Hornets at the River Exe Regatta at Lympstone Sailing Club
by John Shelton 3 Jul 2012 15:07 BST
30 June - 1 July 2012
There were six Hornets entered the now traditional visit to Starcross for the Exe Regatta, but at the last minute, the fabled appearance of Mike Mac failed to materialise, with Basher on lifeboat duties. However, one visitor joined the locals, to get some practice in before the Europeans at Brixham.
Saturday produced a blustery wind from the south-east, and the triangular course proved testing with powerful gusts curling off the shore, keeping everyone on their toes.
In race 1, Dick Garry with Matt McGrath in 2154 took the lead, followed by John Shelton and Sam Woolner in the latest grand piano from the Coombe woodshed. Garry revelled in the conditions, despite his light weight, and was never seen again, while Shelton stuffed it in on the gybe, letting Tim Coombe and Jane Smith through, having sensibly dropped their kite. Jane was still grumbling about the lack of a good sausage, and was even more disgruntled to find they missed the gate on one leg and were subsequently disqualified. Andy Hohl and Pippa Greenslade also dropped out, but generally there were spills and big grins all round.
Only Garry ventured out for the second race, determined to chase down the Merlins in the growing breeze, while the rest of the fleet nursed wounds and generally bimbled. Overall, Dick and Matt took 5th place overall for the regatta, a very creditable performance considering the Merlin PY!
On Sunday, there was possibly even more wind for the big pursuit race, and by the time the Hornets started, it was gusty with it. Garry again led round the first mark, followed by Shelton then Coombe, and the first reach was an absolute screamer with two sails, and a big gust waiting at the gybe mark. Safely round, Garry was the only one to go for the kite, and once again was never seen again, building up a huge lead, and finally finishing second overall to a B14. The beats were tough, but the reaches were sensational, with carnage all over the course keeping the ribs busy.
After an excellent sail, Shelton called it a day, as the football beckoned (actually he was in trouble, as Italy were playing), and ‘Legs' Jane suffered a bruised arm after a capsize forcing Coombe to retire, followed shortly by Hohl, who had tested the water temperature several times.
Winners of the weekend were of course Garry & McGrath, who put on a fine display of boat handling. Serious contenders for the 60th Anniversary Europeans at Brixham on 18th August.
Once again, the Exe estuary provided great, if testing, conditions for the Hornets, and the event, organised by Lympstone SC this year, ran like clockwork.
Full results and more pictures can be seen on the regatta website at www.river-exe-regatta.org.uk