des Teale and Kim Conchie in the pretty Contessa 26 ‘Hera’, ahead of Clive Hoyle sailing singlehanded in ‘Rococco’. The Jeanneau SO32 ‘Suce’ of Sue Rosevear was third but also picked up the wooden spoon of the day for an unusual spinnaker set!
The traditional Falmouth Working Boat class saw a good scrap between Verity Slater of Follett Stock solicitors sailing ‘Rebecca’ and the St.Mawes Syndicate (including another partner from Follett Stock!) aboard ‘Florence’ with Florence winning on handicap. These two were joined by the C-Class ‘Muriel’ who came in third.
In the IRC class the two J-Boats broke clear of the rest and fought hard all the way around with Stuart Sawyer’s J97 ‘Black Dog/Team GUL’ taking 1st from Tony Statham’s ‘Jacobi’, although the latter picked up the line-honours prize. Within the IRC class the prize for top Half Tonner went to Team H20K aboard ‘Insatiable’ after a very close tussle with ‘Per Elisa’ (Robbie Tregear) and ‘Miss Whiplash’ sailed by Scott Burridge Commercial.
Guests aboard the Savills & Country Life spectator craft were treated to the spectacle of two gorgeous S&S classic designs doing battle within IRC, with Richard Bond’s crew on Tomahawk going on to take this year’s Concours D’Elegance prize from the St.Austell Brewery team onboard Rob Mably’s Swan ‘Sarabande’.
The elegant Sunbeam class saw typically close racing between the five entries with Gavin Watson sailing ‘Mayfly’ in first ahead of John Lowry and Will Richards of Hine Downing Solicitors in Saucy Sally in second. Roger Graffy, MD of Mylor Yacht Harbour came in third with ‘Milly’.
Director of Savills’ Truro office Jonathan Cunliffe, says, “I can’t believe our luck with the weather and I do think 2011 has been the best one yet. The Club organised some great racing and their new Clubhouse has to be one of the best on the south coast of England.” Following the racing, 200 guests and competitors made good use of the Pimms bar and enjoyed the evening sun.
The regatta was supported by co-sponsors Country Life magazine, Ancasta Yacht Brokers, St.Austell Brewery, Ellis Wharton Wines, and Mylor Chandlery. This year £560 was raised by competitors for the local charity Blind At Sea (BATS), which enables the visually impaired to get out on the water to experience and enjoy sailing.